BakerBagel

I had Niniane (the tabby) for about two weeks before someone dumped Boudica, my tortie, in the lobby at the restaurant i worked at. Best i could tell, Nini was about 2-4 weeks older and they immediately became inseperable. I am so fortunate to have two cats that love each other and are so sweet and sociable with absolutely everyone. I'll watch them cycle between intense makeout sessions grooming each other, to zooming after each other acrtthe apartment, to full on WWE Smackdown events throwing each other to the floor.

Just the coolest album ever! Miles's cover of Down By The River is what introduced me to this album. I don't know if I have ever listened to an album where the singer gives off such a sexy and confident vibe. An almost defiant nonchalance pervades over this album that i completely love.

I always put classical music on when i bake, and i have been doing some serious baking this weekend. I've been working on rhubarb and walnut loaves since rhubarb is growing everywhere right now.

Anyway, i picked up this box set of all of Beethoven's symphony about 6 months ago and i love it. Beethoven's 5th and 9th symphonies understandably get all the love, but Eorica is absolutely magnificent. Originally called "Napoleon", Beethoven intendit as a praise to Napoleon's military prowress and commitment to the French Revolution, but quickly changed the name and 4th movement after Napoleon declared himself Emperor of France. I've been obsessed with the Napoleonic wars for the past couple years after i started reading my dad's old Hornblower books, so i spent my afternoon baking rhubarb and thinking about Napoleon.

I have been picking up a classical record every time i visit a shop to fill out my collection. Box sets like this are great because i get hours and hours of music for maybe $20, or i can get favorites of mine such as Holst's The Planets or the 1812 Overture for a couple bucks. I am currently hoping to find the complete Nutcracker suite for when i do my Christmas cookies this year.

I picked this up at an awesome record shop in Akron this weekend. My mom grew up in England during the punk/post punk movement, so i grew up listening to her The Clash, The Jam, and the Strangler CDs in her car. The Stranglers were a staple for our family on road trips.

One of the first records i added to my collection. I went through a massive Saxon kick and found all their early albums at my local record shop. I love the heavy overdriven guitars, the riff worship, and the emotion in the lyrics that really defines 70's heavy metal to me. Crusader isn't as good an album as Denim & Leather or Strong Arm of the Law, but it's still a kick-ass rock album that can get me through any hangover.

What better way to start my day with some Santana! Jorge Santana that is. I'm a big proponent of always grabbing the craziest album art you see at the shop and taking it home, and this is a fine example. That epic cover was something i just had to have. It's some excellent latin jazz rock from the height of the prog rock era. While obviously not as talented a guitarist as his brother, Jorge is no schmuck and puts down some excellent solos and rhythms. It's a favorite that i am always pooking for an occasion to introduce someone to the album. I see these all the time when i visit stores, so if you like rock and Latin jazz, you should absolutely pick this up and give it a spin.

Cortez, Cortez, what a killer! I'm willing to argue that Zuma surpasses Harvest for Neil Young's beat album. This is am original copy i poked up at the local flea market a few years ago, and it remains one of my favorite records in my collection. Neil Young was such a brilliant lyricist/guitar player as a young man, and i am happy to keep that memory alive. To me, Neil Young is as iconic an artist as Prince, Freddy Mercury, and Ozzy Osbourne. He definitely starts to drift into "noble savage territory during " Cortez, What a Killer" but the song is sung eith sich passion and feeling that only the coldest hearted bastard could ignore the intent of the song. Neil used to be sicha passionate and dedicated young man, and i feel that it makes his music absolutely timeless.

Is your muffin buttered? Would you like us to assign someone to butter your muffin?

I'm a big fun of girl rock, and Wet Leg is one of my favorite rock bands out there right now. I came across the video for Wet Dreams at the end of 2023 and feel in love with the band . Rhain Teadale's got a great voice, and Hester Chambers guitar riffs are heavy yet catchy. Plus, their videos are super cool. I'm not quite sure what genre i would describe them as more on the pop-side of pop-punk, but you can definitely hear how Jack White, the Strokes, and Kings of Leon really come through in their music.