Tis the Season
Christmas music is a lot like Country music to me.
Most of it sounds the same and is underwhelming, some performances are fantastic, and there’s a certain context where it just absolutely hits the spot like the first sip of water after a run.
For one, it’s day-drinking on a Summer beach day, riding on a boat at golden hour, and bar-hopping in Nashville.
For the other, it’s decorating a fresh Christmas tree, baking cookies with my family, or gift shopping at the mall.
Sure, by the time the big man slides his fat ass down the chimney, the Christmas music will taste like the stale cookies that sit on my counter. One more Target commercial featuring a rendition of “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” will drive me to rip an ornament off my dead tree and huck it at the wall.
But for now, I’ll embrace it. Tis the season.
Starting Five: Christmas Edition
Album of the Week
War & Leisure by Miguel
Cali-chill R&B. Psychedelic guitar riffs. Rap verses from the likes of Rick Ross, Travis Scott (“It’s lit!”) and J. Cole. Yesterday marked seven years since Miguel dropped his fourth studio album that lays the vices, from sex to shrooms to spliffs, that help us cope with the external tensions that exist in our world. In an interview with Billboard, Miguel said, “The album is intentionally about the ethos right now, that we ware right in the middle of all this. We’re trying to flourish in the middle all of this.” But just like the closing line of “Pineapple Skies,” Miguel just wants you to know that “it’s gon’ be alright.”
Featured Tracks
Gift recommendation for the hip hop fan in your life: Hip Hop and Other Things by Shea Serrano. Favorite chapters include Is Action Bronson a Good Travel Partner?, What’s Lauryn Hill’s Career Shooting Percentage? and Which Line on Illmatic is the Most Nasian?
Whenever I hear “505” by Arctic Monkeys it transforms me to their performance at Reading Festival in 2022. They got the people going.
Peace, Love, and Positive Vibes.