There Stands the Glass

The books I read outnumbered the shows I attended in September. I intend to venture out a lot more in October. I’ve even timed a trip to Detroit to catch a concert by an artist listed above who has conspicuously bypassed Kansas City for years.

Top Ten Films (viewed for the first time in September)

1. Lawrence of Arabia: Director’s Cut (1962)

T.E. Lawrence as white savior.

2. Body and Soul (1925)

Paul Robeson’s first film.

3. Hoří, má panenko/The Firemen’s Ball (1967)

Shameful Czech corruption.

4. The Golden Ring: The Making of Solti’s Ring (1965)

My notes.

5. Street Girl (1929)

Betty Compson stars in a racy Jazz Age musical.

6. 奇跡/I Wish (2011)

Japan is now at the top of my travel wish list.

7. Cairo (1942)

Loopy wartime musical with Ethel Waters.

8. Take a Giant Step (1959)

Johnny Nash plays a beleaguered teen.

9. The Outhouse: The Film, 1985-1987 (2019)

“My” version of the Kansas venue- Tupelo Chain Sex, Sonic Youth, the Georgia Satellites, etc.- receives short shrift in the documentary.

10. The Courier (2021)

By-the-numbers cold war spy thriller.

August’s recap and links to previous monthly surveys are here.

One of the ongoing jokes I share with my life partner concerns our mutual affection for K.T. Oslin’s infuriatingly catchy 1989 hit “Hey Bobby”. Summoning one of the song’s several hooks is sure to lodge “Hey Bobby” in the other’s head for hours or even days. It’s a delightfully dirty trick.

I mourned Oslin’s death at There Stands the Glass last year. Even though Lauren Alaina failed to distinguish herself in the two live performances I’ve witnessed or with any of her initial hits, the contemporary country artist revives Oslin’s fiercely independent streak and wicked sense of humor on her surprisingly strong new album.

Rooted in age-old country themes, Sitting Pretty on Top of the World is a stylistic departure portraying Alaina as a new-school honky tonk hero. Yet because it’s hindered by a few obnoxiously overproduced tracks, Sitting Pretty on Top of the World is a far cry from a dusty Loretta Lynn album.

Alaina strikes a delicate balance between the vanilla blandishments demanded by country radio programmers and forlorn songs about drinking and despair. Some of the soccer moms who make up the core of her substantial fan base may conscientiously choose to shield their kids from the booze-laden project.

It’s possible a Sitting Pretty on Top of the World song- “Getting Over Him”, a duet with Jon Pardi, is a particularly promising candidate- will join “Hey Bobby” as one of my go-to personal relationship pranks rooted in a genuine appreciation of Alaina’s blend of slick pop-country and backwoods barroom anthems.

September 2021 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Album Review: Lauren Alaina- Sitting Pretty on Top of the World