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Monday, February 18, 2008

Media Consumption

One of my co-workers asked what television shows I watch after work.

“I don’t turn on my TV,” I told her. “As soon as I get home, I go straight to iTunes and turn on some music.”

“I don’t trust people like you,” she replied. “That’s weird.”

Not that I’m any sort of media tastemaker, as my personal interests tend to fall outside of the norm for my demographic – or most demographics, probably – but I thought I’d share some of the things I’m listening to and reading lately. Whether it’s a response to the cold winter, emotional events, or just changing palates, during these past few months the overall theme of my media consumption has been, in one word: Comfort.

LISTENING

Eva Cassidy. Songbird. Has everyone in the world heard of Eva Cassidy except for me? A few weeks ago I was rocking the downward-facing dog in a yoga class at Lifetime Fitness when the instructor played “Autumn Leaves.” The voice was stunning. Since then I’ve been obsessively listening to Ms. Cassidy.

K.D. Lang. Watershed. I haven’t really paid much attention to K.D. Lang until recently. I’m discovering that I’ve totally been missing out: Canadian lesbians can sing quite beautifully without the slightest hint of flannel or toolboxes.

Chet Baker. Career: 1952-1988. He had a rough life, what with the heroin addiction and getting his teeth knocked out (which sucks for a trumpet player). He sure knew how to play, though, and sing pretty well, too. This album illuminates his progression over four decades. By 1988, he was sounding pretty seasoned… Some might say strung out.

READING

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time: Hopeful, witty and lyrical with wonderful characters. I also recently read Close on the Range, Proulx’s collection of short stories that includes “Brokeback Mountain.” It’s the kind of reading that makes you glow with pleasure.

1776 by David McCullough. Not as good as Thunderstruck or Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, but still an interesting and human account of George Washington and the battles that preceded the United States.

Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama. Cliché, right? Sue me.

Posted by Aaron on February 18, 2008 5:17 PM