Pick Your Poison: Wednesday 6-25-14

Every now and then, I’ll write a Pick Your Poison intro that gets into sports. This isn’t a sports site, nor am I that heavy of a sports fan, at least in relation to most other people I know, but sometimes it’s fun to get together with a bunch of friends and strangers to bond over a big event. Seeing as how we’re in what might best be described as the doldrums of summer, in which the only sport to really watch is baseball, and even then you’re probably not very invested if your team isn’t doing well, it’s been interesting to watch the U.S. quickly grasp onto the World Cup for salvation from boredom. Historically speaking, soccer (aka futbol) has never been big in America, despite it’s massive reputation everywhere else around the world. There are countries that shut down almost entirely during their team’s World Cup matches so everyone can watch. Here in the U.S., nothing officially shuts down, but this year it seems like people are ducking out of work, or at least finding a way to watch while at work. Massive gatherings are held in Chicago and New York and other major cities, where more than 20,000 people show up in full gear at a public location where a big screen has been set up. Bars are packed, to the point where the place I regularly visit down the street had no tables available this past Sunday afternoon – typically a bit of a dead time. It’s kind of exciting, and the best part is that it does more uniting than it does dividing. The World Cup is the only real sporting competition that takes place on a global scale, so instead of cheering for your city you’re cheering for your country. Of course the U.S. is also a melting pot with immigrants from all over, so you’re going to have a bit of separation there, but for the most part it seems to be a good thing. We kind of need it right now. I haven’t played soccer in probably 20 years, and don’t even remember all of the rules, but am really enjoying this so far. Let’s hope Team USA does well enough in tomorrow’s battle vs. Germany to make it to the next round. Our team has never been good enough to go all the way, but doing reasonably well would be nice, and would keep us invested for just a bit longer. Okay, I’ve said my piece. Now let’s get to today’s Pick Your Poison. Some great stuff in this set from Baliff, Basketball Shorts, City Walls Autumn Falls, Penguin Prison and Yolanda Be Cool. In the Soundcloud section after the jump, stream new cuts from Bag Raiders, Hiss Golden Messenger, School of Seven Bells, She Keeps Bees, Stargroves and Sun Angels.