This piece is from last fall, but I came across a Tweet that linked to it over spring break and saved it for a moment like now, when I’m busy and can’t generate any original #Content for you. Although I am a lover of pop culture lists, I can appreciate how they are often ridiculous. This “list” is a fine skewering of those of us who obsess about such things. The context in which the things that we rank take place is often more important than the things we are ranking.
I received my second Pfizer vaccine shot on Friday. WHOOOO-HOOOOO!!!!! No issues, other than a sore arm. I’ve heard wildly varying stories from others who have already been through both shots. S and several other friends got wiped out by shot #2. In her case, she felt achy and sore and lethargic for about 24 hours. Another friend was out for two days with similar symptoms. However several other folks have reported no issues.
Let us continue our adventure through the flood of (mostly) new music that has arrived with spring. open.spotify.com/playlist/… “Understand” - The Cry The Cry are one of those un-searchable bands. There are albums named The Cry. A TV show. A movie. Books. Enough noise that search engines find it very difficult to spit out information about the actual band, which is kind of obscure to begin with. From what I was finally able to dig up they were apparently big with skaters around 1990 then went away.
Can’t Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop’s Blockbuster Year - Michaelangelo Matos My spring break read seems like it was written directly for me. Matos takes a deep look at all of the music of 1984. It begins with Thriller dominating the music world in late 1983 and carried through to mid–1985 and Live Aid. Along the way he spends nearly equal time digging into the biggest artists of the year - Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Lionel Richie, Cyndi Lauper, and Tina Tuner - along with many, many other artists who cracked the Top 40 that year.
Well, we now live in a world where Scott Drew has a national championship and Kansas is facing probation. Just fucking great. If I could, I would light college basketball on fire and let it burn a slow, painful death. OK, that’s a little harsh. And, honestly, I can deal with whatever is going to happen to KU. It’s the Scott Drew shit that really pisses me off. Phony, shady m-fer.
Welcome to a new series here on Ye Olde Blog. It will focus on my process to pick my next vehicle. I know, exciting, right?!?! Feel free to skip if you’d rather read my normal bullshit about sports, music, and books. For about five months I’ve been spending A TON of time researching what I should get when the lease on my Chevy Tahoe expires in July. As you may recall we did a little car shopping in November, but that ended up being for S rather than me.
After a week away, and a week before with no playlist before that, it might take a few extra large playlists to dig through the pile of new(ish) music I have. You, my loyal readers/listeners benefit! So let’s get after it. open.spotify.com/playlist/… “A Rat Without a Tail” - Daniel Romano A pretty dope song that recalls numerous influences, most notably scuzzy 1970s rock. “Not Dead Yet” - Lord Huron It’s been over three years since we’ve heard new music from Lord Huron.
Wow, in a shocker that is apparently not an April Fool’s Day joke, Roy Williams is retiring after 33 years as a head coach. I am equally surprised and unsurprised. Both because of his age and his demeanor in recent years, it has been fashionable to wonder if each season would be Roy’s last. But I am honestly floored this is the year he pulled the plug. I did not think he would want to go out the way he did this season, with a mediocre (for Carolina) team filled with young guys that had the potential to get better over time.
March 2021 Middle Kids - 47 The Pack A.D. - 42 Crowded House - 32 Hatchie - 18 Pearl Jam - 13 Complete stats available at my Last.fm page.
Don’t think I’m going to add anything new in the next 24 hours, so I’ll go ahead and drop this and knock one item off my new month checklist. Shows and Movies Spring Baking Championship It’s been awhile, but I finally decided to watch one of these shows that didn’t wasn’t focused on Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Easter. I’m not sure why I enjoy these so much. I’m not a huge baker.
Chart Week: March 26, 1983 Song: “I Know There’s Something Going On” - Frida Chart Position: #13, 21st week on the chart. Peaked there for three weeks. One great thing about The Number Ones series is how it has forced me to re-evaluate artists I soured on over the years. Phil Collins is a perfect example. I forgot how many massive hits he had. Dude had seven number ones and six other top tens as a solo artist.
Another spring break has come and gone. We spent the week on Anna Maria Island, Florida, just outside of Tampa. Although we planned our trip independently, it turns out AMI and the surrounding communities are one of the most popular destinations for families from Indy area Catholic schools. Our girls were very excited to learn how many of their friends would be staying nearby. Easy access to folks we know changed the entire week for us.
Gonzaga, Texas, Baylor, Illinois. Zags over Illini in title game. KU loses to USC Monday. Unless they play Drake. Then they sweep the Iowa schools and lose by 12 (again) to the Zags in the Elite 8.
I have a busy day of spring break travel prep ahead of me, so just a video for this week. We shall reconvene for our weekly listening party on Good Friday. youtu.be/RJv2-_–E… “A Quick One (While He’s Away)” - The Who I’ve heard about this performance before, but had never watched it. Two different people referenced it over the past week which got me searching to find it. The hype was legit.
Well, shit. It appears that I’ve lost what was supposed to be my most recent Reader’s Notebook entry. I remember writing it and swore I posted it. (The books included were N.K. Jemisin’s The City We Became and John Le Carré’s The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.) Since this entry references one of those books, I was looking back for the post to link to and could not find it.
One shot down, one to go. That’s right, I am 50% of the way to being fully vaccinated against Covid 19! Indiana dropped the age limit to 45 yesterday. A friend, who also turns 50 this June, told me Monday night he heard rumors the state would be dropping the requirement below 50 Tuesday morning. He got up early, checked the state health department’s website, and just before 8:00 it updated to say Hoosiers 45 and up were now eligible.
This was a delightful read. Since it happened in 1977, seems legit. If you could even try to pull it off today - and seems like there’s too much technology to make it possible - I don’t think anyone would believe you. Also, 17 beers a day does not seem ideal. The bizarre tale of the world's last lost tourist, who thought Maine was San Francisco
Some week for KU sports, huh? Let’s review! Monday: fired a football coach for the fifth time in 11 years, this time for lying/covering up allegations of allegedly/likely putting female student staff members in uncomfortable situations at his previous job. Gross. Tuesday: Idiot athletic director gives press conference to show that he’s in control and deserves the chance to hire the next football coach. It does not go well. Well, not for him, at least.
open.spotify.com/playlist/… “Alex Trebek” - The Fleshtones I wouldn’t say this is a novelty song, but it comes close. Regardless of how serious it is or is not, it is absolutely delightful. “Bottom Feeders” - Tim Cohen A nutty song for nutty times. Something about this makes me think of my early college years. I’m not sure exactly what elicits that feeling, though. “Underneath the Roses” - Paul Jacobs Another song that doesn’t necessarily fit into the normal fare of these playlists.