1st Annual Dusty Awards

WELCOME TO THE FIRST ANNUAL DUSTY AWARDS!

With 2015 over and done, I thought we'd take a moment to reflect on my favorite random things and people from the past year. I have random shit I'd like to give mention to. Let's start!

Favorite TV Show of 2015: SCREAM QUEENS

The Dusty Award has to go to the Ryan Murphey, Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk creation that is Scream Queens. It's about an upscale Sorority House getting terrorized by a serial killer(s) dressed in a red devil costume. It's ridiculous, campy, weird and out of control. Here's a list as to why it's the most DUSTIN worthy show of 2015:

1) Jamie Lee Curtis

2) Mean, rich, fashionable blonde girl walking around in expensive couture while insulting everyone       and everything. 

3) Awesome throwbacks to slasher movies of the past, often done in a overly OBVIOUS way. 

4) Douche frat boys getting maimed and sliced up.  

5) Soap Opera-like dramatic hi-jinx.

6) FASHION

7) Jamie Lee Curtis

The screwball, horror-comedy is awesome, touching on aspects of political correctness, racism and bullying, all is a comedic way. 

Favorite Book of 2015: THE WITCHES: SALEM 1692 by Stacy Schiff

The Dusty Book Award goes to this historical account of the infamous witch trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in  1692. It's an unbelievable event. Reading about it these days, it's hard to imagine why, what, how? It boggles the mind, but Stacy Schiff does an excellent job trudging through the various historical records, court documents and family histories of 17th Century Massachusetts to bring us a refreshing view point of a very confusing time in US History. 

Favorite Movie of 2015: KRAMPUS

Okay, I slacked a lot when it came to movie watching last year. There are SEVERAL movies I wanted to see in 2015, I just didn't due to lack of time or just plain laziness. One movie I did go see, and LOVED was Krampus! It was hilarious and tense at times, but overall fucking fantastic! I mean, it had demonic ginger bread men, Toni Colette and a giant, child eating Jank-in-the-Box. I'M LIVING FOR IT!

Favorite Netflex Obsession of 2015: SENSE8

It's hard to explain, just go fucking watch it. 

Most Badass Actor 2015: MAX RIEMELT (Sense8)

In Netflex's Sense8, Riemelt plays a hell raising, German safe-cracker who kicks everyone's ass and gives 0 fucks. 

Most Badass Actress 2015: DOONA BAE (Sense8)

Bae is my BAE! Yes she's a Sense8 actress too, but this is my list and I can put whoever I want on it! She slays me! LOVE HER!!!

Best Supporting Actor 2015: DENIS O'HARE (American Horror Story: Hotel)

Denis O'Hare plays the FABULOUS Liz on American Horror Story: Hotel. GAWD! I LIVE FOR HER! O'Hare has proven he can run the acting gambit from A to Z. 

Best Supporting Actress 2015: BILLIE LOURD (Scream Queens)

Billie Lourd plays the beautifully apathetic and wonderfully vacant Chanel #3 on Scream Queens. A fairly new actress, she held her own in scenes with more seasoned actresses like Jamie Lee Curtis and Emma Roberts. I applaud you Miss Lourd!

Best Actor 2015: KIT HARINGTON (Game of Thrones)

Though some people see Jon Snow as a one-note character, I EXTREMELY beg to differ. Harrington did an excellent job this past season and I hope with everything in my heart that he comes back with a vengeance this season. 

Best Actress 2015: JANET MONTGOMERY (Salem)

This was a hard one, but I have to give it to Janet Montgomery who plays the Salem coven leader, Mary Sibley, on WGN's Salem. Her portrayal of a powerful woman who's slowly losing everything, and coming to realize the pact she made with the devil himself was a horrendous mistake. Montgomery is brilliant and deserves praise. 

FAVORITE SONGS of 2015: 

Here are a few of my favorite songs from last year. Deal with it!

Kelly Clarkson - Hearbeat Song

Happy and light! It makes me want to hug myself!

Sia - California Dreamin

I mean... just... phenomenal. 

Coleman Hell - Two Heads

Unlike anything I've ever heard. Genre-bending and weird.

