Try New Things

Complacency is a silent killer. When life is finally going your way, be wary because one day in the not-so-distant future you will wake up bored, fat, and unmotivated. We get comfortable in our daily routine, we tell ourselves that we’re busier than we actually are, and then we forget to challenge ourselves. This happens to all of us. It’s inevitable.

I’ve been sucked into this cycle a number of times, and I’m still trying to figure out how to avoid it. Apparently, I’m a slow learner.

What I have figured out is that complacency creeps in when we stop trying new things. There’s never a shortage of new skills to learn, but when we give up, we’re doomed. I fell victim to this when I finished university. I took a mental vacation from learning and quickly stumbled into a rut. Learning how to plan a wedding pulled me out of it. Likewise, after I became a working-stiff and family man, I tricked myself into thinking I had no time for new things, so I put on my comfy clothes and hibernated. Becoming a runner forced a wardrobe change.

Trying new things keeps the mind fresh, helps us develop new skills, and puts us in situations where we’re forced to meet new people. Ultimately, we become better, well-rounded people as a result. It’s easier said than done, though, and I certainly don’t have things figured out. For one, finding motivation to step out of your comfort zone can be difficult. Also, trying something new can be downright scary.

As cheesy as it sounds, Dr. Leo Marvin, from the comedy classic What About Bob, was onto something with his groundbreaking book Baby Steps. Setting a series of small, targeted goals is much easier than a large, undefined one; it gives you a plan to follow and breaks the goal into manageable chunks. It also helps if you research the new skill you want to learn. Knowledge truly is a powerful thing, and a bit of research can also help make the task at hand appear less daunting.

This isn’t groundbreaking stuff, but I have a tendency to over complicate things, so I’m going to keep it simple for once. I’m using this approach to cross a few items off my bucket list this year – run a half marathon, write a screenplay, and learn a new martial art (either Aikido, Kung Fu, or Muay Thai). I’ve signed up for a half marathon scheduled in May, and the training is going well. So far so good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beards: The Ultimate Confidence Booster

Growing up is difficult and navigating those teenage years can be downright awful. Don’t get me wrong, I have some great memories of that time, and the challenges I faced made me the man I am today. Damn it could be rough, though. Anyone who claims differently is either a liar or a complete douche bag. The latter is also likely the same person who claims high school was the best time of his/her life. Ironically, if I could’ve rocked the beard I have today during my teenage years, I’d probably be one of those douche bags. I would’ve been immune to the self consciousnesses and crippling self doubt that often defines our teenage years because after I grew my beard, I felt invincible.

It sounds silly, but bear with me: this beard is my armor. Seriously, the power of the beard is strong. It protects me from the harsh summer sun and keeps me warm in the winter. According to an article by D. Caroline Blanchard, published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, beards also protect against physical violence:

The facial and neck structures covered by beards…are front and center in aggressive confrontations and may be especially vulnerable to blows when weapons are not used, or blows from the “blunt force” weapons that have been available throughout much of hominid evolution. The “glass chin” phenomenon is well known in boxing, and direct blows to the front and sides of the neck as well as the area just under the nose can be particularly lethal. Both are particular targets of attack in unarmed combat techniques. This protective feature of human beards is also recognized in the Technical and Competition Rules of the international Amateur Boxing Association, which prohibit beards in boxing matches.

Physical benefits aside, immediately upon deciding to grow a beard I felt a surge of confidence – negativity and self doubt magically ricocheted off me. The choice to “grow it out” can be difficult for many, especially if you work in a more conservative environment (which I do). Beards are often viewed as unclean and unprofessional, and, while increasing in popularity, they’re still considered against the norm. However, once you take the first step towards beard-dome, it’s extremely liberating. By growing a beard, you’re signalling that you don’t care what others think about your appearance or your choices.

That one, small step (the act of shelving my razor) triggered changes in other aspects of my life. Historically, I’ve been an indecisive person. Not anymore. I no longer fear the dreaded decision-monster. Now, even if I’ve made a poor decision, I have no problem owning up to it. I’m also more confident in my interactions with people. Since growing a beard, I’ve signed more contracts at work and established more meaningful relationships with clients. I believe its also turned me into a more patient husband and father. Beards, especially long, full beards, require time and effort. There are days where my beard looks awesome and days where it’s a struggle to control those pesky fly-aways. The key is being patient and not making a snap decision to shave it off. Much can be said for the life of a family man. There are good days and bad days. Days where the kids are angels and marriage is bliss, and days where all hell breaks loose and the household is in shambles. As with a beard, the secret is putting in the effort and remaining even keeled. If you do that, good things will follow. So find your beard and let it grow.

