50 Shades of Lettuce - Show Notes

Get your contracts in order; you'll need to commit to this episode in writing! Things get sexy on The Lettuce Podcast as the controversial book 50 Shades of Grey steps into the spotlight. Charlotte moderates this episode and guides Laura and Tori through a world of plot holes, inconsistent characters, and lots of crap. The "Source Ma-Tori-al" segment returns as Tori shares the relationship between 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight fan-fiction. She also explains her views on the book's attitude toward touch-aversion. Laura shares her feelings on why the book is "so bad it's good" and her frustrations with the character Kate. Charlotte discusses the commercial reception of the book and how she feels some have uninformed opinions about the series. All three hosts share their feelings about the portrayal of women and how it affected their ability to feel connected to Ana Steele's character. Is Christian Grey's interest in the BDSM lifestyle a result of psychological damage? Is his character an insulting representation of the BDSM community(Spoiler Alert - YES!)? Are Ana's subconscious and "inner goddess" cover-ups for a critical case of Multiple Personality Disorder? All these subjects and more are up for discussion on The Lettuce Podcast. 

After the Discussion Topics segment, the girls each give their rating of 50 Shades of Grey. The average score between Charlotte, Tori, and Laura was 2.33 out of 5 Chards! The Fun & Games section allows some discussion on the use of "crap" throughout the novel. Laura administered a homemade quiz called "How Much Crap?". Many times in the story, Ana was met with situations which caused the reaction of "crap", "double crap", or "triple crap." Ten of these situations were read to Tori and Charlotte, who both had to guess which amount of crap was assigned to the event by Ana. The second and final game was a Lettuce Podcast favorite: the Alphabet Sentence! Charlotte, Laura, and Tori worked together to build a story one-word-at-a-time while also following the order of the alphabet.

 

This episode's Podtail was Indulgent, a chocolate-red wine made by a local winery. Indulgent was delicious and was wholly representative of both the indulgence of 50 Shades' subject matter and the indulgence of reading a sexy romance novel! The Podsnack continued the theme of indulgence - chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate croissants! 

The Lettuce Podcast can be found on iTunes, Podcast Addict for Android devices, or Stitcher. If you like what you hear, feel free to leave a comment on this or any blog post. You can also help us reach a wider audience by rating and reviewing The Lettuce Podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks for listening and for your support!

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The next episode of The Lettuce Podcast will conclude our journey through the Harry Potter series. Tori, Laura, and Charlotte will rotate moderator duties to conclude the Harry Potter saga in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! There will be a lot of ground to cover and this episode may be a little longer than others. Not only will the hosts discuss the 7th Harry Potter installment (book and both movies), but also the series as a whole. You don't want to miss the extra special episode of The Lettuce Podcast!

 

Field Mix - Highway 61 Revisited

Album: Highway 61 Revisited
Artist: Bob Dylan
Release Date: August 30th, 1965
RS Greatest Albums of All Time Ranking: #4
Songs You'll Know: Like a Rolling Stone, Ballad of a Thin Man
Songs You May Have Missed: Tombstone Blues, Desolation Row

A Little History/Why This Album is Famous:
Bob Dylan is America's song-and-story man and Highway 61 Revisited just might be his magnum opus. It marks a significant turning point in Dylan's career, as it was his first album to be recorded using mostly electric instruments. Up until then, Dylan had recorded mostly acoustic music, which is one of the most defining characteristics of folk music. Because of this, Highway 61 Revisited has a bit of controversy surrounding it. On July 25th, 1965, Dylan famously performed an electric set at the Newport Folk Festival and was booed by the crowd for doing so. Some people felt performing with electric instruments did not align with the culture surrounding folk music and may have even regarded the decision to go electric as "selling out". Despite the poor reception, Dylan kept the electric sound and went into the studio 4 days later to record Highway 61 Revisited. The result produced an album referred to as "the start of the 60's" conceptually. This album is 50 years old (nearly to the day of this post!) and has continually been praised for its artistry, poetry, story-telling, and message. Beyond the controversy, Highway 61 Revisited is majorly famous for combining the sultry nature of blues music and the social consciousness of beat poetry. Dylan's voice, both vocally and creatively, is unique and it shows on this album

Comments:
When I first heard this album in about 2010, I was completely transfixed. I had never heard a Dylan album in full length and my knowledge of Dylan songs was more or less limited to "All Along the Watchtower" and "Like A Rolling Stone". I know, I know. That makes my status as a music lover questionable. Please accept my apologies. Anyway, I was really impressed with many aspects of the album: it's toe-tappin'-honky-tonk feel, masterfully written lyrics, and a high dose of harmonica solos. One thing that caught me negatively was Dylan's singing voice. Many people love his voice and I won't deny that it fits his music. That being said, it still hits my ears in an unpleasant way and does lower my affection for the music. However, when I give this or any other Dylan album a listen, it usually isn't long before I listen past the vocals and focus on the music and lyrics. 