Lana Del Rey - High by the Beach

"You could be a bad motherfucker, But that don't make you a man"

Adele - Hello

Do I even NEED an explanation? 

Used to Love You - Gwen Stefani

Gwen captures her dissolved marriage perfectly in this song. 

Drake - Hotline Bling

I'm REALLY late to this party, but I LOVE IT.

HONORABLE MENTION:

LADY GAGA (American Horror Story: Hotel)

Despite what other's are saying, I think she's fucking brilliant in her role. She came close to beating out Janet Montgomery for my favorite lead actress, but I had to give it to Janet in the end.  Some may call me bias because I love Lady Gaga anyway, but I don't really give a rat's ass. I think she's phenomenal. 

Fab Five Friday: Unreleased Lana Del Rey Songs

I'm starting a series of new posts! YAY! They're called "Fab Five." It's pretty much a category, whether it be music, beauty, art, movies, etc and I list my top five of that category.... does that make sense? I'm doing it anyway. Hope you like it!

Like any artist, Lana Del Rey recorded some songs that never ended up on an album. Over time, these songs have been leaked and put on to various sites like YouTube and Grooveshark.  The likelihood of these songs ever appearing on a Lana album are very slim. To date, "Black Beauty" is the only leaked song I know of to see the light of day. It's sad because these songs are so amazing. I would love to legally purchase these. I know there's a way to get them, but I don't know how to do that YouTube thing or illegally download shit off the interwebs. I barely can keep up with how to work my damn iTunes.So here are my favorite unreleased Lana songs!

Queen of Disaster

This song has such an old-fashioned 60's vibe. I can totally see The Supremes of The Ronettes singing this on American Bandstand! Lana has this impeccable ability to mix retro sound with modern lyrics, and the formula of the song is absolutely her to a tee. It's a playful little diddy about falling in love with "the bad boy." This theme echos through a lot of Lana songs ("Blue Jeans," "Million Dollar Man," "Ultraviolence," etc.). This particular one is extremely upbeat and chipper compared to many of her other songs about a doomed love affair. 

Prom Song (Gone Wrong)

Lana sings about rebellious youth, young love and running away from her boring life with her lover who likes to fuck her up against the wall. This song would have been perfect on Born to Die, I'll never understand why it didn't make the cut. We actually get to hear the "Gangsta Nancy Sinatra" come out of Lana as she mixes her classic vocals with rap. We also have the typical references to pop culture icons and bands. It's pretty fucking fantastic.

                

Hollywood

Lana talks about her longing for fame and the finer things in life.The song would have been amazing on Born to Die. It carries on her theme of material wealth and how it's an absolute necessity to her. In typical Lana style, she makes several references to great musicians of the past such as Jim Morrison when she sings "I dance like Morrison", it somewhat echos many of her other songs such as "Gods and Monsters." It's almost a love song to her dreams of fame and glamour. You can hear her longing to have that icon status, and we listeners know she'll never stop until she has it.

Serial Killer

HOLY HELL! This song is tits in the mouth! This needed to be on Ultraviolence so badly! Unfortunately it wasn't, and it's such a shame. Serial Killer is one of those songs that make you scratch your head, wondering why the hell it's never been released. In this hidden gem, Lana sings about being a slutty party girl. She compares her various lovers as victims. She seduces them, makes them fall in love with her, fucks them and then walks away like the mother fucking boss she is! Though at the beginning of the song she states her wish to find her "one true love," you can tell by the rest of her lyrics, it's an act. She wants to be young, wild and promiscuous. She don't give a shit.

JFK

This song is so beautiful. It has this dreamy sound that takes you to another time. In typical Lana fashion, she mixes famous icons in with modern lyrics. She compares the man she loves to several things, mainly former President John F. Kennedy or JFK. Despite this song swelling with love and romance, it also has a sad undertone. It's as if she's singing of a time that once was and will never be again, much like John F. Kennedy's reign as President and the youth and vitality it brought to America. Things like that can never be re-captured. In a way I feel like "JFK" is paying homage to this time where youth and young love were celebrated and not scorned.

Honorable mentions: "Riding in Cars with Boys,""Damn You" and "Hundred Dollar Bill"