April Worthwhile Stuff

🎶 Music
"Friday ya", Crush feat. Jinbo: I love this song because it reminds me of the best Brian Culbertson slow jams, with a K-pop twist. It's jazzy, sexy R&B perfection.

"Running Back (Trying to Talk to You)", Train: Train's forthcoming album is Yacht Rock-inspired and this track nails the assignment, reminding me of Ambrosia in particular. The instrumentals are smooth and floaty with beautiful melody and yearning lyrics, plus a breakdown that's distinctly Train.

"Rainbow (feat. slenderbodies)", Yung Bae: Another solid recommendation from BTS's RM. This song is perfectly dreamy aural sunshine with a slightly tropical vibe. It will be an excellent addition to any summer playlist.


🎤 🎭 Performance
Coal Country: I love the way in which documentary plays can bring highly specific communities and cultures to life, exposing the audience to real people by way of highly skilled actors. The exceptional cast of Coal Country shines a light on the devastation that engulfed the community around West Virginia's Upper Big Branch mine after an explosion in 2010. Steve Earle' s music adds texture and grit to the show, providing moments in which the audience can absorb the potent emotions of anger, grief, fear, and love emitted by the committed actors on stage.

A Case for the Existence of God: This is a moving two-hander about capitalism, the American financial system, parenting, male friendship, uncertainty, and the future. The two actors in this production happen to have been college roommates, which is reflected by their easy chemistry and moments of true emotional rawness. The play is well-written, well-acted, and well-designed, with scene shifts subtly indicated by a slight change in light, a shifted position of a chair, and a few carefully crafted lines of dialog. Overall, A Case for the Existence of God is an emotionally powerful play that provides ample food for thought on what it is to live in present-day America.


🎬 Film
All the Old Knives: I was thoroughly seduced and entertained by this sexy spy thriller that - to be spoilery - is in the vein of No Way Out. Even though I figured out the twist pretty early on, it was still enjoyable to watch the action unfold, with the main narrative in the capable hands of Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton. The film is gorgeously shot and well-edited, using flashbacks along multiple timelines to effectively and coherently tell the story. It was nice to see an old-school adult film that goes for intelligence over set-pieces.

Waterman: I had heard of Duke Kahanamoku and knew he played a significant role in the history of surf culture, but not much beyond that. This film showcases what a remarkable man he was and tells his life story in an engaging and effective manner. Besides being a a pioneer of modern surfing, he was an Olympic swimmer, pioneered ocean life-saving techniques, and help shape the image of Hawaii. Surf documentaries are always a solid bet, and this one proves the rule.