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Merle Haggard, Country Legend: 1937-2016

Country legend Merle Haggard passed away Wednesday, April 6, in Palo Cedro, California. Haggard recorded more than 3 dozen number one hits over the past six decades; he will be remembered fondly by the music industry. 

Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard 

Simple, American, working-man pride. That's the organizing theme of Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard, which features a generous 26-song track list spanning nearly 40 years. Released in 2006, the compilation features all of Merle's biggest hits, including: "Mama Tried," "Bottle Let Me Down," "Sing Me Back Home," and "Okie from Muskogee." As an introduction to Haggard's music-- or even to the Bakersfield sound that he helped popularize-- Hag may be unparalleled.

The New York Times said it best: "He had an immense influence on other performers — not just other country singers but also ’60s rock bands like the Byrds and the Grateful Dead, as well as acts like Elvis Costello and the Mekons, all of whom recorded Mr. Haggard’s songs. Some 400 artists have released versions of his 1968 hit “Today I Started Loving You Again.” 

Sinners Like Me 

Eric Church is the opposite of modern day country music, yet he still gets played on modern day country radio. His debut album, titled Sinners Like Me, was released in 2006- the same year that he was kicked off Rascal Flatts' tour only to be replaced by a not-yet-famous Taylor Swift. Here, Church raises a glass to Merle with his song "Pledge Allegiance to the Hag." 

Merle had plenty of friends in the music world, Willie Nelson being one of the closest. The two recorded and released a collaborative album together just last year; Nelson and Haggard cover each other's classics, rib each other about the girls they've loved before, and wrap it all up with the gentle mutual-admiration fest "The Only Man Wilder Than Me."

Django and Jimmie

From first to last on the tracks—whether singing together, as on that one, or individually, interpreting excellent but less-covered songs by each other (Merle Haggard on Nelson’s “Family Bible,” Willie Nelson on Haggard’s “Somewhere Between”)—there is a profound sense of the men’s ease with each other and each other’s creations. Yet there’s equally impressive evidence that both singers have stepped up their vocal game in the presence of the other. Django and Jimmie was one of the strongest, most engaging country albums of 2015. 

Beyond Jane Austen: Period British Mini-Series & Movies

For fans of period British movies or mini-series, here's some titles beyond the Jane Austen fare. Hopefully some will be new to you. These are my title/version preferences; please share your favorites in the comments below! 

Jane Eyre – 2007 version staring Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens. In high school I read Jane Eyre (by Charlotte Brontë) and wasn't enamored. Once I watched this version I finally understood the hype. Mark my words, Ruth Wilson will win many, many awards in her career.

North & South – starring Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage. Based on the book by Elizabeth Gaskell, this is a bit of a cult-classic (no, this is not the Civil War TV mini-series from the 80s...). The north and south in the title refers to the lifestyle of the more gentile south and the industrial north, which is of course, a metaphor for our main characters. The chemistry between the two is perfection.

The Buccaneers – starring Carla Gugino and Mira Sorvino. New-money American young ladies are brought to England to make matches with the cash-strapped ton. Carla Gugino shines in this early role where her character turns from a naive young lady to a morose married woman.

Little Dorritt – starring Claire Foy and Mathew Macfayden. Based on Charles Dickens' novel, Amy Dorritt (Foy) is one of the more sympathetic female characters in  Dickens' oeuvre. She braves the challenges of living in debtor's prison with her father, who is a bit of a high-maintenance diva really. Great ensemble work here. 

Wives and Daughters – starring Justine Waddell and Anthony Howell. Another story by Elizabeth Gaskell about the rocky relationship between a step-daughter and step-mother. The romance aspect is well-played.

Twelfth Night, Or What You Will - starring Imogen Stubbs and Toby Stephens. This is probably my favorite piece by Shakespeare (what can I say, I like farces). Also, Toby Stephens is really dreamy in this.

58th Annual GRAMMY Award Predictions: Taylorpalooza

Via Tumblr

The 58th annual GRAMMY Awards are set to air on February 15 on CBS and the ladies of Information Services are psychedddd. We've taken the time to predict the winners of all the big categories so you don't have to. Fair warning: we're pretty sure Taylor Swift is gonna clean house this year.  

