Posting took a hiatus this week because…

…in the spirit of recent theme-weeks, In Pursuit of the Trivial will host one of its own starting Monday.

Introducing the Week Full Of Mid Year Lists (WFOMYLs for short).

After the success of the WFOEOTYLs at the end of 2008, it seemed only fitting to tackle a new project. Six months of 2009 are now officially behind us, so why not take a look back and try to provide some perspective? The topics won’t necessarily be the same, but you can bet the WFOMYLs will culminate in the July CNY Music Podcast.  Check back M-W-F of next week to see what’s in store.

- In Pursuit of the Trivial

In Pursuit of Trivial was out to eat last week…

Hungry for more Trivial? We’re back this week after a brief culinary hiatus as Diners Without Frosted Tips presented Diner Week 2009. Check it out (Bourdain’s domain is included) for now and get ready for a return to regular posting here later.

-In Pursuit of the Trivial

Trivial Links: The SPIN/Canon photo contest follow-up

Entertainment Trivial Links
Written by Nathan Mattise

• The epic Girl Talk roadtrip for the SPIN/Canon promotion finally culminated this week when I stumbled upon… one of my photos being published on SPIN.com.
  

• Speaking of that night, In Pursuit of the Trivial got noticed again by the folks at 20 Watts (first for that, then for Phantogram’s interview).

• One more way of immortalizing that (and other concert experiences) has just sprung up over at Songkick.com.

• Unrelated but just as cool… did you catch “Blossom” on What Not To Wear this season? (She has a few kids and something like a neuro-science degree).

• Finally, two good NYT stories as of late: First, they declare the trend of a goodwill store being perceived as vintage and trendy is mainstream thanks to the economy.  Then, they dove into how the hug has become the new (and uncomfortable to some) hello.

(Links today from SPIN Magazine, USA Today’s Pop Candy, NYT.com, 20 Watts and Wikipedia)

Got something for next week’s Trivial Links? E-mail it in.

A quick glimpse into the Radiohead classroom.

Entertainment Essay
Written by Nathan Mattise

For two weeks in May I got to live out my academic dream. I had the opportunity to intensely pursue some  facet of pop-culture that was seemingly meaningless to some but promised deeper meanings for those passionate  enough to analytically pursue it.

MHL 500: The Music of Radiohead – Chuck Klosterman would be proud.

Critically thinking about pop-culture is a beautiful thing. In my Radiohead class, an incredibly diverse group of students united (for two weeks, four hours a day) because of their love of a single band (or in the case of others, their intrigue in a band everyone said to love). Individuals I could never see participating to the fullest extent in some Biology or Calculus class were doing required readings and listenings, adding to the discussions in class and getting genuinely excited about exploring research paper topics. In a weird way,  The Music of Radiohead was the most perfect classroom I ever participated in.

June CNY Music Podcast Part II… (may actually wait for early July).

As advertised in “Part I” of the CNY Music Podcast for June ‘09, the In Pursuit of the Trivial’s mid-year list of 2009’s best albums so far is in the works…

We want to get it right though.

The best albums mid-way discussion will be pushed ’til early July to A) incorporate a full six months of music and B) ensure the discussion has more than just one voice guiding it. Until then, consider “Part I” to be the full 20+ minutes of CNY Music Podcasting for June (and if you were looking for our June show reviews and the comprehensive list of concert dates in June/early July, well, you’re still in luck).

CNY Upcoming Shows

Buffalo

Patrick Wolf – 6/19 (Fri)

Rochester

Tom Jones – 6/21 (Sun)

Taking Back Sunday – 6/24 (Wed)

Relient K – 6/26 (Fri)

Canada

Arcade Fire – 6/22 (Mon)

St. Vincent – 6/24 (Wed)

Elton John / Billy Joel – 6/26 (Fri)

Scatted across NY State (but within driving distance)

311 – 6/23 (Tues)

Gordon Lightfoot – 6/25 (Thur)

The Offspring -  6/30 (Tues)

Huey Lewis – 6/26 (Fri) & 7/1 (Wed)

The Spinners – 7/2 (Thur) *EDITOR’S PICK*

The Wallflowers – 7/7 (Tues) *EDITOR’S PICK*

Syracuse

Earth, Wind & Fire - 6/20 (Sun)

No Doubt w/ Paramore – 6/22 (Mon)

REO Speedwagon / Styx – 7/2 (Thur)

Zappa Plays Zappa –7/6  (Mon)