Well hello there. How are you?
Nothing much to report on this week. I’m still exploring LA and loving it, but I also ran into some spats of burnout. To shake up my schedule, I decided to search on YouTube for “how to animate for free.” Because the Don Hertzfeldt fan in me has always wanted to learn how to turn my doodles into animation. I thought well, with today’s technology, surely it must be easier to do than I think.
Sure enough, I come across this video. And tada, the GIFs you see this morning.
I’m so excited! I feel like this is going to unlock a lot of fun new things to add to the newsletter. Maybe one day I’ll learn how to draw two bouncing balls at the same time.
I forgot where I first read “Take your time, but don’t waste your time,” but I have a sticky note on my desk with this quote. It’s a nice reminder. It felt like these doodle animations were an example of taking time, but not wasting time.
Anywho, let’s check out some music. Here are some links and tunes for the week.
LINKS
Goodreads, #BookTok, and the gamification of reading.
I did a dopamine fast because the internet told me to. Though he tends to be very tongue-in-cheek, I like Drew Gooden and his videos. This is a pretty honest and funny look at all the bizarre ways in which we try to use the Internet to “sell” us ways to get off the Internet.
I re-watched a few OverSimplified videos and forgot how great and funny they are. If I had to quickly sum up American history and politics in one event for someone who’s never been to the U.S., I would probably just show this OverSimplified entry on Prohibition.
Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” music video, without the music.
THIS WEEK’S MIXTAPE
Listen to this week’s mix on Spotify.
(Note: Not every song here is available on streaming services.)
Ruler - “Drag”
Some very nice Seattle power-pop, a genre that never seems to go out of style or influence. I like this whole Ruler LP. For anyone else who still thinks Matthew Sweet is underrated and could use some more crunchy distortion in their lives.
Iglesia Atomica - “Los demonios andan sueltos”
I’m a big fan of these stoner psychedelic rock riffs from San Juan, Puerto Rico. I assume Iglesia Atomica has already opened for King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and is somewhere doing a backflip.
NOBRO - “Let’s Do Drugs”
Drugs drugs drugs drugs drugs drugs drugs drugs.
Open Window Maniac - “99”
Open Window Maniac are one talkie British frontman away from being called post-punk, but there’s restraint and some sludge here that makes “99” more interesting on first listen. Stick around for the guitar solo at the end.
Sufjan Stevens - “So You Are Tired”
Sufjan, I am tired, because your music has been boring since 2010.
The Replacements - “Left of the Dial - Ed Stasium Mix”
I’m very excited about the new Tim reissue. I’m not the only Replacements fan who’s vocal about loving Tim but feeling like a better album was hiding under all that questionable production. “Left of the Dial” is my favorite Replacements song. In high school, it was my favorite song period. So this new mix of “Left of the Dial” will never sound as good as the “Left of the Dial” in my head, but I’m more excited that many people are going to listen to The Replacements, maybe even for the first time.
Wilco - “Evicted”
In my last newsletter, I poked fun at Wilco, still a top-five band for me that I have not enjoyed for a few albums. “Evicted” is exactly what I thought a new Wilco song would sound like. Still, I’m surprised by how much I like it. This is the first distinct Tweedy melody in a minute that I’m catching myself singing along to on my own. What was the last new Wilco song you heard that wasn’t mid-tempo?
Phoenix - “Love Like a Sunset, Pt. 1 + 2
If you caught my Instagram, you saw that I went to see Phoenix and Beck … literally across the street from where Taylor Swift was playing one of her many LA shows. I interviewed Phoenix a few years ago and still quite enjoy them. One of the best “greatest hits” rock bands of the 21st century who still make strong records. The highlight of both sets was Phoenix doing a special full performance of “Love Like a Sunset” to the backdrop of a lot of vintage outer space footage. There’s never a bad time to listen to Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It’s good to know that half the album sounds even better while floating in space.
Rodriguez - “Sandrevan Lullaby - Lifestyles”
Rest in peace, Rodriguez. “Sandrevan Lullaby - Lifestyles“ is not the best Rodriguez song, but its first minute or so has one of my favorite guitar openings ever. I could dream to this acoustic guitar. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen Searching For Sugar Man. I wonder how well it’s held up.
The Band - “The Weight”
Rest in peace, Robbie Robertson. One of the greatest American songs written by a Canadian. You could do worst than to spend the day listening to Music From Big Pink.
And that’s it! Until next Wednesday.
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With love and all the other good things,
-b
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OPE! logo by Claire Kuang. words and cartoons by yours truly. stock photos by Substack unless credited. animations made using FlipaClip and EZGIF. all typos are intentional.