Cosmic Dancer

Best New Music |

Valerie June | "Cosmic Dancer" |

Songwriting that cuts deep into the pieces that make us feel familiar. Nostalgia. Maybe it just registers with me. Thanks Valerie June, keep doing what you do.

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Brew Detective: Broujerij West + Three Chiefs

Situation in Sector 9... Or, how to love zombies when you absolutely have to...

That's a mouth full, I know. First off, this is the best art I've seen in quite sometime, the graphics are so bomb and the application method is more like a mosaic of stickers. Now that I've gush over the art, on to the suds. The nose on this hazy IPA is reminiscent of baby food fruit, I'm talking straight Gerber's. It reminds me of banana or papaya when pureed. A decent head forms above the heavy body. There's sufficient carbonation considering how dense the mouth feel is. Once it hits your taste buds some green onion turns up, followed by bitterness.

My A+ partner in crime had this to say about SiS9, "Thick like a juice bar." Her tasting notes, "Whoa, it's a foamy pucker." There it is, a review of the collaboration between Brouwerij West and Three Chiefs. As always enjoy craft beer responsibly. 

Situation in Sector 9 | 7%
Hops: Cashmere, Comet, Mosaic
+ Malted Barley, Raw Wheat & Rolled Oats

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Don't Let the Days of Your Life Pass By

Outkast | "Git Up Git Out" | Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik

Straight classic—this is self help for those that use music as a tool, a vessel for energy and emotion. Nineties hip hop, the real shxt, is the truth. This entire record is bonkers. No one's mess'n with this... Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. 

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Ready or Not

Fugees | "Ready or Not" | The Score

Low down beat, like submarine battle low. The verse by Ms. Hill is so dope. Hip Hop.

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After Hours

A Tribe Called Quest | "After Hours" | People's Instinctive Travels & the Paths of Rhythm

Never sleep on ATCQ. This is real hip hop, real rhythm, with dope beats, true lyrics and substance—no mumble'n, no fake-ass messages, and never superficial. Do yourself a favor, "Get up," and listen to the music (frogs and bugs) that's all around you. 

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Bodhizafa | Georgetown

Georgetown Brewing excels at many things, another accelerated offering is Bodhizafa. This IPA exemplifies a west coast IPA, channeling clarity and taste. Fresh comes to mind when I think of this craft brew. Flavors unfold through a bouquet of hops and layers of malt. This incredible beer can fly solo for sure, it also pairs well with cast iron summer vegetables and poblano peppers.

A slight amber hue, maybe malt induced, sways through the clear body. Nice carbonation and a quality head send the information to the top, enticing both your taste buds and nose to scourer for the proper adjectives. Bodhizafa is truly delicious. Look for this gold medal winner on draft or in six packs. Consume craft beer responsibly.

Hops: Chinook, Citra, Columbus, Mosaic | Malts: 2-Row & Munich w/ Oats
Bodhizafa IPA | 6.9%

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Still Haven't Found...

U2 | "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" | The Joshua Tree

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire

I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held hand of the devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone

But I still haven't found 
What I'm looking for
But I still haven't found 
What I'm looking for
....


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Brew Detective: Fremont Sky Kraken

Haze is all the craze. Here lies another iteration, here lies the Kraken. The Sky Kraken is a hazy pale ale from Fremont Brewing. The aromas are full of tropical fruit. Poured out the color resembles a mix between poppy and straw yellow. The Sky Kraken has decent clarity considering it's hazy. A bubbly head forms above the somewhat murky ale. 

A second dose of things to smell and taste is highlighted by mango, melon and pineapple. The Kraken is super crushable. There's little to no mouth feel, which assists in making it go down easy. A slight sweetness rings at the finish, a nice change of pace. Look for this delicious pale ale in six packs, 22oz. bottles, or on draft. Release the Kraken. Enjoy summer responsibly. 

Hops: Citra, Mosaic & Strata | Malts: 2-Row, White & Flaked Wheat, Malted & Rolled Oats

Sky Kraken: 5.5%

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Electric Warrior

T. Rex | "Mambo Sun" | Electric Warrior | 

Girl, you're good
And I've got wild knees—for you
On a mountain range
I'm Dr. Strange—for you
...


