Ty Watches "Curb Your Enthusiasm" Series Finale

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" ended the series last night in what I consider to be perfect and glorious fashion. I don't truly know what I was expecting, but this seemed fitting and almost the only way Larry David could close out this classic television comedy. David is a genius. I have sung his praises for so, so many years. The guy gets it when it comes to comedy. He makes fun of others, but more importantly, he makes fun of himself time and time again. That much was on display during the hour long series finale. I think that is what made this such a successful and hilarious show over its long run.

"Curb" started in 2000. The show went for 12 seasons, and it felt like HBO let him put out a new season whenever he was ready. That was the best way to do this show. They had to be hands off for this to work. I have to assume David made it that way as well so he could put out exactly what he wanted in each season. We got 120 episodes of his genius. We had through lines in every season. They brought back classic bits in last nights finale from the earliest seasons. David got incredibly famous people to be on, either as themselves or as totally new characters. He let his stars shine. JB Smoove became a household name. Jeff Garlin and Susie Essman will be remembered forever as their characters. Ted Danson's heightened version of himself was perfect. Cheryl Hines starred as his wife and then ex wife. He got everyone from "Seinfeld" to be on his show. He got Bruce Springsteen to appear. He gave young up and coming improv actors their first chance to be on tv. He made offensive jokes and dealt with the blow back. He made his portrayal of himself as one of the greatest comedic characters to ever be on screen. This was, and always will be for me, a perfect show. This is the greatest comedy to ever be on tv. No one will come close to touching its genius. "30 Rock" is the closest now, and I love that show, but it is not even close to the hilariousness that "Curb" gave us.

And the way they closed it all out last night was a true joy to watch. To take on David's finale of "Seinfeld", the one everyone besides my wife and I seem to despise, and just go with it and do an almost updated version, it was the absolute best move to make. My wife and I kept saying to one another while watching, "this is perfect". To see him in a courtroom, to see the witnesses from seasons past show up, to see him and Jeff get into another messed up situation caused by their own stupidity, it was so perfect. Seeing Jerry Seinfeld show up for him and David to do bits was like watching a reunion I didn't know I needed. And for the the two of them to kind of hash out the "Seinfeld" finale in the most meta way possible, I couldn't be happier with what I saw. I'm glad they didn't do some kind of character change for anyone on the show. They all ended up the same as when they first appeared on the show. They were still griping about menial things. They were still trying to figure out where to eat. Richard Lewis, RIP, was still cracking jokes to David, and he was doing the same to Lewis. It was just a great sendoff to a great, all timer of a show. I loved the series finale. So did my wife. As for what I've seen on the internet today, it got a pretty good ovation from everyone who has watched it.

I want to end this today by thanking everyone involved with the creation and the constant improvement on "Curb Your Enthusiasm". You will all have a special place in my heart. And the biggest thanks goes to Larry David. Your genius knows no bounds. You are the greatest comedy television writer this world has ever been able to witness. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and enjoy your retirement. Now, it is time for me to rewatch this series for the millionth time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I'm Actually Pretty into Two Bruce Springsteen Albums

A week ago I wrote about Bruce Springsteen. I talked about how I appreciate his writing, his work ethic and the breadth of his career. But I also let it be known that I could not get into his music. Try as I might, it just didn;t work for me. Well, I have a little bit of a rebuttal today though.

The podcast about Springsteen is still going on, I'm still listening, and I am still finding it hard to get it. He makes adult contemporary music because his fans are contemporary adults. But in going back there are two records that I do like. There are two records that I can listen to and find myself enjoying what I'm hearing. Those records are "The Ghost of Tom Joad" and "Nebraska".

I have found my listening and repeat listening to these records to be quite enjoyable. They are dynamite, especially "Nebraska". That album is a masterpiece. I also think, despite its grueling lyrics, "The Ghost of Tom Joad" to be a very good record. So when I was listening to "Nebraska" this morning with my dad, we had a little chat. He asked why I was listening to Springsteen if I didn't like him. He reads some of my stuff. As I sat there and contemplated his question, while listening to "Nebraska" with him, it dawned on me. I know why I like these two albums, why I'm able to overlook what I consider misgivings. These records are so good for me, as a listener of music, because they are so stripped back and minimal. These records are like folk records that I adore from the 60's. The record has three musical elements on it, as opposed to his other records that have a full band and a string ensemble. These two records have acoustic guitar, harmonica and Springsteen doing a folky voice. There may be a drum machine here and there, and he may even play piano a bit, but it is very, very stripped down. I love acoustic music. It is one of my favorite styles of music to listen to. I love the barebones of an acoustic guitar. I also like how the acoustic guitar shows an artist's warts. It makes me appreciate the artist even more when they are proficient on an acoustic guitar. I have always loved Bob Dylan, so when you throw a harmonica in with the acoustic guitar, I am even more in. I enjoy the harmonica. And when Springsteen does that folky voice, it works for me. I like when he takes on that voice and really gives it a go. I like folk music, and when Springsteen uses it, singing his very well written words, it is obviously going to work for me. And that is the thing too with these records, the words. These songs tell vivid and enthralling stories. I can let myself get very heavily involved in the stories that are being told when Springsteen is singing. The stories are a drag, but I like stuff like that. I like to be transported into a dark world. It is a nice break for a few minutes.

