Friday Playlist
Nothing special about this playlist in advance of our spring break. Although it is chock full of great tunes. No playlist next week, as that is our fly home day. Hope everyone has a great week. “Bonnet Of Pins” – Matt BerningerOh my! Often when lead singers of bands release solo projects, they use them as opportunities to explore new ground different than where their band normally treads. Not so here. This sounds almost exactly like The National. It isn’t just his voice or lyrics, either. The music is right in the pocket of a great National song. “Something In The Air” – Lauren MayberryAlong those same lines, this isn’t…
March Media
A little earlier than normal so it doesn’t sit in the Drafts folder until we return from spring break. Movies, Shows, etc The Agency Tuuuuuurific! I had read/heard raves for this and was waiting until S needed to get her next Taylor Sheridan fix on Paramount+ so I could watch it. It lived up to the hype. Now, there are some issues with the story, which got a little broad at times. But that’s a minor complaint. Tense, generally well written, good acting performances. Most of all, though, it is shot like a movie, more cinematic in visual presentation than most other spy shows out there. And the soundtrack was…
Freedom!
A quick kid update. L had her cast taken off this morning. Everything looked great. No swelling, no pain. The doctor said the incision and tendon anchor in her foot all seemed fine. When he had her rotate her foot inward, an action that triggered her pain pre-surgery, she could do so without limitation or pain. She will be in a boot for the next six weeks and can finally put weight on it again. He wants her to keep the crutches handy for now, but she can transition away from them as she feels comfortable. She can take the boot off and get in the pool next week if…
Wednesday Links
Steven Hyden has a new megalist out, this one his favorite 100 indie rock albums of the last 25 years. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop, spending over an hour working through it while building a playlist based upon it to listen to over spring break. The Best Indie Rock Albums Of The 21st Century, Ranked I’m not a vinyl-head by any measure, but I try to stay up on music news and trends. Yet I was surprised to read about this business in Kansas that is helping to keep high-end vinyl records a viable product. “What I’m all about,” he said, “is saving the world from bad sound.”…
Reaching For The Stars, Vol. 110
Chart Week: March 24, 1984 Song: “Eat It” – ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic Chart Position: #18, 3rd week on the chart. Peaked at #11 the week of April 14. It’s been a while, and for that I offer my endless apologies. I still listen to at least part of an AT40 show every weekend. Over the past couple months I’ve started several drafts for new RFTS entries. However, each time I’ve lost enthusiasm while doing research and have let them die on the digital vine.[1] To be honest, today’s selection isn’t one I would have normally been interested in. But I was getting antsy about not updating the series, plus spring…
Weekend Notes
A weekend mostly filled with basketball, the last time I’ll say that until late next fall. Jayhawk Talk What an appropriate ending. KU had a three-point lead over Arkansas Thursday with just over 3:00 remaining in the game. In the following 90 or so seconds: AJ Storr forced a bad shot early in the shot clock, missing. This came after a time out. As usual with Storr, Bill Self threw up his hands in disgust/disappointment after the play. After an Arkansas miss, KJ Adams grabbed the rebound, turned to head up court, and crumbled to the ground, losing the ball. After another Arkansas miss, Hunter Dickinson threw a pass literally…
Friday Playlist
“Bang Bang Bang” – Sports Team UK funsters making fun of Americans for our fascination with guns. “Afraid of Guns” – Motorbike Cincinnati funsters making fun of Americans for our fascination with guns. “Death of a Giant” – Murder Capital Irish funsters making fun of…oh, wait. Actually this song is about the band members being in Dublin on the day of Pogues leader Shane MacGowan’s funeral. “777” – illuminati hotties Sarah Tudzin takes her normal fuzzy, power pop sound in a slightly more shoegazey direction here. She never misses. “Salome” – The Ophelias Hey, another Cincinnati band! Something is going on down there. Not sure M is into indie rock…
NCAA Picks
I hate my picks. That’s how I’ll sum up this year’s NCAA tournament. Which seems perfect for a college basketball season I have mostly hated. Spoiled KU fan, I know. As hard as I tried not to, I ended up going with all four #1 seeds to reach the Final Four. Which is an idiotic way to fill your bracket since it has happened exactly one time.[1] Some people think Auburn is creaky and vulnerable based on their late-season lull. I see a team that was focused on one thing – winning it all – getting complacent late. Some people are screaming the “It’s March, that’s Tom Izzo time!” nonsense…
Early NCAA Thoughts
Here we are, NCAA tournament time. The time of some of my favorite, non-family of course, moments of my life. And also some of my least favorite. I suppose that’s the good thing about KU’s relative mediocrity this year: if I genuinely have no expectations, there is only opportunity for good memories this week. I expect them to shit the bed, so anything other than that will be a pleasant surprise. The Jayhawks didn’t do a thing in the Big 12 tournament to change how I think about them. Moments of brain-dead play, often from the most experienced players, against Colorado. Then the Arizona game was the exact opposite of…
Weekend Notes
As I said Friday, last week was a very odd one around here, at least in terms of our daily schedules. Monday was a normal day, although one third of L’s classmates were gone on their retreat. She did go in late after getting her stitches removed and new cast put on. Tuesday had the same schedule, although this was her day to go on retreat. As it involved A LOT of walking, we excused her and she stayed home. We got in a good 30-minute, seated shooting session before the winds kicked up in the afternoon. Trying to lock that upper body form in. Wednesday was SAT day for…