Kendrick Lamar’s got a lot to say on his new record. But what really stopped me on my first listen was asking, “Is that Eckhart Tolle talking too?!” Spoiler: it is. On my first few passes, I think Kendrick has done it, yet again. If you need a quick intro to Tolle, read this (“Feel … Continue reading Sunday Music: Kendrick’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”
Tag: poetry
Sunday Music: Playlist for April 2022
I teased this the other day - here’s a mix for April 2022. You can listen on Spotify or Apple Music. Here are my liner notes: “Ur Mum” by Wet Leg. Irreverent slacker rock done right. I love a song that both hurts and makes you laugh. It’s the end of a relationship, it’s time … Continue reading Sunday Music: Playlist for April 2022
How We Feel = The Stories We Tell (With Ocean Vuong)
How we feel is a function of the stories we repeat to ourselves. To change, with repetitions, is to edit. We can edit for length, tone, truth - and/or any combination of things. When we’re telling stories to others, our stories come crashing into theirs. What they repeat when they walk away, determines how they … Continue reading How We Feel = The Stories We Tell (With Ocean Vuong)
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
Ricky Gervais’ After Life is one of the most profoundly beautiful (and funny) explorations of mourning I’ve ever seen. If the only thing constant is change, what are we doing ever trying to hold onto anything constant? It doesn't mean it doesn’t hurt. It doesn't mean it’s not hard. But we have to embrace the … Continue reading Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep
Podcast Of The Week: Remembering Sondheim
NPR ran a series of 3 podcasts on the life and career of Stephen Sondheim full of Terry Gross interviews, clips from songs, and conversations with others about his influence. With his recent passing, I realized I only knew some bits and pieces and was so moved by the outpouring of love I figured I … Continue reading Podcast Of The Week: Remembering Sondheim
Men At Forty (Happy Birthday To Me)
"Men At Forty" by Donald Justice is printed out, framed, and hanging in my closet. I’ve been glancing at it off and on for the last year or so. This post isn’t a critique, but it is my 40th birthday reflection on it. Pardon the self-indulgence, but it felt important to put this down. Men … Continue reading Men At Forty (Happy Birthday To Me)
Sunday Music: Bullion And ‘96 Feels
I’ve been going through boxes (and milk crates, and plastic bins, and…) of old CDs. Since I apparently don’t own a CD player outside of my car, I’ve been digging up whatever I can up online, and whatever I can’t, well, don’t get me started (but if you get in my car you will be … Continue reading Sunday Music: Bullion And ‘96 Feels
Sunday Music: Grapefruit Moon
It’s good to have a reason to stop and stare at the sky. The moon has been putting in some serious work this week (at least over me in New England). “Harvest Moon” would be the obvious song to sing, but I’ve been subjecting my dogs on our evening walks to renditions of “Grapefruit Moon” … Continue reading Sunday Music: Grapefruit Moon
Sunday Music: Nightswimming
Remember those friends that clearly got things so much faster than you when you were growing up? My buddy Jeff told me how amazing “Nightswimming” by R.E.M. was. He said listen and listen close. It was the best song on the whole album. I thought it was fine, but, wasn't it just a kind of … Continue reading Sunday Music: Nightswimming
Sunday Music: Remembering Gift of Gab
The first time I heard him, it was (probably) a Napster lifted version of "Alphabet Aerobics." Somebody inevitably pitched it to me as, "dude, you've gotta hear this. He does the whole alphabet in rhyme and it's just redonculous." Yes, that was certainly my gateway introduction to Gift of Gab. Yes, we also said redonculous. … Continue reading Sunday Music: Remembering Gift of Gab