Record of the Year 

"Really Love" D'Angelo and the Vanguard

"Uptown Funk" Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars

"Thinking Out Loud" Ed Sheeran

"Blank Space" Taylor Swift

"Can't Feel My Face" the Weeknd

Kate: As cute as Ed Sheeran is, there's no way he's going to trump Swift's infectious hit "Blank Space." Seriously- I bought a shirt that says "I can make the bad guys good for the weekend" on it. Please don't tell anybody.   

Jessica: Any record with the title "Can't Feel My Face" deserves to be Record of the Year. Plus, I love a guy who sounds like MJ and wears hair like Basquiat. 

Jasmin: Taylor’s “Blank Space” music video made the song a huge hit. With over 1 billion views on Vevo, it’s safe to say Taylor is going to win this GRAMMY.  

Album of the Year

"Sound & Color" Alabama Shakes

"To Pimp a Butterfly" Kendrick Lamar

"Traveller" Chris Stapleton

"1989" Taylor Swift

"Beauty Behind the Madness" the Weeknd

Kate: Chris Stapleton is the man. I've known that since 2008 when he was the lead singer and guitarist of the SteelDrivers. His first solo album Traveller was released last year and it's flawless as far as I'm concerned.

Jessica: Taylor Swift's got this one in the bag. I look like her... at least that's what strangers tell me. My mom and I don't see the resemblance, but I'll take it. I chose Taylor out of pure vanity. 

Jasmin: 1989 was THE jam of 2015. No matter what your stance is on Taylor Swift, we can all agree that she killed it with this album.  

Song of the Year 

"Alright" Kendrick Lamar

"Blank Space" Taylor Swift

"Girl Crush" Little Big Town 

"See You Again" Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth

"Thinking Out Loud" Ed Sheeran

Kate: Is there a difference between song of the year and record of the year? Can somebody explain that to me? Anyways, "Blank Space" all day (this is not intended to be a Kanye West pun).  

Jessica: If I vote for "Thinking Out Loud", will I seem cool? It seems like the kiddies like him. B96 plays this song on REPEAT, 

Jasmin: Swift managed to make crazy seem alluring and turn comments about being a man eater into a ground breaking hit song with “Blank Space.” Without a doubt Tay wins this round; better luck next time Ed Sheeran!

New Artist

Courtney Barnett

James Bay

Sam Hunt

Tori Kelly

Meghan Trainor

Kate: Being a huge fan of country music, you think I would be supportive of Sam Hunt. But I'm not. His definition of country isn't quite on par with mine, so I'm definitely pulling for Courtney Barnett in this category. Her album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit proved Barnett to be one of the sharpest, most original songwriters around. 

Jessica: Tori Kelly, hands down. And she looks like she could be on the Disney Channel. YAY! 

Jasmin: My hope is that Sam Hunt wins this category. His entire album is phenomenal and if you haven’t heard “Single for the Summer” go pick up Montevallo and be ready to dance.     

Pop Vocal Album 

"Piece by Piece" Kelly Clarkson

"How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful" Florence + the Machine

"Uptown Special" Mark Ronson

"1989" Taylor Swift

"Before This World" James Taylor

Kate: Florence + the Machine’s How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is one of my top five (okay, maybe top ten) albums of 2015. I listened to it religiously on repeat for weeks after its release. Chances are good, however, that Taylor Swift will walk away with this award.

Jessica: I’m pulling for How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful because Florence has a killer set of lungs....pun intended. I love a great melody and this album provides a lot of them.

Jasmin: I really hope Florence + the Machine wins this one. Welch needs to be recognized for her haunting music and strong vocals. Still -Taylor Swift will probably win this award. Sigh. 

Rap Album

"2014 Forest Hills Drive" J. Cole

"Compton" Dr. Dre

"If Youre Reading This Its Too Late" Drake

"To Pimp a Butterfly" Kendrick Lamar

"The Pinkprint" Nicki Minaj

Kate: If it were up to me, Drake, J. Cole, and Kendrick would share this GRAMMY. Almost like how Cady Herron, Regina George, and Gretchen Weiners shared the Spring Fling crown in Mean Girls. Unfortunately, there can only be one winner and it’s sure to be To Pimp a Butterfly.   

