“The Dark Side of the Moon” is one of the best albums of all time. While most albums can be judged by their individual songs, “The Dark Side of the Moon” is best experienced as a cohesive record. The themes of the album deal with various stages of life, with beautiful and haunting lyrics by Roger Waters. Interviews with various people around Abbey Road Studios, where the album was recorded, ground the album and provide more context. The production of the album is nearly perfect, with the band taking advantage of new studio techniques that allowed for 16 different tracks to be recorded. When listening with headphones, you hear synthesizers swirling past your head in “On the Run,” clocks ticking all around you in “Time,” and cash sound effects dinging in all directions in “Money.” Each band member was arguably at the peak of their musical abilities during the recording, and it shines through in a perfect collaboration. The album, even today, is considered an essential album for anyone, regardless of musical tastes.

5/5 stars.

“The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” is commonly cited as one of the best hip-hop records of all time and is very deserving of that title. The album deals with themes of love, sparked by her relationship with Rohan Marley and her pregnancy with his child. The themes are reinforced by skits taking place in a classroom, which reappear throughout the album. The production seems tailor-made to be played on a vinyl record, with a very warm sound reminiscent of classic soul music. Hill is an incredible singer and rapper, and she blends many genres, including R&B, hip-hop, and reggae, into a cohesive work. Guest appearances are sporadic but impactful throughout, with Mary J. Blige, Carlos Santana and even an uncredited college-age John Legend making appearances. The album remains the defining neo-soul album and pioneered melodic rap. The lyrics blend a powerful swagger and toughness with raw feelings and emotions. Even today, artists like Lizzo, Janelle Monáe and Beyoncé all cite Lauryn Hill as influences on their work.

4/5 stars.

“The Exorcist” is a pillar in the history of horror films. While it may not be as shocking or provocative as it was upon the original release in 1973, the film still holds up quite well in a modern context. The film deals with the possession of a girl named Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair), Father Karras (Jason Miller) struggling with his faith, and Chris MacNeil’s (Ellen Burstyn) attempts to save her daughter. The scenes of Regan’s possession are some of the most well-known images in horror, such as her 180-degree head turn or the projectile vomit. The effects during these segments are chillingly realistic and contribute to the film’s iconic status. However, large amounts of the horror comes from the fact that it isn’t some unknown entity doing these horrible things, but an innocent girl who you come to know before the events transpire. The actors in the film truly sell this horror, from Father Karras’ spiritual crisis to Chris’s terror at what is happening to her daughter, and of course the shocking obscenities and actions of Regan. Today, the movie is still one of the scariest movies ever made, and the influence can be seen on many horror movies both classic and new.

5/5 stars.

“A Bug’s Life” is a classic Pixar film that still holds up today, both technologically and story wise. The story follows Flik (Dave Foley), an inventor ant that accidentally spills the Offering given to a group of villainous grasshoppers each summer. He then travels to find a group of warriors to rise up against the grasshoppers, but ends up with a group of jobless “Circus Bugs.” The film is a major technological leap from 1995’s “Toy Story,” and while the animation may look outdated today, it’s nothing that will take you out of the story. Even so, there are great visuals that couldn’t be created in live action with special effects, such as a rainfall acting as a catastrophic flood. The story features a cast of charming and cute characters voiced by the sitcom stars of the time, who drive the story in a way that feels natural. Some of the biggest laughs from the film come from a series of “outtakes” at the end that satirize the blown cues and missed lines from classic movie gag reels. The Pixar formula, which makes films that a wide audience can enjoy, is in full swing here, and the film is very enjoyable.

4/5 stars.