Category: Viral

Mulatto and Lil Baby put on an elaborate burlesque show with the help of DC Young Fly in the video for “Sex Lies” from the deluxe version of Mulatto’s debut album Queen Of Da Souf. Depicting the Atlanta rappers getting prepared backstage, the video employs DC Young Fly as the host, who welcomes the masked guests to “Big Latto’s Sex Lies Experience.” Latto herself appears in some classic costumes, cavorting in a giant martini glass and carousing on a massive fruit spread.

The video makes reference to Mulatto’s recent live show controversty as well. The 21-year-old was criticized for performing at a concert in a semi-packed club, where attendees weren’t wearing masks. In the video, the showgoers are seated at the recommended six-foot space and wearing bulky paint respirators, while DC Young Fly reminds them repeatedly to “wear your masks.” Of course, it’s showy and sarcastic, which isn’t really needed — that cow has left the barn, so to speak — but it does make for a cool image thanks to the contrast between the guests’ classy dress and their Bane-ish headgear.

Watch the “Sex Lies” video above.

Queen Of Da Souf (Extended Version) is out now on RCA Records. Get it here.

Disney had itself quite a Thursday, especially on Twitter. Through its various platforms covering Disney, Disney+, and Pixar it announced or teased dozens upon dozens of shows, movies and projects it hopes to deliver fans in the coming years, whether on its streaming platforms or in movie theaters, once that’s a more reasonable way to turn a profit following the coronavirus pandemic.

Though the rash of announcements had a lot of Marvel and Star Wars fans plenty excited, there was a lot of tidbits for more sports-minded fans. You just had to know where to look and, quite frankly, the endless stream of tweets didn’t make it easy. For example news about several sports movies, including a pair set to chronicle the lives of Chris Paul and Giannis Antetokounmpo, came right after the revelation that they’re remaking Three Men And A Baby with Zac Efron.

But there was actually a lot of sports news in the massive drop of future content. And perhaps the biggest is official word that they’re rebooting The Mighty Ducks, and noted bad coach Gordon Bombay back in the fold. This time, he’s bringing Lorelai Gilmore with him.

Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is an extremely 2020 show name, but it’s big news to say the least. And it’s not the only Disney+ sports show in the works.

Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith will also continue his quest to appear on television every hour of the day with a new ESPN+ show called Stephen A’s World.

Disney also announced a new ESPN+ show that will sound familiar to anyone who has ever watched, uh, SportsCenter.

There’s also a Tom Brady-focused show called Man In The Arena, which had been announced in the past on the heels of the success of The Last Dance.

The Mighty Ducks news alone is certainly intriguing for anyone who grew up watching the original movies, and it seemed inevitable given the sheer number of reboots and remakes on the way. As for all the ESPN+ content, well, I think they just might have something there with a show recapping what happened in the previous night of sports.

The Rundown is a weekly column that highlights some of the biggest, weirdest, and most notable events of the week in entertainment. The number of items could vary, as could the subject matter. It will not always make a ton of sense. Some items might not even be about entertainment, to be honest, or from this week. The important thing is that it’s Friday, and we are here to have some fun.

ITEM NUMBER ONE — Good for Bob Odenkirk

It is the position of this column that every actor and actress should get to play John Wick at some point in their career. Not “John Wick” specifically, of course, because that is Keanu’s role and no one should be allowed to take it from him without a Constitutional amendment. But a John Wick-type, a rampaging lunatic who is out for revenge because someone wronged him in some deeply personal way without realizing he was once a highly trained assassin or assassin-type. Denzel Washington was John Wick in both Man on Fire and The Equalizer. Liam Neeson was John Wick in Taken and most other Liam Neeson movies. Charlize Theron was John Wick in Atomic Blonde. And now, in a development that brings me more joy than any of you can possibly imagine, Bob Odenkirk will play John Wick in Nobody, a new film from the writer of the actual John Wick movies, Derek Kolstad. There’s a trailer and everything. It whoops ass.

How cool is this? Bob Odenkirk, a man who spent the first few decades of his career writing and starring in comedy sketches (go watch a million Mr. Show sketches this weekend, trust me), is now a legit action star, in addition to being a legit leading man in Better Call Saul, one of the best shows on television. That’s awesome. And it’s fun to see him talk about it all, which he just did, in an interview with IGN that was timed to the trailer’s release.

“The hardest thing about doing Nobody was to be deprived of the ironic dimension of the performance. I wanted to play a sort of earnest action hero like Charles Bronson in Death Wish, in these ’70s movies that I loved growing up, Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry and that s***. So I was going to deprive myself of being a wisecracker and making fun of myself,” he said. “It’s hard for me to do a scene that’s utterly earnest. … And this goes for Better Call Saul, too. When I don’t get to have a little wink to the audience, when the character knows they’re being funny and I can do that, that’s more my natural state.”

This is great. I’m so happy for Bob Odenkirk. And for me, too. Did you watch that trailer? Go watch that trailer. He’s running around pounding on punks in buses and shouting about stolen kitty cat jewelry and describing himself as a former “auditor,” which sounds kind of like a cross between a hitman and an accountant, which reminds me that Ben Affleck kind of played John Wick in The Accountant, a movie that also contained a straight-up montage of him doing accounting. We’ve discussed this. A lot. We will again. I can’t help myself.

But this is what I’m getting at. Everyone should get to play a role like this, even just once. It’s fun when it’s casting to type, like your Neesons and Therons, and it might be even more fun when it’s casting against type, like this one. Odenkirk in the role opens up so many possibilities I had not considered. Like, picture John Mulaney as John Wick. Amy Poehler. Tracy Morgan. David Letterman. It’s impossible to stop once you get started. Picture Jay Leno dressed in full-denim and mowing down mobsters because someone scratched his steam-powered fire engine. I need to stress that I’m not joking around here. I want these to happen. Maybe not the last one, but the other ones, definitely. I want to see Mulaney with like four days of stubble and a knife in each hand and rage in his eyes. Do this. For me.

It’s strange that this excites me so much. I hate guns. I do not believe in taking the law into your own hands. If the John Wick movies happened in real life I would be firmly in the camp that he belongs in prison. I would be absolutely horrified reading the headlines about the things he does. (“Well-Dressed Gunman Kills Dozens In Crowded Nightclub In Suspected Mob-Related Killing.”) But put this in a nice little two-hour package and show it to me on my television screen? Yes, please. I will watch it on basic cable every weekend from now until some retired assassin takes me out for some perceived slight that dishonored his family and/or beloved pet and/or muscle car. Add Nobody to this list. And make the one with Mulaney. And Poehler. Do one with them together. I do not ask for much.

ITEM NUMBER TWO — Mixed feelings about the chicken movie, folks

This one is tricky. Let’s try to figure it out. Facts first: Lifetime and KFC have produced a kind of fake “Colonel Sanders… but sexy” project that will air this weekend. It’s 15 minutes long and it stars Mario Lopez as Steamy Colonel Sanders and it is described in the press release thusly: “As the holidays draw near, a young heiress contends with the affections of a suitor handpicked by her mother. When the handsome chef, Harland Sanders, arrives with his secret fried chicken recipe and a dream, he sets in motion a series of events that unravels the mother’s devious plans.”

