1. this band, crown lands
i am and always have been firmly in the "high-pitched male vocals" camp: i love blind melon, rush, greta, coheed, the mars volta, superchunk, AFI, guns 'n roses, wolfmother, and i guess zeppelin sort of falls into this category sometimes, but i don't really think so? and now, crown lands! it wasn't until i discovered them a couple weeks ago, though, that i realized the vocals are the main reason i'm not as big a fan of other contemporary classic rock revival acts like rival sons and the marcus king band. they're great and super, super talented — don't get me wrong — BUT personally, they more give me the feel of being in a bluesy smoky bar. whereas bands like crown lands put me in a mystical, magical, moss-covered forest (not unlike the setting of this video?), traipsing around like a little sprite, feeling light and ethereal, and throwing pixie dust. or something. either way, as i said in my 2021 favorite songs post, i'm just so very happy this kind of rock is coming back to the forefront whether critics like it or not. i've never subscribed to the silly notion that "rock is dead" (i've heard great, new rock every single year that i've been listening to music), but it is definitely true that '70s-style rock with big guitars, flashy showmanship, and over-the-top vocals has been missing from the limelight for a few decades at least, and i am delighted that i and those much younger than me get to experience it in our own lives for the first time with these bands!
i love this song in particular; the singer's voice reminds me of geddy lee a bit, yes, but i'm also getting major sabbath-era ozzy vibes. the bridge and the solo are so dope, and it's pretty interesting and impressive that the singer is the drummer. yesterday, i watched this recent livestream concert they did and it sealed the deal for me. these guys can play! it's amazing how much sound they can create with just two people. as a bonus, they ain't too hard on the eyes, either. i am looking respectfully, of course. hair goals, the both of 'em.
2. rediscovering the O.C.
i do believe that i am the only person to have watched the O.C. from its premiere in 2003 all the way through until the series finale in 2007 (kidding, but...not really). between the music, and my crush on seth cohen, and the wisdom of peter gallagher aka sandy cohen aka the best tv dad ever, it was incredibly formative to my life; one of my favorite college memories is walking down the hallway of my dorm on a thursday night of my freshman year and hearing "californiaaaaa, californiaaaaa, here we coooooome!" blaring from behind every single door. but it's been a while since i've done a proper rewatch, so i figured these depressing, freezing winter days would be the perfect opportunity to travel to the o.c. (bitch) once again.
i'm not sure what i was expecting, but while it's still great, it seems so dated now! and way more dramatic in a cheesy, bad way than i remember (like marissa O.D.ing in tijuana, that weirdo oliver trying to O.D. on pills, lots of O.D.ing in general). it's also so funny in retrospect how tough and badass they're trying to make ben mckenzie as ryan. i couldn't stop laughing during a scene when seth (adam brody) was talking about being a virgin and asking ryan about sex and ryan was like "which time? with which girl?" and seth was like "how many girls have there been?" and ryan starts mentally counting like HE HAS LOST COUNT and lolol no. you're 16, babe. still having a blast reliving my teenage memories, tho.
3. this super bowl halftime show trailer
who knew that the best super bowl commercial this year would be one for a part of the super bowl? from the musical transitions to the VFX and the actual artists themselves, this got me so damn hyped as a child of the '90s and a teen of the early 2000s! i literally screamed aloud at the piano keys in the ocean part. hats all the way off to the creative director and everyone involved in making this teaser. now let's just hope the actual performance is just as good. also because i don't follow sports at all, i just googled sofi stadium and it's in inglewood!!! oh my god. brilliant. genius. show-stopping.
4. these bitchin' boots
should i splurge?
5. david spade's the bachelor tiktoks
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@davidspade/video/7051823779630271791" data-video-id="7051823779630271791" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;" > <section> <a target="_blank" title="@davidspade" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@davidspade">@davidspade</a> Oh snap <a title="thebachelor" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/thebachelor">#thebachelor</a> is on. <a title="clayton" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/clayton">#clayton</a> is soaking bitches right and left. <a title="abc" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/abc">#abc</a> <a title="datingtips" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/datingtips">#datingtips</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - DavidSpade" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7051823715801221935">♬ original sound - DavidSpade</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
literally the only way i can watch the show. every one has me in actual tears.
