Netflix’s Sandman continues to be as faithful to the source material as it could possibly be at its budget while missing the spirit entirely. Taking out all the detours makes it routine and flat. They could have made room for side stories with animation or bonus episodes but they chose not to. Drag.
I’m watching the NBA summer league earnestly. Never a good sign.
Thunder defense was the definitive unit of the season and they probably just cinched it with that 3rd quarter.
Oh dear that looked decisive.
I am excited for this Game 7 and I hope it’s not an OKC runaway. Game 7’s are historically rockfights and as I see it that plays into the Pacers’ hands. Let’s goooo!
Ordered the new Stereolab record and next week I’m definitely going to get the new Pulp. I would like very much to devote more time to new bands but the nineties simply refuse to die, you see.
NP: Jason Isbell, Foxes in the Snow. I have limited tolerance for all-solo guitar records, but Isbell I guess has earned the indulgence. There are some songs I like but as a record I wish it had some drums and Eagles double guitar solos.
This book arrived yesterday and I read it in one sitting. An excellent reason to start watching early “Simpsons” episodes for the first time in many years. I figured I had them all memorized.
Double feature of Captain America: Brave New World and Mountainhead, two dissimilar movies that both feature powerful characters becoming murderous for murky plot reasons.
NP: Dutch Interior, Moneyball. I ordered this new record partly because it’s drawing comparisons to Pavement and Wilco but mostly because it’s named after the Michael Lewis baseball book, which I find quite amusing. Their band concept (five songwriters and a drummer) fits the title I find.
Phoenician Scheme is another good Wes Anderson movie, lots of funny bits and some B&W stuff I happily didn’t understand. Surprising amount of action for his style, usual deadpan line readings.
There’s an 18 almost 19-minute song on the Car Seat Headrest record that has a hand percussion solo, Big Rock Guitar break, a long sea shanty interlude with a singing monkey, and then a reprise from a previous ten-minute song for good measure. It’s… a lot.
NP: Horsegirl, Phonetics On and On. Different than their SY-indebted debut, this has some Flying Nun jangle and Raincoats/Vaselines lo-fi folksiness. Cate Le Bon produces but is largely hands off. Really digging this on first listen.
It’s indie rock in genre but with the structural ambition, and marathon stamina, of prog metal. Odd combo. I think the Decemberists mined this territory, to eventual diminishing returns. Can’t rate this one yet.
Still contending with Car Seat Headrest’s The Scholars, which is now the densest record in my collection this side of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. I’m determined to get to like this thing because of that, even though the catchiest chorus is “BEHEMOTH: Tabernacle!”
Now playing The Scholars, the brand new one from Car Seat Headrest. Debuted this last night on headphones. It’s a beast! The remnants of traditional song structures are long gone. This is full bore prog. Will take a while to acclimate. Snappy drums anyway.
Now playing: MGMT, self-titled. Never the biggest fan but their latest record Loss of Life blew me away; it was my 2024 AoTY. Now I’m going back to their third and fourth albums. There’s no hits on here but growers. I respect their commitment to avoid easy hooks (after their first LP).
Jokić are you kidding me?
Awesome walk-off Cubs win tonight. Good vibes with this team. It’s early but they’re good.
Have never pulled this hard for a Knicks team. Brunson is something.
Always have time for this awesome album with an exceptionally ugly cover. Anxiously awaiting new music from The Beths this year.
These second-round games have been absolutely lit. NBA has good product.
Brunson!
Cubs’ offense keeps putting the pressure on. They keep losing starters to injury but if they keep scoring six to ten runs a game they can carry it.
Cubs vs. Pirates ace Paul Skenes in a rare morning start. Hi how’ve you been? I haven’t been using social media at all.
The Cubs are legit! They have faced largely good teams early on and are winning games and series. Their offense is unsustainably hot up and down the lineup. They steal lots of bases in addition to slugging. They are fun to watch as last year but now a real contender.
Happy to be watching postseason basketball once again. Sorry the Bulls couldn’t make it.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows fits the series profile in that I’m 20+ hours into the game and not sure if I’m having fun yet.
Cubs win their home opener! Shota lasts into the eighth. They beat the previously undefeated Padres 3-1.
Cubs bullpen gives up 8 runs in one 8th inning. We’re so back.