Jessica: Apparently, I read this a little too late, because I had no idea the name of Drake's latest album. I hope he wins though.

Jasmin: I’m not exactly an expert in this genre, though I’ve heard that Drake’s album is great. Or maybe  Nicki Minaj should win…girl has to represent.

Country Album

"Montevallo" Sam Hunt

"Pain Killer" Little Big Town

"The Blade" Ashley Monroe

"Pageant Material" Kacey Musgraves

"Traveller" Chris Stapleton

Kate: Both Musgraves’ and Monroe’s albums are GRAMMY worthy, there’s no doubt about that. But Chris Stapleton has taken the music world by storm and he’s sure to come out on top this time around.   

Jessica: Little Big Town sang the National Anthem for the NFC championship game....so I think they meet the requirements for releasing the best country album of 2015. Because, honestly, what’s more country than America and football at the same time?

Jasmin: Kacey Musgraves! Pageant Material! This album is fun to listen to and I absolutely love it. Honestly, Sam Hunt might win, but please let it be Kacey.
 

Alan Rickman

We are not off to a great start this year. First David Bowie, and now Alan Rickman.

You know when you hear that someone famous has passed and then for the first time realize how much you truly liked them? I've always liked Alan Rickman, but his death has put this into sharper perspective: why did I like him so? Rickman was an every-man, not classically handsome, but attractive; he was British and his delivery measured, which gave him a slightly sophisticated air; and he worked on stage and screen, which gave him pedigree. He may have been made famous to audiences playing Hans Gruber in Die Hard, but it is his softer performances that get me, specifically Truly Madly Deeply. What always stood out to me was his ability to make every character, even the villains, sympathetic or, at the very least, understandable. In my book, that is the mark of a good actor.

Selected filmography:

Die Hard

Truly Madly Deeply

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Sense and Sensibility

Galaxy Quest

Harry Potter movies

Love Actually

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Alice in Wonderland

Lee Daniel's The Butler

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust

David Bowie--more than any other pop artist--exemplified the necessity of change and metamorphosis. In his six decade career he has inhabited staggeringly diverse personae: extraterrestrial glam rocker; blue-eyed soul singer; cabaret-style Thin White Duke. This overwhelming impetus to redefine himself is perhaps the sole constant of Bowie's oeuvre. Attempting to define his influence is nearly impossible, as it extends well outside the musical domain, into fashion, film, and the art world. Like the Beatles--his early contemporaries--glimpses of Bowie's influence can be found in virtually every aspect of modern music and pop culture. His songs have been covered by a veritable who's who of iconic musical acts; Nirvana, Tina Turner, Beck, White Stripes, Tegan and Sara, etc. It would be impossible to write a comprehensive encomium of David Bowie; an artist whose myriad lives have somehow survived his time on earth. I would encourage all our readers to delve into David Bowie's legacy, via any of the links below, and celebrate his mutable genius.

Selected Discography

Space Oddity

The Man Who Sold the World

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and Spiders from Mars

Aladdin Sane

Pin-ups

Five Years: 1969-1973

Station to Station

Heroes

Blackstar

Selected Filmography

The Man Who Fell to Earth

Labyrinth

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me

Best of Bowie

Christmas classics at the Dundee Library

This time of year many people enjoy watching their favorite Christmas movies: It's a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Home Alone, Elf, and Miracle on 34th Street, just to name a few. Over the next week we are showing a couple Christmas classics that maybe you forgot about (or aren't as familiar with) and are sure to put you in the holiday mood:

Prancer (1989)
Saturday, December 19 at 2 p.m.

This '80s classic stars Rebecca Harrell, Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman, Abe Vigoda, Michael Constantine, Rutanya Alda, and a pre-Jurassic Park Ariana Richards. A little girl finds a wounded reindeer in the woods and believes it is Prancer. Her efforts to nurse it back to health so she can return it to Santa bring about wonderful changes in the lives of everyone- her father, their neighbor, a grouchy vet, a department store Santa and the people of the town.

