Lucius: The Doreen to Irene Trilogy

 A listener's perspective on Lucius' 2010s album trilogy

Throughout the 2010s there were plenty of captivating album runs from indie artists that spanned the entire decade. But one trilogy of records has truly captivated my attention: Lucius' prolific Wildewoman --> Good Grief --> NUDES trilogy where many different motifs and perspectives were touched upon (both sonically and lyrically). I recently reviewed all three of these pieces on the Album Review, and wanted to put them up on Lush and Todd. Below is the trio, hope anyone reading enjoys.

God Bless,

- ZB James

Moth's YouTube Cavern #2: Final Day at GHS: June 2001

 

Final Day at GHS: June 2001

After only two caverns I’m noticing a trend, but I like this video for its true-to-life depiction of a real time and place. I find it amazing that in our latching to the concept of time we’ve found so many ways to record it. For thousands of years, modern humans existed on the planet knowing not much more than their immediate surroundings: Oxford University and the Aztec Empire existed simultaneously; the Bicycle and Steam Locomotive were independently invented just a few years apart. For better and worse, today we can see what’s going on in every corner of the world, however relatively mundane or spectacular.

I look back on high school fondly, and in the grand scheme 2001 wasn’t too far from 2009, so this was a nostalgic viewing. These are my supervisors at work; friends’ older siblings; my camp counselors and cousins in their youth. Look at them go!

- Moth

Moth's YouTube Cavern #1: The Life of Andy Warhol (Documentary)

Part 1

Part 2

This one took me a couple of weeks' worth of lunch breaks since it's around 3hrs total but it was a great journey.

Before watching, I was not privy to Andy Warhol's life and work other than the fact that he was the Campbell's Soup guy and did the cover art for The Velvet Underground & Nico. From watching this video I got the sense that he was a truly prolific artist who pioneered mediums, fused art with industrial concepts, and changed the world through his visionary work.

I was particularly interested in the first batch movies he made. Beginning in the second half of his career, these movies consisted of what might be most direct representation of "motion pictures". One film is just 5hrs of a person sleeping, another captures a man's face throughout a sexual encounter, and a handful of others record people doing everyday activities like drinking a coke or getting a haircut. These early films gave the viewer a chance to watch people do things that we all do every day, but can never experience through the body of another. I sleep every day, and I've seen people asleep, but to really watch someone sleep for 5hrs, or enjoy a whole beverage? I find Andy's idea of allowing us to view people simply experiencing the world especially poignant, and was most impressed by that period in his career.

I now have a much greater understanding of the depth of Andy's work, his unique story, and his far-reaching cultural impact. There is no accounting for taste, and Andy had it in spades. Some art historians claim that he is the most important artist since Pablo Picasso, or the most important art figure of the second half of the 20th century. After watching this I am inclined to agree.

- Moth

ZB's YouTube Cavern #9: The Great Alex Turner

 

Awesome acoustic cover of Tame Impala's "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards" by Alex Turner. He totally makes it his own and knocks it out of the park. Such a G.

The Banquet Bunch - Cheesecake Factory

 

Welcome to The Banquet Bunch Review, where recent restaurant meals are discussed and/or reviewed by one of The Double B attendees. Today I’m going to take on the mighty task of summarizing a trip to the hallowed Cheesecake Factory in Peabody. It was a monumental occasion for many different reasons, which I’ll get into below. Hope you enjoy it.

May 30th, 2021 - Peabody, MA

This past Sunday it was a rainy day and there wasn’t much to do, so of course The Double B pounced on the opportunity to dine out. It was a big moment in Massachusetts - the first weekend with no mask mandate anymore - and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate place to usher in this new American era than the mall (plus I had a $50 gift card lol). Nothing says freedom quite like a chaotic chain restaurant surrounded by retail stores.

The Venue

As we got there and went inside, immediately you could feel an artificial and distinctly American energy. For some reason the Cheesecake architecture is basically a nod to all previous empires. There’s Egyptian sphinxes, Roman columns, and some Elizabethan era structures all washed over with a desert tan color. There are intricate light fixtures everywhere and the lighting is dim, which gives the whole place a Southwestern America illumination (Tay called it an "Arizona energy"). It’s a marvelous and colossal hodgepodge that’s over-the-top and corny - like a romanticized dream of a dream of what ancient times were like. The imitation vibes are so heavy that it almost makes Cheesecake Factory come across as a theme restaurant and not a chain. All in all it’s very strange and pure Americana.

But that’s the whole shtick and charm of the place at the end of the day. The second you walk in there you know what you’re in for. The stakes couldn’t be any lower, which helps the guest avoid the daunting pressure that comes with going to super nice restaurants. There's also a guilty comfort knowing that it's a chain - in the back of your mind you know that it's not going to be horrible as there are corporate standards that need to be met. So for a first big meal out with no masks, this felt right. A safe step back into the real world with the American people, packed into a pastiche jungle gym of a restaurant ready for the troth. USA! USA!