So there’s that. There are things in here that I like very much. I like goofball antics that turn conventional stuff on its head. I like the chaos of dropping a Steamy Colonel Sanders short film at noon on Lifetime on a Saturday in December. I like that, at one point in the trailer, someone says the phrase “secret’s out, chicken man.” I did not know how much I wanted to hear someone say that collection of words in that order. Turns out the answer is “a lot.”

But it’s… weird. It’s weird. The whole thing is a big commercial, sponsored content run amok, in a way that feels… weird. If this had been some Adult Swim fever dream that wasn’t tied to a marketing campaign — just some rascal/renegade production that stretches the doctrine of Fair Use to its limits and beyond — I think I would adore it. Knowing KFC is the driving force behind it and the whole point is to make your brain say “hmm, I want some chicken” makes it feel different. I don’t know exactly why, either. All television shows and movies are money-making ventures, even the bozo Adult Swim productions I referenced earlier. They have commercials and product placement and all of it. This is just kind of cutting out the artifice and coming at the viewer straight on. And if we’re going to make advertisements for chicken, we can at least try to make them completely insane like this.

Do you see what I mean? I want to like it… but I’m conflicted. I want to hate it… but I’m conflicted there, too. Maybe what I’ll do is watch it and then go out and get Popeyes. That feels like a reasonable compromise.

ITEM NUMBER THREE — Yes, I will watch this

Disney announced about 500 new shows and movies yesterday, which is fine and possibly even exciting depending on your feelings about the Star Wars Extended Universe and various Marvel properties. And yet, somehow, despite all those projects, one of which will star Donald Glover as Lando and one of which will star John Mulaney and Andy Samberg as the Rescue Rangers, none of the ones announced during the event were the most intriguing new show announced that day. That honor goes to The Curse, an upcoming Showtime comedy that features a fascinating collection of names in a fascinating collection of positions.

Start at the top. The show will star Emma Stone and Nathan Fielder as a married couple. Fielder will also direct. The Safdie brothers, the maniacs behind Uncut Gems, will produce. One of the Safdies, Benny, also has a role on the show. The plot description goes like this, per the press release: “The Curse is a genre-bending scripted comedy that explores how an alleged curse disturbs the relationship of a newly married couple as they try to conceive a child while co-starring on their problematic new HGTV show.”

This sounds wild as hell in all the best ways. I am already cringing over how awkward and uncomfortable a Fielder/Safdie collaboration could be. Good, almost assuredly, given the track records of the people involved (Fielder just got done producing How to With John Wilson, for the love of God), but still very uncomfortable. Emma Stone is no slouch either, and she’s got experience with daaaaark comedy, as anyone who has seen The Favourite can attest. This is fascinating on a whole bunch of levels. I might end up watching through my fingers because it all gets too stressful, but I’ll definitely be watching. I’m very happy for you if you all jazzed up about the new Star Wars and Marvel shows. But I vote for more like this, please.

ITEM NUMBER FOUR — Listen, if everyone is going to talk about Spider-man all week, I’m going to talk about the basketball scene (yes, again)

Spider-man is in the news. The next live-action movie in the franchise is going full Spiderverse, with Alfred Molina returning to play Doctor Octopus and Jamie Foxx returning to play Electro and Andrew Garfield and Kirsten Dunst circling the project in one way or another. Maybe Tobey Maguire, too. Who knows? It’s a whole thing. But if everyone’s going to spend all week talking about it, then I am going to talk about the basketball scene in The Amazing Spider-man.

Superhero movies have a long history of bad sports scenes, and by this I mostly mean “the basketball scene in Catwoman,” which deserves its own multi-part docuseries on some streaming network. There’s a reason for that: showing someone who was previously a dork suddenly excelling at sports is a nice shorthand to highlight their new powers. But come on. Watch that clip. Watch it twice. Notice the following things:

• The blatant traveling
• The thing where he takes off from the three-point line
• The thing where he soars through the air with his entire body rising above the regulation rim
• The thing where he shatters the backboard with the force of a monster dunk

But none of that is what bugs me. I can suspend my disbelief long enough to believe Spider-man can do sick dunks, because Spider-man has superpowers and who among us wouldn’t use our superpowers to do sick dunks every now and then. No, my issue is much simpler: This should have been all anyone talked about for the rest of the movie. Look at this freaking kid.

Do you understand? A high school student just did the single greatest dunk in history, in his high school gym, in front of dozens of teenagers. This should have been a huge deal. The high school basketball coach should have been banging on his door every night begging him to play. Word would have spread throughout the community. Someone probably would have gotten it on video. Are you following me yet? Do you see the world where this ends up on YouTube with 25 million views and news organizations start hounding him? Believe me. I’ve seen enough basketball recruiting highlight reels to know how this works. Barack Obama showed up to watch a college game Zion Williamson played in and Zion never did anything close to this. I remember watching this scene in the theater and having it take me out of the movie completely. It was all I talked about at dinner after the matinee. It was all I talked about for a week. I’m talking about it again now, many years later, and I bet I would have talked about it earlier if I had an excuse 80 percent as good as this one.

My point here is that you probably do not want to watch a movie with me. I have issues.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE — Good, keep it on the air forever

FX just renewed It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for four more seasons. Four! Four seasons! This will bring the total to 18 seasons. For some perspective, consider this:

“Always Sunny” will now run for at least 18 seasons. It was previously renewed for Season 15 back in May. The Season 15 renewal officially broke the record previously held by “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” which ran for 14 seasons on ABC. The renewal is no small feat for the unconventional and genre-defining sitcom, which started out as a pilot shot on a home video camera nearly two decades ago.

Kudos to Variety for remaining professional by using words like “unconventional” and “genre-defining.” That’s no small feat, considering what Always Sunny does week-in, week-out, going on two decades now. For example, there’s this screencap, which I will post without context in part because it’s funnier that way and in part because context is not necessary even a little.

What a treasure. What an absolute joy. It’s thrilling to me that this show holds a prestigious place in television history. It’s not just because it’s insane and set in Philadelphia, either (go Birds, though). It’s also because it has retained a ridiculously high-quality despite being on the air as long as it has. It premiered in 2005, the same year as The Office and How I Met Your Mother. It’s been on the air for a Phillies World Series and an Eagles Super Bowl. This is a serious accomplishment. I am not joking. I’m so proud of them. I hope they keep making them until the Sixers win a title, too.

READER MAIL

If you have questions about television, movies, food, local news, weather, or whatever you want, shoot them to me on Twitter or at [email protected] (put “RUNDOWN” in the subject line). I am the first writer to ever answer reader mail in a column. Do not look up this last part.

From Rob:

I have an idea. Dolly Parton has been in the news a lot lately with her Netflix specials and charitable works. The Fast & Furious franchise still has a few films left after the next one (probably) goes to space. What if Dolly joins the Family? Maybe she’s Dom’s mom, or Brian’s mom, or maybe she’s a legendary moonshine runner from Tennessee who they recruit for a mission through the hollers. She could be a villain, too. The details aren’t important. I just want to see Dolly Parton in a Fast & Furious movie and I bet you do, too.

