Fiction Friday (41)

Well, my previous plan to read more, detailed in the last Fiction Friday post, went horribly ascue. Rather than place the blame on any action of my own, I've decided to blame the baby and her need to cuddle at bedtime, as well as a week spent in L.A. with a bed that had no reading light and a busy schedule of things to see and do. Then again, let's face it, it's also been my fault. But last week I did manage to finish the book I started weeks and weeks ago. It was a slower read than expected, mostly because I found myself unable to complete be immersed in the story. I can understand why there was a reluctance to publish this one, though I'm glad it was.

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
(HarperCollins, 2015)

Originally written in the '50s, this was Harper Lee's original submission, before she wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. The manuscript was thought to have been lost, but suddenly turned up a few years back. It is rumored that Harper was not in any state to approve the publication, yet it was published anyway, which is notable seeing as how it changes many long-held perceptions of the characters in To Kill A Mockingbird.

This book follows Scout, now in her 20's and using her given name Jean Louise, as she returns home for a visit after living in NYC to attend school. Upon returning, she finds that the South has changed in her absence. In a classic "you-can-never-go-home-again" style, Scout (she will always be Scout to me) discovers that a lifetime of childhood experiences may not be what they once seemed.

Her discovery comes during a powerful scene where she watches her father, the much-beloved and respected Aticus, and Henry, the man she loves, attend a meeting of town leaders discussing why the recent Supreme Court ruling of desegregation needs to be circumvented in order to keep the African American population in their place and preserve Southern culture. The racism she encounters makes physically ill as her image of the two men who mean the most to her is shattered.

While the examination of systematic racism, as well as state's rights vs. federal overreach, are fascinating, I felt the character development was too Hemingway for my taste. The entire book was too Hemingway for my taste, with so much happening subtly. My favorite parts were certainly the flashback scenes of Scout and Jem, which I suspect were the publisher's favorite parts when the manuscript was first submitted and which is probably why To Kill A Mockingbird was written.

An enjoyable read, if not altogether enthralling. It's not really a surprise that the author never sought to publish this, despite it's merit. 

Record Store Day 2016 (An Edtion of Weekend Music Roundup)

So this year more than others, I was really looking forward to Record Store Day. It seemed as if there were more specific releases that I was looking for this year, where in past years, there really wasn't all that much that came out that I wanted, though I always made a point to visit a record store and buy more vinyl than I should. This year I purchased more than I probably ever should on one day and have since instituted a self-imposed ban on record shopping for the next several months. 

I was able to find most of the RSD releases that were on my list. Was lucky to score the Ol' Dirty Bastard and The Bevis Frond records, and shocked that anyone near here had the Manic Street Preachers record. But for me, the day is also about supporting the indie stores and not be too conservative about what I spend. 

There are now three indie record stores in my town, and I visited all three. In addition to the RSD hoopla, they were having other promotions. The one store had 25% off all used vinyl, another had 50% off all vintage vinyl, and the third moved a bunch of records into their $1 bin for the day. Needless to say, I went a little crazy.

 Above are my $1 records. The Dylan, Monkees and Hank were missing from the collection, and took a change on Eddie and Boz. Dead or Alive is new wave bliss.

 Some newer records for sale, and New York Dolls for $10! The Earth, Mars Volta, Arctic Monkeys and Broadcast records were great deals.

Lastly, some vintage vinyl that I couldn't resist.

Of course, reviews to come in future weeks, but for this weekend, I'm just going to be spinning wax and relaxing. Enjoy, and remember to always buckle up your vinyl.

11.22.63

The other day, I finished watching the Hulu original mini-series 11.22.63, produced by J.J. Abrams and Stephen King, based on the novel by King. I hadn't read the book, so I can in no way comment about the book vs. film debate that so many of us love to have in such circumstances, but I can say that I did enjoy the show. Then again, it should be noted that I pretty much enjoy James Franco in whatever he does.

Over the past decade, J.J. Abrams has positioned himself as a master of creating intrigue and tension while flirting with pseudo-intellectual concepts. This project was right up his alley, one where a closet in a dinner is a secret porthole into the past, specifically 1960, and no matter how long one stays, when they return, it is always 15 minutes later. It's one of those ideas that is incredibly fun to think about and wonder what you would do if you had access to it. 

The story that King chose to explore was preventing the assassination of JFK in Dallas, which means the person would have to spend three years in the past. There are many head scratchers for me as to why this would be the course of action. First is the assumption that saving JFK would prevent Vietnam. Possibly, but not a very concrete line goes from one to the other. Secondly, why an event that is so shrouded in doubt? For the mini-series, that point at least made for something that needed doing in those three years. It was such a flimsy notion, that I suppose it works for the main character, because anyone willing to do it would have to be someone with nothing to stop them from leaving their life behind, which is where Franco's character is at the start of it. 

