Get your earbuds, iPads, and book lights ready — it’s time for some good Western entertainment.
We recently got a press release about a new album from Utah-based indie folk-pop outfit The National Parks. It’s called A Mix for the End of the World, Part 1. Given that title full of prophetic doom, it’s a surprisingly upbeat, even frothy-sounding, collection of tunes. “This album is about finding joy in the moments of life with the people we love, and seeing that, through the ups and downs, life is good,” says lead vocalist-guitarist Brady Parks.
We get it. We’ve all been through the wringer lately, and optimistic perseverance in the face of trials has never been so imperative. In a world beset with profound problems and intractable challenges, entertainment might seem a little trivial, but it’s actually more important than ever — a lifeline you could say. We’re not sure where we’d be right now without music, books, TV shows, and movies to transport us to another place and motivate us to keep moving forward in spite of it all.
Click around below for some of the movies, TV shows, books, and music that have delivered some divine diversion.
Our Western Entertainment Recommendations
Music
Books
Screens
From our January 2022 issue
Photography: (Cover image) courtesy CBS/Paramount+