Remember the Night (1940)
Tuesday, December 22 at 6 p.m.

This is one of four films that Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray starred in together. Both funny and dramatic, Remember the Night is one of my Christmas favorites. Stanwyck plays Lee Leander, a woman who shoplifts a bracelet and goes to trial for her crime in New York. Because the trial is occurring so close to Christmas, the prosecuting attorney, John Sargeant (Fred MacMurray), gets the trial postponed until after the holidays. He feels bad that Lee will spend Christmas in jail, and posts her bail. When he finds out Lee's hometown is not far from his childhood home in Indiana, he offers to drive her home for Christmas. She ends up spending Christmas with John's family, and gets to participate in their Christmas and New Year's traditions, including a good old-fashioned barn dance. Stanwyck and MacMurray have wonderful chemistry together, and the supporting cast is terrific as well. You may recognize Belulah Bondi from It's a Wonderful Life, or Sterling Holloway from his voice work on Winnie the Pooh or The Jungle Book.

Love Barbara Stanwyck and want more Christmas movie recommendations? Try Christmas in Connecticut for a fun screwball comedy, or Meet John Doe for another film that combines comedy with more dramatic elements.

The Truth Hurts (Especially when Adele is Singing it)

Reserve 25 in the catalog today

~Adele's third studio album, 25, was released on Friday, so I've only had the chance to listen to it like 8063 times~ 

Adele released her first album, 19, in 2008 after graduating from the BRIT School for Performing Arts & technology. She wrote most of the material for her debut album on her own and named the album for the age at which she did so. She kept the theme going when she released her sophomore album 21 in 2011. The album is deeply autobiographical, exploring the different stages of heartbreak from anger and bitterness to acceptance and eventual forgiveness. Adele is a vocal powerhouse and 21 is one of my absolute favorite albums to be released to this day. 

The wildly anticipated third release delivers what all Adele fans want — big vocals, ballads (heartbroken and otherwise) and the classic soundscape, culled from vintage pop and soul music. Technically, Adele has already made this album two times over. She's swept us off our feet before: stirred our souls so powerfully that 25 is not collectively as game-changing as some might have wanted it to be. It is, however, still a collection of beautifully crafted songs that evoke emotion unlike anything else I've heard this year. “Hello”, the opening track, picks up the heartbreak theme of 21 which documented a tumultuous breakup in her personal life. The new single echoes the reflective mood of the album’s [21] closing track, the piano ballad-turned-anthem “Someone Like You”. The album itself is a collection of torch songs, filled with longing for lost love and mourning for her own faded innocence. The second track, titled "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)", was produced by Max Martin and as a result the song has a very Taylor Swift-esque feel to it. "Send My Love" is more of an upbeat sendoff than anything else. "River Lea" is by far the most powerful song on the album; Adele finds herself filled with self-doubt, apologizing to a future lover for some uncommitted sin. 

The most standout aspect of the album as a whole isn't so much Adele's voice (which is just as phenomenal as always despite recent vocal cord surgery) as it is her delivery. There aren't many artists in the music industry today that convey emotion the way she does. She's authentic. My favorite tracks off 25 resonate strongly with my current situation: "Water Under the Bridge", "Love in the Dark", and "All I Ask". Clearly I'm stuck in one of those post-love ruts at the moment. Of course, after another 10,000 listens and once a little more time has passed, my favorite tracks are bound to change.  

Recommended Listen: In Colour by Jamie xx

I was excited for this album to be released in June, if only to tide me over to the next release from The xx-- the group Jamie xx is a member-- but I've come to love it on it's own merit. While this CD isn't nearly as stark or moody as The xx albums, this should still please existing fans and perhaps gain some new ones due to his expanding repertoire. Three tracks feature vocalist Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, both members of the xx. So, even though this is a solo album, he's still got one foot planted in the group. The track that diverts the most is the hip-hop and dance-hall inspired I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times), featuring Popcaan and Young Thug.

