This week, we’re fulfilling prophecies, and pledges to past selves. We bought the tickets and took the rides. Some of us into the archive. Some of us into the dungeon. And some of us out to greener pastures.
Calvin Kasulke is thrilled to report that the long-awaited, lately released new Clipse album “absolutely delivers.” “Let God Sort Em Out,” is the fourth studio album from the Virginia-born hip-hop duo. Pharrell produced. Let it rip.
James Folta stays into hyper specific archival projects. This week he’s been digging this community effort to document how many cigarettes appear in movies. (The website How Many Cigarettes tackles a similar beat.) “Whenever a movie has a cigarette appearing more than once every five minutes, it’s tagged a ‘REAL SMOKER MOVIE,’ which cracks me up,” says our resident librarian. “Despite having never been a smoker, I’ve become pretty invested.”
Drew Broussard is “not even sorry” that his nice thing this week is another throwback web game, reminiscent of the good old web. Dark Fort places its users in a catacomb, where they must complete a mysterious quest. This solo RPG is part of the Mörk Borg extended universe, wherein apocalypse looms. You will have to ask Drew more about the details. If you can tear him away from the screen.
Oliver Scialdone’s also revisiting the best things about being 14. “I’m rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Jillian because she’s never seen it,” our community editor reports. Turns out the WB’s best property does, in, fact hold up. Be warned, emulators—late 90s/early aughts cultural products have real Give-a-Mouse-a-Cookie potential. Oliver’s also been listening to lots of Garbage, and rereading Nana.
Olivia Rutigliano went on an actual vacation. She and the partner visited St. Kitts and its breath-taking sister island, Nevis (“one of the most beautiful places imaginable”) and did absolutely no work, which we truly salute. “We went swimming and read books. (I burned my way through some Simenon, personally.) To quote the Go-Gos: ‘vacation, all I ever wanted.’”
Molly Odintz went on a mind vacation, to Alienated Majesty Books. Our managing CrimeReads editor is thrilled to report that the indie houses “the best obscure literature collection in Austin.” Though she arrived for a book talk from hardcore legend Eugene Robinson, unexpected treats abounded. Real good anecdotes about real good weirdos.
I’m grateful this week for a divine pairing. A pistachio popsicle, and Pam Houston’s Cowboys Are My Weakness. One is a perfect summer treat, the other is a perfect summer story collection, following witty, tortured, outdoor women over and around the elaborate love hurdles they set themselves. Sentences as salty-sweet as my new favorite dessert.
Wishing you a week of deep dives, new vistas, and pleasant memories of things past.