Rob, this email is shameless. Combining Dolly — a top-five living American, as we’ve discussed — with the Fast & Furious family is so squarely inside my wheelhouse that it’s started to get mail delivered there. Of course I want this. I like the idea about her being a famous moonshine runner. I also like the idea of her being the President who authorizes the Toretto space mission, which I just thought up as I was typing that last sentence. Or her being the only person who ranks above Kurt Russell in the secretive government agency that has an unlimited budget, apparently. But mostly I think I like the idea of her and Ludacris making a whole Fast & Furious collaboration concept album.

There. We’ve put it out into the universe. We did our part. The rest is up to Hollywood. I see no reason it can’t happen. In conclusion, look at this picture Vin Diesel posted on Instagram this week.

Thank you, Rob and Vin.

AND NOW, THE NEWS

To Moscow!

Police in Russia said on Wednesday they were searching for thieves who plundered technical equipment from a top-secret military aircraft known as the Doomsday Plane that is designed for use during a nuclear war.

I’m sorry. I am. This seems bad. I do not see how you can read “Russian Doomsday Plane targeted by plunderers” any other way. And yet… AND YET…

All I can think of is Kelsey Grammer’s character in Money Plane — currently on Hulu! — being the mastermind behind it. Like, read this in his voice, but just replace “Money Plane” with “Doomsday Plane.” Do it, out loud, right now.

You see my point now, yes?

The robbery, which raises questions about the security of sensitive military-related installations, took place as maintenance work was being carried out on the Ilyushin Il-80 plane.

Remember this line from Money Plane?

How about this one?

We’re probably all going to die from black market Doomsday Plane related tragedies and I’ll be looking up at the reddish-orange sky quoting this movie as my skin melts off. I feel okay about it.

Police said the aircraft had been at an aerodrome in the city of Taganrog, but gave no details about the nature of the stolen equipment except for its estimated worth — more than 1 million roubles ($13,600).

Hold on.

Wait.

Wait.

They stole $13,000 worth of stuff.

That’s, like, a Kia.

They stole a Kia worth of stuff off the Doomsday Plane.

Well, I feel much better about making those Money Plane jokes now. And about, like, not dying in a Doomsday Plane tragedy. But mostly the jokes.

The NBA season is right around the corner as training camp has begun around the league, and for all 30 teams, that means optimism abound. You can make a legitimate case that there are 26 teams that justifiably believe they can make the postseason this year, as the West is loaded from top to bottom with at least reasonable contenders and the East has a number of teams that hope to make the leap into playoff contention this season as well.

With the new play-in format, 20 of those squads will have actual chances to earn a spot. For the few teams that still seem pretty firmly outside of the playoff picture, their eyes are on the future, particularly with seeing what they have in terms of young players and hoping to see one or two emerge as possible cornerstone pieces to build around. With that in mind, we are going to take a look around the league, beginning with the East, at each team’s most important player this season.

This isn’t necessarily the best player (and often won’t be), because we typically know what to expect from each team’s best player. Instead, we want to look at those on the team with maybe a bit more variability in terms of outcomes, but if they are at the top of their potential, can really elevate their team to the heights they hope to reach this season.

Atlanta Hawks: Clint Capela

It has been easy to forget about Capela’s presence on this new-look Hawks team since he joined Atlanta at the deadline last year but has yet to step on the floor for the Hawks. With Trae Young firmly as the team’s star and their blockbuster moves this offseason in free agency, Capela has somewhat become the forgotten man. While Young has to continue to be brilliant as their best player, it’s Capela who they’re counting on to shore up their defense and anchor a unit that has been dreadful in recent years and needs to at least take a step towards mediocre or average to be the playoff contender they want to be. The depth behind Capela at center is fairly thin and quite young, with rookie Onyeka Okongwu and second-year man Bruno Fernando, and as such, they need Capela to log major minutes and serve as the rim protector to provide some cover when Atlanta runs out more offensive-minded backcourt and wing rotations.

Boston Celtics: Kemba Walker

The Celtics offseason was a mixed bag, as they didn’t make any big splashes but did add Tristan Thompson to help beef up their frontcourt rotation with a much-needed experienced presence. They also added Jeff Teague as their backup point guard, with the hope being that Teague in limited minutes as a backup can be a step up from the departing Brad Wanamaker. Jayson Tatum is firmly in the superstar category and Jaylen Brown is a tremendous two-way wing, but this was a team that, in the playoffs, wasn’t able to find the same offensive rhythm. A large part of that was Walker not being 100 percent.

That they still came just a game short of the Finals is a testament to how good this team is, but with other teams around them improving, they’ll need their star trio at their best. Walker is the biggest question mark of the three, as he continues to battle a knee injury that took him out of action after the All-Star break and he still hasn’t fully recovered from, as he had an injection in that left knee that will keep him out of action until at least January. Boston can weather the storm in the regular season without Walker for a bit, but they will need him at his best to have a shot at emerging from a pretty crowded top of the East this season.

Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant

In this case, the best player is the most important player, and the one with the most questions surrounding him. Durant is coming off of an Achilles injury that has been, historically, very difficult to come all the way back from. Offensively, I have fewer questions about his effectiveness than I think some do, because he’s the best shooting 7-footer in league history and even if he’s lost a bit of burst, he can get his shot off at pretty much any time. Defense, however, is where I’m most curious to see how he looks, because this Nets team is built to support him offensively, but desperately needs someone that can defend at a high level. Durant is one of a few on the roster with the track record of doing so.

That’s where his mobility, burst, and ability to change direction quickly will be most tested. If he can be even close to the pre-injury KD we saw dominate on the defensive end in Golden State, that’s huge for Brooklyn’s chances to contend for a title. His length on the wing and ability to alter and block shots often felt like an underrated quality because so much discussion about KD is his ability as a scorer. Brooklyn’s best players are offense-first guys, and they could really use his two-way abilities. If he’s lost a step there, they figure to be a rough defensive unit and that makes them much more beatable, even if offensively they are going to be a nightmare to deal with.

Chicago Bulls: Lauri Markkanen

The Bulls are a fascinating team this season because they have an actual NBA head coach now in Billy Donovan with a cast of young players that all seem to have some promise, but haven’t ever found a way to fit together. You could make an argument that Otto Porter Jr. is the answer here, as he’s in a contract year and the highest paid player on the team, but had his season derailed by injuries a year ago. However, I think the more interesting question for the new Bulls front office will be what to do with Lauri Markkanen, who is likewise going to be a free agent this summer (albeit a restricted one).

Markkanen popped as a sophomore, averaging 18.7 points and nine rebounds per game, but took a step back last year as he seemed to be lost in a strange frontcourt rotation and never quite found his same footing. This year, the hope in Chicago is that Donovan will deploy Markkanen better and be able to coax more out of the stretch big man who is more than capable as a three-point shooter. Finding out if he and Wendell Carter Jr. can make things work as a young frontcourt duo has to be at the top of the priority list for the Bulls given the way the clock is ticking on their rookie deals, and while the playoffs are certainly on the Bulls wishlist, the future and solving some of their roster questions are probably a bigger priority.

Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball

The Hornets drafted Ball third overall and suddenly have a bit of a logjam at the lead guard spot. Ball’s most effective as a facilitator and floor general, and Terry Rozier is making a lot of money, and Devonte’ Graham was Charlotte’s breakout player a year ago. Still, Ball has to be the focal point for the Hornets, even with the arrival of Gordon Hayward, and he should be given ample opportunity to grow and make mistakes (of which there will surely be many). The Hayward acquisition doesn’t necessarily muddy the opportunity for Ball directly, but it signals a desire to be back in the playoff hunt sooner than later. That might not align with Ball being handed the keys, and as such it’s going to be very interesting to see how the Hornets balance chasing a play-in spot with letting their precocious rookie star have ample minutes to establish himself in the league.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland

The Cavs have seen Collin Sexton steadily improve over his two seasons in Cleveland and, obviously, they hope he continues that trend, but the bigger question is that of last year’s lottery selection, Darius Garland, who struggled as rookie point guards often do. The Cavs hoped to pair Garland and Sexton as their backcourt of the future, and there’s certainly time for them to figure things out. That said, as Sexton continues to emerge as the leading scorer on this Cavs team, how Garland fits into the puzzle becomes even more interesting to watch. The young guard is going to have to carve out his niche on this team and next to Sexton, and in the absence of a second-year leap, the Cavs will potentially begin looking in other directions. If he can make a jump, though, it sets Cleveland up very nicely going forward.

Detroit Pistons: Blake Griffin

The Pistons’ trajectory in the coming years is almost completely determined by Blake Griffin’s play this year, and what he looks like after missing most all of last year with continued knee issues. If he’s healthy and even close to approaching the player he was two seasons ago when he dragged them to the 8-seed, he can put Detroit firmly in the playoff conversation again, while also giving them a very interesting and valuable trade chip at the deadline should they choose to go further in a future-facing direction. If his knee problems persist, they exist in a strange purgatory between the worst teams in the league and playoff contenders, and, likely, would need to operate as I mentioned with Charlotte, which is to hand Killian Hayes the keys and see what the young man can do.

Indiana Pacers: Victor Oladipo

This was maybe the toughest choice to make, because this is a team with a lot of very interesting players that will need to make a statement this season. Domantas Sabonis emerged as an All-Star last year, and they’ll need him to regain that form coming off of a foot injury that took him out of the Bubble. Myles Turner is perpetually in trade rumors, but here he remains, trying to carve out a role alongside a frontcourt player he clearly doesn’t fit with. Malcolm Brogdon was terrific last year, but he and the Pacers hope to see better three-point shooting out of him after he slipped well off his efficiency he showed in Milwaukee. T.J. Warren was a Bubble superstar and his ability to carry that over into next season is a huge storyline for Indiana’s ability to hang onto their position as one of the East’s six best teams.

However, nothing in Indiana is as important as Victor Oladipo’s play for however long he remains in town. The former All-Star struggled after coming back from his ruptured quad tendon, and found out the hard way this offseason how the rest of the league views him when his trade request resulted in no market forming for his services as he enters a contract year. The Pacers and Oladipo might only have one more year together but his play will be critical in both his trajectory and that of the team. Losing an All-Star for nothing is a miserable proposition, which is why, beyond how it’d help them in their quest for another postseason berth, they need him to build a trade market for himself by proving he’s still a strong player so that they can at least try to fill that hole with some helpful role players or at least quality draft assets.

Miami Heat: Tyler Herro

There are known commodities in Miami, like Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Goran Dragic, but the trajectory of this team in 2021 will be defined by their young players and how much they get out of them. The Heat at best tread water this offseason with the departures of guys like Jae Crowder, Derrick Jones Jr., and Solomon Hill, replacing them with Avery Bradley and Moe Harkless. They tried to thread the needle of remaining competitive while not sacrificing their entire 2021 flexibility to make a splash signing — although Adebayo’s max extension makes things a bit trickier there — and did a pretty good job. But for a team coming off a Finals appearance, expectations are very high for the Heat and internal improvement is the only way to get there.

The player with the most pressure to take a leap forward is Tyler Herro, who was tremendous in the Bubble in their run to the Finals, but cooled off some against the Lakers. People are now very high on the second-year wing, despite him riding the typical regular season rollercoaster rookies do of having serious highs and also some serious struggles. The second-year leap for Herro would be huge for Miami, particularly in keeping up in the regular season with the best in the East. However, there’s a very real chance he’s still a similar player to who he was last year, which simply means when he isn’t exhibiting the hot hand, he’s not a guy you want to have to rely on. Figuring out consistency from night-to-night is going to be the challenge for Herro, and it can very well determine whether the Heat are real contenders in the East again this season.

Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Bucks went all-in this offseason on Jrue Holiday, dealing a treasure trove of picks as well as their starting and backup point guards for the veteran two-way star, and they are banking on him being able to bring a higher level of play to their backcourt come playoff time. However, it is the back-to-back MVP who has to be the one that figures out how to get this team over the hump come playoff time, and it comes down to being able to adapt his game.

There’s been so much focus on Antetokounmpo’s three-point shooting in recent years, but far more important is his ability to develop a midrange game, especially a short-to-medium midrange arsenal for when teams pack the paint and cut off the rim in the postseason. Antetokounmpo doesn’t need to become a lethal three-point shooter, but being more versatile while going to the rim with the ability to pull-up from the short midrange (and bumping up his free throw percentage where he so often lives) would have a far greater impact on how teams have to defend him. He certainly needs more help and Holiday figures to be a significant improvement in the playoffs over Eric Bledsoe, but make no mistake, everything in Milwaukee comes back to Giannis.

New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett

It was a struggle for Barrett last year and, to be honest, the team New York has built around him this year isn’t exactly tailored to maximize his talents, but the Knicks desperately need someone on this team to pop and show some hope for the future. The Knicks are firmly among the few teams that don’t have actual playoff hopes this season, and as such, success will be defined by their young players showing improvement and promise for the future. Mitchell Robinson has been the diamond in the rough for the Knicks, but they need one of their recent top-10 picks to pop and Barrett seems like the best hope for that — as well as the obvious hope of seeing positives from this year’s top pick, Obi Toppin. Again, the lack of shooters on the floor will make life a bit difficult for Barrett, who wants to barrel his way to the rim, but hopefully his second season will allow him to show a bit more comfort and see his efficiency take a leap forward.

Orlando Magic: Markelle Fultz

Gone is D.J. Augustin, which means the Magic are fully turning to Markelle Fultz this season at point guard. Orlando still has playoff dreams, but with Jonathan Isaac out, one figures their defense will take a bit of a step back, although Steve Clifford always has his teams at a high level on that end. As such, they’ll need the offense to take a step forward to make up for some defensive slippage without their young star on that end, and Fultz figures to be the key to potentially unlocking more for the Orlando offense.

Fultz had a 2019-20, but figures to play more minutes and be even further involved in orchestrating the Magic’s offense. Clifford has raved about Fultz’s growth over the last year and has had positive things to say about his shooting mechanics starting to get back to where they were pre-shoulder injury. Anything you get from Fultz in that area is a bonus, but as he grew more comfortable last year, you could see the burst downhill that makes him so dangerous getting to the rim. The Magic are largely the same team they were last year, just without Isaac, and as such, internal development is needed to keep pace with other East teams that got better this offseason. Fultz represents the best chance for someone making a jump and it’d be terrific to see after all he’s been through early in his career.

Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons

The Sixers overhauled their roster this offseason, surrounding their two young stars with shooters like Danny Green and Seth Curry that should, in theory, fit much better than Josh Richardson and Al Horford. As a result, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are expected to have more space to operate and, the hope is, they can take a step forward to contend in the East. While Embiid is critical, I find Simmons to be the player with the most intrigue this season, and the one that can lift the Sixers to their fullest potential. We saw last playoffs where the ceiling is for this team with just Embiid, and with shooters abound now, the space for both he and Simmons to operate where they are at their best should be there.

Simmons’ shooting is always a topic of conversation, but much like Giannis, I think it’s more important for him to add some touch shots and counters from just outside of the restricted area than it is imperative that he become a three-point shooter. He is a force with the ball in his hands and his vision is spectacular, which will be highlighted with the players they’ve put around him now. He’ll have to deal with trade rumors as James Harden murmurs will persist until Houston makes a decision on moving their star, but the Sixers have finally built a team that makes some roster sense around their two stars and Simmons figures to be the one that benefits most from that.

Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam

If the Raptors are going to keep up with the rest of the top contenders in the East, Siakam is going to have find a way to shake off his playoff performance from a year ago. After a tremendous regular season, Siakam seemed to struggle with the increased attention he received as a primary option for Toronto in the playoffs. Given the loss of Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol — even though Aron Baynes and Alex Len are very solid pickups to bolster their frontcourt — getting production from Siakam to provide balance for their backcourt stars is going to be vital for Toronto’s chances come playoff time. I have few concerns about this team in the regular season, as they’ve still got plenty of depth, their leaders still in place, and a great coaching staff. However, everything at this point is about the postseason and trying to avoid a similar exit to last year, and Siakam will be the most important part of improving on last year’s efforts.

Boston sat on Siakam’s spin move on drives all series and he struggled to make the most of post-ups against shorter but stronger defenders. He’ll need to figure out where his spots are and how to get to them more efficiently this year to take that step forward as a primary option, but he’s shown the ability to grow each year and there’s no reason to think he won’t learn from his mistakes.

Washington Wizards: Russell Westbrook

The Wizards want to make the playoffs and need to make a statement to Bradley Beal that they are capable of building around him. It’s why they dealt John Wall and a pick to Houston for Russell Westbrook, and their new star point guard seems very happy to be in the nation’s capital. The Westbrook-Beal fit is an interesting one, but with the shooters they have (including Beal), there’s a pathway to a very good Russ season. That’s going to be needed, but I think the discourse around Westbrook has shifted too far towards questioning his efficacy as a player. Westbrook has always raised the floor of a team, and while you can certainly ask questions about whether he caps your ceiling at a certain level, the Wizards need a floor raiser right now. Russ is going to bring that, and while at this point he simply isn’t a shooter, the Wizards don’t need him to be. The question for Washington is going to be if they can do anything defensively, but on offense they figure to be a terror and Westbrook might see his perception among NBA fans shift dramatically because of it.

Next month will mark two years since Westside Boogie shared his debut album, Everyting’s For Sale. The project was a great display of the connection between love and social media along with its high and lows. Since he released the album, Westside Boogie has stayed rather quiet, only reappearing for an occasional guest appearance like with Reason on “Trapped In” and on the LVRN’s Home For The Holidays album for “12 Days of Bhristmas” with OMB Bloodbath. Now, the Compton rapper is ready to release his next project and he begins its rollout with a brand new single alongside Joey Badass.

The rappers join forces for the first-ever collaboration on “Outside.” The track finds them confined in the walls of their thoughts, walls that emulate the literal fixtures that much of the country has been enclosed in over the past few months due to the pandemic. Boogie leads the way with a verse that dives into the depths of mind while giving his label boss, Eminem, a shoutout on the song by interpolating his 2000 track, “The Way I Am.” Joey Badass comes through with his own guest verse, joining his 2020 list that includes Phony Ppl’s “On My Sh*t” and Pusha T’s “No Explanation.” Boogie returns with a third verse to bring the introspective track to a close.

Prior to the song’s release, Westside Boogie shared two promo videos that saw him get kidnap and forced into a studio to record music after such a long period without releasing something for his fans.

Listen to “Outside” above.

What a year, huh? 2020, to summarize a common sentiment, has not been awesome. That doesn’t mean it can’t end on a high note, though.

We’re in the midst of the holiday season, and if there are any music fans you’re still trying to get gifts for, let us give you a hand. We’ve gathered a heaping handful of gift ideas for you to look over and consider, and there are a ton of options here, too. Whether you’re looking for a headlining gift or an opening act to stuff in a stocking, you can’t go wrong with something listed below. We got everything from Megan Thee Stallion’s clothing line to clever music accessories to audio solutions, so pore over our picks below and maybe you’ll find something that can help give somebody’s 2020 a satisfying conclusion.

We’ve conveniently divided the list into groups of gifts that would be fitting for a certain kind of person, so let’s start with:

For the fan who wants to look fresh

Fashion Nova x Megan Thee Stallion

Price: varies

If you’re reading this, it’s possible you already have something from Megan Thee Stallion’s new collaboration with Fashion Nova, as the line moved $1.2 million of product in just its first 24 hours of availability. If you don’t (or if somebody in your life doesn’t), though, there are plenty of options that should please any of Meg’s hotties. The line has looks for all budgets, too: There are tops for under $30, or if you have a bit more to spend, there’s a white feather jacket that’s a real statement piece.

Get it here.

David Byrne-designed merch

Price: varies

Earlier this year, David Byrne’s online magazine “Reasons To Be Cheerful” launched a “multimedia editorial project” called “We Are Not Divided.” The project was described as “a six-week collaborative journalistic exploration of our capacity to overcome division,” and on top of that noble cause, it has spawned some top-rate merch. This is a rare opportunity to get a shirt (or mug, bottle, bag, notebook, etc.) designed by Byrne himself, and his illustrations would look great on your body (or holding your hot beverages, your cold beverages, your written thoughts, etc.).

Get it here.

Golf Wang clothes and accessories

Price: varies

Tyler The Creator’s Golf Wang clothing line has been a gift guide staple for about a decade now, and it has really evolved to become an entity that’s something beyond just Tyler. Vibrant new items are always being introduced, and as it stands now, the Golf online store has everything from masks to lighters to socks to sweaters to jewelry to underwear. Basically, if there’s a gap in your wardrobe, Golf Wang can probably fill it.

Get it here.

Noise For Now masks and t-shirts

Price: varies

Noise For Now describes itself as “a national initiative that enables performers to connect with and financially support grassroots organizations that work in the field of reproductive justice, including abortion access.” If that’s a cause you want to financially support, the initiative now offers a way to do it that that involves you getting a slick-looking article of clothing in return. There are shirts, bandanas, masks, and more emblazoned with the Noise For Now logo or pro-Roe vs. Wade messages, so the collection is worth a look if what Noise For Now does resonates with you.

Get it here.

