Tiny Idiot LP by Derek Sheen

Seattle’s own Derek Sheen, the eponymous “Tiny Idiot,” has resisted the temptation to just make this a record of REO Speedwagon covers. Barely. Instead, he’s taken to Chicago, his happy place, to wean himself off anti-depressants and spread the joy. From the most detailed flight of fancy, birds-eye view of the life of a hipster meat barista to an exploration of the Old Testament as the most insane Dungeons and Dragons quest you’ve ever gone on (Salt pillars? Giants? Laser Angel Babies?) and the New Testament as an ode to hobos and hippies who love tapas, Sheen’s ready to take you with him on an hour of high-dose citalopram glee. After exploring Bible Belts and Tornado Alleys, he shares the two most American scenes he’s ever spotted, gives a guide to the nuances of hotels versus motels, and creates a D.A.R.E. program for the 21st century: spark it up and do some father-son bonding over frittatas.