Mulling it Over Vol. 31
Featuring an album review, the books I'm reading, and more!
Hey there! It’s been a busy week! We attended a lovely wedding this past weekend, and it was so much fun! We danced the night away and were reminded of our own wedding. It’s just so lovely to spend time as a couple and to see your friends celebrate their love! We also showed the kids The Princess Bride and it was amazing.
Reading
I’m about 30% into I’m Starting To Worry About This Black Box of Doom. Francesca kindly gifted it to me. The premise is a loner twenty-something gets hired on a ride-share app and the customer convinces him to drive her and a very large black box across the country. The deal is, he can’t know what’s in the box or who she is. He agrees and chaos ensues. So far, so good!
I also started The Goldfinch on audio. It’s taken me forever to start this one, and honestly I think I was intimidated by it (it’s long, and a Pulitzer prize winner) but so far I’m really enjoying it.
Listening
The Head And The Heart have a new album out called Aperture. I’ve been a long time fan of the band, and we have tickets to see them in July. Their past albums got be through some really difficult seasons, and I’m so excited to see them live for the first time. I listened to the album straight through and allow me to pretend I’m a columnist for Pitchfork for a moment…
Indie folk rock band The Head And The Heart returns with their sixth studio album, featuring a new collaboration between all band members on songwriting efforts.* The new release starts off slow, and I felt let down by the first few songs. Arrow is just lazy lyricism - “I am my own arrow, I am my own home” reminds me of church youth group songs, (not in a good way). The other beginning songs are forgettable but maybe they will grow on me with some time? I skipped ahead and the album does pick up around track 7. Fire Escape is my favorite song so far as we return to the soul of the band with the jaunty piano, fun upbeat tempo, and fun harmonies that are reminiscent of previous hit songs. There is some experimentation with grittier vocals. Finally Free allows Charity Rose Thielen to shine with her lilting voice. The album ends on the title track, Aperture, which honestly could have started the track list for an immediate hit. In the end, it’s worth a listen, but for now I’ll keep rotating through their tried-and-true songs.
In other music news, The All American Rejects are back to their roots, playing pop-up house shows around the country while promoting their latest album. Tyson Ritter has aged like fine wine, might I add? The videos I’ve seen on TikTok are giving huge nostalgia vibes from the mid-2000s. I got to see them in Dallas with Fall Out Boy when I was in 8th grade. Such fun! You can sign up to be notified of their next location via Instagram.
Eating
Our meal plan went out the window this week given the sheer number of evening commitments for the end of the year. We still managed to eat pretty well though.
Monday - Kale Caesar Pasta Salad (kids had pasta, cheese, and chickpeas :P)
Tuesday - Impossible Chick’n sandwiches on pretzel buns topped with some Ayoh Mayo (so yummy!)
Wednesday - We had a school picnic (in dreary 50 degree weather) and we packed hoagies with tofurky deli slices, kettle chips, and apple slices.
Thursday - a sad scraped together version of tacos…we need to go grocery shopping.
Friday - Pizza night with friends!
*source
Etc.
I’m looking forward to a three day weekend. We have plans with friends Friday and Sunday, and hopefully we get a few decent weather days. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Until next time,
Cassie