Louis De Bernières–”The Girt Pike” (Prospect, November 2009)

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-can our love… (2001).
After Simple Pleasure, Tindersticks continued in this looser, less chamber-pop vein.  This disc features more organ fueled songs.  And– in something of a departure–they made many of the songs quite long (two are over seven minutes, one is almost nine!).  You could almost say these are jams, but that would give [...]

Read Full Post »

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.  [...]

Read Full Post »

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 [...]

Read Full Post »

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 [...]

Read Full Post »

David Foster Wallace–”Order and Flux in Northampton” (Conjunctions No. 17, Fall 1991)

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-Bloomsbury Theatre 12.3.95 (1995).
This is a rare and out of print live CD from an early Tindersticks show.  My friend Lar found it used for me in Ireland (thank you!).  But it turns out he found it for me about a week before it was reissued as a bonus disc with the Second Tindersticks [...]

Read Full Post »

Donald Barthelme–”The Balloon” from Unspeakable Practices, Unnatural Acts (1968)

SOUNDTRACK:  TINDERSTICKS-What is a Man (2000).
This is a soundtrack to a TV mini-series called The Sins (which I know nothing about).  The song (for there is only one) is a cover of a Four Tops song (which I do not know).  The “B-side” is an instrumental version of said song.
And, sadly, that’s all that comes [...]

Read Full Post »

Comic Book Tattoo (2008)

SOUNDTRACK: TORI AMOS-Abnormally Attracted to Sin (2009).
It’s been almost a decade since I was blown away by a Tori Amos album.  I feel like she has really been so engaged in the concept of her albums, that she has lost track of the tunes.  And while I don’t hate anything she’s done in the last [...]

Read Full Post »

David Foster Wallace–”/Solomon Silverfish/” (Sonora Review no. 16, Fall 1987)

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-Nénette et Boni [soundtrack] (1996).
After releasing two albums of atmospheric brilliance, Tindersticks were called upon to score the music for the film Nénette et Boni.
And this disc answers the question of whether it is Stuart Staples’ voice that is the driving force behind the band.  And the answer is, indeed not.  This disc is [...]

Read Full Post »

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, [...]

Read Full Post »

McSweeney’s #32

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-Tindersticks [the red one] (1993).
Tindersticks are a fascinating band.  The first distinctive thing about them is Stuart Staples’ voice: a deep rich bass that he uses almost like a whisper.  The second thing you notice is the music.  It’s an orchestral/chamber pop collection of dark rockers with fantastic moodiness to it.  And then you [...]

Read Full Post »