Highway 61 Revisited boasted Dylans top three most performed songs: "Like A Rolling Stone", "Highway 61 Revisited", and "Ballad of a Thin Man". It's easy to see why; these are three pretty killer songs. "Like A Rolling Stone" is possibly Dylan's most successful hit single. Even if you aren't very familiar with his music, you probably know it. Though I enjoy these three tracks, I have a different favorite from the album. "Tombstone Blues" is the absolute representation of the blues/folk mash-up sound for which this album is so famous. It has a driving beat that always toes the line of going off-kilter, but somehow manages to stay balanced. Above the bluesy guitar, a lyrical story about the abuse of power and the relationship between America's upper crust and lower class is spun. This song also features one of my most favorite lyrics: "The sun's not yellow, it's chicken". For me, this is basically a perfect Bob Dylan song. It has everything you're looking for. 

As the years have gone by since my inaugural listen, combined with further exploration into the Bob Dylan catalog, my love for the album has waned a bit. I've come to terms with the fact that I am not a huge Dylan fan. I see the artistry and the importance of his music. There are usually a few tracks from each album that I genuinely love; I just haven't fallen head-over-heels for a full album yet. The closest I've come is Highway 61 Revisited and the album still remains special to me due to how I felt when I first heard it. Like many of the albums that are high on Rolling Stone's list (particularly the top 10), this album is an important piece of music history. Any of these albums may not be your cup of tea, but their place in music makes them worthy of a listen. Go forth and listen with open ears!

That's all for now. Up next is the Beatles' Rubber Soul.

Arugalater!
Laura

Lettuce Perfect 2 - Show Notes

The Lettuce Podcast presents its first "Insta-cast" where Charlotte, Tori, and Laura watch a movie and immediately record a show afterwards. The girls take turns in the moderator chair to host this episode about Pitch Perfect 2, the sequel to the popular a capella comedy. They explain how a trip to the movies with the intention to see Avengers: Age of Ultron resulted in a free screening of Pitch Perfect 2. They share their experience with the movie franchise, their thoughts about the sequel, and the use of music and comedy throughout the film. Tori, Laura, and Charlotte also share their favorite musical numbers from the movie. Laura explains her appreciation for the movie, but also discomfort with some of the racially-based humor. Tori expresses glee over the inclusion of Daily Show regulars in the Sing-Off scene. Charlotte, being the only Lettuce Head who had scene the first movie, gives context for some of the happenings in the sequel. Can the Barden Bellas win the World A Capella Showcase and reinstate their good name? Will Beca's internship at a recording studio keep her from contributing to the group? Can an original song really win an a capella tournament?

 

This episode's Podsnack, French vanilla cupcakes, was inspired by the international theme of the World A Capella Showcase. The Podtail was chosen due to the inclusion of the Green Bay Packers in the Sing-Off: Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, which is made in Wisconsin!

The Lettuce Podcast can be found on iTunes, Podcast Addict for Android devices, or Stitcher. If you like what you hear, feel free to leave a comment on this or any blog post. You can also help us reach a wider audience by rating and reviewing The Lettuce Podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks for listening and for your support!

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The next episode of The Lettuce Podcast will focus on the controversial book and movie 50 Shades of Grey. Charlotte will be our moderator as she signs a contract with Tori and Laura to discuss this literary phenomenon!

Arugalater! 

Field Mix: Revolver

Album: Revolver
Artist: the Beatles
Release Date: August 5th, 1966 (UK) & August 8th, 1966 (US)
RS Greatest Albums of All Time Ranking: #3
Songs You'll Know: Yellow Submarine, Elenor Rigby
Songs You May Have Missed: And Your Bird Can Sing, Doctor Robert

A Little History/Why This Album is Famous: This album is a big deal for the history of music. Many critics regard Revolver as the album that redefined the parameters of popular music. This album, released a year before Sgt. Pepper's, showed that the Beatles had grown from a heartthrob pop band to a mature experimental rock band. Revolver features many of the musical techniques for which the Beatles are now famous: tape loops, sitar/Indian music influence, and the use of classical instruments. This album is the middle point of the Beatles' recording career. It also marks the time in their career where Lennon and McCartney were most equal with their songwriting credits. Up to this point, John Lennon had been the main contributor to the band's musical vision. Conversely, Paul McCartney became the main musical figurehead post-Revolver. George Harrison also had three writing credits (more than he'd ever had before) on this album: "Taxman", "Love You To", and "I Want To Tell You". Lastly, this album is famous for two non-musical reasons. One, the Grammy Award winning cover art by Klaus Voorman. Two, it was released in the midst of the controversy of Lennon's "bigger than Jesus" statement. If you don't know what the "bigger than Jesus" scandal is, consult your search engine of choice IMMEDIATELY! You need more musical help than I can provide.

