I was surprised to hear that a cigar store now sponsors a radio station's traffic reports. I was only half-listening this morning, but I think the commercial's tag line was, "Choose your smoke. Enjoy the moment."
To each, his or her own, I suppose. I'll pass, though. I've never seen the allure of smoking anything, and I can't see suddenly changing my mind on that at age 56.
To follow up, I put the David Crosby CD in another room. So far, it remains safe from Collette the cat's claws. Perhaps I was paranoid to think that she'd saw the door down. Still, she's pacing outside the door and has had plenty of time to think...
Since hearing FUTURENOT's "Be The Change" on WSIE earlier this month, it has been on my recurring mental loop. I'm thankful, as it's one of the coolest blends of piano and horns I've heard in recent memory. I was surprised to learn it was recorded in 2020, as it could pass for bumper music the Saturday Night Live band might have played in the '70s.
When musicians nail that type of throwback pastiche so convincingly, it's a win for the band and the listener.
Around this time of year, I often start listening to various episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater. I plan to do that this year, as well, but before I delve into an episode, I have to think, "Don't picture voice actors in a studio, or it'll compromise my ability to lose myself in the story."
Also, I try to forget that many of the conflicts in these stories could be resolved today with a cell phone or Google search.
In addition, I try to overlook that if a lot of these stories occurred in real life, people likely wouldn't launch into such melodramatic monologues that contain convenient swaths of exposition.
With those few disclaimers, then, I'm ready to enjoy some radio dramas from decades ago--I think.
I was surprised that an Allentown, Pennsylvania station, WDIY, played "Walter's Theme" by R.E.M. today, as it's almost never played on the radio. While listening, I thought, "This is how you maximize an upbeat guitar riff," and "I've never thought about this before, but Crowded House's 'Tall Trees' would segue well with this..."
...They would segue smoothly because both tunes share a similar driving energy. Also, as catchy as their central riffs are, both songs are shorter than they deserve to be.
Erin Bode knew her audience this morning. Near the end of an enjoyable concert at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center this morning, she told us, "With Halloween coming up, if you want to be the coolest house on your street, you know what kids are into? CDs..." She continued, "I know kids. Forget the full size Snickers bars."
That's as good of a tongue-in-cheek prod as any to let people know you have CDs of your music for sale, and it earned a knowing laugh from the crowd.
After listening to Tristen's "Let Go" multiple times over the past week, I'm retroactively declaring it my second favorite song of 2025. Its catchy rhythm, lyrics about resisting the pressure to conform, and well-executed vocals have held my attention, making each hearing of it as appealing as the previous ones. As a bonus, it also segues well with my retroactive favorite tune from last year, Wolf Alice's "White Horses."
I wish I'd known about "Let Go" when it was released late last year.