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Perhaps the most fascinating subplot of the 2020 NBA Finals, outside of the fact that it is being played in Disney World amid a global pandemic, is that it pits LeBron James against the Miami Heat, the organization he left in 2014 to re-join the Cleveland Cavaliers. A whole lot of reporting has been done about his departure from South Beach, which did not seem to happen under the friendliest of circumstances between a player who wanted to win “not five, not six, not seven” rings with the organization, and a franchise that has never taken falling shot on anything particularly well.

Now, the Heat have a chance to show LeBron the error of his ways, while James gets the opportunity to take down Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra, and co. on basketball’s biggest stage. Still, as James tells it, there’s no added motivation of any sort to beat the franchise for which he once played.

“Absolutely not,” James said. “There’s no extra meaning to winning a championship, no matter who you’re playing against. It’s already hard enough to even reach the Finals.”

In fact, James made it a point to praise both Riley and Spoelstra, lauding the former for his contributions to the game of basketball over the course of his decades-long career and saying that the latter has never gotten the respect he deserves for being one of the best coaches in the sport.

The Heat have long been praised as being one of the best organizations in basketball, which is where the whole “Heat culture” thing has come from over the years. Now, one person who played perhaps the best basketball of their illustrious career while they were in that system has the opportunity to take them down with a Larry O’Brien trophy on the line.

Michaela Coel (creator, writer, and star of HBO’s I May Destroy You) and Donald Glover (creator, writer, and star of FX’s Atlanta) had a conversation for GQ, and it was as expansive and insightful as you’d expect it the piece to be. Amid other topics of discussion, Glover revealed that he’s not necessarily done with Childish Gambino yet, and the two discussed their various brainchildren with Coel revealing that, as far as literal children go, she’s not incredibly attached to the idea but is freezing her eggs. The conversation included Donald raving about IMDY, but he hasn’t seen that finale yet, so a followup discussion might be necessary, public or otherwise.

In the meantime, the two discussed (among subjects as wide ranging as “WAP” and Elon Musk taking over our brains) the urge that many people have to obsess over social media approval. Michaela mentioned that time when she first revealed (a few years ago while giving a keynote address) that she turned a Netflix offer, and she actually didn’t follow up to see if people tweeted about it. Glover was all in on that vibe and referenced how Nina Simone probably wouldn’t dig Twitter:

“That’s awesome. Nina Simone did her thing and then she went home. She wasn’t on Twitter checking, “Do people like this sh*t?” I try really hard not to know what people are saying about me. That’s not to say that I’m impervious, because I definitely do check. It’s so easy to get caught in that loop. I feel like a lot of people I see are getting caught in the narrative of who they are. And I’m like, “Man, you’re not anybody. Stop!”

From there, Michaela likened Twitter to a “monster,” but she added that this is a highly relative term, as in “just like all monsters, you can see it either as this huge monstrous thing or this little baby that’s having teething problems.” She said that while writing IMDY, she had to get the heck off Twitter for awhile because it wasn’t contributing to the clarity of her narrative. Before this declaration, GQ quotes Donald as remarking, “Naming that bar Ego Death [in I May Destroy You]? I was like, ‘Yo, this sh*t is f*cking deep. This is a f*cking deep dive, man.’” Agreed. You can read the full feature here.

In closing, I’d like to mention that Michaela happened to tell us that she wouldn’t mind if her Arabella character popped up in Atlanta one day. And given that Atlanta‘s third and fourth seasons are apparently written and ready to film whenever it’s safe to do so, might we suggest a slight revision for an Arabella cameo? Surely, Glover can make it happen. Even if Arabella’s only walking by in that pink wig and telltale sweater or dancing to The Prodigy, it’d be an unforgettable crossover.

(Via GQ)

This week, Sharon Van Etten partnered with the organizations Sounds Of Saving and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in order to raise awareness for National Suicide Prevention Month, which has taken place throughout September. Along with touching on some of her own past experiences, Van Etten shared a cover of Nine Inch Nails‘ 1994 track “Hurt.”

