A Legacy Of Rentals is already the fifth album release by the US indie rock singer-songwriter Craig Finn. It has been released on 20th May 2022. I had the chance to listen to the songs before the release, here are my thoughts.
Craig Finn – About The Artist
Craig Finn is a 1971-born US-American singer-songwriter. He is majorly known for fronting the indie rock band The Hold Steady, but he has also worked in some other projects and in projects with other artists. His first solo record, Clear Heart Full Eyes, has been released in January 2012. Since then, he is regularly releasing solo albums. His last release was I Need a New War n 2019.
Craig Finn – A Legacy Of Rentals – Track by Track
The ten track album lasts 46 minutes.
1. Messing With The Settings
The album opens with this almost six minute epic track. It is almost completely spoken word, only the “chorus” At sundown it feels like I’m riding a train I’m not on is sung. Very impressive listen, which beautifully leads the listener into these ten tracks.
2. The Amarillo Kid
The Amarillo Kid is coming with a significantly higher share of singing parts. Overall, the song is very melodic, but majorly impresses with the very catching storytelling. Great narrative!
3. Birthdays
Now that both our folks have passed
It’s hard to feel real tied to much.
The bandage and the broken glass.
The weak attempts to keep in touch.
I heard you have some funny friends
And it’s always someone’s birthday in your building.
The song feels like a folk rock track. Again, the way Craig Finn is describing the scenery, the conflicts of the song, is simply catching. I absolutely enjoyed this single release.
4. The Year We Fell Behind
The five minute track The Year We Fell Behind is slower, a bit of melancholic, which is also driven by the monotonous background rhythm. The sound at the beginning and ending of the song is bothering me. I am thus not overwhelmingly found of the sound.
5. Due To Depart
The fifth track has strong country music music lines. Again, you simply need to listen to the story – this one is beautifully describing personal struggle, family life and social contacts. Great message.
It’s so hard to know the right time to show up
But you’ll know when you’re due to depart
6. Curtis & Shepard
Telling stories about people, explaining the scene and the thoughts of the protagonist is the strength. Here, we got two main characters… up until the very end of the catching story.
Remember in the garden?
In 1997?
And Curtis pulls the trigger.
Now Shepard can’t remember.
7. Never Any Horses
Never Any Horses has a very rough sound, which strengthens the indie character of the record. A bit too noisy in my point of view here and then – not my favorite, but not bad at all.
8. Jessamine
This eighth song comes with nice work on the drums and, overall, a rather happy vibe. There are even some string background sounds in this one. Good listen.
9. A Break From The Barrage
The second last track of the album is not only the longest one, its style also connects to the opener. Craig Finn is narrating with some background instrumentals. That’s what the album is about, storytelling. A Break From The Barrage is one of the album’s highlights.
10. This Is What It Looks Like
The parkways all have barricades.
They’re checking on each driver.
It’s such a funny time to become lovers.
Another dramatic story to finish the set of stories. Nice rock track with very present rhythmic elements.
Craig Finn – A Legacy Of Rentals – Spotify
Here is the album on Spotify:
Craig Finn – A Legacy Of Rentals – My View
Craig Finn comes with a beautiful, warm voice, telling amazing stories. Finally, A Legacy Of Rentals lives from its lyrics. This creates a very demanding album, which is a huge contrast to simple pop mainstream songs. You need to give quite some attention to this artist to enjoy him. But I feel it is absolutely worth it!
2022 Rock Music Reviews
Here are all my Media Reviews related to rock music in 2022:

Nevena – Nevena
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Sündflut – Basta! EP
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Neufundland – Grind
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Isafjord – Hjartsatjaki
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Amberian Dawn – Take a Chance (A Metal Tribute To ABBA)
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Boppin’ B – Saxbomb
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Nickelback – Get Rollin’
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L.S. Dunes – Past Lives
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Rook Road – Rook Road
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The Moon City Masters – The Famous Moon City Masters
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Fireside – Bin Juice
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The Backseat Lovers – Waiting To Spill
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Massive Wagons – Triggered!
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Wally – Alles halb so wild
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PG Roxette – Pop-Up Dynamo!
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Chez Kane – Powerzone
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Simple Minds – Direction of the Heart
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Orianthi – Rock Candy
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Allee der Diktatoren – Dieses kleine bisschen Wut
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Magical Heart – Heartsonic
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Monster Truck – Warriors
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Melissa Naschenweng – Glück
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Richard Marx – Songwriter
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Kill Strings – Limbo
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5 Seconds of Summer – 5SOS5
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Billy Idol – The Cage EP
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Starcrawler – She Said
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The Afghan Whigs – How Do You Burn?
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Bad Baron – Ace of Hearts
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Bandaid Brigade – Sex is Terrifying
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Drei Meter Feldweg – Durak
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David Paich – Forgotten Toys
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Mani Orrason – The World Is Big and You Will Never Find Me
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Versus Goliath – Liebe & Chaos
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Manntra – Kreatura
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LustfingeR – LustfingeR
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Whiskey Myers – Tornillo
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Dawes – Misadventures Of Doomscroller
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She Bites – Super Hero
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Heischneida – Heischneida II
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The Faim – Talk Talk
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Blind Channel – Lifestyles of the Sick & Dangerous
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Journey – Freedom
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Grey Daze – The Phoenix
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G. Love & Special Sauce – Philadelphia Mississippi
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April Art – P.O.K.E.R.F.A.C.E.
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Kasalla – Rudeldiere
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Mary Keey – Digital Me
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Monotrone – 1 (One)
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Junipa Gold – Something Divine EP
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Karaboom – Follow Your Heart
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Shameless – So Good, You Should….