The pacing of the show was excellent, and balanced enough twists to keep you interested from beginning to end. The exploration of Oswald's character was well-done, as was the out-of-time love story. It all leads up to a fantastic last episode, full of unexpected turns that really capitalize on the imaginative scope of the main story idea. For someone who doesn't get to watch a lot of television these days, it was 8 hours well spent.

Weekend Music Roundup

As I've been promising for some time, this is finally the week of new releases. Having cleared through my vinyl buys of the past several weeks, I focused my listening attention to new albums, some eagerly anticipated, others unexpected, and still more simple curiosity based on past habits. As one might expected, the list is heavy on indie folk, psychedelic folk, and indie psych, which have long been my favorite genres of music. Definitely some quality finds here, so hopefully you will check out something and give it a go. Enjoy.

The Lumineers - Cleopatra: The long-awaited follow-up to the Denver band's breakout debut was finally released this week. It is a continuation of their indie folk, americana sound in tradition of '60s and '70s artists. I've been digging the first single, "Ophelia" for the past couple weeks as it's on heavy rotation on my local independent radio station.  It's pretty standard indie folk, with a handful of standout moments that make it worthwhile. "My Eyes," "White Lie," and "Where the Skies Are Blue" are my favorites, along with the lead single.

Sam Beam and Jessica Hoop - Love Letter For Fire: In lieu of any new Iron & Wine material in the past three years, I had to check out the new collaborative album from Sam and singer songwriter Jessica Hoop. The two voices work great together, trading off solos between duets within each song. This is one of those lazy afternoon indie folk records. "Midas Tongue," "Know the Wild That Wants You," are as good as any Iron & Wine song from the last two wonderful albums.

Wavelength - Folk Magic: This is the Belgian band's demo, recorded last year and available for a name your own price download on their Bandcamp site, which I definitely recommend. Reminiscent of Black Mountain this is a mixture of heavy psych and folk music that is pretty incredible. They also manage to create an ethereal world, much like Natural Snow Buildings has, but without drone elements. It is only five songs, but three of them of are of significant length. I look forward to whatever comes in the future. 

Woods - City Sun Eater in the River of Light: Over the last half decade or so, the psychedelic folk band has become one of my favorites in the genre. In the same strain as Skygreen Leopards, these guys create a folk sound inspired by '60s freak out and psychedelic pop. There's something delicate about these songs, as if they were made of blown glass, it's hard to describe, but it makes them brilliant. Easily their best album as they just keep getting better and better. One of my favorites of the year so far.

The Dandy Warhols - Distortland: In the late '90s, the Portland indie band made some of the catchiest records of the era. Then came the next decade where they continued to make albums, though they seemed misguided in ways. Their 10th album comes four years after their last effort and it doesn't stray far from the sound they've established for more than two decades. With the revival of their one time colleagues turned rivals, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, I'd hoped the same might be true for the Dandies. There's a mellower vibe that flows throughout, which serves them well these days. "Give," and "Doves" are beautiful examples of their brand of subtle psychedelia. "Catcher in the Rye," and "All the Girls in London" feel like traditional Warhols. A nice little record, worthy of a try for fans. 

White Denim - Stiff: The Austin indie psych band's seventh album was released last week. I tuned into this band during their early days and was attracted to their garage psych vibe. While that vibe still exists on tracks like "Mirrored in Reverse," they've taken on more of a bluesy soul sound this time around, reminding me a bit of Dirt Bombs with more a guitar rock edge to them. A very enjoyable listen, very up tempo. Good summertime rock n' roll. "Real Deal Momma," "Holda You," and "Take It Easy" are also very good tracks along with "Mirrored in Reverse."

Travels in Interzone

My dreams of late have been highly evolved, often having me traverse large regions of the Interzone. I've come across sections both familiar and previously unexplored. During my waking hours, when thinking about these recent travels, I've found myself recalling various dream locations, some of which are from dreams I had years and years ago. 

Given the nature of dream logic, it's never really easy to describe the plot in a coherent way. Many times the plot unravels before your very eyes while the dream is in production. The threads lead in different directions, pulling you along for the ride. While plot is usually fleeting, one thing that I find to be very vivid is location. Sometimes I can't remember what I was doing, but I can remember the house I was in, or the strange area of a city that never really existed but is rather a patchwork real and imagined places. 

