posted December 25, 2018 #

Xmas gifts from my wife and folks https://t.co/FJVNiq45SZ

posted December 24, 2018 #

We all celebrate in our own ways https://t.co/zRfTJGo14s

posted December 24, 2018 #

10 years, 25k entries, 1.4M images, 1 big weird Internet ? https://t.co/vBfzwUNE6W

Friday Videos - Dec 24th, 2018 (Not Quite Friday Edition)

posted December 24, 2018 #

This GIPHY Top Gifs of 2018 makes no sense. I'm assuming someone hit Publish way too early.

But I digress! Hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas break and staying off the Internet as much as possible. I would be remiss if I didn't get at least one more Friday Videos in before the end of the year, so here's some healthy distractions for you and yours. I'll post some short distractions and some longer pieces as well, since I know you're looking for some time investments.

Screaming Hairy Armadillo - it's all right there on the label and it delivers.
Gabber Dance - this music may throw you for a loop here but the dancing... the dancing should keep you transfixed.
Fireball Family Christmas - Whatever your weirdest family tradition is, it's not throwing flaming socks around. Tennessee Crossroads has hours of delightful content, so dive in deeper from here.
ADBC: Get Out - this clip from the overlooked ADBC Comedy Special gets me every single time, without fail.
Wakiki's - Snow in Hawaii - ran across this song from one of those K-Mart in-store compilations and can't stop playing it now.
Orcas playing with New Zealand swimmer - this seems like it would be absolutely terrifying but the swimmer doesn't veer off course in the slightest.
Kaizo Super Mario Bros 2 - I see an inordinate amount of ryukahr playing various Mario hacks but recently he took on a Super Mario Bros 2 mod and it's pretty fascinating.
Kate Bush - Christmas Special 1979 - a 45-minute variety show with plenty of melodrama.
A Muppet Family Christmas - the entire special with commercials, so you can really indulge.

Have a great break!

Pen15 Trailer

posted December 24, 2018 #

Lots of good people involved here

The Waikikis - Snow in Hawaii

posted December 23, 2018 #

can't stop listening

Kmart May 1988 Reel To Reel : Tape-A-Thon

posted December 23, 2018 #

2019 soundtrack

Speakeasy: John Mulaney Was Always Weird

posted December 21, 2018 #

delightful

posted December 21, 2018 #

OMG It's here - the 2018 Holiday Mixtape f. Bruce Ervin, Qats, QuicheNight, Don Coyote, Fetching Pails, Waterfall Wash, Z the Band, and Pet Envy! All yours for a $5+ donation to our Scholarship Fund. HUGE shoutout to... https://t.co/KUQMpfDNuz

DM Stith - Withdrawing

posted December 21, 2018 #

Closing out the year of yk Records releases is the third revived single from DM Stith entitled "Withdrawing." It's a short, upbeat, ditty but packs a punch with Stith's haunting vocal style and heartwrenching lyrics. It's my favorite combo.

Below are a few words from David on the track but please take a moment to stream it (or download if that's your thing). It's a wonderful song and a great way to wrap up 2018 for the label.

Now I think I know what people aim to mean when they use the word ‘Love,’ but for a long time the term struck me as a precious tool blunted by misuse. And instead of a clean heal after the cut is made, your life is left to manage a series of rips, breaks, and bruises. Your experience with Love is confusing. The mention of the word utterly drains you. Sometimes it’s best just to walk away. This humble happy little kick-up-and-whirl of a song tumbled out one morning in Spring 2011 and cleared the way for a new body of work.
-DM Stith

10x18

posted December 21, 2018 #

Every year a group of designers is called together to select their top albums of the year and create new cover art to represent them. This year the collection resides at 10x18.co and is every bit as stunning as every previous year.

There doesn't seem to be a way to link directly to a specific designers body of work but maybe that's for the best as it will inspire you to click around a bit - not just check in on the regulars.

TDLR: this thing is happening again and it's still good. Spend all day enjoying it.

WOTT: Volume 124 - 2018 Highlights (Part Two)

posted December 21, 2018 #

As promised, here is Part Two of my 2018 Highlights for the We Own This Town: Music podcast.

This edition covers a bit more varietal territory in terms of genres; hopping a bit into electronic and ambient territories. On the whole, putting these compilations together was a reminder that I'm really pigeonholing myself most of the time with the amount of indie / rock music that I listen to. 2019 will hopefully yield an even wider range of styles. For now, go enjoy!

posted December 20, 2018 #

I love when I reopen the Uber app & it looks like a lil Toyota Sienna is Tokyo drifting through the whole airport to get me

posted December 20, 2018 #

song to get you through the goddamn day #4 comes to us from the incredible @dmstith with his essential cover of jason molina’s “get out get out get out” https://t.co/lOPpikruEb

WOTT: Volume 124 - 2018 Highlights (Part One)

posted December 20, 2018 #

It's that time of year! Best Of Lists are everywhere and my Nashville music podcast is no different. Well, it's a little different. I finally put together our 2018 Highlights Edition but felt very odd using the phrase "Best Of" - since there's no way I heard all of the music released during the year, nor do I feel comfortable stack ranking one song against another. Maybe it's semantics, maybe I'm being overly precious or maybe a bit of both but I'm choosing to call this Highlights, not Best Of.

Furthermore, I found it impossible to take a year's worth of releases and summarize them all into one episode; even an extra long one. So, this is part one of two. Even with an additional episode coming right behind this one, I couldn't fit them all. Personally, I think that's the way it should be - a struggle.

The talking between song is pretty minimal, so please dive in. It's streaming on Apple, Google, Spotify, etc etc.

Sinister Hand Pre-Order

posted December 20, 2018 #

Happy to announce that the debut album from The Mute Group will be available on Jan 31st, 2019. Sinister Hand, as it is entitled, is nine tracks of "dark operetta's" and, I must say, is damn good. Here's a preview of the three tracks that are out in the world already:

You can grab the vinyl or downloads over on Bandcamp or pre-save the album on Spotify right here. Let the countdown begin!

posted December 20, 2018 #

Behold! The debut album from @TheMuteGroup, Sinister Hand, is now available for preorder. Countdown to Jan 31st, 2019 begins now. Get yours: https://t.co/1CW9zlXe6g

posted December 19, 2018 #

Added @jasminkaset to a playlist this week and remembered how much I loved listening to Quiet Machine living in the Japanese countryside. @yewknee

posted December 19, 2018 #

In her latest "And Another Thing," @AshSpurge talks about the Oscars, racism, sexism, and dismantling the industries that have christened themselves the frontline arbiters of American culture. https://t.co/Uwe6dn8flX https://t.co/BPZtZIGoy3

Actors Acting in a Series of Short Films

posted December 19, 2018 #

NY Times Magazine often does these short films that depict rather famous actors in small vignettes. The latest of which is this Best Actors of the Year Featurette choreographed by Justin Peck. You can watch Toni Collette get freaked out, you can watch Lakeith Stanfield work tirelessly for his lunch or watch Glenn Close mop a floor; all through interpretive dance.

I can't explain the appeal but they're fascinating (and quick) to watch. I suggest sitting with them all.