In a Q&A ahead of the cover, Van Etten said she chose to cover the track because it helped her understand her own emotions during dark times in her life:

“Sometimes you don’t have the words for what you’re going through. I can pull up a song that I’ve listened to for the last ten years and sometimes it gives you words for what you’re going through but it also takes you outside of your own experience, which I think can help slow down the darker thoughts. […] It’s hard for anyone to ask for help. But when you need it you have to learn how to do it even when its hard. In my life, when I’ve accepted help are the times when I have overcome it. I’ve found the road, ya know? It was like someone opened the gate to a road that I knew was a better road. Even if it’s a different road. At least it’s moving. And you’re moving forward to something else then this dark place alone. Wouldn’t you rather go down the road with someone you care about that wants to help you? Sometimes it does take an outside perspective for you to understand yourself better.”

Listen to Sharon Van Etten cover “Hurt” above.

Say the words “track five” to a Taylor Swift fan (me) and watch them (still me) spontaneously begin crying (I’m sobbing).

The Grammy-winning songwriter tends to put her most honest and emotionally destructive songs in the fifth slot on her albums — there’s the cathartic diary entry “The Archer” on Lover, the f*ck-off-John-Mayer ballad “Dear John” on Speak Now, and “All Too Well,” not only the best song on Red, but the best song in Swift’s discography.

The fan-favorite anthem, which Swift called the “hardest [song] to write on the album,” is supposedly about actor Jake Gyllenhaal, who she briefly dated in 2010. As “All Too Well” builds to its powerfully cathartic bridge, Swift sings, “Photo album on the counter, your cheeks were turning red / You used to be a little kid with glasses in a twin sized bed.”

Speaking of little kids with glasses…

Swifties are flooding Gyllenhaal’s Instagram comments with “All Too Well lyrics. “u posted this pic and thought that the swifties would do nothing???? mistake,” one follower wrote, while West Side Story actress Rachel Zegler added, “I’ll be honest mate you set yourself up for this one.” As for the actual message of Jake’s post:

I’ve worn my glasses ever since I parted my hair meticulously with gel (see above), which is why NEW EYES has always been near and dear to my heart. Since 1932, @neweyes_ has provided eyeglasses to people who needed them most. I’m thrilled that they’ve partnered with @theinspireprojectus to create Project Human: Changing the Way We See the World, a speaker series coming to schools and remote learners this fall. Project Human is designed to spark conversations focusing on unity and equality. It’s an opportunity for students to interact with public figures and do what they do best: Keep ‘em on their toes!

If Mr. Music is wearing a scarf in his next throwback photo, you’ll know he’s onto us.

Yesterday, Rex Orange County fans didn’t have much to look forward to in terms of official announcements. Oh, how things can change in a day.

Last night, Rex made his The Late Show debut with a simple remote performance of “Always,” which featured just him and a piano in a room. After that, he announced a pair of new project, both of which are arriving tomorrow at noon ET: A live EP and a documentary.

The EP, Live At Radio City Music Hall, features nine tracks, taken from a pair of performances Rex gave at the storied venue on February 7 and 8 earlier this year. Meanwhile, Rex teased the documentary, Funny How Things Go From One Thing To Another, with a brief teaser. There’s no word yet on how long the doc will be, but it looks like it will follow Rex on his latest tour, as it features concert clips as well as behind-the-scenes footage from his travels.

Watch Rex Orange County perform “Always” above, and check out the Live At Radio City Music Hall art and tracklist below.

1. “10/10”
2. “Never Enough”
3. “Pluto Projector”
4. “Untitled”
5. “New York State Of Mind”
6. “Corduroy Dreams”
7. “Sunflower”
8. “Best Friend”
9. “Always”

Live At Radio City Music Hall is out 9/30 via Sony. Pre-order it here.

While promoting his new Amazon series Utopia, Rainn Wilson revealed his favorite “Dwight moment” on The Office while discussing the possibility of doing a reunion special that would bring the cast of the beloved NBC sitcom back together.

