What I Am Listening To
Joseph Shabason’s The Fellowship. This album has a few things I love about music. It is a concept album, and the story and emotions are conveyed without lyrics. Shabason is a session saxophone player mostly known for working with Destroyer and War On Drugs but has been putting out solo work. The Fellowship is an album that is about growing up in a Jewish & Muslim dual faith family. He balances the traditional composition with the experimental as we weave through his growing up. The album runs through jazz, classical, fourth world, new age, avant-garde, and pop elements.
What I Am Watching
My wife and I are watching Game of Thrones. I have watched two and a half seasons but have read all the books, and this whole thing is a brand spanking new to my wife. As huge things are about to happen, I slowly move my head towards my wife to watch her reaction. We are into the third season and past where I left off. On the one hand, what a great show, and we are still seeing its influence on shows coming out now. The press will say, ‘this is blah blah streaming service’s Game of Thrones.’ On the other hand, it already seems dated and some weird editing choices. It is a fun show whether you’ve read the books or not, and there are eight seasons to devour.
What I Am Reading
Return the National Parks to the Tribes by David Treuer in the May 2021 issue of the Atlantic. This article goes through the history of the National Parks and our western expansion. Treuer writes, “The American West began with war by concluded with parks.” He makes a great argument why it would be in all of our best interests and how we already have precedence to do so.
What I Am Watching
My wife and I watched A Woman, a Gun, and a Noodle Shop (2009), directed by Yimou Zhang, a remake of the Coen Brothers’ movie, Blood Simple (1984). Set in 19th century China and using the exaggerated costumes and caricatures of Chinese Opera, this movie follows the Coen Brothers’ plot. While the people are cartoony, the landscape that surrounds the Noodle Shop is beautifully barren and intimidating.
What I Am Listening To
My own playlists! That’s right, I make Spotify playlists and then make them public so you can see what I like and then judge me. Come, listen to what I think are some fire mixes.