Periodical–Prospect

I recently received an e-mail from a nice person at Prospect (a British magazine).  The email asked if I’d like to review their magazine.  After being completely flattered, I said, “Of course!”  And then I waited nervously hoping that the magazine was good and that I wouldn’t have to say anything mean about it, because [...]

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David Foster Wallace–comments in The Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus (2004)

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-Trouble Every Day [soundtrack] (2001).
This is the second soundtrack that Tindersticks made for director Clair Denis.  This disc is rather unlike Nenette Et Boni, in that this soundtrack is much more stark.  There are several moments on the disc where there is nothing but silence for several seconds.   “Core on Stairs” features a bass [...]

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Periodical: Public Libraries

Public Libraries is the magazine you get when you belong to the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association.  As you might gather, this division is for public librarians.
Like American Libraries, this magazine starts with a letter from the President of PLA.    But it’s the Tales from the Front section that I [...]

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David Foster Wallace–”Fictional Futures and the Conspicuously Young” (The Review of Contemporary Fiction Vol. 8, No. 3, 1988)

SOUNDTRACK: FIONA APPLE-When the Pawn… (1999).
I learned about Fiona Apple from CMJ New Music Monthly before her debut came out.  I was convinced she was just another pretty thing with little talent. But then I heard “Shadowboxer” and I was really impressed by the depth of her voice.  When I got the album, I was [...]

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Douglas Coupland–City of Glass (2000 & Revised Edition 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: DANKO JONES-Never Too Loud (2008).
Danko Jones is a hard and fast rock band, with a one track mind and a straightforward sound.  They deal in excessive cliches (album titles include: Sleep is the Enemy, We Sweat Blood, Never Too Loud, etc) and play mostly short songs.  And despite all that apparent negativity, I enjoy [...]

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Periodical: American Libraries

You get American Libraries magazine if you’re a member of the American Library Association.  So you can see that the audience is rather specific.
A lot of the magazine is advocating for librarians (and for librarians to attend the annual ALA conference).  (The word advocacy appears about 200 times in each issue).
The magazine opens with letters [...]

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David Foster Wallace Book Reviews (1990-2004)

SOUNDTRACK: THE SMITHS-Whistle Test on the Road - Live at Derby Assembly Rooms, 9 December 1983. (VH1, BBC CROWN JEWELS: October 2009).
I was delighted to see this on my TiVo queue.  I have the Smith’s Rank disc, but I’ve never actually seen them live in any format.  And this show is from 1983!  Who even knows why they filmed [...]

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Periodical: The Walrus

I found out about The Walrus while watching an interview with Noah Richler on Book Television (back when I had Canadian satellite).  During the interview, they mentioned that the first issue of this cool new magazine, The Walrus, had just come out.  I was very intrigued; amazingly, the local Barnes & Noble had a copy! [...]

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Mark Connors & David Foster Wallace–Signifying Rappers: Rap and Race in the Urban Present (1990)

SOUNDTRACK: SCHOOLLY D-Smoke Some Kill (1988).
Since this disc is featured so prominently in Signifying Rappers (and the book is named after the best track on this disc) I thought I’d dust it off and listen to it again.  I got this disc probably in 1989 at the suggestion of my friend Al.  He recommended “No [...]

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David Foster Wallace–Federer as Religious Experience (New York Times, August 20, 2006)

SOUNDTRACK: SONIC YOUTH-The Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities (2006).
It’s hard to imagine what gets relegated to a Sonic Youth B-side.  Not that they are indiscriminate in their selections, but unlike many bands, their discs (as of late) haven’t been all that long, so it’s not like they couldn’t squeeze the extra track on there). Of [...]

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