What makes this album different from previous efforts is that it's not as cohesive from track to track. It's more diverse: this disc oscillates between house and more-laid back compositions and the aforementioned hip hop/dancehall track. You can dance, or just plain relax to this disc, which isn't true of all electronic albums. My standouts include Sleep Sound, Obvs, Hold Tight, The Rest is Noise, and Girls, which is my favorite of the pack. This is a definite step forward for Jamie.

In Colour by Jamie xx
Find it in the catalog

Admit It: You're obsessed with "Hotline Bling"

Via Pitchfork

Unless you live under a rock (or are Meek Mill or like…my 90 year old grandmother) you know all the lyrics to Drake’s smash hit “Hotline Bling” and you love every second of it. It was hard to admit at first, I know, but now you own it. You live to get in your car every morning on your way to work and scream “YOU USED TO CALL ME ON MY CELL PHONE” at the poor people taking your coffee order at Dunkin’ Donuts. Or maybe that’s just me? Anyway, here’s a list of songs with essentially the same message to help you get over your obsession with “Hotline Bling”. 

"It Is What It Is" by Kacey Musgraves

I know what you're thinking and yes, I do write a lot about Kacey Musgraves, but that's only because I know good music when I hear it. "It Is What It Is" is the closing track off Kacey's first album Same Trailer, Different Park. This song is both the best and saddest ode to friends with benefits that you'll ever hear. Most Drizzy-esque lyrics:

"But I ain't got no one sleeping with me /

And you ain't got nowhere that you need to be /

Maybe I love you /

Or maybe I'm just kinda bored"  

"Delilah" by Florence + the Machine

 Florence Welch has built a career on other peoples' heartbreak. This track, off her third studio album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, has a call-and-response chorus about waiting by the phone that would make Smokey Robinson proud. Most Drake reminiscent lyrics: 

"Now it's one more boy and it's one more lie / 

(Holding on for your call) /

Taking the pills just to pass the time /

(I can never say no)"

"Half Broke Heart" by Cam 

Modern romance (at least according to Aziz Ansari) is essentially not knowing if you're actually dating a person or instead just "hanging out" with them on a fairly regular basis. And if that's not confusing enough, these non-relationships usually end when one person decides they've found someone who is more interesting to text. Cam's single "Half Broke Heart", which has yet to be released on a major record label, explores what comes after the fallout. She sings: 

"Upfront no strings /

Sure fun till it unravels /

Won't see me cry / 

But I might kinda wanna call you tonight"  

"Empty Heart" by Grace Potter 

Grace Potter has been leading The Nocturnals through the murky water that is pop-rock for years now. Her first solo album titled Midnight dropped earlier this year; "Empty Heart" is the one track off the album that Drake himself could have written. Proof:  

"I cry when you do, I cry when you don't /

Why won't you tell me what you want with me /

One day we're together then we're apart /

Why won't you let me fill up your empty heart" 

So, there you have it. Drake may be the king of emotion, but there's plenty of artists out there who can help us conquer the epidemic that is "Hotline Bling". Enjoy.  

Fall Movie Preview 2015: Read It Before You See It

So I guess the film industry is officially out of ideas? Here's a list of books you can read before they hit the silver screen this season.  

Black Mass (September 18)
If Johnny Depp alone isn't reason enough to see Black Mass, then...well, he is. Depp will play the notorious Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger in this film adaption of the exhaustively researched book of the same name. Movie critics are falling all over themselves to proclaim Black Mass the first true Oscar contender this year. The film also stars Dakota Johnson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, Kevin Bacon, and Adam Scott.  


The Martian (October 2)
Matt Damon is returning to outer space this fall. He played a small role in last year's Interstellar where he unsuccessfully attempted to take down Matthew McConaughey on an icy planet unfit for human life (yes, it was just as weird as it sounds). This time around, however, Damon will play the lead role as an astronaut who is forced to survive alone on Mars after a fierce storm sends his crew back to Earth. Hopefully this space odyssey will prove less stressful than Sandra Bullock's 2013 solo journey through the universe. I had to leave the theater before Gravity had even ended due to an anxiety attack. Great job, Alfonso Cuarón!  

