Energy

Drake made a very strong career move with the release of the mixtape "If You're Reading This It's Too Late." Tuesday. A mixtape is what vaulted Drake to superstardom, and although his last album was really well received (it had eight songs in the Billboard top 100 at the same time), I think he felt that he was creativity was getting a little stifled by the album-making process. A mixtape is a little more raw, creative and nothing expresses that more than the song "Energy" from IYRTITL This just might vault Drake back into the stratosphere.

Playoffs are in full swing with wrestling team sections last weekend. Pierz advanced to state. Boys basketball playoffs start next week, and individual section wrestling will be Friday and Saturday. I have 14 photos to share from Feb. 5-10. Enjoy. To purchase photos go to ecmpublishers.smugmug.com.

Swanville center Stephanie Koetter about to go up with Royalton's Amy Hoover (left) and Madi Rudolph defending.

Hoover chases after Swanville's Ellie Koetter in Royalton Feb. 5.

Stephanie Koetter and Royalton's Brooke Tschida go for a loose ball.

Little Falls senior Kristin Stewart tries to box out Milaca's Megan Dahlstrom Feb. 6 in Little Falls.

Junior Sarah Gold looks for a teammate with Ashley Cassens guarding.

Mora's Daniel Peterson snaps the puck away from the Flyers' Daniel Marod Feb. 6 at the Exchange Arena in Little Falls.

Gold changes direction as she heads for the hoop on a fast break.

Holdingford's Zach Ryan fends of Pierz senior Kyle Becker as he goes up for two Feb. 9.

Pierz guard Jonny Kasper gazes up intently while defending Holdingford forward Grant Bullert.

Matt Vasilj goes high for two over Pierz' Robbie Skiba.

Huskers guard Alex Knapp is fouled by Kasper.

Knapp stops as Pierz guard Noah Boser closes in.

Jacob Thell is surrounded by Pierz defenders Aaron Weber (left) Skiba (No. 23) and Boser.

Upsala guard Brooke Westrich goes between Rudolph (left) and Brandi Kloss Feb. 10 in Royalton.

Don't Let It Go

Beck's 2014 release "Morning Phase" recently won the Grammy for Album of the Year, and my favorite song on the album is "Don't Let It Go." The album is very understated, yet overrated. I actually thought the album as a whole was a little narrow and lacked depth, despite staying in the vein of Beck in the past. Simply put, it did not take enough chances. However, I am not the be all and end all of music, clearly, because he is a Grammy-winner.

I've been super busy with sports the past week or so, with games pretty much every day except Wednesdays. This does not appear to be slowing down quite yet, though playoffs are beginning to chug along this week. Not much of a break to look forward to though, once winter sports do finish, because there is always All-Area teams and spring previews to start.

Anyways, I have 15 pictures from a few events to share. Enjoy.

Jake Andres picks up Paynesville's Alex Mages Thursday, Jan. 29 in Pierz.

Kyle Kabanuk (right) defends St. Cloud Apollo junior Nhail Puoch after he pulled down a rebound.

Flyers senior point guard Thomas Bell dishes out a pass at the Target Center Jan. 31 against St. Cloud Apollo.

Kabanuk dribbles into the frontcourt.

Senior Bryce Zawatzke goes up in the post against Apollo's Luke Dunsmoor.

Riley Loukinen looks to deliver a pass.

Bell looks off a defender as a dribbles into the paint.

Teddy Dehler fights to get back on top against Paynesville's Anthony Wendlandt.

Brandon Ortman charges at the Bulldogs' Cameron Schmidt.

Royalton junior Ben Borash attempts to save a loose ball that is going out of bounds Feb. 2.

Maddie Ellingson (No. 11) skates the puck up ice as Kennedy Rusk (No. 15) follows her.

Ellingson controls a bouncing puck Feb. 3 against the St. Cloud Icebreakers.

Ally Smith waits for an airborne puck to come back to the ice at the Exchange Arena.

Brooke Mimmack fires a slap shot at the net.

Little Falls fans had an array of signs as they packed in the stands for the lone Brainerd-Little Falls girls hockey game in Little Falls this season.

Black Sun

One of my favorite bands, Death Cab for Cutie, released the first single, "Black Sun," from the upcoming album "Kintsugi" recently. The song is a little dull, a lot emo and full on Death Cab. The album is the first post-Chris Walla, there longtime guitarist. At least in the single, the band has not lost a bit without him. The album is due to drop at the end of March, and I will be listening to it the second I can get it.

A pretty crazy Super Bowl Sunday, eh? Can you believe that Carroll tried to throw it? What a dummy. That's all I have. It was really exciting though, everything that it was billed as.

I have several photos to share from the week. Sports are really starting to ramp up. Playoff season started officially today as the Nordic Ski team traveled to Detroit Lakes for sections.

Kyle Lange, a Royals Senior from Upsala, takes down Mille Lacs' Austin Willis Jan. 22 in Royalton.

Lyle Zimmerman of the Royalton-Upsala Royals (top) tries to turn over and pin the Raiders' Reese Peterson.

Jackson Held grabs the wrist and takes command against Mille Lacs wrestler Hunter Sumner

Tyler Evans leaps to toss a pass over Royalton's Matt Fountain.

Sam Mettler launches a three as Royalton's Shane Vannurden back pedals.

Evans goes in for two Jan. 23 in Swanville.

Fountain looks to pass after securing a rebound.

Little Falls senior Ezra Spandl prepares to make a save in a 3-0 shut out of Cathedral Jan. 27.

Spandl blocks a shot and watches it ricochet over Cathedral forward Logan Neu's stick.

Mack Anez (No. 17) follows Cathedral's Matt Fritz over the pads of Spandl.

Spandl stops a shot with his body.

Little Falls' Katie Mammenga and Jordan Schuett (No. 13) crowd Pierz center Kendra Fischer Jan. 27.

Mammenga tussles with Pioneers guard Becca Athman for a loose ball.

A frame or two before the shot a used in the paper of Little Falls' Sarah Gold and Fischer being tied up on a loose ball.

Pierz senior Shelbie Boser drives into the paint.