"The Ghost of Tom Joad" is great, but "Nebraska" is a masterpiece. And it is seemingly an accidental masterpiece. "Nebraska" was just kind of slapped together by Springsteen himself in a farmhouse he was staying in, and it sounds that way. I love the archaic way he recorded that whole record. "The Ghost of Tom Joad" is very stripped down too, but it is mixed and produced by professionals. And that is fine, but it is missing the charm of "Nebraska". That record is amazing.

So, if you agreed with my first piece on Springsteen, but want to give him another shot, listen to "Nebraska" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Yes they have Springsteen's voice, but they are both stripped down, small records in comparison to his other stuff, and that is what makes them great. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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I'm Just Not that Into Bruce Springsteen

Scott Aukerman hosts one of the best podcasts ever created. "Comedy Bang! Bang!" is genius and one of the funniest shows out there. Adam Scott is an extremely dependable actor, and from what I've read, "Severance" is a revelation from him. I mention the two of them because they get together from time to time and do a podcast of their own where they go over a band or musician that they like and cover their catalog. They did it with REM, Talking Heads and U2. They have attempted a Red Hot Chili Peppers one, which they abandoned almost instantly to do the Talking Heads instead. They have a new artist they are covering now, Bruce Springsteen. let’s discuss.

I have never really listened to any Springsteen. I know who he is because he is wildly famous. My folks have also listened to his music. I have some older brothers who have checked him out. It is kind of hard to avoid him because he is a true deal rock star. So with the podcast coming out, and being such a fan of these two creators, I decided this was going to be the push I needed to try out Springsteen's music. I decided I wanted to give it a real shot too. I wanted to make sure that I actually tried with no preconceived notions. And I did. I gave it a real deal shot.

I started by listening to his top hits on Spotify. I then shifted to the albums they were covering on the podcast. I even went for the hits. I also thought about making a playlist of the songs that Aukerman and Scott mentioned as their favorites. But after they did the "Born to Run" record, and after I gave it a real listen, I decided that Springsteen just isn't for me.

Now, before I anger a bunch of people, Springsteen is a genius. The guy is a masterful writer. The way he puts pen to paper and writes his lyrics, he is a true poet. He is no Bob Dylan, but he is a close second. He can really paint a picture with his words. He has also written massive hits for other musicians. He is an amazing artist. He is also a very good guitar player. He can play both rhythm and lead. He integrates the guitar very well into his songs. He can shred from time to time. He is a very good band leader. He may be tough on his band members, but he gets the best out of them. He is also an incredibly hard worker. The dude is prolific, and given the fact that he writes all his own stuff, that has to take a ton of time. He is constantly making new music and has been for well over 40 years now. That is epic.

The reason I am not a big Springsteen fan is his voice. He has this gravely voice that I cannot get into at all. I will start vibing out to a song, but then he will start singing and I'm instantly out. I love the words, just not the voice it is coming from. I dig the backing band, but then he starts to sing and that completely takes over. I get what he is doing, and I get why it works, it just isn't for me. I have never been that much into the whole gravel voice, working man thing from musicians. It just isn't my thing. Again, I get it, I understand the appeal, I just prefer something different. I will say the album "Nebraska" is the most listenable one for me, but that gets too Springsteen-y for me about four songs in. I love the words, I love the imagery, I just don't like the singing. I get what makes "Born to Run" an elite album, but Springsteen's voice is too front and center. Even his early work, which outside of "Nebraska" is the best stuff he has done, his voice is too front and center.

I know I am wrong. I get that I'm in a very, very small group of music lovers that do not mess with Bruce Springsteen, but here we are. Maybe as I get older things will change, but probably not. I gave it a real chance, but it is not for me. Sorry, everyone. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.