LSU - National Champions

In a highly entertaining game, the LSU Tigers defeated Clemson 42-25.  The game was close for a half - indeed, with Clemson jumping to a quick lead, it appeared that the Bayou Bengals my have their dream season end in a nightmare.  Those concerns quickly faded as the defense settled down, and Burrow heated up.

The net result was domination.  Not to the level of LSU's playoff game against Oklahoma, but the second half was one of LSU exerting their will on an overmatched opponent.  

What a great season!  Between Coach O's back story, to Burrow's Heisman season, to being able to play their Championship game at the Superdome, to their undefeated record, we may have seen one of the greatest football teams in history.  

It couldn't happen to a nicer coach, couldn't happen to a nicer star QB, and couldn't happen to a nicer community.  

Congratulations, LSU nation.  You are National Champions.  Hard earned, and well deserved. 

On the Loss of Neil Peart

Rock and roll lost its greatest drummer.  You can have your Bonham and Moon - nobody was better than Peart, period.  

Neil's playing was far from rote - sly notes and drops were added, making the drum kit not just a beat-keeper, but a true band instrument.  Here's a great example featuring Rush's biggest hit.  Beyond the above, also note what he's doing with his feet:

Beyond his drumming, Peart was the lyricist for the band, and two generations of marginalized youth owe him for the belonging he provided them through his words.  He was an incredible poet in the true definition of the word. 

There are a lot of reasons why getting old sucks.  It seems like beloved people are dying on me on a nearly weekly basis.  That certainly applies in this instance.  

Given the nature of music, we'll not have another talent like this for a long time, if perhaps ever again.  I feel fortunate that I was able to see his craft live, and that his songs were a soundtrack for a good chunk of my life.

Minnesota Vikings Flat Dominated by San Francisco

Our beloved Vikings were completed dominated by San Fransico yesterday in a game that was actually worse than what the 27-10 score showed.  The 49ers were dominant on the line on both sides; so much so that our guys were getting shoved around at the end in embarrassing fashion.

Our running game which was so critical for our victory over New Orleans could never get going, and Cousins could not throw downfield.  We were left with small, impotent screen plays which usually were defended impeccably for short gains.  

The Vikings are not a good road team, especially on the west coast.  Likewise, with only six days to lick our wounds from our game against the Saints, we flat looked tired.  The 49ers, on the other hand, looked fresh and physical.  The net result was an unmitigated butt kicking.

The first-round bye isn't the end-all of the NFL playoffs (ask Baltimore), but in this instance, it was critical.

For the Vikings to make any kind of playoff run, we need home field.  Until we find a way to be better in the regular season to derive that home field advantage, Vikings fans can expect more of the same. 

Songs for My Brother

Every year I gift my brother some music that has interested me in the past year.  This year's installment is no different, other than I am unacceptably late.  Thus, let's get right into it:

Arctic Monkeys: Four Out of Five - One of the better bands out there making new music right now, and this offers a pretty good taste of what they deliver.

Lord Huron: Wait by the River - Kind of an old school, '50's vibe, but way more than that.  Wish more music being made right now was more along these lines.

Snail Mail: Pristine - I do love an alternative band with a female lead singer and this one doesn't disappoint.  Lots in here to like, including some cool Sonic Youth undertones.

Trevor Hall: Karma - His whole album from which this was taken was damned good.  While his musical style is pretty consistent (for him), I do like it as a change-up.  Check out the whole latest album, as it's well worth it.

Caroline Smith: Bloodstyle - Some really good recent soul that isn't autotuned crap.  Well done.

Kurt Vile: Pretty Pimpin' - I really enjoy this one - it's easily in my top five for the past year.  Maybe because it has the closest thing to a guitar solo that I've heard in new music in a long time.  I really enjoy the guitar work across the whole song.

Cognac: Buddy Guy - Buddy is clearly the last of an era, and it's nice that he gets to team up with guys like Jeff Beck and Keith Richards on this.

JD McPherson: Crying's Just a Thing That You Do - I'm not a huge rockabilly guy, but I really like this guy and his take.  Really good.

Dennis Lloyd: Nevermind - The best night driving song of the set

The Devlins: Coming Alive - Not sure why these guys were not bigger.  I think they make really, really good music, and this is an example.

Boz Skaggs: Rock and Stick - Wow, is his voice still amazing.  High notes are still there, as is the smokey smoothness.  This sounds like the Boz of the '80's.  Remarkable.

4onthefloor: Fancy - One of my favorite rockers from my favorite Twin Cities band.  These guys totally rock.

Songs:Ohia: Farewell Transmission - Got this cool '70's vibe that I absolutely love.

Joe Bonamassa: Just Cos You Can Don't Mean You Should - The best blues artist out there right now.

Billie Eilish: You Should See Me in a Crown - The most popular song on the list.  Not sure if this one is your cup of tea, but there is a lot about this that I enjoy a lot, hence its inclusion.

Peter Wolf: I Stole Some Love - Kind of hard to believe how long he's been at the game, and how I've enjoyed his work across all of those decades.

The Black Keys: Lo/Hi - Another band out there that I seem to consistently enjoy.  A great new effort.

Ronnie James Dio & Yngwie Malmsteen: Dream On - Yeah, that Dream On.  I never heard this song before this year, and I have no idea how I missed it.  Dio's vocals far exceed Tyler's, and Malmsteen's guitar work far exceed Perry's.  I usually don't like covers that don't have their own original take on the song, and admittedly, this is very similar to the original.  That being said, when I hear it, I can't help but feel like "Damn, this is how Dream On should have sounded..." 

Ryan Adams: Welcome to New York - Taken from his song-for-song cover of Taylor Swift's 1989 album.  I just love his music, even when it is an interpretation of someone else's music.  This guy is just awesome.

Happy birthday, bro.  Love you tons.

Saturday Song Share: Frank Black - "Men in Black"

An old-school screen grab from an MTV feed, and Frank kicks some serious ass.

Enjoy

Carolina Panthers Announce Their 2019 Schedule - Video Game Version

I have no idea who came up with this, but it damned brilliant:

Religion in Free Fall

Gallup has published a study on church membership, and the details are concerning.  Church membership is at its lowest level since the survey began in the 1940s, and is most assuredly at its lowest level in US history:

Things started in the past 20 years, and the trajectory of the graph is shocking.  

Some things to consider:

• Interesting to see how the fall coincides with the rise of the internet
• Given strong religion participation by immigrants, pretty much our source of population growth in this country, actual fall-off by long-tenured American citizens is likely significantly steeper
• Catholics are falling off at a great rate.  Gallup reports that 63% of Catholics belong to a church, whereas just 20 years ago 76% did

I'm not sure how all of this will ultimately manifest itself in our society, but I have the fear it will not be good.

I think we're already seeing that...

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Victory!

Happy Easter, everyone!