The Meal

They made us download the menus on our phones, much to me and Taylor’s chagrin. I thought that maybe having the menu in digital form would help with navigating their notoriously massive list of options, but it didn’t. It took me up until the final few seconds before I knew what I wanted. Just so much to choose from - Thai food, Mexican food, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, pizza, their “skinnylicious” entrees, and about a million side dishes/apps. So overwhelming. In the end we went with this (from what I recall):

Appetizers:

• - Bread and butter (they included some tasty brown bread. Possibly pumpernickel? Not hundo sure)

• Factory Nachos (no chicken)

Beverages:

Carol - 2 Coors Lights and a water

Taylor - Multiple waters with a lemon slice

Hinchey - 4 Cheesecake Factory Special Lemonades (free refills)

Tim - 3 Cheesecake Factory Special Lemonades (free refills)

Zach - Multiple waters with a lemon slice

Entrees:

Carol - Chicken Parmesan Sandwich (w/ fries)

Taylor - Caesar Salad (appetizer size, he wasn’t hungry/ate before we went)

Hinchey - Fettuccine Alfredo

Tim - The Lettuce Wraps (w/ grilled avocado) and a Beet and Avocado Salad

Zach - Chicken Taquitos and a Cuban Sandwich (w/ fries)

Desserts:

• Slice of Original Cheesecake (shared by all)

• Slice of Tiramisu (upon Taylor’s insistence, shared by all)

Summary

Looking back I certainly enjoyed the occasion, and the highlight for me was the Factory Nachos. Great presentation that had a well balanced layering. The key is the shallowness to the nacho - if it’s too mountainous some chips get buried by cheese/salsa while others are bone dry. With this nacho each chip had an acceptable cheese/salsa ratio and it was all thanks to the thin bedding. Well done by the Factory. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention how delicious both desserts were. Their original cheesecake is as good as it gets, and the tiramisu was to die for. Brilliant baking.

It was also nice to get out and do something on an otherwise dreary weekend filled with crummy weather. In an interesting twist the meal itself took a long time to come to a close, which I’m guessing is because the staff was swamped. There was a general sense of discombobulation, especially at the front desk, which was also noteworthy. It added to that classic hilarity/notoriety that comes with a Cheesecake Factory night. And as for the lengthy wait for the check - I’d rather have a stretched out meal than a quick one. To just hang and chat as we contemplated the final bill price was a delight (I was pretty close with my guess of $150). Lastly, our waiter was a good dude that earned his tip. He was happy-go-lucky and dealt with our demands quite well (Tim dropped his napkin...big party foul).

Thank you so much Cheesecake, you're always a top notch basic choice. Until next time!

- ZB James

Taylor's 2nd Youtube Cavern: 25 of the Best 60s San Francisco Albums

 

This is the video I've been referring to. This guy Matt is super chill and has some deep knowledge of the topic. I wasn't familiar with all of these bands, and I also had no idea CCR was from SF. Always thought they were from the southeast or something. Some great recs in here, the comment section is worth a read too. 

Tate the Great: A Small Victory on the Path Back to Glory

 

Brooklyn threw the first punch in Game 3 Friday night, but then JT came in and delivered the knockout blow.https://t.co/ITMD9dtzPL

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 29, 2021

Not every season can end with a duck boat parade. Not every year goes according to plan. Some are disasters filled with disappointment and what-ifs. The 2020-2021 season for the Celtics was all of the above - a frustrating roller-coaster ride that left the organization and the fans that support it with more questions than answers. So it goes in the tumultuous world of sports.

But last nights 125-119 Celtics victory over the Nets was one to remember in a season of forgettable performances. Tatum dropped 50 points and legitimately looked like he could be the best player in the world. Is he the best Celtic since Bird? Possibly. Give him a few more seasons and some bolstered talent around him and we'll find out soon enough. It's insane to think he's only 23 years old.

There was also plenty of grit from role guys like Marcus Smart, Tristan Thompson, Evan Fournier, and Kemba Walker (despite his poor shooting). When Smart is on like that he is a treat to watch, and Fournier is certainly making the case for a re-signing. Thompson is finally showing the fans why he was brought in in the first place. Great stuff all around.

With all that being said, of course there's still a next-to-impossible hill to climb this season. It will take a miracle to beat this Nets team in 6 or 7, and even if that magically happens there are more goliaths to take down afterword. It's just not happening this year, and that's fine. But damnit if you can't cherish moments like this, even though the ship is going down, then why even root for a team? If you're only enjoyment can come off of titles being won, then have fun being miserable most of the time.

If the long war is the Celtics lifting banner 18 then last nights win was a small victory on the path back to glory. Tatum is becoming a legend right before our eyes, putting together masterful performances against some of the best in the history of the game. So for a few days I'm going to soak in the good feels and dream of what the future holds with JT as the leader of this team.

Not every season can end with a duck boat parade and there are still many questions to be answered. But there's one answer we definitely know: Jayson Tatum is a bonafide star and as long as this team has him there's hope.

- ZB James