Mockingjay - Part 2 (November 20)

Everybody and their brother has seen Mockingjay - Part 1 and the rest of The Hunger Games trilogy, so there's no doubt in my mind that you already have plans to purchase your kids' tickets for the midnight premier of Mockingjay - Part 2. And if you don't you're like the meanest parent ever. But seriously, this series has become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. Katniss Everdeen and her badass, arrow slinging self has taken on the role of hero to fans all over the world. And why shouldn't she? After all, not just anyone could win the Hunger Games. Twice.  Get it, girl! 

Summer 2015: Rain, Cheap Beer, and Post-Concert Depression

I think I've spent more money this season on concert tickets and overpriced Bud Light than I have on...well, anything ever. And being the generous person that I am I've decided to relive some of the magical moments I spent drowning in the rain, surrounded by scantily-clad teenagers here, on this library blog, with you. Enjoy. 

*Disclaimer: the majority of the shows I attended this summer fall under the genre of 'country'. Surprise! 

via Tumblr

Lana Del Rey
May 30, 2015
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Tinley Park, IL

I have to admit I am a fan of Lana's music, although I won't go as far as to say she's my queen. Seriously guys, what's up with that? Del Rey kicked off her Endless Summer Tour in early May with special guest Courtney Love...which was odd to say the least. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to witness that spectacle as Grimes was the opener on Del Rey's Chicago stop. I had no idea who Grimes was before the show and I still don't have a clue today. It was 40 degrees and pouring rain yet every concertgoer around me was wearing high-waisted shorts and a flower crown. I was unimpressed with Del Rey's performance; she whined her way through a couple of tracks off her most recent record Ultraviolence while mostly ignoring her second (and my favorite) album Paradise. And when she finally got around to performing "Summertime Sadness" I was in the bathroom. That was the first and the last time I see LDR in concert. She's all yours, hipsters! 

Zac Brown Band
June 28, 2015
Summerfest
Milwaukee, WI

I traveled to the faraway land of Wisconsin to witness Zac Brown and his 10 piece ensemble throw down on the main stage at Milwaukee's annual Summerfest. The most impressive part of any ZBB show is the sheer amount of fiddle they're able to incorporate into modern country music; their cover of "Devil Went Down to Georgia" is reason enough to shell out the money to see these guys play live. They have an incredible energy that allows them to play lesser-known material to a crowd that really only wants to hear "Chicken Fried" on a two hour loop. The band took a big risk releasing their latest album Jekyll + Hyde this year. It has a much less traditional sound than their fans are used to, but it ultimately opens up a whole new world of possibilities for the band. You can place a hold on the album here.

Kacey Musgraves

July 10, 2015

Windy City Smokeout 

Chicago, IL 

I've reviewed Kacey's material here before and I really just can't say enough good things about her. Musgrave's onstage persona is just as you'd expect it to be. She speaks the truth and nothing but the truth and she's damn proud of her Texas roots. And ladies, her style is ON POINT. Not only did she play a bunch of her own songs, but she also covered some classic country hits like Loretta Lynn's "You Ain't Woman Enough" which confused a lot of the preteens around me. She's returning to Chicago in September to play a set at Farm Aid alongside Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp (just to name a few).  

via Tumblr

Taylor Swift
July 18 & 19, 2015
Soldier Field
Chicago, IL

Swift is without a doubt America's Sweetheart--donating thousands to a young fan diagnosed with cancer, sending personalized Christmas gifts to girls all over the world, spending hours interacting with her fans on Tumblr--and she recently kicked off her latest world tour in support of her album 1989. I've been a fan of Taylor since the very beginning; I saw her perform for free on the lawn outside of Soldier Field way before she was ever big enough to sell out the stadium two nights in a row. Her new album is unlike anything she's done in the past and she played the entirety of it for 60,000 Chicago fans. Twice. She left behind the acoustic guitar and the melodramatic lyrics this time around to show her fans that she's more than just a boy-crazy wannabe. She's the real deal. She's a bonafide pop star.