Excess Baggage: Packing for the Business Trip

I have a complicated history with packing for a trip. I’ve been doing it for most of my life. My parents divorced when I was young, which resulted in weekly “trips” from one residence to the other. I suppose the smart thing would’ve been to keep a wardrobe and other essentials at each house: the weekend warrior wear at one and the schoolboy regalia at the other. That idea never occurred to me, though, which resulted in a constant state of packing. I’d get through the school week, pack a bag Friday night, and then head to my Dad’s place Saturday and Sunday (sometimes I’d unpack, sometimes not). Monday morning I’d drop my bag(s) off at my Mom’s on the way to school and unpack afterwards. Rinse and repeat.

This perpetual dance resulted in a tendency to overpack. The one way I could control things was to be sure I had the gear required to navigate the weekend. Only adrift for three days, but certainly I needed jeans, three pair of shorts, two sweaters,  three t-shirts, a bathing suit or two, pajamas, five pair of socks and underwear, sneakers, sandals, a guitar, and two books. This was the norm.

Fast forward fifteen years. I travel regularly on business, and carry-on luggage is preferred for these trips. Packing now tests the limits of my sanity. Whether a three day trip or a ten day trip, it doesn’t matter. The process is the same. One suit or two? Definitely four dress shirts, five ties, three pocket squares, and a pair of dress shoes. Need those khakis for dinners with clients, jeans for the casual dinners with “friendly” clients, a nice pair of shorts for evenings dining at the hotel bar, and “comfy” shorts for bumming around the hotel in the mornings and between meetings. Four graphic t-shirts, also for bumming around, and three golf shirts are a necessity. At least five undershirts and seven pair of socks and underwear. Bathing suit and flip flops. Don’t forget the workout attire – athletic shorts, sweat wicking shirt, underwear and socks, a pair of running shoes, iPod with armband for running, heart rate monitor, and sweat proof, in-ear headphones. Obviously need the laptop, iPad, gameboy 3ds, novel (the tactile experience of reading a book is preferred to the impersonal e-book experience), cell phone, noise cancelling headphones, journal, chargers, notebook, business plans and other client related material, including no less than 25 business cards, even though clients have my contact information already. Passport (US and Canadian) and wallet are not to be forgotten. And cash…lots of US cash.

All this should fit into one, standard issue piece of carry-on luggage and a briefcase, right?

Changing Things Up

I’ve decided to change things up a bit on this blog. As you can tell by taking a cursory glance at the site, I haven’t posted in awhile. Not much in total, really. And it comes down to the fact that there are a million sites that review music, games, lifestyle products, etc., and I got bored with it pretty quick. Also, I don’t have the time to write a meaningful review of items on a regular basis. I can’t consume as much media as I used too. There’s just too much out there and too little time. I’ll still include the occasional review or discussion about things that I’m into, but I plan on writing more personal content in the future. You know…random observations, reflections on experiences, maybe even some poetry or creative writing if I’m feeling ambitious.

Basically, I’m figuring this out as I go along. I know that’s counter to what this blogging thing is all about, that you’re supposed to have your mission statement figured out before actually starting a blog, but I’ve never really worked that way. I tend to get ahead of myself. The verdict is still out on whether that’s a good or bad character trait. I like to think the former, but I’m a bit biased.

Foo Fighters Debut Album Turns 20…What!?

Apparently the Foo Fighters debut album, Foo Fighters, turned 20 recently. More than anything else that’s happened in my life lately (two kids, a mortgage…basically stereotypical growing up stuff), this milestone makes me feel old. Where did the last 20 years go? Have the Foo seriously been around that long?

I remember this album’s debut very clearly. I was 11 years old and not really into music in a big way yet. I listened to Nirvana (I had the requisite RIP Kurt poster on my bedroom wall, as well as the Nirvana Unplugged), but I had no idea who Dave Grohl was. If truth be told, I didn’t really get the fuss over Nirvana. I was more of a Pearl Jam guy (still am today).

