I’ve been catching some shade for not writing up Tame Impala’s new album, but shade no more. On Slow Rush, dropped on Valentine’s Day, Kevin Parker’s world feels pared down and blissed out, just as encompassing as ever, only a little more introspective. Its first track, “One More Year,” is about knowing you have to move on with your life but giving yourself a little padding on the way to whatever’s next: “I never wanted any other way to spend our lives / I know we promised we’d be doing this ’til we die / And now I fear we might.” The production creates a sort of intestinal universe with a tube of distorted background vocals propped up by keys, with Parker’s voice swimming through its folds. You get the classic Tame Impala build as it progresses, so no matter how bizarre this sonic world is, you’re invigorated to be in it— for a year or even several. We’ll see what he hits us with next.

While we all wrestle over whether candidates should make college affordable, here’s a cute story: Small private colleges, many of which are quite similar to each other and located in sleepy New England communities, are starting to invest major dollars in their towns to become more competitive. Colgate, for example, has poured $30 million toward affordable housing for staff and an inn/tavern/movie theater in downtown Hamilton, NY. In Waterville, Maine, Colby has put $82 million toward a hotel; an arts center; a downtown residential building for students; and retail space that they’re filling with pizza and chocolate shops. Improving the town is of course a way to attract students and faculty, and also, they say, to sew together town and gown. But it’s not clear whether the development efforts are actually reinvigorating local economies or gentrifying them. Classic.

(P.S. Who loves the matching preppy shirts in the Waterville revitalization mockup?)

Not everyone is being so loose with their cash. The Mets finally seem to have a promising season ahead, but their management is too tight-pocketed to sign a few expensive players who might help seal the deal. So fans are Venmoing them with requests like “Sign Rendon,” calling out the star third baseman from the Angels who might have been up for grabs, and “re-sign Zach Wheeler,” the Mets pitcher who just went to the Phillies for $118 million. You wouldn’t call the requests “effective,” per se— the team hasn’t made any of the deals people are asking for— but what a good job we’re all doing voting with our wallets.

Whether you’re traipsing around Mets Stadium or working admissions in your college town, consider doing so in Everlane’s lightly new Court Sneaker. We’re using “lightly new” because it’s much like the Tread, only with a lower rise, and also because it’s made with recycled rubber and plastic— a win for freeing up emissions and also your ankles, ringing up at $98.