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All The Time

Bahamas | "All The Time" | Bahamas Is Alfie | 

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So Far So Good 2019

So far so good. That's exactly what I was thinking, especially this particular year. Change is change and sometimes change is good. I'm super stoked for Independence Day this year, Pacific coast here we come. Getting out of our city will act as a reminder, and possibly a barometer, for what's been done and what could be. I know, live in the now. 

Summer has struck without it being too hot, yet. The occasional summer showers or lightening storms are a welcomed blast of nostalgia. Agent M and I have been doing a shit ton of biking, like, a lot. Anyhow, when it warms up and the sun is shining, we can all relate to the ways in which summer feeds us. Thanks summer, thanks mother earth. 

Enjoy The Fourth with friends and family, festivities or new found adventure. Whether outside grilling or inside chilling, summer tunes never hurt. Music is a must on summer road trips however. Below is a quick list of my favorite albums during the first half of 2019.
So Far So Good...

Sharon Von Etten | Remind Me Tomorrow
big, score-like, she baits you in, atmospheric, imagery, I Told You Everything, Hands

Julia Jacklin | Crushing
best album so far, too good, too truthful, painful and beautiful, CRUSHING, CRUSHING

Jeff Tweedy | Warmer
extra baggage, tales, you know who the fxck he is, Guaranteed 

Kevin Morby | Oh My God
smokey, piano, clearly understood, misunderstood, wiser, word play, unkept, just right, O Behold

Faye Webster | Atlanta Millionaires Club
whiney pop ballads, hybrid synth jangle, tambourines and pedal steel, country R&B, is this shit real?

Prince | Originals 
Prince, Prince songs, Prince was a genius, I miss Prince, purple & blue

So long, happy 4th.

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Roll With It

Steve Winwood | "Roll With It" | Roll With It |

The way that you love, is good as money
I swear by stars above, sweet as honey
People think you're down and out
You show 'em what it's all about
You can make it, roll with it, baby
...


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(Loose) Canon

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Get Up & Get Down

The Dramatics | "Get Up and Get Down" | Whatcha See is Whatcha Get |

Let me see your tight wire come alive ...

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Listen All Y'all It's A...

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Cloudy Shoes

Damien Jurado | "Cloudy Shoes" | Saint Bartlett |

I wish that I could float
Float up from the ground
I will never know
What that's like

You have a way about you
I wish that I had
Thought it was impossible 
To live and love like you
...


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Concrete & Barbed Wire

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Doctor My Eyes

Jackson Browne | "Doctor My Eyes" | Jackson Browne |

Doctor my eyes have seen the years
And the slow parade of fears, without crying
Now I want to understand

I have done all that I could
To see the evil and the good, without hiding
You must help me if you can

Doctor my eyes
Tell me what is wrong
Was I unwise, to leave them open for so long
...


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Brew Detective: Reubens' Brews Summer IPA

Reuben's Brews just keeps crushing deliciousness, this time it's their Summer IPA. Buy a six pack as soon as you see it, or get ye growler filled if ya live in the PNW. The Thrillist named it one of 21 beers we should be drinking this summer, so it's got that going for it, which is nice.

When this IPA hits your glass, you'll witness outstanding clarity and a fluffy head. Carbonation continues long after the pour. The nose is all IPA, not so juice-forward. This is a true west coast IPA, both in look and taste. The transparent nature of the ale does not surrender one iota of mouth feel. This IPA reflects so positively on Reuben's brewing team, they truly work toward crafting excellent beer. 

I really dig the cleaner, more clear IPA's. Those of us lucky enough to live within beer-crazed areas have ample opportunities to drink quality beer. As my fairy hop-father once told me, "life's too short to drink bad beer. If you don't like it, you don't have to finish it." With somewhere in the neighborhood of 6K breweries nationwide there's plenty to be had. Happy hunting.

Reuben's Summer IPA | 6.5% | 50 IBU

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Baby Blue

The 13th Floor Elevators | "(It's All Over Now) Baby Blue" | Easter Everywhere |

Leave your stepping stones behind, there's something that calls for you
Forget the dead you left, they will not follow you
Your vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
The sky too, is falling, over you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue
     - Bob Dylan


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