I was staying at my buddy’s house for the weekend. He had recently moved further away, so we didn’t chill as often. What used to be regular evening hangouts, turned into the occasional weekend affair, before they ceased entirely. On this particular occasion, we were in the family room watching a bizarre claymation dinosaur movie we were really into at the time. His dad suddenly burst into the room, turned off the TV, and threw a CD into the stereo. We were, understandably, pissed off. After all, it was only the 100th time we’d watched this movie, and it was getting to the scene where a T-Rex goes all T-Rex on some unsuspecting herbivores.

As soon as the first track, “This is Call”, started playing, we weren’t too upset anymore. First of all, and much to our delight, my buddy’s dad started hopping around the room, spastically playing air guitar. Once our laughter subsided, I was genuinely transfixed by this track, with its jangly guitar and sunny vocal intro, before everything veered off into distortion. It sounded dark and rough, while also coming across as lighthearted and fun. On top of that, the album had the coolest artwork I had ever seen – a friggin’ ray gun. My child-brain was reeling…who are these Foo Fighters? What are they fighting? What the hell is Foo? How do I get a hold of one of those awesome ray guns? Needless to say, I’ve been a fan ever since. And I still want one of those ray guns.

Big Red Beard Combs – Glides Through Those Gnarly Tangles Like a Knife Through Butter

As a beardsman with a medium length beard (usually maintained at 4 months of growth, maybe 6 months in the winter), a good comb is an essential component of my grooming arsenal. I also, prefer a comb that fits in my pocket, so I can deal with any rogue hairs that may pop up over the course of the day. I’ve been through a few combs at this point; a few cheapies and one quality comb (a kent, pocket comb), which I lost during a recent business. I decided to pick up a wooden comb, as the replacement, since I’ve heard good things about them.

After a bit of research, I settled on Big Red Beard Combs, a small company run out of British Columbia, Canada by a married couple; the husband is the craftsmen, while the wife is behind the design and marketing presence.  Big Red provides combs, obviously, but also other beard care products, such as oils, waxes, and balms. The website is really slick, and everything is presented really well, to the point where I had to hold myself back from dropping a ton of cash on everything they had to offer.

There is a large variety of combs, catering to beards large and small, and crafted from various types of wood (maple, teak, walnut, cherry, etc.). After much deliberation, I decided on the Big Red No. 9, made from teak. The No. 9 is designed for longer beards and has thicker teeth, with wider spacing between them.

My comb shipped the day after I placed my order, and it arrived at my door three days later. I live in Canada, so international shipping would likely take longer.

I was pleasantly surprised by the packaging on this product – very unique and aesthetically pleasing. Opening it was like unwrapping a gift; I’ve never been so excited to open the packaging of a comb.

The comb itself looks incredibly slick. It’s rugged and sturdy, yet smooth to the touch. Big Red combs come in various sizes, depending on the number you choose (i.e. No. 3, 5, 7, or 9). While I can’t speak to the others, the No. 9 fits perfectly in the palm of my hand, and it’s just the right size for my pocket.

All this is well and good, but how does the comb actually perform? Is there any static or tugging, does it untangle a gnarly beard and help disperse beard oil? Unlike a plastic comb, there is no static whatsoever when I run it through my beard. And is it smooth? Hell yes it is! The comb glides through my beard like a hot knife cutting butter, while also dispersing my homemade beard oil quite nicely. I was a bit weary of how the No. 9, with the thicker teeth with wider spacing, would handle my epic moustache. It does a serviceable job, but I could have benefited with narrower teeth here. In that regard, Big Red has a comb, The Hardwood Blade, with No. 7 teeth one side and No. 9 teeth on the other; this would probably suit me perfectly, but it looked a bit too big for my pocket.

The No. 9 is the best beard comb I’ve used by far. At $21.99 CDN (not including shipping), it’s a bit pricey. That being said, you pay for what you get, which in this case is a beautifully crafted comb that will leave your beard looking and feeling awesome.