According to Collider, Wilson didn’t even hesitate when it came time to choose just one of the several classic moments from his Dwight Schrute character during The Office‘s nine season run:

“I really love the moment in the episode called “Money,” where he’s heartbroken and he’s taken Jim and Pam to his bed and breakfast. There’s a moment when he’s really emotional and Jim gives him some words of kindness and empathy, and then he doesn’t notice it but Jim has left. He reaches out and Jim’s not there and he looks around. To me, that moment perfectly encapsulated what we did on The Office. It’s a Chekhovian, priceless little human misconnection that was really special.”

As for his thoughts on a highly-demanded The Office reunion, Wilson was just as eager to not rule anything out. “Hopefully, one day,” he said. “The fans would really love it. That’s the thing that counts the most. The fans would really love to see those characters again and have an experience with them.”

With the show making the jump to Peacock after dominating Netflix as the streaming service’s most-watched series, fans of The Office have been hoping that placing the show back under NBC’s umbrella could finally result in more time with their favorite characters. The demand for a reunion/reboot only intensified even further after the cast of Parks and Recreation got together for a quarantine special back in May, which forced The Office creator Greg Daniels to say he’s not ruling anything out. However, he cautioned fans to lower their expectations:

“I think people were assuming that an Office reboot would [involve] … getting the entire cast back together and just continuing where we left off. We’re probably not going to get every single character back, they’re all doing all these cool things. […] I don’t think people’s expectations of getting back in the saddle and doing more episodes of the same show was going to be realistic.”

While a reunion is probably not happening anytime soon, The Office fans have something to look forward to when the show moves to Peacock in January 2021. Episodes will now air with “unreleased contest” that never made it to broadcast, which should be an interesting addition for the hordes of The Office completists out there.

(Via Collider)

Gabriel Garzón-Montano is days ahead from the release of his sophomore record Agüita. He’s already flexed his varied songwriting through the singles “Bloom,” “Someone,” and the album’s title track. Offering a final preview of the record before it debuts, Montano shared the Reggaeton-style single “Muñeca.”

About “Muñeca,” Montano said he was inspired by J Balvin’s rack “Reggaeton” while brainstorming the single’s instrumentals:

“The hook references the great Brazilian futbolista Pele, equating my game to his. My parallel to the American tradition of referencing Jordan in rap songs. The reference production and mix for this song was J Balvin’s ‘Reggaeton’ where he pays homage to the genre’s greats Tego Calderon and Daddy Yankee. Arun [the album’s engineer] and I really went in matching frequencies and doing research on plugins used and compression techniques for low end.”

In a recent interview with Uproxx ahead of the single’s release, Montano said he’s wary of the industry trying to mold him into an artist that he’s not: “On a fundamental level, it scares me. And then I get just sidelined with that every time. I’m supposed to sing about what matters to heart, but at your convenience? Do you feel safe enough to listen to my emotions? Until you do something so shocking and unimaginable, that it feels like the only way to break that is through such intense planning and preparations that there are moments of delight and perversion; muscular and virtuosic control of aesthetic.”

Listen to “Muñeca” above.

Agüita is out 10/2 via Jagjaguwar. Pre-order it here.

American single malt whiskey is one of the most exciting sectors of the entire whiskey-sphere at the moment. The movement is being spearheaded by small craft distilleries around the country, with a desire to make something that isn’t just more bourbon. I mean… we love bourbon but even we need some variety in our drinking diets.

In general, American single malt doesn’t have quite as strict rules as, say, Scottish single malts. Still, there’s a throughline in the booze whether it’s made up in Seattle or down in Texas. Malted barley is still the main grain in use. Whether that’s peated or ale barley is up to the distiller in charge. Beyond that, barreling, aging length, and even proof are up for grabs.

There’s a lot of variation, which leads to a lot of great drams. This, in turn, leads to a lot of drinkers finding new expressions that expand their palates.

The eight bottles below represent new(ish) single malt bottles that have been either released this year or within the last few years. These are the bottles we think are worth tracking down, especially if you’re already a Scotch single malt fan (or a bourbon fan!) who’s looking for something new.

Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whisky

ABV: 46%
Distillery: Virginia Distillery Co., Lovingston, VA
Average Price: $75

The Whisky:

Virginia Distillery is one of those craft distilleries you’re going to be hearing more and more about in the coming years. Their Courage & Conviction is the second in a series of single malts the distillery plans to release in this line. This expression is a single malt blend of 100 percent malted barley distillate that’s aged in ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-Cuvée wine casks. The blend is a split of 50 percent from the bourbon cask and an equal measure from each the sherry and Cuvée casks.

This 2020 release is about to have some company as well. Next year, the distillery plans on releasing a single malt that represents each of those three casks individually.

Tasting Notes:

You’re greeted with a clear sweetness that edges from bourbon caramel towards buttery toffee and malts. The palate follows suit and adds in notes of tart raspberry next to hints of vanilla and oaky spice. The addition of a drop of water brings about a dark chocolate powder in both texture and taste. The sip fades evenly back through the warm spice, bright berry, and toffee sweetness.

Bottom Line:

This makes for a fine sipper with a little ice or water. I really dig it in a highball with soft mineral water. It also has a solid bottle design with a heavy cork and nice tin, which always makes for a classic gift.

Lineage Texas Single Malt Whisky

ABV: 47%
Distillery: Balcones Distilling, Waco, TX
Average Price: $35

The Whisky:

Balcones’ Lineage has quickly become a classic from the Texas distillery. Lineage is a marriage of two distillates — one made with Scottish malted barley and one made with Texas-grown malted barley — that is then aged in new and used American oak.

The result is a prime example of the grain-to-glass craftsmanship that Balcones is heralded for.

Tasting Notes:

This is a Balcones’ classic for a reason. Notes of cream soda sit next to overripe stone fruit, a sourdough tang, and a hint of spicy apple cider. The sip then leans into its oak as a honeyed sweetness arrives with a light touch of autumnal nuts and earthiness. That spicy apple cider comes back on the end as mild black tea bitterness kicks up on the slow fade.

Bottom Line:

The key to what makes Balcones so successful is its pricepoints. A bottle this complex and enjoyable should cost twice as much. That low price means I don’t have a problem using this as a cocktail base. But you can easily drink this as a sipper with a few rocks.

Westward American Single Malt Whiskey

ABV: 45%
Distillery: Westward Whiskey, Portland, OR
Average Price: $80

The Whiskey:

Portland’s Westward Whiskey has its roots in Pacific Northwest craft brewing culture (similar to most craft distilleries in the PNW). This juice is emblematic of how important the first step of whiskey — the fermented mash that is, basically, beer — is to the whiskey-making process. And while Westward’s Stout Cask Finish was getting all the love this year, just last year this expression won Double Gold in San Francisco.

It’s a hell of a dram is what we’re saying.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a clear malty base with a nice, bright fruitiness. Hints of vanilla sit next to wet brown sugar as a rush of Christmas spices arrive with a flourish of age via pipe tobacco. A little water brings about a cacao underbelly with a note of worn leather.

Bottom Line:

This is another easy sipper with a little water or ice. It’s on the spendier side, so take your time enjoying the depth.

Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey, Release 031

ABV: 50%
Distillery: Copperworks Distilling Co., Seattle, WA
Average Price: $60

The Whiskey:

Sticking with that PNW craft brewing culture, Copperworks was also founded by former brewers looking to make great spirits. This expression — released last month — is the 31st iteration of their award-winning single malt. The juice is a blend of seven distinct casks of single malt. The most important cask being the “Full Pint” cask which was made with local Skagit Valley barley. The remaining six casks were all aged a minimum of 32 months and all in new American oak.

Tasting Notes (from the distillery):

“The release offers aromas of browned butter, orange cream, and grapefruit peel followed by ripe blackberry and spice. Flavors of honeydew, cut hay, Thai basil, and melon rind lead to a finish of blackberry, tomato vine, fruit, and a slight, sweet brininess.”

