Stephen King–”Premium Harmony” (New Yorker, November 9, 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: SONIC-YOUTH-the eternal (2009).
It was the release of this disc that inspired me to see what they’ve been up to since the 80s.  And, sometimes it’s really fun to root through a band’s back catalog to see what kind of progression they’ve made over the years.
There are three things that set this disc apart from  [...]

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Jonathan Lethem-”Procedure in Plain Air” (New Yorker, October 2, 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: KATE BUSH-Never for Ever (1980).
With this disc, Kate Bush totally blew me away.  The leap from Lionheart to Never for Ever is monumental.  And Never for Ever was the first record by a solo British female to go to number 1.  Even 29 years later, this album still sounds fresh, current, a little bonkers, [...]

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Tessa Hadley–”The Godchildren” (New Yorker, October 12, 2009)

SOUNDTRACK-KATE BUSH-The Kick Inside (1978).
For the longest time, Kate Bush was my soundtrack for reading.  There was something about her voice and her musical style that I felt was conducive to reading (must be the Wuthering Heights connection).
This, her first record, was recorded when Kate was 19, and now that I’m older (and have heard [...]

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David Foster Wallace–possible excerpts from The Pale King: ["Three Fragments from a Longer Thing" (2000); "Good People" (New Yorker, February 5, 2007); "The Compliance Branch" (Harper's, February 2008); "Wiggle Room" and "Irrelevant Bob" (New Yorker, March 9, 2009)]

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-Live at the Botanique, 9th-12 May 2001 (2001).
This is called an “official bootleg.”  It must be very rare as I can’t even find a picture of it online.  My friend Lar must have gotten it for me, as I have never seen the band live and it was (apparently) only available at their shows.  [...]

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Javier Marias–”While the Women Are Sleeping” (New Yorker, November 2, 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-Simple Pleasure (1999).
Tindersticks changed a bit with this disc.  And it’s evident from the moment the opening track kicks in: “Can We Start Again” is the most upbeat (musically) song they’ve ever done.  (Even if lyrically it’s not exactly puppies and rainbows).  And it is a truly magnificent song.  The next track, “If You’re [...]

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Chris Ware–”Unmasked” (New Yorker, November 2, 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERTSICKS-”curtains” (1997).
“Rented Rooms” from Curtains is another one of my favorite songs. It is dark yet sensual at the same time: “We had to go find somewhere else more… you know.”  The disc itself works similarly to their first two discs.  It’s not as long, and is a little less dynamic.  But it is [...]

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Ian Frazier–”Fanshawe” (New Yorker, November 2, 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: KATHLEEN EDWARDS-Asking for Flowers (2008).
I first heard of Kathleen Edwards because of her duet with John Doe on “The Golden State.”  I thought her voice was great and I wanted to hear more.  I picked this album because it was her newest.
My first impression was mild.  I thought initially, great, I’ve gotten yet another [...]

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Christine Schutt-”Prosperous Friends” (Harper’s, November 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS: Tindersticks [the black and white one] (1995).
This second album (often called II, but according to the band, is called Tindertsticks) continues the coolness of the first disc.  But this disc seems to have a few more “singles” (or what could have been singles) on it.  “A Night In” has a great slow building, [...]

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George Saunders–”Victory Lap” (New Yorker, October 5, 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: PLACEBO-Battle for the Sun (2009).
I’ve been a fan of Placebo since their first disc came out (I had to hunt it down after reading a great review in Q magazine).  Imagine my surprise when they took off with their next album and the huge single “Every You Every Me.”
Battle for the Sun is their [...]

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Julian Barnes–”Complicity” (New Yorker, October 19, 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: JILL SOBULE-Underdog Victorious (2004).
After ordering California Years, I saw that she had released this disc, Underdog Victorious, which I had never heard of.  Then I found it used for pretty cheap.  The most exciting thing about the disc is that there’s a crossword puzzle (that is largely about Jill herself) done by Will Shortz [...]

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