So, when all is said and done, I've seen some pretty bangin' shows this summer. Despite the weather (Illinois...amirite?!) and the hundreds of dollars I spent on booze instead of bills, I'll call it a success.  

Recommended TV: Hannibal

News came out this week that this is the last season of Hannibal (at least on NBC). It's cancellation should not be seen as failure though, and I recommend it wholeheartedly. Hannibal is the most beautiful and stunning television show airing right now, if not ever. This is a bold statement and it seems impossible if you are familiar with the books or previous movies. Beauty is not a word one would associate with a show about a cannibalistic serial killer. But, even at its most gruesome, it is so artful. Bryan Fuller, the show-runner, created the other shows Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, and Wonderfalls.

Season one has a crime-of-the-week plot structure. Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) helps the FBI catch killers because he can "see" inside their minds based on the crime scenes. This ability disrupts his own mental state to the point that he needs help. Enter Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen). Season two has a different structure, which is driven more by Will's narrative and his changing relationship with Hannibal and the rest of his colleagues at the FBI. Season three began earlier this month and you're able to watch the aired episodes online. So far, this season is following Hannibal's narrative-- he's calling the shots. 

 

So, on to why this show is special: it's a feast for the senses. The dialogue is not wasted and often carries a double meaning; the imagery is significant and dream-like (or hallucinogenic); the sets and color palette are lovely and intentional; the lighting moody; and the food styling is so exquisite its enough to make you want to join in on the meals, even though you know you don't really want to. The cinematography is so perfect, its a wonder that you're only watching a network TV show and not a feature film. Now the disclaimer: this show is not for everyone. It is intense, disturbing, and shocking at times-- the crime scenes can be a lot to take. I would also recommend refraining from snacking while watching.

Mind Your Own Biscuits and Life Will Be Gravy...and Other Words of Wisdom from Kacey Musgraves

Find it in the catalog!

Music fans everywhere have been waiting anxiously for the release of Kacey Musgraves' sophomore album Pageant Material. Me being me, I pre-ordered my copy and received it in the mail the day before it was released. Score.

Her debut album, Same Trailer, Different Park, included the hits "Follow Your Arrow" and "Merry Go 'Round". Her vocals are honest and effortless; Musgraves quickly made it clear that she's not an oversinger, but instead a killer songwriter. Alongside co-writers Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark and Luke Laird, Musgraves produced an album so relatable that it's been in my stereo since its release date in March 2013. Lyrics like "If you save yourself for marriage you're a bore / if you don't save yourself for marriage you're a whore-able person" had listeners hooked from track one.

This time around, Musgraves upped the ante. Tracks like "Dime Store Cowgirl", "Pageant Material",  and "Family is Family" draw on her small-town past. The title track is an anomaly of sorts where Musgraves tells listeners just why she's not considered 'pageant material'. She sings:

 "I ain't pageant material / 

I'm always higher than my hair / 

And it ain't that I don't care about world peace / 

But I don't see how I can fix it in a swimsuit on a stage /

I ain't exactly Ms. Congenial /

Sometimes I talk before I think, I try to fake it but I can't /

I'd rather lose for what I am than win for what I ain't"

Musgraves' music possesses an honest quality that's clearly lacking in a lot of the hits we hear coming out of Nashville today. In a recent interview with Fader, she was quoted saying, "The more country that my music gets, the less it fits into the country world today. It's almost like there needs to be two genres, modern country and...country?" At its core, Pageant Material is about how you can never quite escape small-town struggles with family, neighbors, and old flames no matter how big a break you get. 

Chart Flashback: June 15, 1985

Once again, to go along with our summer reading theme Read to the Rhythm, we're taking a look at popular summer songs. Let's rewind back to the summer of 1985. Several artists included in the top 20 singles chart are still going strong today, while others have disappeared and I had trouble tracking down any kind of album availability for them (Mary Jane Girls? Limahl?).

