Barbra Streisand's new album leaked, and I'm pleasantly surprised. I was expecting the orchestra versions on disc 1/the standard album to be typical of the overdone overblown overproduced over-syrupy-sweet schlock she's been putting out for the past 20-some-odd years now, but actually, the orchestra is tastefully done and rarely ever drowns out her voice, which is still a fine instrument despite the ravages of that most feared event of a female singer's life - menopause.
But disc 2 is still superior, with the tracks accompanied by nothing more than a piano, a guitar, drums, and bass. It's like being in a smoky jazz club at 2 AM and Streisand just happens to be the singer. If you decide to pick this up, go for the Deluxe Edition - disc 1 will get some rotation, but disc 2 could just become a mainstay in my media players for a while.
And it's got a nice melancholy vibe, which perfectly suits my week. My grandmother passed away early Monday morning after a year-long battle with cancer, and while I'm sad that she's no longer going to be here, it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my family as well, because her illness has been hurting us for so long, and now we can begin healing. But I'm sure gonna miss her. They really don't make women like her anymore.
. The teacher sounds like he's spreading dangerous, ill-advised, hate messages to his students. If anyone is sending society backwards, it's narrow-minded people just like him. 