Comments: I'm a huge Beatles fan, so it won't be a shock when I say that this album is rad. I find it to be a much more cohesive album than Sgt. Pepper's and therefore more enjoyable. Sgt. Pepper's has many merits, but can be a bit meandering at times. Revolver is an album you can play all the way through and stay in touch with its vision. Though the song styles are pretty varied, there aren't any true speedbumps. Nothing that interrupts the flow of the music. Nothing that comes across as experimentation for experimentation's sake. Not every track on this album is a home run ("I'm Only Sleeping" is appropriately a bit of a snooze), but everything makes sense together. This album, to me, feels very complete.

"Taxman" is a perfect opening track and an even more perfect roadtrip song. I really enjoy this collection of songs that cover a wide variety of subject matter, tempo, and tone. From the sweet "Here, There, and Everywhere" to the happy-go-lucky "Good Day Sunshine" with a pit-stop for some bitterness in "And Your Bird Can Sing". If social issues are more your thing, you can look to the aforementioned "Taxman" or "Doctor Robert". All this leads to the iconic final track "Tomorrow Never Knows". This was the Beatles' first foray into psychedelic music and it's super cool! I'm not even a drug user and I think it's cool!

There are many more things I could say about the album, but it would become redundant pretty quickly. I mean, how many times can a person say "IT'S COOL! IT'S COOL! IT'S COOL!" before it gets annoying? I am aware that some people do not like the Beatles. They are strange people, but they do exist. I think Revolver is an essential album for both the Beatles fan and the music historian. If you aren't a fan of the Beatles and/or don't feel that this album is worthy of praise, I would love to hear your opinion! Likewise, if you love Revolver, let me know why and tell me your favorite tracks.

That's all for now. Up next is Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited.

Arugalater!
Laura

Harry Potter and the Half-Lettuce Prince - Show Notes

The Lettuce Podcast is off in search of Horcruxes! The latest episode focuses on the sixth installment of the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Tori moderates with Charlotte and Laura at her side. The girls also have their first ever "Peanut Gallery" as friends Steph and Kyle sit in on the recording to join in on the laughter, commentary, and snacks! Tori leads a discussion about the fascinating backstory of Tom Marvolo Riddle. Charlotte notes Hermione's anger regarding Harry's use of the Half Blood Prince's book. Laura thinks Snape might be a subpar Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Steph pipes up to express her thoughts about the nature between students and their most influential teachers. A listener question about broom flying is also discussed. Is Horace Slughorn's interest in young and famous students a little creepy? Was Snape's potential diminished by being forced to hold a teaching position that he hated? Could Ron and Hermione be any more like stereotypical teenagers? All this and more in this episode where both our three heroes and hosts say goodbye to the most powerful wizard of all time, Albus Dumbledore.

Tori, Charlotte, and Laura play a game called Create-A-Spell, which was inspired by the Half Blood Prince's knack for inventing his own spells. They each come up with a spell, it's incantation, and effect! After that, the Alphabet Sentence Game returns and has the three hosts making up a one-word-at-a-time story all about Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince!  

  

Everyone was feeling pretty lucky as they sipped on the Podtail: Felix Felicis! You can find a recipe for this truly delicous drink here.

 

Charlotte organized her own Slug Club and served fancy hor d'oeuvres: chipotle-lime shrimp and chocolate & raspberry pastries.

The Lettuce Podcast can be found on iTunes, Podcast Addict for Android devices, or Stitcher. If you like what you hear, feel free to leave a comment on this or any blog post. You can also help us reach a wider audience by rating and reviewing The Lettuce Podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks for listening and for your support!

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The next episode of The Lettuce Podcast is about the box office smash Jurassic World! Charlotte, Tori, and Laura will be sharing the moderator love on their first ever Group Moderated episode. They will also be welcoming former "Peanut Gallery" member, Steph, as their first Guest Host!

Arugalater!