Bottom Line:

I have yet to try this brand-new release. But if the last few Copperwork’s releases I’ve enjoyed are any indication, this will be a robust sipping whiskey over a nice glass full of rocks.

Westland Black Raven Cask Exchange Single Malt Whiskey

ABV: 50%
Distillery: Westland Distillery, Seattle, WA
Average Price: $106

The Whiskey:

Seattle’s Westland takes the “beer” aspect of whiskey and raises the stakes. In this case, used Westland whiskey casks are sent out Black Raven Brewing Co. where they age stout and kriek beers. Then, the casks are sent back to Westland where they’re filled again with whiskey and stored on the Washington coast for up to 80 months.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a mingling of fresh, savory herbs next to sharp ginger cut with sugar and a roasted nut undertow. Brandied cherries covered in dark chocolate arrive on the palate with a burst as the ginger becomes more of a ginger cake full of dark spices. A little water brings a slight and welcome bitterness as the sip slowly fades out through all the cherry, chocolate, and spice.

Bottom Line:

I was lucky enough to try this last year when it dropped and I still find myself thinking about it randomly. There were only 952 bottles released, so it’s not getting cheaper. It’s a great example of how complex yet enjoyable a sipping whiskey can be. Just don’t forget to open it up with some water or a single rock.

Boulder Spirits American Single Malt Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond

ABV: 50%
Distillery: Vapor Distillery, Boulder, CO
Average Price: $68

The Whiskey:

This Colorado whiskey is a fascinating experiment — asking what a single malt that’s treated like a bottled-in-bond bourbon might taste like. The juice is made from 100 percent malted barley. Then is spends four years in a bonded warehouse aging in new American oak. It’s then bottled at 50 percent ABV per B-i-B regulations.

Tasting Notes (from the distillery):

“A black cherry aroma is followed by a nice spicy and creamy palate. Soft and mellow, the cherry returns in the finish along with subtle hints of licorice. ‘As close to a good Scotch as we dare claim.’”

Bottom Line:

I was a big fan of Boulder’s Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon the last time I had a dram — though, I’d treat it more as a mixer. Their American Single Malt Port Cask Finish is also a heavy-hitter with great depth and good sipability.

If those drams are any indication, this award-winning expression should make a great addition to any home bar shelf.

Stranahan’s Sherry Cask

ABV: 47%
Distillery: Stranahan’s Distillery, Denver, CO
Average Price: $90

The Whiskey:

Sticking with the Rocky Mountain State, Stranahan’s Sherry Cask has become a much sought after bottle. The four-year-old single malt is transferred to 500-liter sherry barrels that have held Andalucian sherry for 40 long years. That depth of flavor is imparted in this single malt down to the core as it finishes in that old oak.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a fresh cut straw nature that draws you into a matrix of fresh cherries and orchard fruits next to roasted almonds and a mild nose of old saddle leather. The cherries and nuts really dominate the palate as an almost savory, figgy fruitiness arrive next to a hint of fresh honey. A little water really steers this sip away from getting oversweet, as a chili pepper spice emerges next to creamy caramel.

Bottom Line:

This is a good gift bottle. It’s complex, sippable, and within an attainable price range. Try it over a couple of rocks to help it really open up, but don’t overdo it with the water.

The Notch Nantucket Single Malt Whisky Aged 15 Years

ABV: 48%
Distillery: Triple Eight Distillery, Nantucket, MA
Average Price: $500

The Whisky:

The Notch is continually named the “best” American single malt in the world, including at this year’s World Whisky Awards. Like many of the single malts on this list, this hinges on the quality of the beer brewed as the base. They use the much-coveted Maris Otter barley that’s processed on-site at the brewery before being sent to the distillery to start this whisky. The hot juice is then barreled and stored next to the sea. This expression is a blend of whiskies aged in former sherry barrels, Cognac barrels, wine casks, and sauternes barrels (a sweet French wine).

