Fiction Friday (138)

 

I recently picked up a new(ish) YA novel to read, one that seemed to have some positive buzz, and one that had a premise that intrigued me. It was also a debut novel, and I've been trying to read a few more of those these days, attempting to see what this new generation of writers has to say. 

Some Kind of Animal by Maria Romasco-Moore

(Delecorte, 2020)

Fifteen old Jolene lives in a dead mining town in the southern Ohio mountains, just waiting for the day she can escape with her twin sister, a sister nobody knows exists except for her. It turns out there are a lot of things that people in this nowhere town don't know, though it doesn't stop them from believing they do. One night, Jo's sister makes herself known, unraveling the threads of Jo's double life and shattering both of their worlds. 

This debut novel's strength is the ability to pull the reader into the world of it's woods, making something that is very real feel very fantastical. Because the setting and constant threat of danger, the reader is pulled into to the story which, when you step back, is completely implausible. 

I enjoyed reading this, and the imagination of it certainly occupied my thoughts, but I did have problems with it. There was a tendency for the main character to consistently repeat her thoughts on a number of subjects, thoughts that never changed and therefore did not bear repeating. The characters were also pretty unlikable, with the exception of the wild child. There was also no attempt to disguise the hatred of males that weaves throughout the book, which I'm sort of okay with because men are generally horrible. One of the male characters (one who actually does nothing wrong) is actually murdered, a murder that is totally brushed aside. 

This is one of those books that I think the author did their job, but the editor did not.

Weekend Music Roundup

 

Well, another week has passed where I didn't post anything between Roundups, but that's not going to keep me from posting another roundup. This is a pretty random collection of stuff that I've been jamming to recently. It includes a couple of Record Store Day releases, one from each of the two drops. There's some new, some old, and whatever I've been exploring. Keep exploring, that's my motto. Enjoy.

Czarface - Czar Noir: These days Record Store Day releases are typically repackaged and re-issued albums and it's rare that an artist releases new material on that day anymore. Well, not these guys. The NYC outfit led by Wu's Inspectah Deck released a new album along with a comic book. This is an instrumental record with super groovy and interesting beats meant to go along with the comic, which is also a fun read. This is really something for collectors more than for casual music listeners.

Comet Gain - Magnetic Poetry: The second full length album from the 90s Oxford indie band was released in 1997. It was a little odd for an indie band during that time to blend so many varying influences. Generally a lo-fi garage band, clearly inspired by The Jam, as well as northern jangle pop, though far more punk inspired than the more mainstream contemporaries. I really wish I had been clued in to this when it came out, it would have been right up my alley. Still quite enjoyable.  

 

Todd Rundgren - Todd: By the mid-70s, Rundgren had established himself as one of the leading progressive psychedelic pop artists with his solo work and with Nazz. This album was released in '74, a year after his legendary "A Wizard, a True Star" record. Like that album, he continues to explore experimental rock on this double album. This takes some solid listening time to truly see how brilliant it is. It's definitely quirky and surreal, and has flashes of the kind of Blue-Eyed soul and classic rock sounds that always creep into his work. I picked up this double LP for a few dollars to continue my exploration of his work. . "The Last Ride," "Everybody's Going to Heaven," "Number 1 Lowest Common Denominator," "Izzat Love," and "Heavy Metal Kids" are standouts.

 

Andy Bell - All on You EP: Released in June, this EP follows the BritPop icon's debut solo album from last year. Andy has been a member of Ride, Hurricane #1, Beady Eye and Oasis and has been on the forefront of Britpop and British psychedelic pop since the late 80s. This acoustic EP is more toned back than a lot of his more recent projects, but falls in line with some dreamy Ride stuff, though far more lo-fi. Very enjoyable and something long time fans like me can appreciate. 

 

 

Richard Hell and the Voidoids - Destiny Street Demos: A Record Store Day release this year, these are the demos for the NYC punk icons' 1982 follow-up to their '77 debut, Blank Generation. They have moved into the art punk on here, but the demos are still a little rougher and have that Television edge to them. By this time, the music world was moving beyond punk and this album fell between the cracks and is one of the last true NYC punk albums from the first wave of punk. 

 

Grim Reaper - See You in Hell: The second album from the UK band came out in '83, right at the peak of the NWOBHM movement dominated by Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Saxon, and Judas Priest. These guys made their biggest impact with this album which is a blistering example of the genre. Shredding guitars, falsetto vocals, and songs about hell being a winning formula. Certainly not essential, but a nice addition to the collection from one of the better second tier bands. 

Weekend Music Roundup

 

It's that time, and though I've missed a weekend here and there during the sweltering heat of the summer and my desperate attempts to escape to the pool, my music listening hasn't stopped. Yesterday was also the second day of Record Store Day of the year, and I was able to pick up the two releases that I was really looking for. In that spirit, I've included some reviews of items I picked up on the first RSD. Enjoy.