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VoixxBradler – Blast
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Marius Müller-Westernhagen – Das eine Leben
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49 Winchester – Fortune Favors The Bold
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Dana Fuchs – Borrowed Time
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Amber Run – The Start (Act II) EP
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Silver Dust – Lullabies
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Cold Years – Goodbye To Misery
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Carson – The Wilful Pursuit of Ignorance
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Hi! Spencer – Memori EP
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Papa Roach – Ego Trip
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Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars
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Jon Spencer & The HITmakers – Spencer Gets It Lit
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Pup – The Unraveling of PUPTheBand
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Circle of Friends – The Garden
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Max Paul Maria – Paradigm Beach
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The Jeremy Days – Beauty In Broken
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Der Sonne zu Nah – Schwerkraft
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Tame The Abyss – They Vanished At Dawn! EP
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Der To – Hand aufs Herz
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Sunrunner – Sacred Arts of Navigation
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The Dogs – El Verdugo
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Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs – External Combustion
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Lo Moon – Modern Life
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The Search – Extras
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Corey Taylor – CMFB… Sides EP
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Klaus Lage – Je wahrer die Liebe
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Sarah Shook & The Disarmers – Nightroamer
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Ard – Take Up My Bones
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Goodbye June – See Where The Night Goes
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Urge Overkill – Oui
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Amos Lee – Dreamland
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Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – 4
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Jeffrey Mitchell Ross – Waited A Long Time
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Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory
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Pictures – It’s OK
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North Mississippi Allstars – Set Sail
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jackie – Hey Angel EP
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Katie Henry – On My Way
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Herman Rarebell & The Hurricane Orchestra – Scorpion’s Songs Symphonic
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Claus Trophobia – Space Rock Voodoo
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Yard Act – The Overload
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Billy Talent – Crisis of Faith
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Gampe – Tiny House Blues
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Autumn’s Child – Zenith
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Noah Guthrie – Blue Wall
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Skillet – Dominion
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Jamestown Revival – Young Man
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USA Travel Top Picks
Here is my list of travel reviews about the US, which lead to my Top Pick! rating award:

Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum Nashville
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Museum of Jewish Heritage
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Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor Museum
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Flying Contour Airlines Embraer E135
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Watching Kansas City from Liberty Memorial Tower
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GEODIS Park Stadium Tour (Nashville)
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DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh Downtown
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Gateway Arch St. Louis
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Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Convention Center
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Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum (Pittsburgh)
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Hampton Inn & Suites Albany Downtown
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Riding the TECO Line Streetcar in Tampa
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National World War I Museum (Kansas City)
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Car Rental Review – Hertz Kansas City Airport (MCI) – Ford Explorer
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Brightline Premium Lounge West Palm Beach
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Madame Tussauds New York
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Top of the Rock Observation Deck
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Museum of Graffiti (Miami)
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Senator John Heinz History Center Pittsburgh
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Hampton Inn @Aviation Plaza Linden (New Jersey)
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TWA Museum Kansas City
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Hampton Inn & Suites Poughkeepsie
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Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (Nashville)
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Sleep Inn & Suites Tampa South
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High-Speed Train Rides in Florida with Brightline
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Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience (New York City)
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Brightline Premium Lounge Miami
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Madame Tussauds Nashville
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Riding the Kansas City Streetcar
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Glen Campbell Museum
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Car Rental Review – Alamo Nashville Airport (BNA) – Toyota Camry
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Red Roof Plus+ Nashville Airport
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Hampton Inn & Suites Kansas City Downtown/Crossroads
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Paola Inn and Suites (Paola, KS)
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New Bedford Whaling Museum
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Car Rental Review – Avis Nashville Airport (BNA) – GMC Acadia
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Tennessee State Capitol (Nashville)
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Ryman Auditorium Self-Guided Tour
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Museum at Bethel Woods – The Original Site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival
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Comfort Inn Nashville – Opryland Area
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Patsy Cline Museum (Nashville)
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Johnny Cash Museum (Nashville)
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The VIP Circle Room Experience at the Grand Ole Opry
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Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Marion (MWA)
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Adria Hotel & Conference Center (Queens, NY)
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Cooter’s Place Nashville
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Tennessee Judiciary Museum Nashville
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Watching the New York Islanders at UBS Arena
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Marconi Automotive Museum & Foundation
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Lyon Air Museum Santa Ana
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Henry B. Plant Museum Tampa
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Computer History Museum (Mountain View CA)
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USS Requin – A Submarine in Pittsburgh
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Pinball Hall of Fame (Las Vegas)
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Smithsonian’s National Zoo (Washington)
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Visiting T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas (Vegas Golden Knights)
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Nelson, Nevada – A Ghost Town
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Star Alliance Lounge Los Angeles Airport (LAX)
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Planespotting at In-N-Out Burger Los Angeles Airport
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Andy Warhol Museum Pittsburgh
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The Bourbon Room / Rock of Ages Hollywood
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Visiting PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh)
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Hampton Inn & Suites Schererville
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Fairfield Inn & Suites Indianapolis Downtown
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American Airlines Boeing 777 Flagship Business Class
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Replay Amusement Museum (Tarpon Springs – Florida)
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American Airlines Flagship Lounge New York JFK (now: Greenwich Lounge)
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National Postal Museum (Washington)
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Tina Turner Museum (West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center)
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Lookout Mountain Incline Railway (Chattanooga, TN)
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Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Airport
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Hilton Garden Inn Tupelo
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The View of DC – The Observation Deck at CEB Tower Arlington
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Flying with Southern Airways Express
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Very Important Postings – July to December 2018
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Christmas at SeaWorld Orlando
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Gulliver’s Gate – a Miniature World at Times Square
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BA 1 – British Airways’ Most Exclusive Intercontinental Experience
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Georgia Aquarium – Not only about Fish
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