2019 has been one of the biggest years in heavy music in recent memory, with heavyweights such as Tool, Slipknot and Rammstein dropping long-awaited new albums, while trailblazing up-and-comers pushed boundaries in their own right. For his part, Alex Biro and his band Selfish Things released their debut full-length, Logos, which features guest vocals from Underoath's Spencer Chamberlain and others. Here we asked the singer-guitarist-pianist to share some of his favorite shit from the past year — below is what he offered up.
Best TV Show: Chernobyl
I've always been preoccupied with Pripyat — thanks Call of Duty — and I love HBO. The narrative, visuals and artistic direction made this my favorite series since True Detective season one.
Best Movie: The Peanut Butter Falcon
True art is madness. Shia LaBeouf is a true artist. Moving, timeless and heartwarming. I'd be shocked if this didn't get some love from the Oscars. 11 out of 10.
Best Video Game: The Outer Worlds
Dystopian, fun and conceptually refreshing. Obsidian makes some of the best games out there, and this one is close to the top for me.
Best Book: The Gulag Archipelago
This was published in 1973, but it doesn't matter. If you want to understand yourself, humanity and its capacity for good and evil, read this. Right now.
Best Song: “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X
An African-American, genre-defying, LGBTQ2+ quasi-rapper pissed off enough old white people that they took his song off of the country charts. Lil Nas X is everything popular music needs. A young artist relentlessly being themselves.
Best Album: 'The Act' by The Devil Wears Prada
This album blew my mind. To still be progressing and pushing the boundaries of the genre after nearly 15 years as a band speaks to the musicality and inventiveness they collectively possess. "Chemical" fucks me up to this day.
Best Album Runne- Up: 'Celebrity Mansions' by Dinosaur Pile-Up
Hands down the coolest rock band on the planet right now. If you've been sleeping on DPU, time to wake up. Start with "Back Foot" and let the devil consume you.
Best Tour: Dance Gavin Dance, Periphery, Don Broco, Hail the Sun, Covet, Thousand Below
"LMAO" is the only thing I can think of. DGD broke whatever ceiling the scene had placed on them in the last 18 months and Don Broco — while I'm slightly biased — are the best live band on Earth right now. I bruised my ribs and someone ripped the hood off of my favorite jacket. 10 out of 10 — would go again.
Best Moment in Sports: Raptors Winning the NBA Finals
Nothing good happens in Toronto when it comes to professional sports. I still remember sitting in my living room when Kawhi made "the shot" against the 76ers in game seven. People were shooting fireworks off their balconies. The city came together.
Best Moment in Music: My Chemical Romance and Rage Against the Machine reuniting within the same 24-hour period
I don't think I've ever lost my shit this hard. I threw my back out. I vomited blood. I sacrificed a Beyond Meat burger. Rock music needed this more than words can say.
