It’s Super Week, which means it’s time to pose dreamy solutions for Tom Brady’s hair situation, and make comparisons of Eli Manning to Charlie Brown. The Super Bowl is upon us, there’s no escaping its glitzy grasp. You head to the grocery stores and there you’ll find pre-made dips shaped like pigskin, pyramids of twelve packs, and potato chips with every imaginable flavoring you can dream up (Jalepeno-Bacon-Cream Cheese?). It also marks one of the highest points on the entertainment calendar for the young year of 2012. Because deep down, the Super Bowl is less about the spectacle of sport, pitting man against man in a hard hitting whirlwind, and more about what happens between the plays. Commercials inch to the 7 digits for 10 seconds and GoDaddy sickens you to your core with overly sensualized spots. And although it’s an event that is both over hyped and over produced, it’s something that I just can’t take my eyes off of.
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What The Super Bowl Half-Time Show Should Be
What Grounded Pan Am?
It’s hard to imagine a world where air travel was a mesmerizing, enjoyable experience. As a 31 year old guy, my fondest memories of airlines were probably my earliest thoughts as well. Free peanuts, Sports Illustrated magazines wrapped in a plastic sheet cover, soft pillows, dark blue blankets, and the fizzle of high altitude soda. 30 some years doesn’t give you the full timeline of air travel around the world, but it’s easy to point out the less-than-glamorous life that is flying coach in our world during that span.
Indeed there was a time when such endeavors were tolerable, even enjoyable respits as you glided from point A to point B and back again. The 50′s and 60′s were full of a wonderous new age age of aero travel that was a glorious pursuit of the senses. Fancy drinks, on-board-smoking, dressed to the nines crew of stewardess, a friendly captain, and spacious lounging. But somwhere along the way, we’d forgotten about this glorious age. Then comes the ABC period drama, Pan Am, which was intended to remind us of days gone by. Continue reading →
Bumble The Abominable Snow Monster “Stuff”
The treasured classic “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” is a yearly staple in my house. It’s equal parts nostalgic and classic storytelling wrapped in an old school stop motion wrapper. From Hermey the elf dentist to Sam the snowman, there is a lot to love about this mid-60′s holiday special.
In my mind, the scene stealer of the entire program has always been Bumble the abominable snow monster. As a child he frightened the Charles Dickens out of me. Then again, his story of being a mis-understood, tooth-aching good guy has always been his redeeming quality. Thus the fear of his form is also coupled with a great Christmas character who in the end is a pretty decent snow monster who finds new life as a tree decorator. Continue reading →
Christmas Twang From She & Him
Very few actresses are as hot right now as Zooey Deschanel. Her dorikness has struck a chord with folks far and wide including this humble tv watcher. Yet, Mrs. D has a pretty potent and respected side project that’s as equally as hot. One half of She & Him, Zooey is the soft-toned songrestress that bellows breathy melodys while accompanied by the rest of the one half in the guitar playing M. Ward. Separately, these two are superb at their individual crafts. So, when they get nudged together into the band She & Him, it’s always exciting to see what transpires. Continue reading →
Layers of Emmanuel Christmas Acoustics
Tommy Emmanuel, the Australian guitar virtuoso that’s been making incredible instrumental music since before I was born, has brought us an incredibly breezy and technically layered Christmas album in 2011, and it won’t disappoint even the most Grinchiest heart this holiday season.
Known for his Chet Atkins like rhythmic guitar playing, Emmanuel has captured the heart of instrumental Christmas music, and its easily recognizable melodies. Through twelve beautiful, mostly traditional, Christmas tracks we begin to understand why Tommy Emmanuel is such a gifted guitarist. Much of his career he’s been heralded for making guitar instrumentals interesting without overdoing it. Instrumental Christmas albums are a dime a dozen, and unfortunately the bulk of these are boring and forgettable. What Emmanuel does right is embrace the melody, and by doing so brings a very layered, comfortable sound that demands we listen. And much like his hero, he’s able to add a smidgen of country flair that is felt throughout the duration of the album. Continue reading →
Hello Holiday Heft!
Photo courtesy of Paula Fernanda on Flickr. All rights reserved.
This is not a post intended for Jillian Michaels to see. Nor does it fit into her, “don’t give up unless you’re dying” motto. No, this is something completely different. This is a musing on the joys and pangs of the holiday goodness that is about to come our way. Brace yourself, it’s coming (or perhaps it’s already here).
Not sneaky or crafty, but rather deft are the holiday marketers. They ease into your brain stems when summer gracefully ends and fall rears its chilly head. Automobile commercials shift from happy-go-lucky trips to the beach, to treks through white-capped snowy mountains. Your local department store shuns the short sleeve and short combos for scarves and long underwear. Even our beloved online retailers give us handy, and often irritating, reminders that Christmas is only “this many” days away. It’s maddening really, but it’s the over-hyped world of seasons greetings world that we live in. And I love every candy coated moment of it. Continue reading →
This Chrstmas…Let’s Surf!
As the holidays inch a little bit closer with each passing day, the singles for upcoming Christmas albums start to trickle out. Last week, I mentioned the She & Him redux of The Christmas Waltz. In all it’s indie glory, it was a subdued charmer of a track, that both captured the original perfectly while also adding to it a layer of quirkiness that only She & Him can do. Continue reading →
Unwrap An Early ‘She & Him’ Christmas Gift
It’s never too early for a wicked Christmas tune…or is it? Nevertheless, when said Christmas tune is an indie-pop gift courtesy of She & Him, it’s always a good thing. One of the most anticipated Christmas albums of the 2011 season just happens to be the latest creation of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward in the form of She & Him. Featured on the album are some sleigh ride charmers. “Sleigh Ride”, “Little Saint Nick”, and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” seem perfect fits for this duo; as do “Silver Bells”, “Christmas Day”, and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”.
But unwrap an early Christmas gift from the hipsters! “Christmas Waltz” is available as a free download from their site. Or you can simply listen and download below. A beautifully acoustic and muted track that embodies the classic song perfectly with a touch of indie magic. Get it today, and you all can thank me for your Christmas gift later!
She & Him – The Christmas Waltz by MergeRecords
*When the album is released look for a full forced review.
Albums of My Youth: August & Everything After 1993
Enter any karaoke establishment where mid-90′s high school graduates frequent, hand them a mic, ask them to select a track, and listen. Towards the beginning of the night you might get some late 80′s pop in the vein of Phil Collins. Later in the evening the mood turns toward early 90′s hair bands. Slowly the mood creeps low, the night has worn on, and you hear a chilling guitar intro. Three notes that are distinct, followed by the opening lyrics. “Step out the front door like a ghost into the fog where no one notices the contrast of white on white.” Of course, the karaokiers have turned to an early 90′s staple, “Round Here” by the Counting Crows. A song that exemplifies the strong beginning of a poetic band with a traveling folk show heart that scored with critics and masses alike. Continue reading →
