Overrated / Underrated 2015
Long considered a musician’s musician, saxophonist Chris Potter has performed with the likes of Dave Holland, Pat Metheny and Steely Dan. His 2012 album, “The Sirens,” drew from Homer’s “The Odyssey,” and his new record, “Imaginary Cities,” follows in the footsteps of Charlie Parker by deftly adding strings to an already potent mix. (Potter performs Saturday as part of the Jazz Bakery’s Moveable Feast series.) (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
By Chris Barton
Follow me @chrisbarton.
All right, all right, all right: It’s been a fun ride with the artist formerly known as Wooderson from “Dazed & Confused.” But after reaching the literal apex of how far Matthew McConaughey can go in the flawed “Interstellar,” it’s time to start fresh in 2015. McConaughey needs to surprise us soon or risk falling into self-parody, like a Nicolas Cage but with an accent and better film choices. Time may be a flat circle, but the time for a change is now. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)
As 2014 draws to an end, let us bid farewell to this group, which became left-field chart favorites with a cappella covers of pop hits by Gotye, Fun. and Daft Punk that went viral online. The group won a singing competition in 2011, which is usually a pretty effective deterrent to success, but Pentatonix sealed its fate as a one-year phenomenon with the cloying “That’s Christmas to Me,” a hit album that, like most Internet-born oddities, won’t be remembered much longer. (Lawrence K / Ho, Los Angeles Times)
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Chris Barton is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times who wrote about TV, music and pop culture.