Dispatch from Tbilisi: Bubblicious Georgia

Get Out There and Have Fun

Doug and Smashley get ready for summer solstice weekend! We have emerged from a desert of music! Three songs came out in the last few days but some of my favorites: Always nice and dreamy, with the breathiness that gets me: Hazel English - Phone Booth [https://hazelenglish.bandcamp.com/track/phone-booth?utm_source=track_release&utm_medium=email&utm_content=fanpub_fnb_trk&utm_campaign=hazelenglish%2Btrack%2Bphone-booth] This might not be something you listen to without headphones at work: Suki Waterhouse - When I Get Drunk (I Want You Boy) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKm3qgrs_wc].   Music flavored music, like beer flavored beer, hits the spot sometimes. I’m really liking how Blue Herons brings me back to The Popinjays, The Sundays: Blue Herons - Willow (Melancholia Version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1KCn-u7Ehs&list=RDB1KCn-u7Ehs&start_radio=1]  This video is a genius of lighting and set design. They use lights to reveal, highlight, and obscure. It’s just absolute genius to go with a brilliant song. Arcade Fire - Creature Comfort [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzwicesJQ7E]  I’m only 2/3 of the way through this book but it’s been so fun and packed with relevant social commentary. I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203578812-i-m-starting-to-worry-about-this-black-box-of-doom].

It’s Glow Time

Doug and Smashley prepare for gigantic soccer by talking about politics in Peru, the low mortgage rate trap conundrum, ultraprocessed foods, and running.  Olympia Blunders Season Five signups close on June 16th. Get in there! Oly Blunders Season Signup [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSUMJ8bH3JjOa9D5jqCbE5H50BryloQvQX2yiTfkPScHesFg/viewform]. Games start on the 18th. It’s amazingly well-coordinated.  The second single from Ambre Vallet’s album is out. It doesn’t have the infectiousness of the first one, but whatever, it’s still a fun listen: Ambre Vallet - Tant Pis [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqCShTrChpI&list=RDHqCShTrChpI&start_radio=1] she’s green is releasing singles, too! It’s a long song, ready for the longest day of the year which is coming soon. The full punch doesn’t hit until after the five minute mark, but when it does, it brings me right back to why I started liking this band in the first place. she's green - close your eyes [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9umN2klFoGc&list=RD9umN2klFoGc&start_radio=1] The chess night playlist changes often and is good every time! Chess Night in Olympia - The Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7kdPYdKbKX7Jf7U7EECFYO?si=5bf6fa6fc48549fa]  “I Saw the TV Glow” got so much buzz when it came out but I kept hearing about how scary it was so I was hesitant. I finally got up the nerve to watch. It’s unsettling in some ways but it didn’t freak me out. Haunting is a better word. There are definitely images that stick and some moments of “what the heck?” The style of filmmaking is fresh and unique. I’m happy I got up the nerve to give it a try. I Saw the TV Glow Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kymDzCgPwj0]

The Mystery Sack Also Rises

Doug is back in the U.S. and getting reacclimated, just in time for a birthday celebration. We finally talk about sunrises in mystery sack, skip business business, but go deep into Peruvian politics. The presidential carousel in Peru continues! Read about it in the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/perus-politics-are-a-disaster-but-does-it-matter [https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/perus-politics-are-a-disaster-but-does-it-matter]  Ladytron is a little more on the electronic side, but their past success keeps me listening: Ladytron - Secret Dreams of Thieves [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNfedJB7yHA&list=RDGNfedJB7yHA&start_radio=1] This one scores highly on the “Doug Music” scale: Shye - Are You Coming Home [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI74ACLuXUs]. It’s definitely dream pop, but reminds me of The Verve and Oasis. Bringing that 90s britpop back! Indie films rely on mood, dialogue, and story. This one, “Things Will Be Different,” delivers it. Things Will Be Different Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4IkQCed2L0] Olympia Blunders Season Five signups are up and running! Can we get more participants than last season to keep that upward trend going? Be a part of it: Oly Blunders Season Signup [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSUMJ8bH3JjOa9D5jqCbE5H50BryloQvQX2yiTfkPScHesFg/viewform]

Dispatch from Tbilisi: Bubblicious Georgia

Remote from Tbilisi, Georgia! Doug and Smashley dig into a listener submitted song to assess its Doug Musicness, dig into Georgia a few different angles, and reach into the mystery sack to find QR code menus.  This is well outside the realm of Doug Music but this band we heard about while in Georgia has cool instrumentation and is a nice groove: Mgzaverbi, feat TAHA [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ete2byRmpvI&list=RDete2byRmpvI&start_radio=1]  We didn’t discuss but will soon: Olympia Blunders next season signups are open! Oly Blunders Season Signup [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSUMJ8bH3JjOa9D5jqCbE5H50BryloQvQX2yiTfkPScHesFg/viewform]

Dispatch from Kutaisi: A Special Drunken Edition

Remote from Kutaisi, Georgia! This charming city is serving as Doug’s stop between Tbilisi and Batumi.  In-flight movies from Seattle to Tbilisi included “Good Fortune” and “Train Dreams.” Quite different films. “Good Fortune” is fighting the good fight, branding greed and social inequity as societal evils. I’m still waiting for the message to stick: Good Fortune Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKWndx83RwQ] “Train Dreams” is a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and stuff. Train Dreams Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nk8TrBHOrA]" And Then We Danced” is about the clash between individuality and tradition. Great dance, superb acting: And Then We Danced Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n25XEhQ6764]  Levan Levanski isn’t just a good tour guide, he’s quite a musician. Check this out: Levan Levanski [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxOzlHkqa6s&list=OLAK5uy_lOpHBTgoZciZJ0yAlLgA09GKyZ6htQWTU&index=3]