Damnation - Opeth

This isn’t exactly what I expected when, two days ago, I learned Opeth had an acoustic metal album. I was thinking of Scandinavian ballads and this was even cleaner, surprisingly radio-friendly rock. Like, it wouldn’t have surprised me at all to hear on FM radio in the 2000s. I will have to spend more time with the lyrics, as it is dripping with emotion. As a companion piece to Deliverance, I’m so pleased to have such a juxtaposition. Now off to listen to the live album combining the two albums in one performance!

Things in Nature Merely Grow – Yiyun Li

This is an impossible book to discuss. It is a memoir of a parent who goes through the unimaginable loss of her child, twice. I am in no place to critique her expression of grief, which naturally manifests differently in any person. If she got one minute of relief by writing this book, then it was worth it. That said, I had a difficult time reading this, and not solely because of the subject matter. It did get me pondering on personal relevant situations, which was useful. The presentation of her children, what should have been most important, however, was too cold, analytical, and detached for me to connect to the writer. The focus on rationalism and intellectualism felt at odds with the tragedy. This dichotomy between thinking and feeling was a theme in the book, as it was stated many times, so this is probably the point of the book. Also, the point obviously isn’t for me to connect to the subject matter, as it’s not my life to experience. Again, grief is one of the most personal emotions, so however someone chooses to process it is up to them. I only wish it was easier to sympathize, even if the writer didn't ask for it outright.

Obsession (2026)

This was a difficult film to watch, for a number of reasons. First and most obvious, it was genuinely scary. The way the possessed main character speaks and behaves and moves around is truly cursed. This leads to the second troubling reason for watching: the character is doomed to live a shell of a life through absolutely no fault of her own. In so many horror movies, we can criticize one or all of the main characters for making bad decisions. The girl did nothing wrong, while the guy, on the other hand, got exactly what he deserved, if not a little easier than he should have. I was not aware of the discourse around the characters, but I was perplexed—as someone who struggles picking up the most basic subtext—to learn there was even another way to interpret its message. And, again, it was terrifying. I paused the movie midway through to get a snack and found myself delaying restarting it, because of how unnerving it was. I’m very glad I watched it, but I don’t need to see it again for some time. I don’t care how much money it made versus how much it cost. I don’t care that it was apparently made by a YouTuber. It is an excellent horror film.

Deliverance – Opeth

I knew Opeth had a deep catalog, but despite the fact that I think Blackwater Park is an unassailable metal record, I was not too familiar with their other albums. It wasn’t until Pitchfork issued a classic review of Damnation that I learned they had two albums, essentially written in tandem but performed in different styles. I decided to listen to them both, as they are obviously paired. This first one, Deliverance, emphasizes the heavier side of metal. I am woefully ill-equipped to categorize the many subgenres of metal, but I heard some of the speed-, the doom-, and the death- varieties. I’m sure those are either totally obvious or completely wrong; regardless, it’s an excellent follow-up to Blackwater. I’m so eager to hear where the acoustic sequel goes from here.

Clickolding (PC)

Everything one needs to know about this experience can be learned by watching a YouTube playthrough with a runtime less than that of a single episode of television. That said, watching a video rather than engaging misses the point (or, rather, maybe is the point?) and the game is still worth playing through once and watching reactions later. Even knowing the story beats, the lack of jump-scares, the ending, I was totally unsettled the entire forty minutes. Yes, you literally click a button 10,000 times (or let the space bar handle some of the workload), but there are enough other things around the room with which to interact at scripted intervals that the game doesn’t feel tedious or annoying. I can understanding someone getting tired of the gag, and it probably could not have lasted much longer than it did, but this was the right length for what it was trying to accomplish. There is also a bit of an epilogue which, while optional, I found integral to the storytelling as a whole.

