Season 2, Episode 5: UNWANTED ENDINGS

We have a new episode: the fifth one to our second season available HERE! I don't know how consistent THIS will be but since I mention on the pod that episodes are "fleshed out" on here I'm gonna share the music tracks to the tribute that is UNWANTED ENDINGS.

Broadcast - I Found the F
Silk Sonic (Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars) - Leave the Door Open
Drakeo the Ruler & JoogSZN - GTA VI
Drakeo the Ruler - Long Live the Greatest
Broadcast - Tears in the Typing Pool
Broadcast - Goodbye Girls
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Tin Pan Alley
Cloud Nothings - The Spirit Of
Ducksauce - Ask Me
NBA on NBC Theme
NBA on TNT Theme
NBA Draft Sound
Final Jeopardy Theme
 

FINAL SCORE: NICK WINS 120-79

Selena - I Could Fall in Love
Duffy - Warwick Avenue
Selena and David Byrne - God's Child (Baila Conmigo)
Dustin Conrad - In the Air
Payroll Giovanni & Cardo - Pay and Cardo featuring Tamara Jewel
Britney Spears - Toxic (String Quartet Version) by Quartetto d'Archi

Drinking...Sunglasses..Big Bad Want

I guess i need to find a way to drink less, or maybe if my weak ass could, at least not daily. Maybe i wouldnt turn on the fucking vent all night and use too much electricity. what an asshole.

Apparently "Sunglasses" was Black Country, New Road's first song way back in 2019. That seems really, really far away. If you read genius or even their youtube for the song, many of the diehards are dissatisfied with the album version. Kudos first of all to the band for being able to have people debating and arguing over the final version of your first single that doesnt appear on your debut until almost 2 years later. And its the kind of song - much like the album - that rewards with repeated listens.

 

I like to think it's split into two parts. the first phase where he is sort of lost in old man ways, annoyed by the world around him and how it doesnt understand him. Frustrated with how out of touch everyone sounds and how judgmental and inept everyone is. Drinking bourbon on ice (he likes single malt whiskey) and reflecting on how "things just aren't built like they used to be." Eventually switching to beer (he doesnt mention this in the song) but really feeling the enlightenment: "And I am ignorant now, with all that I have learnt."

The second phase he's wearing sunglasses and feeling invisible but aware that he's just as vulnerable as ever. He feels confident walking down the street even if he knows he's scared about what's ahead. Just trying to remain positive. thats supposed to be easy. When everything crashes during the second refrain - still ignorant - those dissonant horns and saxes are too much.

Finally, the bridge/outro is a deliberate fuckfest. "I'm more than adequate." I went back and heard the original(s) from '19 and they sound good too. Album version is just as good. Either way, i know its SO MUCH asking anyone to listen to a 9+ minutes song but im not gonna apologize for having heard it at least 6 times today because isn't that what music is about??

And have you heard ALL of "Big Bad Want" by Palberta? I mean the whole song. DAMN. Then listen to the whole album. By the way, SEVEN members (4 men, 3 ladies) in Black County, New Road, and in Palberta? THREE ladies. MUSIC> MUSIC> MUSIC

Weezer - Pinkerton

  

Weezer released a new album this year. They've been consistently releasing new music since the early 90s. The new album was a blend of strings and cheesy weezer sentimental longing. It felt forced and although i've seen a few positive reviews, i wouldn't recommend it. It made me want to listen to their seminal 1996 album, Pinkerton.

My introduction to Rivers Cuomo and co. was through their self-titled Green Album. "Hashpipe" was a huge hit during the second half of my high school life. I still remember winning a marching band competition during my first year in the drum line to the grinding guitars of Cuomo singing, "come on and kick me....whoa-whooooa." I liked the Green Album all right but i didn't really love it. Yes, if you can believe it, even 16 year old Bryan was already a discerning music listener. Anyway....i delved back a few years to see what else Weezer offered.

There were two albums that most music minds pointed to. Their self-titled Blue Album and it's follow-up Pinkerton. I know it's dismissive because i enjoy both more than the former green one but honestly the blue one is more pop-focused Weezer cashing in on a style that was mostly ignored - good yes, but still not reaaaallly great (Damn what an asshole right?) whereas Pinkerton is their magnum opus. An album that is definitely a crowning jewel for the late 90s and a reminder that we need to listen to these bands past efforts! Their symphony no 41 so to say and even if they try to release albums with strings in 2021, the dissonant loudness of their 96 album is still supreme.

 

Cuomo is ever direct but never looking for pity. Partly inspired by Madame Butterfly and the Japanese art and culture he loved, Cuomo weaves stories about the unusual, or not often discussed topics of love: finding out his girlfriend is a lesbian to the common story of staying with someone simply because it's better than being alone. All the while, the music is what propels everything forward. The guitars are direct and driven by chords that are meant to clash against each other in dramatic fashion; all the while everything is balanced by a band that was really in their prime. Here's a couple of tracks to enjoy off one of my favorite albums of the 90s. 

