Dan Soder: On The Road - I’ve been following Dan Soder via his podcast and old stand up clips since he did his first guest appearance on Pablo Torre Finds Out back in September. He has been promoting this straight to YouTube special for a bit and I was looking forward to it. Happy to say it delivered. (B+)
Adventure Zone vs. Dracula - The McElroy father and sons are back at it with a new setting and story in their ever evolving table top podcast. This one is monster themed D&D 5e and one of the best arcs they’ve done in a while. I’ve been keeping up with this podcast since it started and this might be my favorite version of this thing since the original story. (A)
Abbott Elementary Season 3 - It’s back, it’s great, and we always walk away from each episode with sore faces (from the laughing) and full hearts (from the positive vibes). (A)
Schoolboy Q: Blue Lips - My album of the year so far, hands down. A long awaited album from his last outing that delivers on so many fronts. Catch me talking more about it on the podcast. (A+)
Lil Guardsman - A light hearted Papers, Please with fun cartoon art? Didn’t work for me at all and was the first game I’ve ever returned on Steam. The game parts aren’t that compelling and the story conveyed through a lot of dialogue was tedious. I found myself looking for the “Skip” button within the first 15 minutes. (C-)
That Mexican OT: Texas Technician - This sophomore album dropped the same day as Blue Lips (3/1/24). It isn’t fair to compare them, but I had to pick how I spent my listening time this month and Q won. This is still a good album with 3-4 bangers that have made their way into the Rap Shit 2024 playlist. (B)
Shogun - A 2024 reimaging of a 1980’s adaptation of a 1970’s popular novel that is very well done. Killer acting, visuals, effects, music, it’s got it all, and set in a time period I have been fascinated by since watching the original show back in the mid-90’s. (A)
The Vince Staples Show - I wanted this to rival Atlanta or at least match it. I had very high hopes and Vince Staples might be on my top 5 rappers list. It didn’t disappoint, but this is not Atlanta. It is it’s own great thing that you should watch and enjoy. (B+)
Formula 1: Drive to Survive - Showing up late late late to F1’s moment in the sun, at least in the United States. Huge If True and Search Party both recently did videos on the 2024 season and that finally pushed me to watch this docuseries that starts with the 2018 season. It is made by the same folks that did Break Point. (B+)