Despelote (PC)

Even being ambivalent to soccer, the inescapable passion for the World Cup caught up to me as well, though not to the actual field of play. A short experience—I played through in two sittings—this was story-based game from last year about the daily life of a young person in Ecuador following their national team in its quest for World Cup qualification. Of course, the story did not hit as hard for me, nor should it have, but I appreciated the personal nature all the same. The art style was fantastic, almost as if there was a sepia newsprint filter over realistic environments, while people, the soccer ball, and other important interactive objects were stark black-and-white. (Although quite a different tone, it was vaguely reminiscent of Tom Goes to the Mayor.) Near the end of the game, there was a moment when the scene suddenly shifted to walking around in color. At first, I thought my textures were not loading properly, but the narrator soon explained I was walking around a 3D rendered Google Maps equivalent of the area. As someone who frequently pulls up Street View of favorite places when I need a pick-me-up, this was stunningly poignant.

The Undoing Project – Michael Lewis

I got this from a recommended reading list about the evaluative qualities of humans, pretty standard fare for Michael Lewis. This was more biographical than statistics piece, but Lewis still accomplished his usual goal of reducing academic theories to the understanding of a layperson. As a biography, it was not my favorite book of his. I often get the impression Lewis is too close to his subjects when he profiles them, and this was evident by constantly calling one of the authors by the familiar name, “Danny,” which became an unfortunate personal pet peeve. I was interested in the concepts presented, but not really sold on the background of the writers: their lives, partnership, conflict, reconciliation. I did find their differences in character to be insightful, but ultimately, I would have wanted a deeper dive on the writing itself rather than personal histories. For this reason, I think, it did inspire me to go directly to the source material and pick up Daniel Kahneman’s book, which I had been meaning to get to for some time.

WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA - Slayyyter

In trying to do some mid-year evaluation on the music I’ve missed, this is one appeared on numerous lists. Fully acknowledging I’m not the target audience for this, but wow, is it exciting to my old, white, straight, male ears. That said? It was excellent. Despite the oxymoron, this is intensely abrasive in the best possible way. My first thought was that it could probably a big deal in dance clubs, but I don’t think that’s what the artist is going for. Then, the near-immediate swerve into glitch pop reminded me of Sleigh Bells, which gave me a similar sense of excitement the first time I heard them. The genre bending only continued from there, settling broadly into electronic pop. I felt uncomfortably old listening to it, sure, but it was undeniably captivating. I will be listening to this one again.

To Clutch a Razor – Veronica Roth

This is the second novella in a series, actually, although I found it leagues better than the first and worth reading even as a standalone story. The romance angle felt natural, where it seemed forced in the first book. The Polish connection drew me in, of course, but the characters and their emotional interweaving kept me engaged. The family drama was more compelling in this one, and the intrigue of multiple, conflicting interactions was complex but also tight. Centering the action on one house, with all of the family and surround characters convening for a funeral was a fantastic touch.

Absolute Martian Manhunter, Volume 1: Martian Vision - Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez (DC)

DC appears to have caught lightning in a bottle for the Absolute series of comic books, stories told in alternate universes featuring all of their main characters. I saw numerous of these volumes on best-of lists at the end of last year, so I checked them out. I found the big three—Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman—to be decent, but the Absolute universe take on Martian Manhunter is exceptional. My assumption is this speaks more to the popularity of the first three, which makes Martian Manhunter more of a blank canvas for readers who aren’t deeply immersed in DC. John Jones is a detective with the FBI, but the Martian alter-ego manifests itself throughout his investigations in ways that come across to the reader as psychedelic. Jones ability, or lack thereof, to maintain a grip on reality is more compelling then the actual cases and crimes he is attempting to discern. Phenomenal, inventive reading, and I eagerly look forward to the next volume.

