'Luckiest Girl Alive,' binge rewatching and dreamy new albums

In our ‘Statesman Shots’ recommendations, we get musical, read a thriller and watch old favorites on Netflix.

Each week on our pop culture podcast, “Statesman Shots,” co-hosts Omar L. Gallaga, Tolly Moseley and guests of the show go around the table recommending things you should check out in a segment called “A Toast.” On Episode 83 of the show, featuring humorist and Texas Conference for Women social media manager Wendi Aarons, we’ve got a page-turner, a couple of dreamy California-sounds albums and the glory of binge rewatching.

Here’s what we’re toasting this week:

“Luckiest Girl Alive” by Jessica Knoll

Are you reading this yet? Tolly is, and she says it’s bonkers. The pacing and tone is “Gone Girl”-esque, but its central plot is animated not by a disturbing marriage but a disturbing high school. And at the heart of it? A class-obsessed protagonist who may or may not be a pathological liar.

“Depression Cherry” by Beach House and “California Nights” by Best Coast

These two new, gauzy, atmospheric, Mazzy Starlike albums are currently winning Omar’s heart and ears. Totally ’90s, sparkly and wonderful. If there’s a hole in your heart where further seasons of “My So-Called Life” or a new album from Letters to Cleo should be, these albums might make you feel complete.

“1989” by Ryan Adams

The singer does his own take on Taylor Swift’s essential hit album and, rather than shrugging with indifference, the world has responded by making this re-do a hit in its own right. Did we really need another cover of “Shake It Off,” especially one so slow and straight- faced? Doesn’t matter! You can’t escape it; this cover album is become as inescapable as the original. Tolly thinks you should listen to it and judge for yourself.

Binge rewatching

New shows on Netflix/ Hulu/Amazon Prime are very bingeable. You know this. And yet, sometimes you just wanna watch comfort-food TV, your “Friends” and your “Modern Family” and “The Office.” A lot of it. Well, now you can! (Actually you always could, but we’re officially making it A Thing). Wendi Aarons is all about binge rewatching TV shows these days, preferring to sink into plot lines already welltrod on shows like “Six Feet Under” or to don favorite shows and TV characters like a trusty pair of sweat pants. That’s three whole metaphors to describe binge rewatching, so we’ll stop now and let you go do your thing.

Got items we should recommend on “Statesman Shots?” Let us know @StatesmanShots on Twitter or email us at shots@statesman.com.

DAN HALLMAN / INVISION Singer Ryan Adams has released an album covering Taylor Swift’s entire “1989” album. Yes, really. Swift released the original album last October, but Adams’ take on the music is worth a listen.

CONTRIBUTED BY STEPHEN SPILLMAN Omar L. Gallaga recommends Best Coast’s new album, “California Nights,” for its atmospheric vibe. Best Coast’s Bethany Cosentino performs on the Rolling Stone Stage in March.