Week 5: Catch of the Week

If I were you, I would have done the same thing

Well, here we are. We’re one month into the new year and there have been a lot of recommendations; all of them good and life-altering.

Before we see what we caught in the net this week, a poll:

Thank you for your participation.

I usually write this part of the newsletter once I’ve finished making all of my recommendations and I’m never quite sure what to write.

I thought I was going to write about how this post took less time because there are fewer recommendations but I ended up taking nearly three hours to write this (I know). Regardless of how long it's taking, I’m loving the rhythm and getting to connect and process all of the things entering my eyes and ears.

Next week, I’m going to write up a list of one-month reflections on how things are going and where I want to go next. But for now…

All aboard.

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They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us - Hanif Abdurraqib

[I’m legally bound to recommend this book per an agreement with the subscriber who purchased the book for me].

Hanif Abdurraqib is the kind of writer I aspire to be. His insight, musical IQ, and range are next-level. His collection of essays surveys the natural and manmade gaps of our human experience and builds bridges, brick by brick, even when the sides have little interest in being joined.

Though death is a common theme, a shadow that stretches long over the author’s life and reflections, this book will give life, and at the very least, a reminder to live.

Thanks al.

A Different Pond - Bao Phi

I’m a father who is fortunate enough to have a child who is okay with reading different books every day. This is only feasible, however, because my wife takes him to story time at the library and checks out several options for him.

As we sat down to read this one a few nights ago, I was struck by how little an author and illustrator team have to do to communicate the trauma of war, exile, and the phenomena of being “othered.” A beautiful book about family and the generational cost of conflict.

Reorganized Religion - Bob Smietana

So full disclosure, this is one of the few books I’m recommending that I haven’t read yet, but as soon as it hits the local library shelf, I will be queuing for my opportunity to read/listen.

For the past three years, how the church is changing/crumbling/being renewed/being torn down has been my total lack-of-social-awareness party conversation. People don’t want to hear about it. I can’t stop bringing it up. Speaking on spiritual abuse, consumerism, and the purpose of the Body, Smietana brings much-needed perspective.

If you’re interested in learning more about this book and why I’m excited to read, listen to Smietana talk with Amy Fritz of Untangled Faith here.

The Daily – An Aggressive New Approach to Childhood Obesity

I haven’t yet recommended the NY Times’ Daily News Podcast, The Daily, because I was waiting for the right episode. This past week, there were two right episodes and I couldn’t make up my mind. So listen to both I guess and skip over the “Here’s what else you need to know today“ section towards the end.

As someone who meets the clinical definition of obesity, I had some conflicting thoughts about the reporting in this episode. Part of me, perhaps the self-conscious sliver that didn’t perish in my mild ego-death, felt a bit of the frigid shame that seeps up when you hear someone talking truthfully about you but they’re not aware you’re around the corner.

The other part, the utilitarian in me, spun out the implications of the actions being recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in a hot mess of feelings, fears, and unformed conclusions to my wife; the physical, relational, and ethical ramifications of prevention, prescriptions, and if all else fails, procedures.

I don’t know which part of me will win the thought wars, but I imagine it’ll be a struggle.

Consider This – A Personal Recession Toolkit

We’ll keep things light with this next recession recommendation. The tech layoffs you’ve been hearing about and scrolling through without reading on LinkedIn hit home for us shortly after Christmas. Pray for us.

While this listen sent me down another spiral, it’s nice to at least have some tools when you’re staring at a gaping hole in your wall (or income). Trust the process.

The Flop House – FH Mini 72 - Numb3r Stat10ns

I’ve been listening to this dumb stupid podcast for the better part of 8 years and I will continue listening ad infinitum. The Flop House is a podcast where three friends (and sometimes a guest) watch a bad movie (critical or commercial flops) and then talk about it.

I may be doing you a disservice by recommending one of their mini episodes where they do not watch a bad movie and talk about it but instead rank the titles of movies that use numerals to replace letters (think the hot new film M3GAN or the hot piece of trash THIR13EN Ghosts) using an entirely arbitrary set of rules and guidelines that CHANGES HALFWAY THROUGH THE EPISODE. To have wasted 53 of my (Lord willing) 403,200,000 minutes on this podcast is my most boastful display of privilege.

The Daily – The State of the U.S. Economy in 4 Numbers

Is anyone else tired of hearing about eggs? If you’re looking for someone to blame for the rising cost of your omellete, I think I’m at least partially responsible.

Every time I saw a recycled egg carton on our shelf filled with the smallest farm fresh eggs you’ve ever seen that we paid $5 for, I should have kept my mouth shut. I should have been grateful to have eggs at all. But no. I complained. And the hens heard and now they’re all dead.

Subscribe to The Daily.

HYBS – Making Steak + New Single

I’m a bit suspicious of westerners who claim to love the delightfully playable pop making its way across the oceans from Asia. Granted, I’ve never lived anywhere besides the states, so maybe my prejudice is part imposter syndrome, part anti-colonialist. Who’s to say? Maybe a therapist.

Regardless, HYBS, a Bangkok-based pop duo, are spinning sultry vibes for all. HONNE in a different font. Their new single Good Care is provocative and gets the people going.

Favorite Tracks: Go Higher, Run Away, Killer, Ride, Rockstar, Good Care.

The Sword – Warp Riders

I love a concept album; a love that was fostered by the sprawling narratives of Coheed and Cambria (and a wild music video on MTV of a centaur that looks like Jesus wandering through the sets of Jason and the Argonauts who then rescues a mermaid from a kraken. Seriously it’s wild.)

That being said, I think The Sword does a better job at executing high fantasy-themed albums but it's their sci-fi departure Warp Riders that has captured me. Duncan Idaho would have most certainly had this blasting out the subs of the ‘thopter.

Favorite Tracks: The Chronomancer I: Hubris, Lawless Lands, The Warp Riders.

Telula – 333

I feel a certain level of pride and validation when I send my little brother an album that I think he’ll like, and he responds, “I just followed these guys on tiktok lol.“ I’m not offended that he’s cooler than me and has his finger on the pulse of great new music that less than .0002% of people on Spotify listen to. Seriously. I’m not jealous. He gets paid to play music. I write about it for free on the internet for a dozen or so people.

Telula is funky with catchy riffs and groovin bass lines. Do you need anything else?

Favorites: Feel this Way, Let Me In, Mercury.

Abby Holliday – WHEN WE’RE FAR APART I FALL APART + New Single

I don’t remember how I found Abby Holliday’s EP WHEN WE’RE FAR APART I FALL APART (I suspect it was the robots) but every listen reveals a new facet of this gem that deepens my appreciation. The instrumentation is spare on many of the tracks but it provides space for Holliday’s fears, doubts, and apprehensive cynicism to shine through.

Ohio Laundry Room unlocked a core memory chain-listening to Imogen Heap’s The Listening Chair my junior year of college. Nothing From Me is the clearest expression I’ve heard of hope in spite of the painful questions we ponder in the dark night of the soul.

Favorites Tracks: Low Pain Tolerance, 8 Hours, Worth It, Nothing From Me, Ohio Laundry Room

Video Calling a Friend

I’ll admit, it’s kind of nice to not have to rely on video calls for human interaction, especially when you have no other option, but a Discord call with a friend this week was an encouragement. If you haven’t talked with someone for a while but you graced the occasional Zoom call during the pandemic with them, set another one up.

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See you next week.

Ad meliora

If I put you on to something in this list, or you like what I’m sharing, tell me about it! If you like Wide Net, share it with friends or people you think would like it too.