Pick Your Poison: Thursday 3-21-13

M-m-m-m-madness is upon us. Part of me wishes I meant the band Madness, or the Muse song “Madness,” but really what I mean is March Madness. The NCAA Tournament that pits university against university for the ultimate in basketball supremacy. Will there be a Cinderella team this year? Have you filled out your bracket? How many pools are you in, and how much money are you planning to lose because of it? How about productivity? Do you keep the games streaming on your work computer, with a safe button just in case your boss walks past your desk? Hell, he’s probably watching the games in his office too. There are all these studies I see every year that talk about how the country practically shuts down for a couple weeks so everyone can watch a whole lot of basketball. As for me, well, I love basketball and my team the Fighting Illini will be struggling to survive past the first couple rounds (and likely won’t make it to the Sweet 16 at best). My hopes are low, and I fail to fully grasp the appeal of watching teams and games you have zero affiliation or interest in for 11 months out of the year. Suddenly Gonzaga is the team you’re rooting for when March 21 is the first game of theirs you’ve seen this season? It bugs me a bit, and that’s partly why I end up watching so little of the tournament. There’s a certain art to a perfect bracket, or a mostly perfect bracket, but get enough people involved and no amount of “bracketology” will win you some money via gambling on games. Some years it’s upset city, while other years everyone pretty much plays to their ranking. It’s unpredictable, and I suppose that’s also part of the fun. So I hope you’re geared up for March Madness this year, and have a great time watching some games. I won’t be paying a whole lot of attention, but more power to you if you are. Now let’s do today’s Pick Your Poison. I’m happy to recommend tracks from Anderson East, Caitlin Rose, Kurt Vile, Paperhaus, Pony Boy, Program and Way Yes. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream new tracks from Anamanaguchi, GRMLN, Neko Case and How to Dress Well’s remix of Polly Scattergood.