Evany Thomas–The Secret Language Of Sleep (2006)

SOUNDTRACK: BLUE OYSTER CULT-Spectres (1977).
Let’s face it, Blue Oyster Cult are silly. If I didn’t know better I would swear that Spinal Tap is a takeoff on them. And yet, they have such well regarded people associated with them: Patti Smith; Michael Moorcock! I first got into BOC because of MTV. Back when MTV [...]

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Lemony Snicket–Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can’t Avoid (2007)

SOUNDTRACK: THE WHO-A Quick One (1966) & Sell Out (1967) & Tommy (1969) & The Kids Are Alright (1979) & Quadrophenia (1973).
When I was in grammar school I loved The Who. I’d say Rush and The Who were the two cornerstones that I built my music appreciation on. Then as I [...]

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Shalom Auslander– “Save Us” & David Sedaris– “This Old House” & Stuart Dybek– “If I Vanished” (2007) [was: Various--Three New Yorker Stories]

SOUNDTRACK: NADA SURF-Let Go (2002) & The Weight is a Gift (2005).
Let Go. Something happened between Nada Surf’s 2nd and third album, I don’t know what, exactly, but they really made some great material with these two albums. Let Go introduces a new jangly guitar style that makes the band softer and catchier, but which [...]

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J.K. Rowling–Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows (2007)

SOUNDTRACK: THE DECEMBERISTS-Castaways and Cutouts (2002) & Her Majesty (2003) & Picaresque (2005) & 5 Songs (2003) & Billy Liar [single] (2004) & The Tain (2004).

The Decemberists were, in fact, the soundtrack for this book. The last 250 pages were accompanied by the entire Decemberists catalog [excepting The Crane Wife, which was out in the [...]

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[Paused] Zadie Smith–On Beauty (2005)

SOUNDTRACK: STEELY DAN-Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972) & Countdown to Ecstasy (1973) & Pretzel Logic (1974) & Katy Lied (1975) & The Royal Scam (1976) & Aja (1977) & Gaucho (1980).
My theory about Steely Dan is that they are the definition of Adult music. No one under the age of 25 should listen to [...]

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What I learned… (9) [Harry Potter]

I have learned that there is no way I am going to finish Zadie Smith’s On Beauty before Harry Potter comes out Saturday.  I don’t want to make it sound like I am a crazed HP fan, because although I do really enjoy the books, I’m not dressing up or going to release parties or [...]

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Jasper Fforde–The Fourth Bear (2006)

SOUNDTRACK: GUSTER-Lost and Gone Forever (1999) & Keep It Together (2003).
These two records are a one-two punch of absolute greatness. If there were musical justice, we’d be sick of both of these records from being overplayed so much. There’s not a bad song, and at least three killer singles, on each one.
Lost and [...]

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Pagan Kennedy–Confessions of a Memory Eater (2006)

SOUNDTRACK: GUSTER-Parachute (1995) & Goldfly (1997).
I have seen Guster twice live, and since then I have become a huge fan of the band. The first time, they opened for Tori Amos, and I didn’t pay them too much attention, but I liked what I heard (this would have been for their Goldfly album). [...]

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McSweeney’s #21(2006)

SOUNDTRACK: THE ATARIS-So Long, Astoria (2003) & THE STARTING LINE-Say It Like You Mean It (2002).
THE ATARIS-So Long, Astoria. I am only reviewing this CD because of the circumstances in which I acquired it. Driving out of my driveway this morning, I was surprised by a shiny thing in my lawn. It turned out to [...]

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McSweeney’s #18 (2006)

SOUNDTRACK: NADA SURF-High/Low (1996) & The Proximity Effect (1998).
High/Low. This CD features the “novelty” hit “Popular” from some years back, you remember, the spoken word bit about trying to impress your high school sweetheart by washing your hair “every two weeks, once, every two weeks.” The song is pretty great, even after the novelty factor [...]

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