8/1 – 14/1/24 – Alvvays, Addiction, One Life & The Bible

Welcome to Monday’s News on the March – The week that was in my digital world.

Music representing the dissonance of loss: Molly Rankin and ‘Archie, Marry Me’
Blog article at mialondonblog

The author at Miolondonblog commented on my post Ones Who Love You (2017) – Alvvays:

Archie, Marry Me is surely a masterpiece of musical and lyrical dissonance which I tried to analyse in a recent post on mialondonblog:

Alvvays was formed in 2011 by the charismatic singer-songwriter and rhythm guitarist Molly Rankin, the daughter of John Morris Rankin, the multi-instrumentalist and musical arranger for The Rankin Family, an influential electric folk band of the 1980s and 90s, which incorporated many of her aunts and uncles. The family’s Celtic cultural heritage derives from Scottish emigres to the rugged island of Cape Breton exposed to the vagaries of the Atlantic gales on Nova Scotia’s eastern flank. Sadly, in 2000 Molly lost her father who was killed when his car left a coastal road in treacherous conditions and crashed into the sea. For me, this backstory has a significant bearing on the song’s form and its emotional impact.

Written at time of uncertainty about her future while her peers were making fairly conventional life choices in their 20’s, Archie has a gloriously bittersweet vibe flagged humorously in its opening two lines which ominously rhyme “matrimony” with “alimony”. This dissonant emotional contrast is among this song’s most appealing features and it is mirrored in the musical dissonance that arrives in the opening eight bars of the second verse with the mournful, pitch bending of Alec O’Hanley’s Fender Jazzmaster accompaniment clashing sonically with the sweetness of the Molly’s soaring vocals. The guitar line makes a gearshift at the mid point of the verse switching back to the cheerful chiming of jangle pop and the contrast creates a joyous lift. I am totally hooked on this song and its two versions on Youtube, a live CBC festival recording and an inventive official music video where the use of Super8 film and thoughtful reflective editing creates visuals that offer a witty complement to the song’s ingenious lyrics. (Read the remainder of this article here)

This profound article at mialondonblog makes mine pale into insignificance. This is the pinnacle of musical appreciation and interpretation.

Overcoming addictive behaviors, elevating wellbeing, & thriving in an era of excess – Michael Easter
Video interview at Petter Attia MD

In this episode, Michael explores the evolutionary backdrop that molded human beings, a setting characterized by scarce food, limited information, and few possessions. He contrasts that with the modern era, marked by abundance and comfort, and the ensuing repercussions on our physical and mental well-being. Michael introduces the concept of the “scarcity loop,” a three-part behavior cycle which helps explain modern challenges such as overeating, addiction, gambling, and materialism, and offers practical strategies to break free from its cycle. The episode culminates in a thought-provoking exploration of happiness, drawing on Michael’s experiences with monks and underscoring the value of boredom, exploration, and discomfort as transformative elements that elevate awareness, presence, and the will to live.

The Drinker Recommends… One Life
Video presentation by The Critical Drinker

Only two weeks ago I reviewed The Father (2020) starring Anthony Hopkins, then this Critical Drinker recommendation appears in my YT feed.

Normally January is the dumping ground for terrible movies that nobody wants to see, but One Life, starring Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter, might be the exception. A gripping and poignant true story about the man who helped rescue hundreds of children from German-occupied Europe, its definitely a recommendation from me.

A Christian Survey: Which Section of the Bible is Your Favorite?
Survey article at Joyful Moments in Christ