Remembering Kobe

When speaking about Kobe this past year, I've always felt the need to mention that I was far from being a fan most of his career. But I'd also have to mention that I've never cried more about someone's passing of whom I did not personally know. And for me, thats what makes the life and times of Kobe Bean Bryant such an amazing story. He came into the league as a brash young player straight outta high school, only the fourth player to ever do so. He was arrogant and a ball hog to say the least. I don't think there was any other player I could stand less than the lil fro Kobe of the early 2000s. He was just so damn cocky in those days, but you couldn't deny that he was hands down one of the most dynamic players at the time. Then there was the sexual assault case, and it felt like it might be the downfall of a great athlete due to scandal. I vividly remember his press conferences during those times and the way he would repeatedly lick his lips when answering questions. He was 24 at the time, a very young man, going thru unimaginable turmoil right when his career was truly taking off. But he faced the music like a man and admitted his infidelity publicly, and even acknowledged the difficult reality of the encounter between him and the woman in Colorado, saying, "I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter". Looking back at his statement, it feels so ahead of its time now living in the post "Me Too" reckoning. It might have been at this moment, things changed for Kobe. Slowly, he became more thoughtful, a better teammate, and became a father for the 2nd time. The years to fallow, Kobe became one of the hardest working players. His grit, perseverance and clutch performances made him the NBA icon of the era. For so many, he is the greatest to ever play the game. And as much as I hate having the argument, sports fans will always love debate, and Kobe has so many that will fight for his honor forever. His last game, will always be a memory I treasure. It was the end of the 15-16 season, and the Golden State Warriors were on the cusp of making NBA history by surpassing The Chicago Bulls with the most wins in an NBA regular season. I was at a bar looking forward to watch this momentous occasion while simultaneously watching Kobes last game. As it became clear down the stretch that Kobe was having a hell of a game, it almost started to feel as if time stood still. The entire bar was absolutely glued to the Kobe game, and hung on every shot he took. All of a sudden, The Warriors game was thoroughly irrelevant as everyone watched the NBA veteran showed tf out! 60 points later, a totally in awe crowd got to hear a beautiful farewell speech, and the unforgettable mic drop moment that is, "MAMBA OUT"! As he left basketball in the capacity of player, he became one of the sports greatest ambassadors. Having 4 daughters, he was especially outspoken about gender equity in sports and the importance of the WNBA. Then, he began to coach his daughter Giana, and the next chapter of his life was truly starting to begin. Unfortunately for so many, that chapter didn't get a chance to be fully written, and lived, by both him and his beautiful daughter, Giana. He was so well spoke, he literally was trilingual (english, spanish, italian), so thoughtful and funny. He wanted to teach the game to anyone that wanted to listen, he was passionate about pursuing other endeavors, including writing. He would’ve been great at that too. Actually he already was, he won an Oscar for, "Dear Basketball”, the best animated short film featuring the poem he wrote to announce his retirement from basketball. He was such a larger than life figure, there was no doubt that the greatness he showed on the court would translate even further off. As a father myself, the thing i like to take away the most from his life; the fierceness he showed as a girl dad. Our legacies as parents is truly with the children we raise. The love he showed for his 4 daughters was so apart of who he was as human being, and that will always transcend the heartbreak of loosing him, his beautiful daughter Giana, and the 7 other beautiful souls we lost a year ago today. I’ll always miss you Kobe.

Bryan's top albums of 2020

 Welcome to 2021 everyone. A new pod is recorded and will be uploaded soon! In the meantime here are my personal top albums of the last year. 

2020 was a crap year for everyone that really tried. But somehow, music was a thriving, beautiful escape that continued to churn out gem, after gem. Some artists even put out several albums of quality music (Born Ruffians, Bad Bunny, Drive-By Truckers, SAULT to name a few) in the last year alone. Anyway, good music is out there. We might have to work extra hard to find it but it is out there. 2021 is already off to a good start, or so i heard....let me know what you like or hate and PLEASE let me know what i missed. I promise we will have more than a handful of posts this year.

Jeff Tweedy - Love is the King

Moses Sumney - Græ

Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - Alfredo

Destroyer - Have We Met

Caribou - Suddenly

Microphones - Microphones in 2020

Run the Jewels - RTJ4

Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?  

Westside Gunn - Pray for Paris

Soccer Mommy  - Color Theory

Tennis - Swimmer

Yelle - L'Ère du Verseau

Thundercat - It Is What It Is

Chloe x Halle - Ungodly Hour

Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song

Fleet Foxes - Shore

Protomartyr - Ultimate Success Today

Drive-By Truckers - The New OK

KeiyaA - Forever, Ya Girl

Andy Shauf - The Neon Skyline

 

Don Bryant - You Make Me Feel  

Hum - Inlet

Steve Arrington - Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions

Little Dragon - New Me, Same Us

Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas

Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela - Rejoice

Pa Salieu - Send Them to Coventry 

Widowspeak - Plum

Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud

Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately

 

Mint Field - Sentimiento Mundial 
Born Ruffians - SQUEEZE 
Drakeo the Ruler and Joogszn - Thank You for Using GTL 
Disq - Collector
Childish Gambino - 3.15.20
Roisin Murphy - Róisín Machine
Sault - Untitled (Rise)
Burna Boy - Twice as Tall
Bad Bunny - Las Que no Iban a Salir 
Laura Marling - Song for Our Daughter  

 
Alina Baraz - It Was Divine

Kate NV - Room for the Moon 

Born Ruffians - JUICE 

Armani Caesar - The Liz 

The Avalanches - We Will Always Love You 

Austra - Hirudin

Paul McCartney - McCartney 3

Deerhoof - Future Teenage Cave Artists  

Jaga Jazzist - Pyramid 

Stephen Malkmus - Traditional Techniques

Want a 6-pack??

Welcome to episode 6 of the midnight genius hour! Your resident homies dissect a sextet of books and a sixer of albums for all the geniusheads out there. Let us know what you think and leave us some hate mail.

Will Nick keep his MGH scout promise!!??

Episode 5

We are back genius heads!! Episode 5 is now up and available for listening. "The intersection of running and music."