The Sword - Age of Winters: The 2006 debut from the Austin stoner metal band was re-issued on purple wax this year for Record Store Day. This was the one Sword album missing from my collection and was glad the local shop had it on RSD. As with most debut albums, there a rawness to this one that becomes more polished on subsequent albums. That's not a criticism, as I do enjoy a polished sound, but with stoner metal, there's something special about the heathenism and energy that comes through with a raw sound. \nn/

Paice Ashton Lord - Malice in Wonderland: Released in 1977, this is the only album from the UK group consisting of members of other bands, most notably Ian Paice the founding drummer of Deep Purple and early drummer for Whitesnake. I picked this up for a few bucks, mostly because I'll pick up anything Wonderland related, but on top of that, this is a great dirty hard rock album from the age of disco when rock was sleazy and amphetamine groovy. It opens with the fantastic "Ghost Story" and then just gets more drug soaked and interesting. "Arabella," "Sneaky Private Eye," "I'm Gonna Stop Drinking," and the title track are standouts on this solid hard rock album.

 

The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin Companion: Released in '99, The Soft Bulletin was the breakout album for the Oklahoma neo-psych band. This album of outtakes and alternate mixes was originally a burned CD that their manager gave out to friends and fans at the time because they felt there was just so much great unused music. The album was officially released on vinyl for Record Store Day and is definitely worthy of the mythical hype. This is the period where the band perfected their signature sound and these are definitely quality tracks and I'm really glad they finally are available to a wider (albeit not so wide) audience.

 

Otis Redding - The Soul Album: The soul legend's fourth album was his fourth in two years. He was on top of his game. He was the heart and soul of Stax Records. This album was in a FREE crate because the cover was less than perfect, but the wax was fine. There's some pops and cracks, but in all the right places for this kind of record. Songs that make you feel. He would die less than two years later at the age of 26.

 

Supertramp - Breakfast in America: The London prog rock band's sixth album was released 1979, and in edition to being their most popular album, it also has one of the most iconic album covers of all time. By this time, the band had sort of abandoned their prog roots in favor of pop rock, which is probably why this album was so successful. And to be fair, there are a lot of pop rock classics on here, including "Take the Long Way Home," "Logical Song," and the title track. A great example of late 70s rock that holds up and is still an enjoyable listen. 

Rod Steward - An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down: Rod's debut solo album came out in 1970, one month before his first album as a member of Faces. For the longest time, I was big naysayer on Rod the Mod, but over the past few years have really grown to appreciate his talent. He makes music that completely captures the bar room vibe, a blues inspire rock that goes down easily and makes you smile. There are blistering tracks on here, including "Blind Prayer," "Handbags and Gladrags," and "Cindy's Lament."

 

Fiction Friday (137)

 

 

Having been stuck in a loop of contemporary literature, both adult and young adult, primarily due to my librarian responsibilities, I wanted to take a break from that to read a couple of short books as a way of recharging. This book was one gifted to me recently. I met Alan in a writer's group I co-host at the library and find him to be a gifted writer and was excited to read this.

 

The Wedge by Alan M. Weber

(CreateSpace, 2015)

Even the casual observer of American politics would be able to tell you that the political system has been broken for decades, but the more keen observer would be able to present a laundry list of why that is. One of the biggest destroyers in the past 20 years has been the exploitation of wedge issues. Those wedge issues have been hammered so far into the system that they have done their job in splitting everything into two.

This allegorical novel introduces readers to a political science professor who has has enough and devises a plan to fix this broken system. With the help of his best friend, also a political activist, Steven Wellstone creates a campaign driven only on wedge issues, only to speaking populist soundbites made to appeal to whoever he is speaking to at the moment. In the process, he unites fringe groups to create an agenda that very much predicts what would evolve into Trumpism a year after this book was published. Unlike Trump, Steven's plan is to reveal his entire campaign as a farce as well to teach people of how manipulative the system truly is.

It's an interesting concept to consider, one that any political junky would enjoying puzzling over.

Fiction Friday (136)

 

 

My exploration of contemporary literature continues with the latest book by Pulitzer Prize winning author Jane Smiley's new book which came out in December. This was another Book Club book, and one that I was excited to read. It's been a while since I read any "talking animal" literature, probably too long given me affinity for the sub-genre. It's also been awhile since I read a book that so was joyful...something I do actually enjoy every now and then.

Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley

(Knopf 2020)

When a racehorse named Perestroika (Peres) wanders away from the track one evening after a win, taking with her the purse containing money won on her victory, she is simply following her curiosity and the patches of vegetation that lead her eventually the Champ de Mars in the shadow of the Eiffel tower. The filly's unlikely journey leads to a more unlikely adventure with the unlikeliest of friends; an intelligent stray dog named Frida, a raven, two ducks, and lovable rat named Kurt. 

This delightful novel follows these animal friends over the course of an autumn, winter, and spring as they use the money to purchase food and eventually end up living with an eight year boy and his nearly hundred year great-grandma. Smiley invites into the intimate and fascinating world that exists unnoticed by most, and once you've visited, it's unlikely you'll want to leave.

A novel that has a classic feel, told with unquestionable skill.