reality bites

Hello friends,

I hope everyone's well.

This week, I share a few of my favorites: The White Album by The Beatles, Slacker by Richard Linklater, and a recent one, Joe by John G. Avildsen.

I also share what I've been listening, reading, and watching lately, and the list is more extensive than before. Added to this newsletter are a few visual excerpts for some eye candy.

Enjoy!

Essays of the Week

🎹 The White Album (1968)

My commentary on the most chaotic Beatles album.

the white album (1968) — mustang sandy

the longest and most eclectic beatles album.

🚶🏽 Slacker (1991)

A film that captures my disposition at this moment.

slacker (1991) — mustang sandy

austin bohemians of the 90s.

🇺🇸 Joe (1970)

A film that's "colder than a witch's tit," as Joe would say.

joe (1970) — mustang sandy

“it’s colder than a witch’s tit.”

Media Archives

Films

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Tom Cruise’s character becomes obsessed with having a sex encounter after his wife admits having fantasies about another man. He crashes an underground sex cult—a high society secret group he has no business being involved with. This movie scared the living shit out of me.

Belle de Jour (1967) A timid housewife is having a hard time reconciling her masochistic fantasies with her domestic life alongside her gorgeous husband. She squares with it by joining a high-class brothel under the name Belle de Jour... Oh là là.

Kiss Me Deadly (1955) An Old Hollywood film noir. A man gives a ride to an attractive woman who escaped from a lunatic asylum. They suffer a car crash orchestrated by thugs who end up torturing the woman to death. Convinced there’s a bigger story to this event, the man investigates the case further.

The Graduate (1967) The MILF movie of all MILF movies. Mrs. Robinson seduces a 20-year-old bill in his graduation party. In the middle of their affair, Bill falls in love with Mrs. Robinson’s daughter, Ellaine—causing a mess with everyone involved.

Easy Rider (1969) You know I love me some hippie movies. Two bikers complete a drug deal and travel cross-country to do some soul searching. Jack Nicholson’s cannabis induced sermon about UFOs was all that mattered to me.

Stop Making Sense (1984) I'm ready to be a groupie. A film concert of the Talking Heads for their album, “Speaking in Tongues.” A religious experience, indeed.

Blue Velvet (1986) What the fuck did i just watch? Jeff realizes his hometown isn’t so normal after seeing a human ear on the ground. Eager to solve the mystery, he explores the darker and more twisted side of Suburban America. These people need to look up their BDSM test results.

Wayne’s World (1992) Rock fans Wayne and Garth host a quirky DIY talk show in their basement. A sleazy TV excec discovers the duo, waltzes in, and makes a big-budget production out of it. Moral of the story: don’t trust anyone who reads too much Robert Greene.

Reality Bites (1993) Back when Ethan Hawke's toxicity was to die for. A group friends suffer from post-collegiate blues and realize how tough the real world is. The most Gen X thing about this is how Winona Ryder dances exactly like my mom.

Midnight Cowboy (1969) A cowboy moves to New York City and attempts to be a male prostitute for older women. He befriends a small time conman, who has quixotic fantasies of escaping to Florida. Great movie, but way too much of a bummer.

Music

As Tears Go By By Marianne Faithfull (1965) I've been so affected by Marianne Faithfull's passing the last few days. As Tears Go By is a pop-folk ballad written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. One of my most played songs in 2023 and 2024. Rest in peace.

Broken English by Marianne Faithfull (1979) Faithfull was some serious business; she was a homeless drug addict before she dropped this record that ended up a critical and commercial success. Rise to the ashes, she did.

Lady Jane by the Rolling Stones (1966) A baroque rock song speculated to be inspired by Marianne Faithfull during her relationship with Jagger. His tribute to her on IG cannot be understated.

Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club (1981) Debut single of Talking Heads members Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz. A funky song just right on the cusp of the 70s & 80s. Listen with music video.

My Sweet Lord by The Belmonts (1972) A cheeky cover amidst George Harrison's legal battle with the copyright holders of "He's so Fine" by the The Chiffons. Way to wink at controversy.

Piece of My Heart by Erma Franklin (1967) Aretha isn't the only Franklin with nice pipes. Older sister, Erma Franklin, has a soulful classic that deserves more attention than it gets.

Books

Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion (1968) Essays on California Counterculture in the 1960s by one of the most critically acclaimed American female authors. I expected to fall in love with it, but I did not. Though Didion's prose can cut through like a knife, I wanted cry out of boredom.

How Music Works by David Byrne (2012) This book screams nerd alert and I'm here for it. Written by Talking Heads co-founder and frontman, Byrne indulges on his esoteric knowledge on music. I adore his passionate detachment.