John Scofield - A Go Go
Scofield is a guitar legend, and his first collaboration with Medeski Martin & Wood is full of memorable melodic phrasing and insanely deep groove. I’ve been listening to this for almost 30 years, and it’s as fresh today as it was when I first heard it in 1998. Perhaps more than any of his other albums, these are all great songs. I’m much more a rock listener than a jazz aficionado, but this is easily in my top 10 all-time albums in any genre.
Gigolo Aunts - Minor Chords and Major Themes
This is a perfect power-pop album. Sumptuous harmonies, tasteful layers of guitar, and hooks for days. It may not be as well known as Matthew Sweet’s “Girlfriend”, as groundbreaking as Big Star’s “#1 Record”, or as influential as Jellyfish’s “Spilt Milk”, but it hangs with all of those records and has held up to decades of repeat listening. “C’mon C’mon” and “Everyone Can Fly” are standouts, but the whole album is highly recommended.
Ted Chiang - Exhalation
Beautifully written and highly intelligent short stories, reminiscent of Jorge Luis Borges. Both of Chiang’s collections are outstanding. I rarely reread anything, but I’ve read all of his stories at least twice.
Brooks Cascadia Hiking Shoes
I’ve hiked thousands (and backpacked hundreds) of miles, and it took me decades to find hiking shoes with good support, adequate traction, and a comfortable fit. Brooks Cascadia are the first pair I don’t dread putting on when I wake up on the second or third day of trekking. They’re light. They breathe. And they seem to last well too. As long as I can keep my pack weight under 30 lbs, I’ll never go back to traditional hiking boots.
