So since I've only been posting a lot of music here on Thursdays, my playlist today is a series of other things I've been “diggin” lately. And I suppose some music. Here follows a rather personal peak into some of my recent pleasures. Be kind.
Shows:
Books:
The Places in Between by Rory Stewart – I've been avoiding this “NYT's best-selling” book for a good while and even after reading it I can't say it's a masterpiece, but I can say this: It's definitely a new classic of travel literature and I learned a shit-load about the amazing country of Afghanistan and just what kinds of difficulties our expensive endeavor to replace the Taliban and drive out Al Qaeda is facing over there. Spoiler alert: we're doomed. Or rather, it's delusional to think we can change the country in the way we hope to. Anyway, like Suze Orman, Rory is crazy. But, god bless him for it, I was astonished at his 600 mile trek on foot across Afghanistan (in winter!) and that he made it alive and all the crazy things he experienced along the way. I'm glad I read it. I'm glad I understand this part of the world better.
Videos:
It's just so darn cute and delightful.[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLVrTruj_Aw[/youtube]
Trees:
Within the next few weeks the trees will cover their bones again for another season and I will forget that they look like this. These are my three favorites in our neighborhood along the course of walking the dog:
A young cherry
An old London Plane
A Hawthorne
Recent Music:
Dark was the night (red hot compilation, 2009) — Highly recommended.
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009) — Very highly recommended.
Cougarship – Psychokineteletransportation (2009) — Highest recommendation.
Doug Paisley – Doug Paisley (2009)
Arthur Russell – Love is overtaking me (2008)
Our other random favorites songs of the last two months—download here.
The latest most-played tracklist:
1.) “Summer Clothes” Animal Collective.
2.) “Ottoman” Vampire Weekend. It was about a year ago since we all heard that ass-kicking debut album. We're all now about sick of them. But then randomly there's this compilation-only song that we just heard last month. Ah, sublime. The best song they ever wrote.
3.) “Last Words” The Real Tuesday Weld. A perfect late night summertime song. Summertime, are you with me?
4.) “Nick and Norah's Theme” Mark Mothersbaugh. This title might embarrassingly give away where that compilation-only Vampire Weekend song came from… Aw, nuts!!!
5.) “Hey! How Does Everybody Know?” Arthur Russell. That half-hearted falsetto just kills me.
6.) “Tunnelvision” Here we go magic. Does this sound like it could've been early Animal Collective?
7.) “Freibad” Hauschka. Really beautiful song, thanks Jeremy.
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Not on the divshare download, but two very close runners-up: The Jonas Brothers–Tonight; Taylor Swift–Love Story. Don't knock 'em till you've tried 'em. I'm not saying it's particularly clever, just super likable. And it's fun to know what kind of lame ( and by lame I mean awesome–thanks JZ) stuff America is digging right now. Don't miss out. Cheers!
Darn it, Carla, why’d you have to go and blow it like that?
This. What a bummer.
(Not sure I’m in agreement so much about this being a fun season of Top Chef, in general — it’s seemed to me for the last two years like that show has sort of run out of ideas and is stagnating, getting less fun.)
i love the head poking out from behind tree #1. Al Sharpton in front of Lincoln Center?
that IS lincoln center, the opera house, but is that really Al? Let’s see some photos of some great Philly street art . . . next thursday?
Al Sharpton in front of Lincoln Center?
Sort of a cross between Sharpton/Kilroy.
Cougarship forever.
I heard on their next album, they’re changing the band name to Cougarmellencampship.
Yes! References to me in back-to-back posts… Now, that’s a new trend I’m liking here on TGW. (Though I’m surprised you didn’t out me on my own Gossip Girl obsession)….
TMK – good one!
#3 and #4 It’s Frank Guarrera, the opera singer. The wiki link (which it isn’t letting me embed for some reason) references that mural. And Lane, i like the idea of a photo essay of Philly mural art. We’ll see.
#7 You want to be outed more often? As you wish…
jeremey, it’s only a trend with you, farrell and trix.
i . . . why . . . would i reference you in back to back posts . . . can’t see it . . .
. . . uhhhhhh . . . now . . .
this isn’t going anywhere . . .
ah, frank guarrea, that was my second guess . . .
and can i get a PROPS for knowing that that was lincoln center,
come on folks!
give it up . . .
yeah . . .
Wow, lots of good stuff. I remember that video with the bike and the masks very vividly. It is the “What’s a girl to do?” song. I love their stuff for the artsy weirdness.
Taylor Swift and The Jonas Brothers, hah? I don’t know. My daughter is a big fan. I get to listen to that plus ICarly, The Naked Brothers’ Band, and Hannah Montana songs all day. I think it’s the part of America under the age of 20 that’s digging it. Taylor is sure beautiful and has a good voice, but it’s too mainstream, no?
Lane, don’t know how I missed #12. Ready? I am screaming at the top of my lungs!
Wow! Wow! Wow! That’s amazing!!!!!!!!! Delighted!!!!!!!!! Thrilled!!!!!!! I am clapping my hand so hard that they are hurting, but it is all well deserved!!!!!! I can’t believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am your biggest fan!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!!!!!!! Enchanted!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think I’m gonna faint from all the screaming!!!!!!!! Overjoyed!!!!!!!!!!!!
In that coldplay video, my favorite is the techie puppet. We try so hard to have stone faces like that.
I love that you feature trees. I’m looking forward to the end of their nap.
And Natasha? I love you.
I LOVE Suze Orman. Love her! Yes, she’s crazier than a loonie bird on crack, but there’s something so compelling about her tough-love spiel, delivered with that deranged look in her eyes. Excellent TV!
Also, thanks for the tree photos. Makes me nostalgic for those chilly winter East Coast days.
#16 Love ya too, dude :)
shut up natasha, seriously, i’m laughing here, . . .
I am SO sad to say that I have not experienced ANY of those things (shows, books, videos, music) except the Jonas Brothers song, the Taylor Swift song, and the trees. Wow. I’m usually very up on all of these things, and I’m highly disappointed in myself.
Thank you for the enlightenment.
the london plane picture is also amazing