10,000 Pesos Match (RIOT, 5/29/2026)

Like many viewers of this match, I’m sure, I knew none of the competitors and had never heard of the promotion before watching. Apparently, it somehow wound up in the WON round of reviews this week, and it seems to have captivated the internet wrestling community. Even knowing none of the specifics, any of the moves would be recognizable by anyone familiar with lucha. This was a chaotic spotfest, plain and simple, with every athlete given a handful of seconds to perform a move before it was onto the next. What made this match so special, though, was the crowd. Named a “10,000 Pesos match” for the amount fans throw in the ring to show appreciation, and it showed. The crowd was white hot the entire time and the seemingly small gym was out of control. This is the match I would show an eight-year old to make them a fan for life.

Mega Man 2 (NES)

The Mega Man franchise has long been a blind spot for me. I found them too difficult and quickly became frustrated. It wasn’t until the Switch Online service added the five versions for the original Game Boy that I played through any game in the series, and it started to click with me. After these few successes, I decided I should play the one commonly held up as one of the best games ever made. I can honestly say I now understand. It may be the most perfectly paced games I’ve ever had the pleasure of playing. I ran through the eight bosses and their respective levels in one sitting, then journeyed through Wiley’s castle a few days later. This time around, I did not encounter anything so aggravating I had to put it down. It sounds obvious, but the game gives you all the tools in the first half to be able to get through the second, an excellent warm-up for the eventual conclusion. The rising and falling action makes for a delightfully satisfactory experience. You don’t need another person to tell you, but this game is a gem.

Five Easy Pieces (1970)

To be honest, I did not connect with the majority of this film, well over the first half. I saw a nihilistic character going through life, mostly unsatisfactorily, towards no real end. Things turned, however, when that character had a conversation with his dying father, one-sided because the father was unable to communicate back and even the listening was in question. In the span of this conversation, Nicholson explains his whole life, how he never amounted to anything because he was always moving on. It is an incredibly moving performance, which is essentially a monologue, and it makes the ending decision that much more powerful. His companion, while portrayed as unnecessarily dumb, is left alone, and we have to wonder what will become of her. Unlike him, though, she presents as optimistic and will probably come out okay. On the other hand, Nicholson seems doomed to repeat his constant cycle.

Under the Banner of Heaven – Jon Krakauer

I’ll admit, I picked this up for the salacious details of the true crime story. That portion of the book delivered, to be sure, but that quickly became the less interesting part. I never expected this book to be more about the history of the Mormon church than a single, horrific event. I’d considered myself curious about Mormonism in American popular culture for a few years now, and this book gave me a much-appreciated historical background. This book was just as much about the foundation of the religion as it is the modern murder. Or maybe it really is that the latter can’t be told without the background of the former. In any case, the way the two narratives are interspersed was fascinating. It’s worth noting the author acknowledges—and then refutes—criticisms of his research in the afterword in a way that was satisfactory to me.

El Hijo del Santo vs. La Parka (Monterrey, 12/23/2001)

I was promised blood, and I got it. The opening caida was a little slow, as these tend to be, but the action really took off in the second fall. At first, I thought it would be La Parka who would spill all the blood, because he took a shot off the ring post and spent a lot of time on the ground. Not the case. This was my first watch, so I didn’t even catch what busted Del Santo open, but his light mask was red in a matter of minutes. Wild blading, emphasized by the lingering shots on viscera in the ring. Also, I’m not well-versed in lucha matches, but I don’t ever remember seeing one with two referees, at times doing simultaneous counts. I suppose that was all to set up a confusing gimmick of a finish, but by that point, who really cares.

Rumspringa - ear

Every year, it seems like a “weird” album grabs me, out of the blue and inexplicably. They are usually out of my comfort zone or defy genre classification altogether. The artist is unknown to me, and I generally don’t dig too deep into bios or previous releases. For better or worse, I mostly forget about the artist before too long or I never get around to their next output. It was Guerilla Toss a couple years ago, and Superorganism a few years before that. Anyway, Rumspringa by the group, ear, is that for me in 2026. As soon as I put on the first track, I let out a surprised little “whoa” and went on a brief journey from there. Immediately, I wished I was listening to it in another situation, like late at night with the lights low, but then immediately after that, I decided there wasn’t a context where this wouldn’t catch me. This is one of those which defies any genre. I would have said electronic at first, but there is a surprising amount of trip hop and acoustic guitar to push it in other directions. The single, which had been the only notes I’d heard beforehand, slid in seamlessly with the rest of the record. Fantastic, short, album, easily  consumable and repeatable, and one which I will revisit in December, shrug, and conclude it’s one of my highlights of the year, even if I can’t say for sure what it is.

