HIGHLY RECOMMENDED W/ FLOWER CROWN
* Providing the A's to the 5 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Q's today is Flower Crown— a group of music-makers out of Pittsburgh who put out a great album with Crafted Sounds earlier this year called ‘Sundries’ & you should go cop it before 2019 is no more (and catch their latest single ‘High Fantasy’ in the HI54 Mix CD ‘INDIE AMERICA, USA’).
#1 - WHAT IS THE ONE ALBUM (OR EP OR SONG) THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE VERY NEXT MUSICAL THING THAT EVERYONE PRESSES PLAY ON THE NEXT TIME THEY FIND THEMSELVES THINKING “WHAT SHOULD I LISTEN TO NOW”?
Richie: Been recently listening to Path A LOT, the Kraus record that came out last year. An amazingly abrasive and creative project. Their first record End Tomorrow is also incredible. Must listen for shoegaze and/or lofi fans.
Mike: I honestly haven't been able to let go of "Care for Me" by SABA since it was released last year. The beats are lush and jazzy, and he has such masterful grip on storytelling. It's one of those albums that's got you covered for both deeply meditative tracks as well as certified bangers.
Chris: I just finished putting together my AOTY list and New Hell by Greet Death was my favorite record of 2019. The line "You should sleep less/we should talk more" from "You're Gonna Hate What You've Done" kills me every time.
Jon: I would never want to live in a world where everyone listens to the same music. That being said, if i had to suggest one record today, I would say everyone should probably give a listen to Allen Stone's new album "Building Balance". Something for everybody, just good music.
#2 - WHAT IS THE ONE MOVIE OR TV SHOW THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE NEXT IN EVERYBODY’S NETFLIX QUEUE (OK, DOESN’T HAVE TO BE NETFLIX, WE’RE ALL INTERNET ADULTS HERE AND KNOW HOW TO FIND ANYTHING ONLINE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER)?
Richie: Just finished the Devil Next Door on Netflix which was super compelling. A gnarly story with tons of twists and turns. I liked it a lot.
Mike: I recently finished watching every Fast and Furious movie for the first time (research/masochism idk) and Fast Five is S tier. Trust me I wish I had a different recommendation but you're stuck with Vin Diesel.
Chris: I could watch all three Jackass movies ad infinitum
Jon: Peaky Blinders. Haven’t seen it but people who have won’t stfu about it so it must be worth a watch.
#3. I (AND BY “I” I MEAN “THE PERSON THAT IS READING THIS”) AM GOING TO THE LOCAL BOOK STORE (OK, MAYBE THE LOCAL LIBRARY FIRST) TO FIND THE VERY NEXT BOOK THAT I WILL BE PUTTING SOME EXTREMELY VALUABLE ‘ME-TIME' ASIDE FOR. WHICH BOOK WOULD YOU GET, IF YOU WERE ME (AND, I SUPPOSE, YOU HADN’T ALREADY READ WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO SUGGEST)?
Richie: I never learned how to read.
Mike: Just read Watchmen for the first time (it's technically a book okay). The bizzaro alternative history they explore for the US hits way too close to home considering the fact that we're living in the darkest timeline.
Chris: I just started reading Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures by Mark Fisher and I'd highly recommend it, especially if you ever feel like we're trapped in some sort of permanent nostalgia
Jon: I had been having some trouble focusing recently, so i picked up a book called "Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life" written by some entrepreneur... I'm sure its good, but i've been so distracted lately with other things so i've yet to start reading it.
#4 - WHAT IS THE ONE WEBSITE (OR JUST ANY OLD INTERNET THING: APP, GIF, SERVICE, WHATEVER) THAT YOU WOULD GET REALLY DOWN IN THE DUMPS ABOUT IF IT WERE TO SUDDENLY GO AWAY?
Richie: Losing Bandcamp would suck real hard. It's a great resource to support and find new artists and i know it would be pretty devastating to lose it.
Mike: Losing Spotify would be a real drag. If I had to pay for only one streaming service forever Spotify would be the pick.
Chris: The Bon Appetit YouTube channel is probably the only thing that can pull me out of deep depression holes
Jon: Fanduel Sportsbook App and/or Audiotree Live
#5 - AND FINALLY… PLEASE GIVE ONE COMPLETELY UNAIDED RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD START DOING / USING / WATCHING / EATING / THINKING / QUITING / ETC-ING TO MAKE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE BETTER AND/OR BEARABLE.
Richie: Tune your guitar and everybody try to match volume levels taking heed to the drum volume in any space you play and your sound will improve 1000% takes 3 minutes. Unless you're mic'd up and have a sound guy. Then screw it. Or don't do anything i say. I'm not a cop.
Mike: Keep your living space clean and get some exercise. Anytime I really bottom out I realize I haven't been doing these things, and they always help me bounce back.
Chris: Use all the groceries that are about to go bad in your fridge to make a soup. Everybody should eat more soup.
Jon: Have a method to your madness.
OK folks, there you have it. Things that Flower Crown thinks you should consider incorporating into your day/life. Before you log off and go clean your fridge out for some mad soup, make sure to follow Flower Crown on the Facebook / Instagram / Twitter and then also give latest single ‘High Fantasy’ a listen below…
