2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022
Stories & SNippets : 2018
…and observations, journals, & musings on music, film, books, art, and pretty things. and life in general.
January 2018
Vice Principals. It takes a special kind of comic sensibility to get you caring about the fate of two wretched and entirely incompetent school administrators vying for the top top spot.
January 18
A 7-year old begins a new Spotify playlist entitled “Shabbat and Jewish songs.” Tracks include Hava Nagila Medley, Ana Bekoah, and Lecha Dodi. Artists include Bo Yeshua, Sham Israel, and For Zion’s Sake I Will Not Be Silent. I am familiar, before today, with none of these tracks or artists.
February 2018
“Handle first, handle first!” Had to show our kids the scene from Arrested Development where Gob, a little late, frantically reminds his assistant the proper way to hand over a sword to a magician. I am crying every time.
February 03
A 7-year old adds to his Shabbat and Jewish songs Spotify playlist. New titles include Eishes Chayil, Am Echad, and Hashem Melech #2.0. Again, this is all new to me.
February 10
Additional artists to a certain playlist include: Lev Tahor, Chazak!, and Ah Ah Ah. The latter, I’m thinking, is not a cousin to the great power trio a-ha.
February 28
Oh, what dost the Domestic Sword of Damocles appear to be today? Let’s see, there’s a warranty for something to research or fill out or find or do something with, and it’s very important. Need to get recycling together, which is very important to ensure the survival of the planet before we can figure out a way to hitchhike to Mars. Got some dishes today, which reminds me that our dishwasher is probably out of warranty, and therefore probably going to start breaking soon. Let’s see, on the to-do list there’s something about our entryway, which probably means clearing a path that a fire marshal wouldn’t frown on for getting in and out. Honestly, that one might be above my pay grade. I think there’s also stuff to pay having to do with mortgage and car, but I don’t see those as being top priority. Basically a wide open schedule! Oh wait, there’s also the kids. I should see what they’re up to today and if they need me for anything at all. I’m guessing not?
March 2018
March 23 - playlist : alt rock x11 classics
Nara - alt-J
Heartbreaker - the Walkemn
Ive Of The World - the Strokes
The Way Life’s Meant to Be - Electric Light Orchestra
Song for Zula - Phosphorescent
Ran - Future Islands
Families - Neil Young
Two Sisters - the Kinks
Head On - Pixies
Bacardi - Nada Surf
Emergency Trap - Mogwai
April 2018
April 02
Listening to The Sound of Music soundtrack. So, so delightful.
April 22
Listening to The Fratellis Babydoll
May 2018
June 2018
June 18
Listening to British Sea Power - All In It
July 2018
a July playlist “Tuesday”
Nemesis - Benjamin Clementine
Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
Rockin’ Alone (In An Old Rocking’ Chair) - Norah Jones & Billie Armstrong
Beautiful People Beautiful Problems (f. Stevie Nicks) - Lana Del Rey
Don’t Hide Away - Bishop Allen
Police Encounters - FFS
2080 - Yeasayer
August 2018
September 2018
October 2018
November 2018
A November playlist : Getting through
Arise - Chevelle
The Sorrow Tree - Moby
Trust - Moby & The Void Pacific Choir
Sleep Apnea - Chevelle
Forever - Chvrches
True Love Way - Kings of Leon
Choking Game - Chevelle
Dark Star - Moby & The Void Pacific Choir
Glimpse of the Con - Chevelle
December 2018
December 21
One of our more traditional Christmas trees stands proudly, adorned by many hands helping it sparkle. Daniel Stern terrifies, along with Joe Pesci, in a morning viewing of that one movie about the kid all by himself in the house. We chuckle over some YouTube videos of homesteading and chicken-raising that may feature some familiar faces. An 8-year old wrestles with his almost-3-year old brother. Three goats cavort in a field merrily. The same 2-year old takes a late morning nap, and then requires…a full strip-down, as that deep slumber apparently extended to control of certain bodily functions; the consequence of which is that a midday shower, full scrub down and detox is required. He cheerily goes along, and later, snuggles in with his mom, a pastime of which rarely wearies. Later, late, we head to a certain small eastern Oregon town to join beloved family.
Essential Films of 2018
Favorites
A Star is Born
Avengers: Infinity War
BlacKkKlansman
Black Panther
The Favourite
Incredibles 2
Juliet, Naked
Unsane
Honorable mention
A Simple Favor
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Hereditary (I do not recommend to 99% of my family or friends)
The Lie (chilling, slow burn thriller about a family after a horrific…accident?)
Prospect (sci fi Duplass, Pedro Pascal)
Roma
Tully
All ages
Incredibles 2
Mary Poppins Returns
Guilty pleasures
Bird Box
Holiday
coming soon
Want to see
A Bread Factory Part One: For the Sake of Gold
A Bread Factory Part Two: Walk With Me a While
The Breaker Upperers
Burning (South Korean mystery)
Cold War
Crazy Rich Asians
Gavagai
Hearts Beat Loud (record store owner Nick Offerman)
Phantom Thread
The Quake (Norwegian follow-up to The Wave)
The Rider
Sorry to Bother You
They Shall Not Grow Old (Peter Jackson colorized WWII documentary)
Vice
Wilding
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (Fred Rogers documentary)
Disappointing
Ready Player One
——
Back to Film Index by Year
Television of note
Sharp Objects (HBO)
ESSENTIAL MUSIC OF 2018
Albums
Chvrches - Love Is Dead
First Aid Kit - Ruins
James - Living In Extraordinary Times
The Joy Formidable - Aaarth
Manic Street Preachers - Resistance is Futile
Mumford & Sons - Delta
Phosphorescent - C’est La Vie
Andrew W.K. - You’re Not Alone
Xavier Rudd - Storm Boy
The Vaccines - Combat Sports
Honorable mention
Against All Logic - 2012/2017
Brandi Carlile - By the Way, I Forgive You
Cat Power - Wanderer
Dave Matthews Band - Come Tomorrow
Deafheaven - Ordinary Corrupt Human Love
Embrace - Love is a Basic Need
Eleanor Friedberger - Rebound
George Ezra - Staying at Tamara's
Judas Priest - FIREPOWER
Loretta Lynn - Wouldn’t It Be Great
MGMT - Little Dark Age
Moby - Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt
Muse - Simulation Theory
St. Lucia - Hyperion
St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Young Sick Camellia
Yukon Blonde - Critical Hit
The greatest songs of 2018
Every Time I Hear That Song - Brandi Carlile
Fireworks by First Aid Kit
Flame Thrower - Judas Priest
Gather the Hands by Xavier Rudd
Rank & File by Moses Sumney
You’re Not Alone by Andrew W.K.
2018 PLAYLISTS BY MONTH
January
You’re Not Alone - Andrew W.K.
February
Party of One - Brandi Carlile & Sam Smith
March
April
Rank and File - Moses Sumney
May
June
July
August
Flame Thrower - Judas Priest
September
Gather the Hands - Xavier Rudd
October
Fireworks - First Aid Kit
The Mother - Brandi Carlile
November
Every Time I Hear That Song - Brandi Carlile
December
Spiritual
Gather the Hands - Xavier Rudd
——