Grade = 8.5 of 10

Record Review: Dawes – All Your Favorite Bands

I discovered Dawes at Ottawa Bluesfest during the summer of 2013. My wife and I attended to see She and Him, who was closing one of the side stages that evening. As is typically the case in the festival environment, you wander from stage to stage checking out the talent. That particular night, though, was a bust. Nothing was jumping out at us, so we decided to head to the side stage and wait for She and Him’s set to begin. Thankfully we did because Dawes had just taken the stage. Dawes is a young band, but they played like seasoned veterans. The lyrics and melodies were infectious, the guitar work was inspired, and the rhythm section was incredibly tight. It was mind boggling. They were clearly a band with an old soul, though not necessary an old sound, which is probably why they’ve recently stood-in as the backing band for Jackson Browne, John Fogerty, and Conor Oberst.

Dawes is fundamentally a four piece band consisting of Taylor Goldsmith on guitars and vocals, Griffin Goldsmith on drums, Wylie Gelber on bass, and Tay Strathairn on keys; although, following the release of their fourth album All Your Favorite Bands earlier this month, they added guitarist Duane Betts to their touring band (son of the legendary guitarist for The Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts). Judging from the live footage I’ve seen on YouTube, Betts is a welcomed addition to the lineup.

All Your Favorite Bands was being touted in the music press as Dawes’ “most live sounding record”, which is true in the sense that it captures the loose, fun atmosphere of a Dawes show. The band recorded the tracks together, live, in the studio and, to capture the feel of a live show, Goldsmith didn’t plan his guitar solos. The songs were composed beforehand, with the sections for the solos left blank. The result is some truly masterful guitar work on tracks such as “Right On Time”, “I Can’t Think About It Now”, and “Now That It’s Too Late, Maria”.

Unlike previous Dawes albums, All Your Favorite Bands flows very well from beginning to end. This is not to say that all the tracks sound the same. There is a brilliant ebb and flow to this record that makes it very difficult to turn off and, instead, begs for repeated listens…often in one sitting.

The album opens with “Things Happen”, which aptly sets the tone for the record and puts Goldsmith’s excellent songwriting on full display. Simple lyrics such as “I don’t know what else you wanted me to say to you / things happen, that’s all they ever do” are juxtaposed with gems like “I think I’ll see Lily, see where she stands / I can’t help how I feel I don’t think anyone can / Sometimes we’re lovers, sometimes we’re friends / behold the magnetism between two dead ends”.

That’s right…this is a breakup album, but it doesn’t feel like a tired, derivative set of breakup songs because Goldsmith takes us through the standard set of themes, such as memory and blame, with lyrical precision. In the first verse of “Things Happen”, he sings:

I could go on talking, or I could stop

Wring out each memory till I get every drop

Sift through the details of the others involved

The true crime would be thinking it’s just one persons fault.

What follows is an album that sees Goldsmith digging through memory, looking for answers.

While Goldsmith’s lyrics and impressive guitar chops are on full display throughout the record, the band matches him stroke for stroke. This is a superb rhythm section. Griffith Goldsmith’s focused drumming propels each song forward, and he indulges in little flourishes from time to time to keep things interesting, without appearing to show off or take away from the song. Gelber and Strathairn adhere to a similar method with their approach to the bass and the keys. While they are clearly proficient musicians, and occasionally weave in interesting musical accoutrements that give their playing a unique character, they always serves the song first.

Despite being a breakup album, All Your Favorite Bands isn’t a downer. There is a sense of optimism that pervades most songs. On “Somewhere Along the Way” Goldsmith loses his “lullaby personified” his “vision in the mist” due to her self destructive tendencies – “her only plan in life was getting lost…she took me to the edge and made me watch.”  Through the course of the song, Goldsmith finds solace by looking to the future, “somewhere along the way, I started to smile again, I don’t remember when / Somewhere along the way, things will turn out just fine / I know it’s true this time.”

Yet true to life, there’s not always a sliver lining. The chorus in “Don’t Send Me Away” is heartbreaking. Goldsmith pleads, in perfect harmony with his bandmates, “Don’t send me away, there’s nowhere else I’m going to / Don’t send me away, I know that what you want to do.” The chorus changes throughout the track, but the refrain is the same. In the end, despite the distance and the loss, Goldsmith still can’t let go, “I’m getting on the freeway, your jacket’s in my car / your ash is in my ashtray, and I’m there with you wherever you are.”

