If you’re a Fred Armisen fan, you’ll probably love this. If you’re not, you’ll probably question my taste going forward. Released on Friday, 100 Sound Effects is an auditory laundry list of extremely niche and yet totally universal moments. The album is basically Armisen’s hyperspecific observational comedy in a nutshell. Take, for example, the tracks titled “Flight Attendant Opens Overhead Compartment” and “Car Door Closing Car Rental” (not to be confused with “Car Door Closing Confident” or “Car Door Closing Automatically Van”), which are both exactly what they say they are and yet so much more. I’ve been a Drag City records fan since middle school, so it pleases me to see that they’re still putting out new and weird stuff after all these years.
-DW
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The last time I took one of Mammamia’s Kiwi Bellini gummies, I got my flavors mixed up and thought I was taking their mellower Blood Orange Hybrid offering. It was meant to be a lazy Sunday afternoon spent reading on the couch, and instead I decided to cook a three-course meal and clean my entire apartment at the same time. It was only after I sat down to eat that I realized the mix-up. But as they say, everything happens for a reason.
-VvP
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In many ways, philosophy and psychedelics go hand in hand. Who hasn’t found themselves considering the nature of existence while high on mushrooms? But the idea of incorporating them into academic study remains surprisingly controversial. American philosopher Justin Smith-Ruiu is of the mind that psychedelics have the potential to transform how philosophy is practiced. His latest book, On Drugs, mixes memoir with intellectual history to make the case that trips aren’t simply neurochemical hallucinations, but instead a source of knowledge of human consciousness. This New York Times review piqued my interest enough to put a hold on a copy of it at the Brooklyn Public Library. I’ll report back.
-VvP
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For as long as I can remember, every time my father hears Robert Redford’s name, he will almost immediately bring up the actor’s 1969 cult classic, Downhill Racer. I don’t know if it’s actually my father’s favorite film, but he certainly talks about it enough to lead me to believe it’s up there for him. So, in the wake of Redford’s passing, it only seems right to say a little bit about this less-talked about entry in the star’s oeuvre. Redford plays the titular downhill racer, an aloof loner with an unrelenting drive to win, and, more specifically, become an Olympic champion. It is a dramatically quiet and beautiful film interspersed with moments of terrifying speed. For my money, it’s one of Redford’s best performances, as it uses his natural “how does this guy exist?” quality to propel the story forward (unlike some of his other films where the idea of Redford as a regular Joe is borderline unbelievable). And despite the fawning over The Natural, it’s also probably Redford’s best sports film.
-DW
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Do the words “wine rave” make you want to run screaming for the hills? I get it. Unfortunately, that’s the best and most efficient way to describe Beverages, a seasonal-ish, monthly-ish dance party fueled by reasonably priced bottles of natural wine. Just hear me out: it usually starts early, ends well before midnight, features excellent DJs, and is a great way to break up the monotony of Saturday night drinks-and-dinner plans. The next iteration is a collaboration with San Francisco’s Bar Part Time at Knockdown Center on October 11th. Tickets are $25, the crowd is fun, the wine is great, and we’re just weeks away from what I like to call the Dark Months (winter). Let’s celebrate while we can.
-VvP
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