For the fan who wants to hear everything

Beats Flex wireless earbuds

Price: $49.99

Not all great headphones need to cost an arm and a leg. These new Beats Flex wireless earbuds are great for home or travel, and feature 12 hours of battery life in four distinct colors: black, yellow, blue, and gray. We’re highlighting a couple higher-end headphone options below, but sometimes it’s important to have that set that can easily go anywhere with you, and that stay connected to each other in case you have the habit of misplacing small things.

Get it here.

Powerbeats Pro wireless earbuds

Price: $249.95

Yes, the price point is a little higher than the other Beats offering we are highlighting, but it’s also well worth the jump. In a year when outdoor exercise is one of the few treats we still are able to experience, these headphones make a hike or a run a fully immersive audio experience. There’s a reason why Beats is such a beloved brand in the headphone industry, and these have some great functionality, including 9 hours of battery life and sweat and water resistance. Plus, I just love that they wrap around my ear, helping me not to drop them as I jog around LA.

Get it here.

Sonos speakers and Sonos Radio HD

Price: varies

This was my first year using Sonos and I am hooked. There is a wide variety of products that the speaker giant offers, but the essentials are the One and the One SL, which you can strategically place in a living room and buy additionals for other rooms in the house. I also am a big fan of the Port, which allows me to incorporate my vinyl listening into the Sonos experience. But if there is ever a reason to make the Sonos jump, it’s the launch of Sonos Radio this year. Not only do you have voice-activated, pristine sounding speakers that you can just as easily operate from a phone app, but now Sonos connects to radio stations across the country as well as their own highly curated offerings, including exclusive channels from the likes of Thom Yorke, Third Man Record, Brittany Howard, and many more. And they just launched a subscription HD version of the service, too.

Get it here.

Skullcandy Evo Crusher headphones

Price: $199.99

If you want bass that will rock your world, you can’t go wrong with this line from Skullcandy. The adjustable, sensory bass on these bad boys is just what the doctor ordered for much of the modern music being created today, and its 40 hours of battery life will keep you listening for long beyond your workday and commute. But while the Evo Crushers are a well-rounded product sure to satisfy people of all listening habits, a wise person once said “it’s all about the bass.” With these headphones, that’s never been more true.

Get it here.

DuoTen IPX7 shower speaker

Price: $32.99

The aforementioned speakers and headphones are perfect for their intended use cases, but you might run into trouble if you try to use them while jamming out in the shower. Fortunately, speakers for that specific purpose have long been made, and this one here is one of the most-bought and highest-rated ones on Amazon. It’s only a hair over $30, too, so whether you’re looking to (very carefully) dance in the shower or want to enjoy a podcast or audiobook in the bath, here’s an inexpensive way to make that happen.

Get it here.

Oda speakers and performance membership

Price: $299 for speakers, $79 for membership

I got to take this for a spin earlier this year and Oda is doing something very cool in the home listening space. When more artists are exploring live streaming out of necessity, Oda is looking at this as a possibility beyond the current world circumstances. First, you get the Oda speakers, which look like warm wood panels that can sit unobtrusively anywhere in your house. Then, you get to listen to them come alive. Artists like Arca, Bradford Cox, Jessica Pratt, and Madlib perform special live sets designed specifically with Oda’s sound in mind, serving up tunes for engaged listening, rather than just a streaming playlist you can throw on in the background. This is a new experience for dedicated music fans that miss concerts, and one that should thrive even when live in-person shows return.

Get it here.

For the fan who makes their own music

Tash Sultana x Fender Signature Stratocaster guitar

Price: $1,099.99

Tash Sultana has established themself as one of indie’s most fascinating and creative guitarists of the past few years, so they are more than deserving of their own Signature Stratocaster from Fender. This gorgeous instrument has a transparent cherry-colored finish and is furnished with all-gold hardware, so even if you’re not a Sultana obsessive (yet), this would be a beautiful gift for an artist who has been very good this year. And hey, we’re even giving you the chance to win one of these right now.

Get it here.

Pick-a-Palooza DIY Guitar Pick Punch

Price: $25.95

The holiday season is also gift card season, so if you’re a guitarist, here’s a solution for all that plastic that becomes useless after you’ve spent the money: Turn it into guitar picks. This hole punch from Amazon will turn gift cards, old credit cards, or any sort of comparable bit of flat plastic into a perfectly sized and shaped pick. With nearly 3000 ratings that amount to a 4.5 out of 5 average score, the Amazon community has spoken, and they’re saying that this is worth the pick-up, especially since the kit comes with a handful of other goodies.

Get it here.

Fender x Brixton Limited Edition Headwear Collection

Price: varies

Style and functionality defined. This Fender x Brixton collab looks great on your head, so much so that you wouldn’t even notice the pick holders present inside of them. It’s only fitting that one of the most beloved names in headwear would match so perfectly with one of the most trusted names in guitars. Personally, I’m more of a ball cap or beanie guy, but if you want to sport a look closer to one of the Mumfords or Stevie Ray Vaughn, this new series has you covered.

Get it here.

Blue Yeti USB microphone

Price: $129.99

The Blue Yeti has become an essential microphone for anybody who wants a consumer-level but high-quality piece of equipment at a perfectly resonable price. From podcasts to music, this mic has been used for basically any audio-capturing purpose and has done the job well. Heck, just the other day, I was watching an NBA interview and I noticed that Kemba Walker was talking into one. I’ve personally had one of these since 2014, and all this time later, it has held up tremendously well and delivers results that never leave me wanting.

Get it here.

For the fan who wants to drift away

Vona and Sigur Rós’ “Sleep” and “Wake” CBD tinctures

Price: $99.95

I’m not going to lie, this year has been massively stressful for an abundance of reasons. Thankfully, there is CBD to help many of us keep anxiety in check and remain calm. Sigur Rós, ever the calming force in music, got into the CBD game this year with this duo of tinctures, made for both “Sleep” and “Wake.” It doesn’t take a genius to figure out when each of these are appropriate, but it’s important to remember that this product uses organic ingredients and sustainable materials. An important note: there is no THC in this! But now in many states in the US, we can find that elsewhere.

Get it here.

Extract Labs THC-free CBD

Price: varies

More CBD! This one doesn’t have a direct music tie-in, but CBD is honestly the most appropriate gift of 2020, and is great for a night of sitting by the record player with loved ones. I personally like the 1:1 CBD and CBG Broad Spectrum Tincture, and it makes me especially happy to know that there are no pesticides, herbicides, solvents, or chemical fertilizers used.

Get it here.

Harmony wine by Boyz II Men

Price: varies

The music of Boyz II Men has soundtracked a romantic evening or two in its day, an essential component of which is some wine. Now, you can get both of those things from the same source, as the group has their own wine brand, the appropriately named Harmony. Whether you want a Bordeaux Rose, Bordeaux Red, or Bordeaux White, you’re in for one sweet day.

Get it here.

Igloo Grateful Dead coolers

Price: varies

Hopefully, we’re just a few months away from throwing some drinks and snacks in a cooler and getting together with friends for a concert, a barbecue, or any of the other social endeavors that we’ve sorely missed this year. And, when we are back to such activities, this collaboration from cooler icon Igloo and music icon The Grateful Dead is a must-have. Available as both traditional Igloo coolers and backpacks, the series features the legendary Dead artwork, tie-dyed aesthetic, and, of course, great functionality to ensure that food and beverages remain as icy cool as they started. I can feel summer coming just by looking at them.

