Mixtape: Zipper
Welcome to mixtape No. 100! No party, just some recent consumption of media and tea to share:
I loved Resident Alien, a comic book series by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, but hadn't gotten around to SyFy's television adaptation until recently. So far, it keeps the basic premise — an alien crash lands on Earth, learns its ways as a small-town doctor — but the show finds its own path from there. (To be honest, faithful adaptations are dreadfully boring.) There's really no one else that could play an alien trying to understand humanity better than Alan Tudyk — an inhuman physical comedian who deeply understands tragedy. NPR's Glen Weldon wrote a great review for the show's first season.
By the Horns is a high fantasy comic by Markison Naso and Jason Muhr, full of fightin' and feelings. I got my Kickstarter copy of the first volume on hardback in the mail, featuring alternate cover art by Alex CF (Morrow, Fall of Efrrafa, Wreathe). If you like your worldbuilding heavy on magic and weird technology, not to mention surprising tweaks on ancient myths, this one's a favorite.
X-Men '97 nails the tone of the original animated series, yet doesn't feel dated. Only a few episodes in and it's already scratching a Saturday morning cartoon itch while occupying X-Men's constant themes of discrimination, power struggles and survival.
I took in three straight nights of shows: the incredibly cool Kim Gordon at the Black Cat, the loud and LOL-able Mclusky at the Black Cat, the outrageously wild Otoboke Beaver at the 9:30 Club. (Kim opened and closed with "BYE BYE," which is such a flex.) Then I spent the following Monday in recovery — my body was not ready, but also allergies have been kicking my ass.
As a belated birthday gift — and a request for less "things" and more experiences — my wife treated me to high tea. My assignment was to find a good spot in D.C. — there appear to be many, but few that prize tea above pastry. Thankfully, Blue Duck Tavern has both: I enjoyed a Qi Lan oolong and we both indulged in three tiers of treats, including a smoked salmon eclair and a berry jam/scone that I'm still dreaming about.
Shameless self promotion: Read my latest 8 Tracks column for NPR and watch Soul Glo's Tiny Desk if you haven't already! Shout out to the YouTube commenter who truly sees me: "Congrats to Lars who has probably been pushing for something like this for a decade." —Lars Gotrich
Stream the Viking's Choice mixtape via BNDCMPR. Follow my Bandcamp collection. Tracklist below:
Sonhos Tomam Conta, "oração do mar"
Broadcast, "Follow the Light"
Esy Tadesse, "Buna"
Dirty Three, "Love changes everything I"
Gastr del Sol, "The Seasons Reverse (Live)"
Pallbearer, "Where the Light Fades"
Steph Richards, "Power Vibe"
Ulla & Ultrafog, "lame mart"
Tomeka Reid Quartet, "Sauntering with Mr. Brown"
New Jazz Underground, "oney one's one"
Maya Q, "Starburst"
Kólga, "Space Beach Massacre"
Basque, "Stillness"
Jeremiah Cymerman, "Body of Light"
Ezra Feinberg (feat. David Lackner), "Future Sand"
Olivia Block, "The Hermit's Peak"
Circle, "Napa-alue"
marucoporoporo, "Cycle of Love"
Dhana Jeera, "Blushing Sky"
Nick Granata, "Nailer's Somng"
The New Eves, "Astrolabe"
Same Heads, "Side Sleeper"
Frihet, "Magic Poison"
A Pregnant Light, "Balearic House"
I am the Intimidator, "Gasoline"
Jäde, "Diabolo Grenadine"
Patrick Shiroishi (feat. Emma Ruth Rundle), "A Sparrow in the Swallow's Nest"
Tujiko Noriko, "Zipper"
Ekko Astral, "devorah"
Part Chimp, "New Cross"
Amy O, "Dribble Dribble"
Rachel Love, "Without You"
Pedal Steel Noah, "Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover)"
Chris Weisman, "As Simple As Possible"
The Exorzist III, "Fourth Coming"