12 Comments
User's avatar
Jill Wilson's avatar

I have listened to that St Lenox song so many times in the last two weeks that it made the top 10 in whatever the Apple Music equivalent of Spotify Wrapped is. (And I like Barenaked Ladies, so I'm fine with that sonic nod.) It reminds me a bit of Benjamin Clementine: orchestral bent, powerhouse voice, lack of lyrical scansion. https://youtu.be/PwmhhWREDWQ?feature=shared

Expand full comment
Christian Finnegan's avatar

Thrilled you're digging St. Lenox. In addition to being supremely talented, he seems to be a really cool guy, so I root for his success. Unfamiliar with Benjamin Clementine--will investigate!

Thanks for the kind words.

Expand full comment
Bill Realman Stella's avatar

My typically too-long comments:

You and I are in tune about THUS LOVE (my #5 Best Album of 2024).

Re the Prince marathon-sized documentary, the best way to pressure Netflix to air it is to make it hurt, so it would take 1000s of demanding, righteous Prince fans to suspend payment (mid subscription) from Netflix to get them to pay attention for sure. (Lesser methods may work, but may be less effective.)

Also want to share a little piece of joy I’m just now discovering. Having listened to all of 5 tracks (out of 14) I now declare ( lololol ) this the best Christmas album of 2024 (probably, but I’ll add “so far”, though it’s late for much else to arrive). The performances have that unrefined quality that great craftspeople in a good mood can pull off. Not too relaxed, but not aiming for mainstream “perfect”. IOW, these tracks probably won’t be heard on the station that becomes all-Christmas music around now.

Ashley MacIsaac ~ Christmas Across The Atlantic

https://open.spotify.com/album/42fKmT6dGRzxFJQ0efdtAS?si=y3RJ7IaOQUKtLbqXu6jW4g

Expand full comment
Christian Finnegan's avatar

I'd love to think a big Netflix boycott would have an impact, but it feels like these decisions are so divorced from any notion of pleasing the customer. It's just dead-eyed risk avoidance.

Will look into Ashley MacIsaac. Not sure what it would take for me to truly "get into" a new holiday album, but you never know.

Thanks!

Expand full comment
Brent Eaton's avatar

Liked both the St. Lenox and THUS LOVE, but something about that St. Lenox song really piqued my interest. Had to scurry off and listen to the whole album. Even though the whole thing kind of presents as a novelty act, I dig the music a lot. Can't really picture how to merge that vocal style into a playlist, though.

Expand full comment
Christian Finnegan's avatar

Yeah, it really is a singular thing. My favorite of his songs are on an earlier album: "Vincent Van Gogh" and "Gold Star". Definitely check those out.

Expand full comment
Matthew McCracken's avatar

I wish I remembered Prince lore well enough to come up with a witty answer to your question. Luckily we have enough Prince inside jokes that I don’t think I really need to bother. Go to the graffiti bridge and say “chili sauce”. There. Good enough.

Expand full comment
Christian Finnegan's avatar

Missed opportunity to reference "ribs".

Expand full comment
Jennifer Sgro's avatar

Although I did appreciate the lyrics, I was not digging the St. Lenox. It reminded me way too much of The Bare Naked Ladies.

Expand full comment
Christian Finnegan's avatar

Ha! Yeah, I guess I can hear that.

Expand full comment
Brian McGuinness's avatar

I still listen to "Tell Me" by Groove Theory at least thrice a week. Still a banger.

Expand full comment
Christian Finnegan's avatar

That was a band I never listened to at the time, because I was dumb. Good shit, for sure.

Expand full comment