Get it here.

For everybody else

Custom Cameo video

Price: varies

Good luck approaching a celebrity in the street these days, or even seeing one. There is still one way to interact with some big names, though, and that’s by getting them to film a custom video message for you or a loved one on Cameo. The platform has a surprisingly large roster of musicians that includes Akon, Redman, Arlo Guthrie, Kenny G, and a number of others.

Get it here.

Vinyl records

Price: varies

All year, we have been keeping track of the best vinyl releases in a monthly column, so if you have a friend with a turntable and a collection that welcomes additions, our archives are a great place to start your hunt. We’ve highlighted new releases, reissues, and special editions, and there have been items from all over the musical spectrum. In January, for example, we included It’s Such A Good Feeling: The Best Of Mister Rogers and some Joy Division live albums. No matter who you’re shopping for, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something that will suit their tastes.

Get started here.

Gang Of Four 77-81 box set

Price: $131.24

If you want a more direct vinyl recommendation, here’s one: This box set features Gang Of Four’s early work along with some wonderful box-set-y goodies. The official description of the collection really speaks for itself, so I’ll let it: “The box set contains Entertainment! and Solid Gold (both remastered from the original analog tapes), an exclusive singles LP, and an exclusive double LP of the never officially released Live At American Indian Center 1980. Additionally, the package includes two new badges, a C90 cassette tape compiling 26 never-before-issued outtakes, rarities and studio demos from Entertainment! and Solid Gold, and an epic 100-page, full-color handbound book.”

Get it here.

Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs

Price: $23.98

After a year pretty much without concerts, there’s finally a shred of hope for the future of live entertainment. There has been talk about a coronavirus vaccine in the not-so-distant future, so when concerts eventually come back, you can make sure the concertgoer in your life is ready with high-quality earplugs. Even beyond live music, hearing protection is important, so these would be great to wear while mowing the lawn, working with power tools, babysitting, or doing anything else that could potentially damage your hearing in the long run. (Just kidding about babysitting, please be an attentive caregiver if put in that position.)

Get it here.

Chasin’ The Bird: Charlie Parker In California graphic novel

Price: $99.99

Charlie Parker made some of the most beautiful jazz the world has ever known, and this graphic novel gives his story the visual accompaniment it deserves. The publisher’s statement about the book notes, “The graphic novel explores Bird’s relationship with the characters and events he encountered during his time in L.A. including recording some of his signature songs with Dial Record founder Ross Russell, a brief but influential stay at the home of famed jazz photographer William Claxton, a party for the ages at the ranch home of artist Jirayr Zorthian, and others who found themselves in the orbit of the jazz genius.”

Get it here.

Bring Music Home coffee table book

Price: $75

In a time when concert venues have never been more missed, this new book from Tito’s and Yeti, Bring Music Home, has never been more appropriate or welcomed. It features images of and words about storied performance spaces like The Filmore and Baby’s All Right, all in 400 pages that has exclusive photos and stories. On top of the quality of the product, a portion of proceeds go to benefit The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), so the books looks good and you can feel good about having bought it.

Get it here.

Some of the products listed here were sent to Uproxx as samples.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

In, “Ground’s Melody,” a new two-part series of videos spinning out of his partnership with Remy Martin, trap-soul star 6lack explains how his sound is influenced by his hometown, Atlanta, and his adopted headquarters, Los Angeles. While he credits Atlanta’s history, culture, and people with giving him his start, he calls LA “key to the music industry,” and breaks down how the unique atmosphere attracts worldwide talent to the famed city, which is more than the glitz, glamour, and parties.

Although 6lack hasn’t released much solo music this year, he’s been a constant presence on releases from other artists while working on the followup to East Atlanta Love Letter. He kicked off the year with a guest appearance on K Camp’s “Black Men Don’t Cheat,” then connected with fellow Atlantan Deante’ Hitchcock on the latter’s breakout debut album, Better. 6lack then celebrated his birthday with 6pc Hot, an EP featuring the tracks “ATL Freestyle,” “Float,” and “Know My Rights” with Lil Baby. His run of features included contributions to Tinashe’s “Touch & Go,” Gorillaz’s “Pink Phantom,” Dej Loaf’s Sell Sole II Melii’s “You Ain’t Worth It,” and collaborations with both crews that have been instrumental to his rise. On Spillage Village’s Spilligion album, he helped “Baptize” listeners, then on LVRN’s Home For The Holidays, he covered James Brown’s “Santa Claus, Go Straight To The Ghetto.” He’s had a busy year and he still has a third album on the way. Keep your eyes peeled.

In case you haven’t heard, Taylor Swift released a new album, Evermore, today. She announced it yesterday, and at that time, the most talked-about track was “‘Tis The Damn Season.” Now that the album is out, though, the attention has shifted to the Haim collaboration “No Body, No Crime.” This is partially because the song led to comparisons to a classic from The Chicks (fka Dixie Chicks), “Goodbye Earl,” which is similar in that it’s also a story-driven country song about murder. Now, The Chicks themselves have given the song their approval.

Last night, the group retweeted a couple of tweets drawing a connection between them and the song. One read, “‘no body, no crime’ has major @thechicks energy & i looooove it Two hearts @taylorswift13 @HAIMtheband,” and the other read, “no body, no crime gives me goodbye earl vibes in the best way @taylorswift13 @thechicks @taylornation13.” This morning, they offered a response of their own, writing, “Sisters before misters,” followed by a heart emoji and tags for Swift and Haim.

In a YouTube live chat on the “Willow” video, Swift wrote of “No Body, No Crime,” “The Haim sisters have been my best friends for years and we’ve played together so many times but this is the first time we’ve done a song together. […] I wrote ‘No body, no crime’ by myself. It was inspired by my obsession with true crime podcasts/documentaries and I used one of my best friends’ names as the main character.”

Evermore is out now via Republic. Get it here.

A good bottle of Irish whiskey never has to break the bank. The triple distilled tipple from the Emerald Isle skews very affordable. That’s not to say there aren’t expensive Irish whiskeys on the shelf. But the fact that you can find very tasty Irish whiskey without laying out a ton of cash is a feature of the style.

As with all whiskey (and aged spirits), there are distinct tells between the younger, cheaper stuff and the older, more expensive bottles. But when it comes to Irish whiskey, that gap grows a little narrower. Whereas young Irish whiskeys are fruity, floral, grainy, and very light, the older expressions are often nuttier (with hints of leather and oak), while still managing to maintain much of that lightness.

To help break down the intrinsic differences between the cheap stuff and the spendier expressions, we thought we’d do a blind tasting. We selected five cheap Irish whiskeys in the $16 to $30 range and three in the $70 to $90 range. At least that’s what my tasting partner who set this experiment up did. He told me it was “four cheap bottles and four expensive ones” like we’d done before, as a trick. It worked.

Read on to see how I got fooled and maybe one of these picks piques your interest for a little holiday sipping!

