The Unprecedented Times

First Quarter – 2023

We’ve surpassed the first quarter of the year. I don’t know what this is. I don’t know what I do. But here are some of the thing’s I’ve enjoyed these past few months.

Music Recommendations

Lana Del Rey – Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd?

I was surprised by how much I liked Lana Del Rey’s newest album. She seems so confident in her voice, both literally and figuratively, that it’s hard to resist this album. It just washes over you and transports you into a smoke-filled room where Lana’s classic old Hollywood persona tells you a story in black and white.

Review Score:

A-

Album Vibe:

Noir, dark pop. Regret, a single spotlight on a dark stage, smoking a cigarette with one of those long holders while wearing a white glove.

Favorite Song:

Kintsugi

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago

This past winter was brutal. I live in Western New York, where heavy snowfall is expected. But this year was especially tough. Deadly, even. So when I was snowed into my apartment, unable to leave, watching the snow blanket the neighborhood, this was playing on repeat. It really is worth the praise it gets. I think there are people out there who only know “Skinny Love”. To those people, I recommend this album from start to finish.

Review Score:

A+

Album Vibe:

Coping with loss and feeling lost. Snow thawing. Classic, raw, indie folk.

Lil Yachty – Let’s Start Here.

I came across this album through one of my favorite YouTube channels, Turning the Tables. It’s a father/son duo that reacts to music, oftentimes the son showing his favorites to his open-minded dad. I recommend that channel. It’s a lot of fun and it’s refreshing to see someone over 45 not say “all music sounds the same these days”.

Anyway. I hadn’t listened to Lil Yachty before this album dropped. But I knew about the genre he made music within. So when I heard the opening track of this project, I was blown away. This is a wild ride with some great genre-bending psych rock on it. It’s cool to see this type of experimentation from a popular artist. Really cool.

Review Score:

B+

Album Vibe:

Groovy, surprising psych rock.

Video Game Recommendations:

Iron Lung – David Szymanski

Iron Lung is a bleak, short indie game where you pilot a rusty submarine on a distant moon’s ocean of blood. At first, the art style feels simplistic; the gameplay tedious. But both work to the game’s benefit as you progress. You can beat the whole thing in an hour and a half or so. It’s available on Steam and it goes on sale fairly frequently. 

Reading Recommendations:

I’m really setting myself up for failure by recommending books in any capacity, because finishing a book feels like a daunting task these days. I will recommend a bit of reading though. 

17776: What football will look like in the future – Jon Bois

Review Score:

A

This is a deceptive, relatively short read/experience. I say experience because it’s sort of multimedia. There are a few elements at play here, but I don’t want to go into great detail because it’s best to go in blind. I’ll just say that it’s not as it seems. If football sounds boring to you, I’ll just say that the story isn’t really about football. It’s a glimpse into a life without problems. It’s a story framed in a truly unique and fascinating way that explores the human condition. 

Movie Recommendations:

Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Review Score:

B

This was exactly what it should have been. There is a very plausible parallel timeline where “D&D” continued to be an unmarketable movie property. But thanks to a solid cast, some decent writing, and actual genuine, unembarrassed heartfelt moments, the D&D movie is worth seeing. I’d see another. 

The Fugitive

Review Score: 

B+

I love Harrison Ford. I was struck with the urge to watch one of his movies after I saw the trailer for the next Indiana Jones movie. He’s a legend like no other. This came out in 1993, which is clear from the way this movie is made. It’s very straightforward. It’s exactly what it says it is. Ford goes on the run after he’s wrongly sentenced for the murder of his wife. They portray him as a likable character in ways that a worse movie would fail to do. Tommy Lee Jones is also great in this as the US Marshall in charge of hunting the escaped convict down. When the pair first meet, Harrison Ford grumbles “I didn’t kill my wife.” Tommy Lee Jones looks bemused and replies “I don’t care”. And why would he? He’s just trying to catch a criminal. He’s not trying to solve the murder of Ford’s wife. He’s just trying to do his job. I appreciate that both characters are equally competent in their cat and mouse chase. Harrison Ford doesn’t get away due to Jones’ negligence. He gets by because of his quick thinking, not dumb luck. Well, maybe one time when he takes an improbable tumble. Jones is equally thorough in his pursuit. 

This is a classic. Harrison Ford has been in so many iconic roles. His longevity as an actor is impressive.