Happy Friday, my fellow suffering beings. Each week, I share two things I’m digging right now (books, TV shows, movies, music, and the like) plus one online video of nearly zero cultural merit.
Becoming Led Zeppelin, on Netflix: I can’t believe no one’s made a Zeppelin doc until now. I loved watching this. I learned a ton: that Jimmy Page considered “Whole Lotta Love” to be avant-garde (I hear that when I listen now!); that critics loathed the band’s first few albums; that probably-the-best-drummer-in-rock John Bonham had, notwithstanding his brutal thumping, a gentle side. My only beef is that the movie cuts off too early. It only covers the band’s first two albums. We get nothing about the rest of the records (including their fourth, which includes “Stairway to Heaven”), Bonham’s death, or the band’s breakup. Sequel please.
Spun, by Wavves: A pretty-much-all-bangers slab of catchy punk. It’s interesting to watch the evolution of this band (which is pretty much one dude, Nathan Williams). At first, the records were more experimental (often without the redeeming hooks of “Whole Lotta Love”). Now, though, Williams seems to have fully embraced his ability to swing for the fences melodically. He has unshackled himself to cook up hooks in the devil’s own kitchen. (I met him twice, FWIW. I interviewed him once, back in the aughts, when I had a short-lived indie rock show. Later, I saw him backstage at Lollapalooza, where he offered me a hit from his bowl. Respect.)
Loving this social trend of protective wives/girlfriends and their nerdy partners.
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Oh please have Bianca make one - “Now my husband is going to show you how to meditate, you BETTER listen up!” Haha. We did one for my hub’s art, so fun.
Hi Dan.. big fan of yours and it's quite the coincidence you mentioned your short-lived indie-rock show (Amplified) here. Just yesterday I was talking about your recent podcast episode (with Ezra Klein) and my bandmate said "oh Dan Harris, he interviewed us once. I remember it well because he was probably the best interviewer we've ever had." I didn't believe him of course, but sure enough.. here it is! 14 years later Jukebox the Ghost is still going strong (same 3 guys since college) and we'll be out on tour this fall. We'd love to have you anytime Dan! No pressure and keep being Dan Harris!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgPM9qHWmlo