Part I: The Blind Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

This is very fruity and floral with a clean graininess. It’s thin but still carries a nice dose of vanilla and butter on bread. It’s warm on the end but not necessarily spicy.

Bottom Line:

This tastes like a mixer. Likely Jameson or Bushmills. I’m calling it cheap.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

This is a dram! Orange oils mingle with dry straw, dark berries, Bananas Foster, creamy vanilla, and a nice spice. That spice is interesting — it leads towards a bitterness that’s almost like… coffee cut with egg nog. That could just be that I’ve been mainlining egg nog recently, but the coffee/creamy/spicy matrix is there with a hint of old wood.

Bottom Line:

You can see from the color of this that it’s well-aged and spendy. The deep taste and svelte texture confirm as much.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

This is honey-sweet. There are clear signs of grain, citrus, and … pear? It’s really sweet and malty with a slight warmth on the very end.

Bottom Line:

This is light, super easy to drink, and likely very affordable.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Not as sweet as the last dram but still very fruity, grainy, apple-y, and citrus-y. There’s a bit more of a floral edge alongside a slight nuttiness far in the background. The end is a bit like a sweet spicy baked apple next to dried flowers.

Bottom Line:

This isn’t bold enough to be that old. It’s still thin-ish but that nutty-floral note reminds me of Jameson, so I’m going cheap.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Sweet orchard fruits meet grains, vanilla, toffee, and some butter on crusty bread. It’s sweet but not cloyingly so. There’s a candied orange feel, which is nice.

Bottom Line:

This is Tullamore D.E.W. I’d recognize it anywhere. It’s cheap but tasty.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Damn fine from the top with leathery oak next to dark cherries, Christmas spices, and rich toffee. The fruit, vanilla, spice, and Christmas cake aspects all marry wonderfully.

Bottom Line:

This is really, really easy to drink with a lot of boldness. I’m going expensive.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

This is fruity, nutty, oaky, and full of mild spiciness. The taste takes a turn into toasted coconut territory with a hint of dark chocolate, which is appealing. It’s super velvety with a long, warming finish that touches on that old oak vividly.

Bottom Line:

This is nice, expensive, and a damn fine dram.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Fresh ginger spice meets savory herbs next to a mix of banana, buttered toast dusted with sugar and cinnamon, and sharper spices. There’s a woodiness to the sip that lasts as it fades through the fruit, creamy butter, and spice.

Bottom Line:

This is too unique not to be something special. I’m going with expensive.

Part 2: The Answers

Bushmills White Label

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $16

The Whiskey:

Northern Ireland’s Bushmills is a classic. Their entry point whiskey is a blend of triple distilled malted barley and grain whiskeys that are aged in ex-bourbon until ready for blending, proofing, and bottling.

Redbreast 15

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $80

The Whiskey:

This whiskey from Irish Distillers down in County Cork’s Midleton Distillery is a bit of a masterpiece. The juice is a single pot still whiskey which has a mash bill of unmalted and malted barley. The hot whiskey is then aged in a combination of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks for 15 years before blending, proofing, and bottling. The end product is unfiltered, allowing the barrels to really shine through in the sip.

Powers Gold Label

ABV: 43.2%
Average Price: $29

The Whiskey:

This is another great entry-point Irish whiskey — both to the style and Powers’ wider range of expressions. The juice is a blend of triple distilled grain and malt whiskeys that are proofed and bottled down at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork.

Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $26

The Whiskey:

Jameson has been trading barrels with craft breweries down in County Cork for decades. Over the last few years, they’ve been taking those barrels back to age their whiskey in them, creating the Caskmates line. This expression is aged like a regular Jameson and then spends some additional time in old IPA barrels to add a little more depth to the whiskey.

Tullamore D.E.W.

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $19

The Whiskey:

Tullamore D.E.W. is an entry-point expression that blends single malt, single grain, and single pot still whiskeys that are aged in both ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks. The end result is one of the easiest drinking Irish whiskeys on the market.

Powers John’s Lane

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $70

The Whiskey:

This 12-year-old whiskey is made from a single pot still mash bill (unmalted and malted barley) that’s aged mostly in ex-bourbon barrels. The age of this whiskey helps it shine brightly as a big step up from Powers’ already very drinkable Gold Label.

Jameson Black Barrel

ABV: 40%
Average Price: $30

The Whiskey:

This beloved bottle from Jameson is a mix of single grain and single pot still whiskeys that are aged in ex-sherry and ex-bourbon for anywhere from eight to 16 years. The juice is then transferred to a double charred ex-bourbon cask for a final rest before bottling.

Method & Madness Singel Pot Still

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $90

The Whiskey:

This line from the “experimental” division of Midleton Distillery is a hell of a whiskey. The juice is single grain and single pot whiskeys that are aged in ex-sherry and ex-bourbon. Then the juice is married and moved into Fresh chestnut casks for a final maturation spell. The result is as interesting as it is tasty.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

Well, I was sort of tricked into thinking a Jameson was an expensive whiskey. I look at it this way: Jameson Black Barrel is actually good. It has serious depth, dialed-in flavors and textures, and tastes like it’s got some age under it. It’s crazy that it’s only $30 a bottle. You could stand that up to any $50 or $60 bourbon and not know it’s half the price. Still… I got that one wrong.

Otherwise, if I had to rank these by which I want to drink again immediately, it’d go something like this:

8. Jameson Caskmates IPA Editon
7. Bushmills White Label
6. Power’s Gold Label
5. Tullamore D.E.W.
4. Method & Madness Chestnut Cask
3. Powers John’s Lane
2. Jameson Black Barrel (you just can’t help but notice that price)
1. Redbreast 15

That Jameson IPA just doesn’t do it for me. It’s not that there’s anything off-putting about it, it just not my vibe. That Redbreast 15, on the other hand, is going to be empty well before 2021 rolls around.

When Hillary Clinton conceded the presidential election to Donald Trump in 2016, she called to congratulate him on his win, and “offered to work with him on behalf of our country. I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans.” Trump took a — let’s say — different route in conceding (“conceding”) to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Trump is desperately clinging to the belief that he will remain president for the next four years by refusing to officially acknowledge that Biden won the election. It’s a real “if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist” strategy, something something fraud. But on Friday morning, he tweeted, “Now that the Biden Administration will be a scandal plagued mess for years to come, it is much easier for the Supreme Court of the United States to follow the Constitution and do what everybody knows has to be done. They must show great Courage & Wisdom. Save the USA!!!” It’s not your typical concession, what with the pleading for the Supreme Court to step in and somehow keep him in the White House, but hey, at least he finally called it “the Biden Administration.” He wasn’t done, however. He never is.

“The Swine Flu (H1N1), and the attempt for a vaccine by the Obama Administration, with Joe Biden in charge, was a complete and total disaster. Now they want to come in and take over one of the ‘greatest and fastest medical miracles in modern day history.’ I don’t think so!” he tweeted, while also calling the Food and Drug Administration a “big, old, slow turtle.” Then came a tweet that’s depressing in context, and hilarious out of context (this is true for the Trump administration, come to think of it). He’s not okay (I promise).

Someone’s feeling emo(tional) today. Must be the new Taylor Swift album.