Click on the album title to place a hold or click on the song links to download the songs from Freegal (you may download 3 songs per week with your FRVPLD library card):

1. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" -- Tears for Fears
Songs from the Big Chair

2. "Heaven" -- Bryan Adams
Reckless

3. "Axel F." (from Beverly Hills Cop) -- Harold Faltermeyer
80's Gold

4. "Suddenly" -- Billy Ocean
Greatest Hits

5. "Things Can Only Get Better" -- Howard Jones
The Best of Howard Jones, 1983-93

6. "Sussudio" -- Phil Collins
No Jacket Required

7. "In My House" -- The Mary Jane Girls

8. "Everything She Wants" -- Wham!
Make It Big

9. "Angel" -- Madonna
Like a Virgin

10. "Walking on Sunshine" -- Katrina and the Waves
Katrina and the Waves

11. "Raspberry Beret" -- Prince
The Hits 2

12. "A View to a Kill" -- Duran Duran
The Best of Bond -- James Bond

13. "The Search is Over" -- Survivor
Vital Signs

14. "Smuggler's Blues" -- Glenn Fry

15. "Fresh" -- Kool and the Gang
Celebration: The Best of Kool and the Gang

16. "Would I Lie to You?" -- Eurythmics
Be Yourself Tonight

17. "Never Ending Story" -- Limahl
Living in Oblivion: The '80s Greatest Hits Vol. 2

18. "Don't You (Forget About Me)" -- Simple Minds
The Best of Simple Minds

19. "Voices Carry" -- 'Til Tuesday
Coming Up Close: A Retrospective

20. "You Give Good Love" -- Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston

Source: Billboard Magazine Archive

Recommended Watch: About Time

About Time (2013).
Find it in the catalog!
Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, and Lydia Wilson.
Directed by Richard Curtis. 

Based off of the trailers for the film, I had literally no interest in seeing this movie.  It looked like another generic Nicholas Sparks-lite romantic movie where Rachel McAdams falls in love with yet another time traveler.  However, after I watched, I realized my first impression of the film was actually quite wrong.

The film isn't really centered all that much on the romance between adorably dorky Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) and bookish Mary (Rachel McAdams).  Instead, it's a coming of age story about Tim's journey from a 21-year-old man-boy who lives with his parents into a fully formed adult. Lucky for him, he has the added bonus of being able to travel back in time and (maybe) fix his mistakes... or cause new ones. 

About Time begins on Tim's 21st birthday, when his dad (played by the ever awesome Bill Nighy) breaks the news to Tim that all the men in their family can travel back in time.  The way they accomplish time travel is incredibly geeky and low-tech!: just go into a dark place (like cupboard) and ball your hands in fist and concentrate and voila.  They can travel back in time, but not the future.  Also, going back in time can have consequences for the future.  Tim decides to use his new-found power for world peace... Just kidding, he decides to use it to get a girlfriend.

His first prospect is his sister's pretty friend Charlotte (the near-ubiquitous Margot Robbie), who comes to stay with their family over the summer.  However, Tim quickly learns that no amount of time travel can win her heart.  He has much better success with Mary, who he meets on a literal blind date.  Unfortunately for him, he accidentally mucks up the relationship by traveling back in time before he met her.  But thankfully the movie doesn't dwell too much on his attempts to win her back. In fact their relationship is refreshingly devoid of rom-com cliques, and they instead pretty much act like two adults who love and respect for each other.  

Tim's relationships with his family are also central to this movie's plot.  Tim's sister Kit Kat (Lydia Wilson) starts out a bit flighty, but winds up having some serious problems as an adult.  Tim naturally wants to help his sister out, and even attempts to use time travel, but discovers that "fixing" his sister's problem can't happen without complications.  One of my favorite relationships in the movie is between Tim and his dad.  Tim's dad is his mentor and confidant, and they have a very close father-son relationship that includes some serious ping-pong matches.  Gleeson and Nighy have great chemistry together.  And their relationship is key to one of the toughest decisions Tim has to make in the film.

About Time is a delightful movie about family, love, and the tough decisions one has to make growing up.  It's a funny film throughout, though parts of it are quite touching, and the ending totally made me cry (I'm not proud).  Highly recommend for fans of Bill Nighy or Richard Curtis's debut Love Actually.  Also the soundtrack is pretty incredible, including essential tracks from Nick Cave and Arvo Pärt.