The other day it struck me that some of these imagined elements most likely come from reading and the visual images conjured up from stories. It would explain the familiarity of the seemingly foreign. Not to mention the fact that I've encountered more unique places through reading, and the thousands of settings that I've written into existence, than I've been to in real life. I don't know why this never occurred to me before. It seems so obvious. Anyway, I've been enjoying thinking about it the past few days as I try to get a better understanding of the geography of Interzone.

Weekend Music Roundup

As I roundup the week, I sit at my window watching how spring has turned once again to winter. But despite the weather, the calendar keeps turning and Spring music releases are in full swing as we gear up for Record Store Day in a couple of weeks. This was one of those weeks that I went for quality on my list, choosing to spend more time on less albums. There were two new releases that I'd been looking forward to, along with a few L.A. holdovers. There are more new albums lined up for next week, so don't fret. Hopefully there's something here you might want to check out. Enjoy.

The Last Shadow Puppets - Everything You've Come to Expect: The long-awaited follow-up to Alex Turner and Miles Kane's 2008 collaborative effort is finally out, eight years after the original. This album clearly shows the growth that has come through in Alex's style, already apparent on the last Arctic Monkeys record. The first album was good, but felt like a lot of theater was involved. In a way, that was the appeal, but as he grows more confident, there seems to be less need to create an image. As a result, the music speaks for itself and doesn't attempt to confine itself into being this or that. Definitely in the same vibe as AM, so if you liked that, definitely look into this. 

Yeasayer - Amen & Goodbye: The fourth album from the Brooklyn neo-psych band is their first in four years, and the time off has served them extremely well. I loved their debut and the follow-up, but by the third album, they had grown somewhat stale. This album sees them take new directions, with a variety of new influences clearly represented in the upbeat sound. While catchy, and at times even dance worthy, it never veers away from their psychedelic roots. There are Pink Floyd moments on here, Flaming Lips moments, and some Hot Chip moments, making for an interesting record. "Cold Night," "Half Asleep," "Gerson's Whistle," and "I Am Chemistry" are standout tracks on this terrific release.

Dead Child - Dead Child: The 2007 debut EP from the short-lived metal band containing members of Slint and Tortoise. I've had their only full-length on CD since it came out in 2008 and have always enjoyed it. On my recent trip to L.A., I came across this rarity on vinyl and snatched it up. Combining various metal and hard rock elements from the '80s, they manage to play some kick-ass metal. Screeching vocals, pounding beats and steady riffs define each song. "Never Bet the Devil Your Head," which also appears on their album, is pretty flawless. Worth checking out if you like bands like Enforcer.

The Struts - Everybody Wants: Since it's release in 2014, the Derby glam band's debut has seen a steady and straight rise in popularity. It's one of those rare things in the music world these days, the slow build through touring and word of mouth allowing an album to continue to find new audience without the hype machine working overtime It was the exact opposite for The Darkness band these guys emulate in a way. That band was so hyped that they never really could live up to the expectations and crashed and burned. These guys are more solid band, with more substance and better song crafting. They are at their best when they are channeling Queen and '80s glam, but too often they fall into a contempo rock radio hole and come out sounding like Fall Out Boy.

Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die: One the great psychedelic blues bands of the late '60s, highlighted by the talents of Steve Winwood and Dave Mason, Traffic recorded some of the most memorable songs of the era. This is the one album from their heyday in which Mason does not appear, which is probably why it features guitar far less and leans more on progressive folk. Certainly not their best, but still quite good and worth picking up if just to hear another side of the band. 

The New Reich

Last week I started work on my first brand-new manuscript in almost three years. After some life-related issues, I'd chosen to focus exclusively on revising manuscripts for the past two years, with varying degrees of success and failure. The reasons for this were two-fold. First, I wanted to prove to myself that I could complete what I'd started. Too often in life, it has been easy to abandon things that felt too hard, or too overwhelming. The other reason was more complicated. Though I have a ton of story ideas stored away, I didn't have any stories that felt dear to me, or important. I began to wonder if I had anything left to tell teenagers that would be of value.

This election cycle has changed that. Over the past several months, we've seen the worst aspects of society emerge in dangerous ways. As I started to think about what that could mean for our world, or more importantly for the world that is left to my baby daughter, I realized I did have something to say that was meaningful. I don't want to write anything that is preachy, but I want to portray a realistic vision of the consequences if these aspects continue to gain momentum. My goal isn't really to force an opinion, but rather to make young people think about what's going on and consider the implications of these beliefs. It is they who must draw opinions and make the choice to no allow these beliefs to take hold in their own lives.

I've only just begun working on it, but so far I think I've found the right tone. Wish me luck in completing this story in the way I envision.