I saw this Canadian artist open for Yeasayer a couple years ago. For an opening performance, it was exciting and refreshing. She did everything herself with a couple keyboards, a computer, and a sequencer. The songs were fun and equally enjoyable as Yeasayer. The best part was that she was using some sort of vocal effect that made it sound like little leprechauns were…
Well, it's a little past Friday, but this album called U.F.O.F. by Big Thief came out and it is worth a listen (or actually two). The best way I can describe it is folksy with a tad of emotion. But wait, there's more! The opener, Contact, starts with a plucky riff under airy vocals, and by the end, distorted guitars perfectly parallel cavernous screams.…
The grocery store where we live has a fuel rewards program where you get a point for every dollar spent in the grocery store. For every 100 points, you get 10 cents off each gallon of gas you buy at the grocery chain's gas stations. I started using this program as it seemed fair at the time. The rules being any remaining unused points…
After their third album in 2016, Sunlit Youth, I was hooked on the refreshing melodies of Local Natives that felt like a distant cousin of Radiohead and Grizzly Bear's love child. Much to my surprise and happiness, I saw this new one called Violet Street was coming out today. I've already listened to the album three times and it is delightful. The sonic feels…
Freddie Mercury was one of the most amazingly talented musicians of the late 20th century. His voice and showmanship were unparalleled. While I generally don't love biopics, I was eagerly anticipating this one due to the subject and also the actor chosen to portray Freddie: Rami Malek. I was less than pleased when it felt like the beginning was extremely forced in order to…
In this thriller from Netflix, Sandra Bullock plays Malorie, a survivor of an apocalyptic event must protect her two children on a trip down a river while blindfolded. The movie sets the stage with rules that govern the universe it creates. Anyone who "sees" the invisible creatures will become suicidal and immediately try to kill themselves. Also, there are crazies who have essentially become…
This is arguably the best Christmas movie. It's heart-warming, hilarious, and is just as relevant today, even though the movie is set in the early 1940s and came out in the early 80s. Join Ralphie Parker on his misadventures at Christmas time. All he wants for Christmas is a BB gun, but everyone thinks it's too dangerous for him. Among the many enjoyable moments,…
Bruce Willis plays action hero John McClane. He's just a regular guy at his estranged wife's business party in Los Angeles when a group of terrorists (spoiler: thieves) take over the Nakatomi building where the party is being held on the 30th floor. Some people say this isn't a Christmas movie, but they are wrong. This is the Christmas movie for after the kids…
When I was growing up, How the Grinch Stole Christmas came on TV every year. It was a magical 30 minutes of story, song, and heart. Based on the Dr. Suess book, the Grinch is a hateful curmudgeon who lives on a mountain above Whoville and can't stand the Whos and their Christmas celebrations. The Grinch decides to steal Christmas from the Whos, but…
Chuck and his merry group of misfits sure know how to party. Except that the Christmas season has arrived and Charlie is depressed. Nothing is going the way he would like. After visiting Lucy's doctor office/stand, she tells him to direct a Christmas play. Things do not work out so great at rehearsals, so Charlie decides to get a Christmas tree for the play.…
