July Worthwhile Stuff

🎶 Music
"Naked in the Sea", Paul Gilbody: If you combined Ben Taylor vibes with "Feel Flows" by The Beach Boys, you would get this song, and its excellent jazz flute doodles. The dulcet tones of Paul Gilbody's voice combined with the laidback groove of this song create an incredibly relaxing tune that has earned a permanent spot on my late night playlist.

Stories to Tell: Greatest Hits & More, Richard Marx: It turns out that Kenny Loggins isn't the only pop legend and master songwriter I've been sleeping on for years. Richard Marx is so much more accomplished than I had ever realized, not only as a singer, but also as a songwriter and producer, for himself and for other artists. The biggest shock for me was that "Right Here Waiting" is not by Bryan Adams #themoreyouknow. I was also pleased to learn that Richard Marx has cowritten songs for Keith Urban, Josh Groban, and Luther Vandross (among many others), and Marx's versions of these songs, as included in this collection, are noteworthy in their own right. His recently released memoir (also called Stories to Tell) sheds further light on his rise to fame, creative process, and the stories and inspirations behind his biggest hits. Both album and book are highly worthwhile for those who value and admire the craft of songwriting.

Or-n-More, Orfeh: This is a delightful slice of early 90s R&B in the vein of Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Lisa Fischer, et al. Orfeh has made it available for the first time on all the digital music services, so it's the perfect time to add these throwback vibes to your summer playlists.

"Dreaming", Vula: While Orfeh was an OG 90s R&B belter, Vula puts her own modern spin on that influential era with this joyful and sensual jam that is perfect for lazy Sunday mornings, or any time you want escape with some dreamy summer vibes. To throwback to the 2000s, this track would be right at home on the third disc of a Hed Kandi Beach House compilation.

Sob Rock, John Mayer: I already knew "Last Train Home" was a nearly perfect song, and Sob Rock is a nearly perfect album (I could do without the misguided "Why You No Love Me"). "Wild Blue" would be right at home on any Yacht Rock compilation, "Shot in the Dark" has a pure 80s sound with the most wonderful tongue-in-cheek lyrics, "Til the Right One Comes" and "All I Want Is To Be With You" both have a slight country inflection that ties this album to Paradise Valley, and "Shouldn't Matter But It Does" is classic John Mayer introspection. Taken as a whole, this is a straightforward John Mayer album with some delightful 80s influences that add a comforting sense of warmth and nostalgia and set it apart from his previous albums.

Hail Satin, Dee Gees / Foo Fighters: Five incredibly faithful Bee Gees covers from Foo Fighters makes for some fun listening. Highly recommended as workout music!

"Butter", "Permission to Dance", and "Dynamite", BTS: I had two especially stressful weeks this month, and about half way through that period, I thought I'd check out BTS as a distraction, since I have been aware of them for several years now, but had never actually heard any of their songs. Well, it turns out that I picked the right time to get into them because their three English-language singles, two of which were released in the last few months, are absolutely genius earworms that are the perfect antidote for stress and anxiety. I also find their music videos and late night talk show appearances very soothing, due to their creative & coordinated outfit choices and precision choreography. I immediately went out and bought three of their elaborately packaged albums, started researching the group and its members, and picked out my favorite member (RM). I would not rule out going to see them in concert at some point, and I'm excited to delve into their back catalog with their "Best of" album that is coming out next month.


🎤 🎭 Performance
Orfeh at 54 Below: Andy Karl was off shooting a top secret project, so this couldn't be a "Legally Bound" concert, but Orfeh put on one heck of a show on her own, accompanied by an excellent band and some special guests from her Broadway orbit. Her set list encompassed a wonderfully diverse collection of songs, including pop ("Dreaming" by Selena; "Time After Time"), classic rock ("Hotel California"; "Piece of My Heart"), disco ("Take Your Time (Do It Right)"), and of course a few Broadway tunes as well (including a couple from Pretty Woman). Every song was well-chosen to showcase Orfeh's powerhouse vocals and high-energy performance style, making for a memorable evening of entertainment.


🎬 Film
Val: This documentary is poignant and moving; Val Kilmer really puts himself out there in an incredibly brave and vulnerable way. While I would have liked some more insight into / backstory on some of Val's 80s movies, he did spend quite a while talking about The Doors and Tombstone, so I was pleased with that. I read his memoir (the amazingly titled I'm Your Huckleberry) last year, but this documentary adds so much more about Val's childhood, relationships with loved ones, and his recent trials with throat cancer. Val Kilmer is clearly a unique soul, and movie-lovers are lucky that not only has he chosen to share so much of himself and his creativity with us over the past several decades, but also that he continues to create and shine his light into the world despite the challenges he has faced and continues to face.