Bounty Bundle (Burger King)

To celebrate the release of the new film in the Star Wars franchise (which, as an aside, I would have called my favorite fictional franchise ten years ago, have burned out in the years since, and now, probably won't even watch), Burger King has released a meal deal honoring the property. My preference, in reverse order to build suspense:

• Imperial Cheddar Ranch Tots – a little chewy for my taste, and could have used more cheddar flavor. I had them with honey mustard, and the sauce, mild as it is, still overpowered the tots.
• BBQ Bounty Whopper – a Whopper, so it’s already pretty good, but not a drastic improvement. Yes, there was bacon, and yes, there was barbecue sauce. These are nice additions to have, to be sure, but for the most part, it was a burger.
• Grogu's Garlic Chicken Fries – if the chicken fries were different than the usual recipe, you could have fooled me. I have no taste buds. But the paired garlic sauce was immaculate! In a normal order, I would be hard pressed to rank standard chicken fries over a standard Whopper, but the garlic sauce pushed these over the edge.
• Grogu's Blue Cookie Shake – this abhorrent mess of a dessert was also the most delicious. Even despite the blue cookie syrup dripping down the side, the shake itself was delightful. Overly sweet, of course, but the crunch of the cookies was a perfect textural separation.

The Delta (1996)

A quiet, contemplative, mostly mundane story about a queer young American, a Vietnamese immigrant, and the intersection of their lives. I don’t know if this was the appropriate read of the film, but I detected a sense of mysticism to the immigrant’s story. Was he real or merely a spiritual companion for the young person with bisexual desires and seemingly few other ambitions? This interpretation, correct or not, worked for my viewing. Regardless, “John” took on the status of the main focus of the film while the other boy assimilated back into his life. We are left to explore what happiness means with John, who seems perpetually adrift. Also, the word “shocking” gets thrown around too often, I’m guilty of it as well, but the ending here caught me completely off guard. Even hours after finishing, I’m still not sure what to make of the closing scene.

Stray Dog (1949)

An entry in the contemporary crime genre of the Kurosawa-Mifune output, as opposed to the classic samurai. Mifune is strikingly young in this film, and it didn’t occur to me until later that this was one of his earliest collaborations with Kurosawa, and in fact, one of his first roles ever. Audiences at the time would not yet have made the connection between the two. The character’s lack of experience and his naivety makes the film. The emotional connection with the tired veteran, who almost loses his life in the process due to Murakami’s carelessness, adds to the stakes. Nearly every single scene reminded the viewer how this particular summer in Japan is oppressively hot. Rather than become repetitive, however, it only served to increase the pressure felt by the main detective with each passing hour he did not recover his gun. All of that culminates in a brilliant and satisfying ending.

Poetic Justice (1993)

What an emotional departure from the first film in Singleton’s loosely connected trilogy. Whereas Boyz is bleak and tense, this film is a lighthearted and tender love story between two young people. Not without its tragedy—there is yet another murder in the climax of the film—the characters transcend this in a happy way. There is a sense of hope the first film never had. The real-life tragic irony is that Tupac would be murdered only a few years after this film. His acting is strong in this, and it’s terrible that we never were able to see his full range. In general, the acting is also consistent with the first film in that it features a cast of both actors who would go on to have enormous careers and musicians not known for acting but turn out to be quite good at it. Singleton and his casting team really knew how to build an ensemble.