A few years ago, I finally got rid of the thick leather CDs that were taking up precious storage space in my closet. I’m fully committed to streaming music, I reasoned. If I want to listen to a song, I find it online. Who even owns a CD player anymore?
I miscalculated. I can locate most of the lesser known music, but I can’t listen to the mix a friend made me love from Nigeria’s AM radio station he listened to as a child . The Rufus Wainwright compilation that a boyfriend sent me while I was living abroad and feeling homesick in my 20s. The songs are still there, but the artifacts are gone. I can access the raw materials, but the thing itself cannot.
Once I become blinded by the CDs I love and have lost, I can sink into nostalgia for the forever lost mixtape shoeboxes, the unchanging journey of time, etc. Stick your tongue out where the extracted tooth is. Here I am, in this moment, with the splendor of endless choice! It’s a gift! Right?
As I write this, I am listening to and loving Jana Horn, an artist new to me who I discovered through my colleague Lindsay Zoladz’s newsletter, Amplifiers. The Amplifier’s promise is an algorithmic alternative, personalized recommendations from a music critic who understands the paralysis of too many options. (Check her out the list of songs that define her! A concept brother of like/dislike list I discussed it a few weeks ago.)
A friend recently told me that she was working on a project to digitize her old tapes, and I blamed myself again for not keeping mine. But there is a lightness, a figurative and literal spaciousness to clear shelf space for new enthusiasms, new obsessions. I have room for Lindsey’s twice-weekly recordings, because new college radio station station and forest sound And Poolside tunes and other digital phenomena.
What are you listening to lately? Send me a song (just one!) will bring you joy this spring, and I’ll compile them into a playlist, a man-curated, algorithm-free track for the new season.
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CULTURE WEEK
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A Texas judge has issued a preliminary ruling disable FDA approval of an abortion pill. But another judge quickly issued a decision that contradicted it.
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The conflicting orders of the judges created a legal deadlock that would almost certainly escalate to the Supreme Court.
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Are abortion pills safe? This is the proof.
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The documents are classified as contains national security secrets of the United States emerged online.
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America job growth is created last month, but at a slower rate that seems to reflect the aftermath of the rate hike.
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critic watched the reporter of two legislators from the House of Tennessee is to run the race and push them back to their seats.
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Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said he follow the advice of others when he decided not to reveal lavish gifts and travels from a wealthy conservative donor.
CULTURE HISTORY
🎬 “Renfield” (Friday): You would be forgiven for assuming that Nicolas Cage has previously played a vampire in many movies. Technically, he’s never played a role (unless you consider his performance in “The Vampire’s Kiss” as a classic bloodsucker—whatever it is, it’s really bananas). Until now. Here, he plays the real-life Dracula, living in modern-day New Orleans, along with his titular servant (Nicholas Hoult).
📺 “The Miraculous Maisel” (Friday): Amazon will wrap up the book on the award-winning show about a stand-up comedian (Rachel Brosnahan) in ’50s and ’60s New York City with its fifth and final season. If you want more Brosnahan, you can find her on Broadway starring Oscar Isaac starting from the end of April.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Lemon Chicken Breast
Lemon-marinated chicken is a classic, whether it’s grilled whole or pan-seared. This beloved interpretation from Pierre Franey Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are quickly dried in a pan and then covered with a fragrant, easy-to-make sauce. The secret to creating the fullness of citrus is to use two teaspoons of grated lemon zest with the juice. A little fresh or dried thyme, shallots and some garlic round out the flavor, while the butter adds depth and helps bring out the other flavors. You can serve chicken as Franey suggests, with mashed potatoes with garlic and basil. But I think the crumbs from a crispy baguette will be very elegant – and equally appealing.
REAL ESTATE
What you get for $295,000: A converted 19th-century school in Elizaville, NY; one-bedroom apartment in Washington, DC; or a 1920’s house in Peoria, Ill.
The hunt: They have $350,000 and dream of living together. Can they make it in Manhattan? Play our game.
TIPS FROM WIRECUTTER
Check your bike helmet
Preparing for your first spring bike ride? Check your helmet. ARE NOT, helmets are not “out of date” — the EPS foam underneath the shell can last for thousands of years. (Like a frothy coffee mug!) But if you get hit while wearing your helmet — even if you don’t remember hitting your head — replace it. (The cord cutter has Recommendations.) You can’t tell if the impact compresses the foam, and if it does, the foam is toast. Also, check for compliance. If the straps tend to loosen or the inner padding is worn out, your helmet won’t fit properly, which means it won’t be able to protect your head. — Christine Ryan
WEEKEND GAME
Golf Masters Tournament: Last year, the golf course was torn in half. LIV, an emerging league sponsored by Saudi Arabia, has provided big-name players with a lot of money. The PGA Tour punished the players who joined, and its members spent months hunting down their competitors. The series comes to a head this weekend at one of golf’s most prestigious events, which brings together players from both leagues. People have been cordial so far, but make no mistake: Both tournaments really want to win this.
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NOW TO PLAY
The pangrams from Spelling Bee yesterday were pain relief And plank. This is today’s quiz.
Take news quiz to see how well you follow this week’s headlines.