In “Waiting for Your Call”, a sweet ballad with slowhand-esque guitar work, the difficulty letting go is also a central theme, as is the notion that there can be pleasure in pain:

May I never give in and accept the fact. If I can’t feel your presence, let me feel the lack. Cause even if you never will be coming back, I’ll be waiting for your call.

Here, Goldsmith explores the idea that emptiness can be fulfilling. Living with the memory of the person, rather than the physical person, is better than nothing at all.

Bewildered by the sudden nature of the breakup, Goldsmith seeks to understand what went wrong in one of the standout tracks, “Right On Time”. He looks to his surroundings for answers, “the piano, the table, the bed that we both sleep in, these constant silent messengers”, and concludes that she “was right on time, and out of nowhere”. He doesn’t realize, however, that the breakup came “out of nowhere” because he failed to see the warning signs.

In the bridge, Goldsmith uses a shooting to broach the subject of trauma. The physical trauma endured by being shot acts as a metaphor for the emotional trauma that he’s been dealing with throughout the record:

And as I stumble through the streets back from the alleyways

And everyone can see I’m bleeding through my shirt

And after describing all the shooter’s details carefully

And I start to realize just how badly I’ve been hurt.

It is only in relating the trauma to us, the listener, that Goldsmith begins to understand his situation and put the pieces together.

The closing track, “Now That It’s Too Late, Maria”, sees Goldsmith coming to terms with everything. He sings of “reliving the whole situation”, while sitting alone at a restaurant. In this moment, and better late than never, he “see(s) it all for what it was.” This epiphany gives way to acceptance and hope. He entertains the idea of “meet(ing) a girl who wants to change her name”, yet concedes that “there will always be a part of you (Maria) with me”. The record then comes full circle with the closing lyrics, “There is no one here to blame.” Sometime things happen.

All Your Favourite Bands is a beautiful record about love and loss and the trauma left in the wake of a breakup. This is not a dour album, though; it’s quite the opposite. When it comes to lost love, you can never truly let go. You may lose a part of yourself, and it will hurt, but you can honour the loss by mourning it and reliving the moments that led there, before putting them behind you and moving forward.

Grade = 10 of 10

What are your thoughts? Do you love the album? Do you hate it? Add to the discussion in the comments below.

Booze on a Budget – Stalk & Barrel 1+11 Special Blend Canadian Whiskey

In an effort to save a bit of money, I’ve been on a mission to find a good  whiskey that wont break the bank. Furthermore, as a scotch whiskey lover, I realized that I know surprisingly little about its other worldly brethren. The ongoing series, Booze on a Budget, is my attempt to remedy that problem.

Still Water Distilleries is a Canadian micro-distillery, based in Ontario, that specializes in small, handmade batches. Their whiskeys are 100% Canadian, made from Canadian grains, many of which were grown within 100km of the distillery. Still Water produces a range of products, including a rye whiskey, a single malt whiskey, and even a single malt vodka.

Stalk and Barrel 1+11 Special Blend Canadian Whiskey is their entry level whiskey. It’s blended using a selection of other Canadian whiskeys and up to 10% of their own, young whiskey. It won’t break the bank at CDN $39.95 and, despite the lower price range, it certainly doesn’t come across as cheap. This is a satisfying, light weight whiskey, one that will likely sneak out from my liquor cabinet on a regular basis.

The dram is very pale yellow, almost disarmingly so, and has an interesting nose that reminds me of chocolate cake, with lemon spritzed into the icing. The palate starts out a bit nutty, progresses with hints of caramel and fruit, and has a light, spicy finish. While I eventually enjoyed the peppery notes, I found them a bit off-putting at first, given the whiskey’s overall sweetness; I’ve never been the kind of guy that enjoyed red pepper in my hot cocoa.

Stalk & Barrel 1+11 is a great everyday whiskey that can be enjoyed on any occasion.

Final Grade = 7.5 of 10

Booze on a Budget – Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

In an effort to save a bit of money, I’ve been on a mission to find a good  whiskey that wont break the bank. Furthermore, as a scotch whiskey lover, I realized that I know surprisingly little about its other worldly brethren. The ongoing series, Booze on a Budget, is my attempt to remedy that problem.

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a reputation for being a solid whiskey, distilled in small batches in charred oak casks. It’s won several awards, and most people on various whiskey forums really like it. Also, with a price tag of CDN $39, it’s not going to break the bank.

