In Which I Forget the Existence of a Movie & Confusion Ensues

This morning, I was listening to the new Maroon 5 album, V, and somehow had entirely forgotten that Begin Again was as thing, and therefore went through this really confusing thought process, as seen in IMs to my friend Holly:

Me: There also seems to be an Adam Levine solo song as a bonus track.
Me: Which amuses me, because, like, WHO ON EARTH could even name the other Maroon 4 anyway?*
Me: This solo song involves lambs?
Me: Wait are they HUNTING lambs?
Me: There are also lions kissing deer.
Me: ...and Adam Levine seems to think that HE HIMSELF is a lamb? As opposed to a hunter? REALLY?
*Googles for lyrics*
Me: Wait, is this a KEIRA KNIGHTLEY COVER?
Me: KEIRA KNIGHTLEY HAS SONGS?
*light begins to dawn*
Me: OH IS IT FROM THEIR MOVIE?
Me: AHA.

The album was fine, by the way. Nothing groundbreaking, but perfectly enjoyable for those of us who perfectly enjoy listening to Adam Levine's voice. And now I want to see Begin Again, so . . . well played.

* Holly in fact named one of them. I'm a terrible fan.

Morning Coffee (11/18/13)

Almost Human premiered last night and I really like it, so if you missed it, you should watch the first episode on Hulu and then tune in for the second tonight on Fox at 8/7c. (After this it will just be on Mondays - it was a special Sunday premiere.)

Sad news: Doris Lessing has died.

Some of these covers are great. Especially Maroon 5 singing Taylor Swift.

A Wonk's Guide to the TV Galaxy

Classics That Prove Your Grandma Could Kick Bella Swan’s Ass

How to Cook Pretty Food

Fascinating history: Katie MacIntyre's exotic taste

Fun read on literary siblings: A Little Society

Morning Coffee (1/4/13)

Adam Levine will host Saturday Night Live on January 26, if you want to plan your month accordingly.

Don't miss Pete Souza's Year in White House Photographs.

Literary Feuds of 2012

Sad but not surprising: Marriage accelerates tenure for male history professors, slows it down for women

How Star Trek: Deep Space 9 Helped to Invent Everything You Love

I hadn't thought about it, but this was the year Kellan Lutz became hilarious.

Single Women and the Sitcom

They're making a LEGO HOTEL. Alas, it is not entirely made out of Lego.

My 5 Favorite Albums of 2012

First: I am making no claims that these albums are the best, by any artistic or technical standard. Or that my choices are in any way interesting or sophisticated. These are all mainstream pop, but they're the albums this year that I listened to over and over, that I kept coming back to, that got me through happiness and sadness and stress and lots of long car rides. I've included my favorite song from each so you can get a taste.

1. Red by Taylor Swift
I unapologetically love Taylor. Speak Now stayed in my car CD player for 99% of the time until Red came out. Her early songs played like perfect tiny young adult novels, and I'm delighted by the way she's moving into adult subject material.


2. Some Nights by fun.
This was hands down the best "listen to during those afternoon hours when I have to keep working and don't want to" album of the year.


3. Overexposed by Maroon 5
And this was the best dancey, energetic, "must clean the house and bake cookies even though it's midnight" option.


4. The Truth About Love by P!nk
This one doesn't feel very cohesive as an album, but it has a lot of songs I love on it, and it's great for singing along in the car.


5. Babel by Mumford & Sons
This sophomore offering didn't grab me in quite the same way Sigh No More did, but it's still extremely good.