Tasting Notes:

The oak comes through up top and is supported by dried red berries, dried tobacco, worn leather, creamed vanilla, and a hint of dark spice. The sip leans into aged notes and oak as the spice wanes and a musty nature takes over with an old hay edge. The warmth of the dram is drawn back and edges more into the peppery spice as the fruit and tobacco help the sip fade slowly away.

Bottom Line:

Having tried this at a tasting I can safely say: try this one (probably at a tasting). It’s really good. It’s the ultimate sipper that’ll help you “get” what good single malt is. If you can afford it, buy two — one as an investment bottle.

Outside of The xx, the group member who has most prominently pursued a solo career has been Jamie xx. He has a couple of albums under his belt over the past decade, and based on “Idontknow,” the single he released earlier this year, it looks like he has another on the way. Earlier this year, Romy Madley Croft revealed she had a solo album of her own (as just Romy) on the way.

Now she has shared her first taste of it with her new single, “Lifetime.” Although Romy is a guitarist by trade, her single’s sound is more in line with the danceable electronic-leaning music of recent The xx albums. That makes sense, considering Jamie xx is among the song’s co-producers.

Rome wrote of the song on Twitter:

“This song was written and recorded in lockdown. I’ve been thinking a lot about how short life is and how quickly things can change… my intention with this song is to celebrate life, togetherness, to appreciate the moment before it’s gone. I think subconsciously the upbeat energy of the song is a reaction to the stillness and anxiety I was feeling in lockdown.

I was missing the pace of the outside world, spontaneous moments, the euphoria of dance floors, of love and connections with my friends and family. I realised when everything was stripped back, simple moments of togetherness, meant the most to me. I’ve always loved club classics that unite a room, big emotional dance songs, that you can sing along to as well. I’m excited to have the opportunity to show my love for dance music with Lifetime.

I loved working with a very talented and inspiring group of people on this song, thank you so much to my collaborators Fred again.. @Marta_Salogni Joy Anonymous Jamie xx you are all incredible. I had dreamt that we could be dancing in a room together to this song by now, but until then I hope you can dance to it wherever you are!”

A few months ago, she said of her solo material, “For the past couple of years, I’ve been writing a lot of songs for other people, writing a lot of songs for myself, and I ended up with all of these songs, so I’m gonna release a solo album […] under my name, so it’s just gonna be under Romy. I’m gonna be hopefully releasing it soon. I have loads of songs and I feel excited to try something new. […] With my new music, I’m excited to make it a lot more upbeat. It’s not — although I’m playing on the guitar and I love the guitar — it’s not exactly going to be guitar music.”

Listen to “Lifetime” above.

Tame Impala released their highly-anticipated record The Slow Rush back in February. Vocalist Kevin Parker had extensive touring plans, originally planning on making the North American rounds with artists like Clairo and MGMT as openers. Of course, all touring was put on pause just a month later as countries went on lockdown due to the pandemic. While the exact date of the return of live music overall still remains uncertain, Tame Impala offers fans a glimmer of hope with his rescheduled tour dates for next year.

Tame Impala’s rescheduled tour kicks off at the end of next July in Mexico. The band will then play shows across North America, making stops in major cities like San Fransisco, Chicago, and Austin.

Check out Tame Impala’s 2021 The Slow Rush tour dates below.

07/22/2021 — Mexico City, Mexico @ Foro Sol Stadium
07/28/2021 — Phoenix, AZ @ Gila River Arena
07/30/2021 — Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
08/02/2021 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
08/04/2021 — Vancouver, Canada @ Rogers Arena
08/06/2021 — George, WA @ The Gorge
08/08/2021 — San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
08/12/2021 — Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
08/13/2021 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
08/14/2021 — Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center
09/15/2021 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center
09/17/2021 — Las Vegas, NV @ Life Is Beautiful Festival
10/04/2021 — Toronto, Canada @ Scotiabank Arena
10/05/2021 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
10/07/2021 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
10/08/2021 — Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum
10/10/2021 — St Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
10/13/2021 — Washington DC @ Capital One Arena
10/15/2021 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
10/17/2021 — Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
10/18/2021 — Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena

The Slow Rush is out now via Modular. Get it here.