The dram is dark amber in color and has a spicy, earthy nose. It’s very peppery and malty, with a harsh medicinal finish that burns on the way down.

Given all the praise, I had high expectations for this whiskey. However, after a few drinks, both neat and mixed into a manhattan and an old fashioned, I just don’t get what all the fuss it about. Drinking this whiskey neat reminds me of a homemade remedy I once concocted, in order to deter a few stray cats that insisted on screwing outside my apartment window every night (i.e. dirt, cayenne pepper, and feline effluvium). It’s not as bad when mixed into a cocktail, but it doesn’t hold everything together well either.

Final Grade – 3 out of 10

What are your thoughts? Feel free to agree or disagree in the comment section below.

Record Review: Coldplay – Ghost Stories

Before I delve into this review, and in the interest of full disclosure, I should let you know that I’m a huge Coldplay fan. This record could be a steaming pile of horse manure and I would still enjoy it immensely. Luckily, Ghost Stories is not a steaming pile of horse manure, even though it does contain the worst track in Coldplay’s catalogue (“A  Sky Full of Stars”).

The band’s sixth album is definitely a departure. Anyone hoping for more “play it to the rafters”, stadium pop/rock with soaring guitars will be disappointed. These don’t exist here. Ghost Stories is understated and mellow. It’s not a large spectacle of an album like Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends or Mylo Xyloto; case in point, the band is not donning revolutionary garb or neon colours in any of the album’s promotional material or television appearances.

On Ghost Stories, Jonny Buckland’s guitars linger under the surface and accent the music, rather than drive it. The same can be said of Will Champion’s drumming. The real stars of the show are Guy Berryman’s bass playing, which propel most of the tracks, and Chris Martin’s lyrics, which are the most authentic and personal he’s written since Coldplay’s debut album, Parachutes. This is not surprising, given the fact that Ghost Stories is a breakup album that was inspired by the disintegration of Martin’s marriage to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

Opening track “Always In My Head” aptly sets the stage for the record by kicking things off on a sombre note. The tune begins ethereally with a choir crooning the word “unhappy”, before the band  breaks in with a mellow jam. A sleep deprived Martin sings:

My body moves

Goes where I will

But though I try

My heart stays still

On “Magic”, Martin sings of being broken in two. While on “Ink” (one of the standout tracks on the record), he feels lost and takes pleasure in pain: “Got a tattoo and the pain’s alright, just wanted a way of keeping you inside”. Martin has often been criticized for his bland lyrics and, while not pulitzer prize wining material by any stretch of the imagination, they are infinitely relatable. In some cases, they are heartbreaking. On “True Love”(another standout track), Martine sings, “tell me you love me, if you don’t then lie, lie to me”.  Coldplay hasn’t written a song with such heart-on-your-sleeve ethos since “Shiver”, from Parachutes, a track about teenage insecurity and unrequited love. That was fourteen years ago; it seems as if Coldplay has come full circle.

There are some missteps on this record, however. While catchy as hell, the lyrics on “Another’s Arms” are unbearably cheesy. “Midnight” is good, but it’s a blatant Bon Iver ripoff, while “Oceans” is a blatant Coldplay ripoff (it is eerily similar to “See You Soon” from The Blue Room EP). Ghost Stories also contains the worst song in Coldplay’s entire catalogue, “A Sky Full of Stars”. It’s Coldplay’s foray into EDM. It’s generic and dated and simply horrible. Worst of all, it doesn’t mesh with the rest of the album.

Despite its largely melancholy subject matter, Ghost Stories ends on a hopeful note with “O”, a sweet piano ballad in which Martin sings of the need to “fly on through”. This is followed by a secret track that bookends the album nicely. The ethereal choir reappears singing “unhappy”, but there is a small difference this time around; an angelic voice can be heard in the background offering these words of encouragement:

Don’t ever let go

On the whole, Ghost Stories is a solid album. However, it suffers from underutilizing the talents of Buckland and Champion. As a result, the record often feels like a Chris Martin solo effort.

Overall Grade = 6.75 out of 10

Stray Observations

• The angel wings on the cover of the record also resemble a broken heart
• The album gets better after repeated listens. It pairs well with late nights and a glass of wine.

What are your thoughts? Add to the conversation in the comments section below.