Early Musical Favorites of the New Year

The theme for this month has been comfort in the familiar.

Iron & Wine's "Tree By the River" from the new album, Kiss Each Other Clean is just the right dose of sweet nostalgia.


"Calamity Song" by The Decemberists on The King is Dead makes me forget about the last few concept albums, and warmly welcome back the band I used to love. Bonus: REM nostalgia with Peter Buck on the album version!


In addition to these two albums, I've also been enjoying the new offerings from legends Gregg Allman and Wanda Jackson.

Showtime Goes Meta

How interesting that Showtime has a new show (Episodes) about how American television rips off a British show, which airs after another new show, Shameless, which itself is - ahem - an adaptation of a British show by the same name.

Incidentally, I haven't decided yet if I like the show or not. Right now it's uncomfortably close to a voyeuristic view of the colorful lives of the working class and their "funny" drunk patriarch. Only his drunkenness is much less funny and much more sad. Guess I'll have to wait and see how it develops.