I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: FUGAZI-13 Songs (1990).

I was so blown away by that first Fugazi disc that I immediately ran out and got this collection of their first two EPs.

The strange thing to me is that even though I enjoy the disc, nothing on it really stands out as all that memorable.  I feel like Repeater was such a strong release that these earlier tracks pale somewhat.

I’ve listened to this disc a number of times over the last few days and nothing really stands up and grabs me like Repeater still does.

I wound up buying two more Fugazi discs after this, but I’m pretty sure the reason I stopped buying their music was from this same feeling: the songs were all good, rocking, indie music, but there was nothing terribly memorable about them.

[READ: April 15, 2010] Stephen Fry in America

I first heard about this book when Stephen Fry appeared on The Late Late Show.  This book was very casually plugged as Fry’s attempt to visit every State in the U.S.  It turns out that this book is the companion piece to a six part BBC TV series of the same title (which I have not seen).  Although the TV series makes the existence of this document much more understandable.  Because although everyone wants to travel to every state in the union, the only way it would ever be accomplished in the fashion is for a TV show (even a book wouldn’t get quite this treatment if there were no TV show).

Stephen Fry was almost born in America (in New Jersey, in fact, where he believes he would have been Steve, rather than Stephen).  And he has always felt a connection to the States.  So, Stephen Fry, (in my head the quintessential Brit) brings a film crew and his classic British Big Black Taxi to see all of the States.  He begins in Maine and travels in an interesting manner, zig-zagging across the country.   He tends to visit the places/events/sites that each state is known for.  And, like any good TV show, he participates in the activities (he lobsters, he rides horses, his deals blackjack) and makes a tit of himself.

What is delightful about the book is Fry’s writing and point of view.  He is very clever and very witty (I’ve always enjoyed his prose, and since this is sort of a memoir, the quips fly fast and furious).  I especially enjoyed the matter of fact way he dismisses religion in the country.  He uses some turns of phrase that undermine all kinds of mysticism with just a few words.  It’s quite a refreshing change of pace given most of the pompous religiosity that we hear all the time.  (And it’s also interesting to see that even he can be moved by religious ceremony).

He presents a wonderful outsider’s viewpoint of things in America.  And yet, he maintains a constant state of delight about his trip.  He likes America, he likes Americans, and he finds that wherever he goes, he is charmed (even by some of the most dreadful places).

The big exception of course is New Jersey (see my gripe) because he only goes to Atlantic City.  But I’m not sure what’s worse, the dis that my home state gets or the major blow off that Ohio and Idaho get.  (I understand that time constraints apply, but come on you can’t blow off Ohio!).

But mostly what you get is a happy look at the differences between people in every state but the sameness of Americans.  He tries to speak with as divergent a cast as possible, and since this is a TV travelogue, he gets to see and do things that the average dweller/visitor might not.  And that’s fine, because it’s not a guide about how-to-see America or even things you must see in America.  However, he also introduced me to a number of things about each state that I did not know.

Each state has a historical tidbit as well as ideas about the state from natives.  So I learned things about Mardi Gras that I did not know.  I learned things about a number of the states that I’d never heard before.  And most importantly, I learned that Utah is beautiful.

Because yes, this book is chock full of gorgeous photographs.  Many of them are funny/candid photos of Stephen looking like a prat in some worker’s outfit (his ability to mock himself is one of the books biggest laugh-getters), but the best pictures are the two-page spreads of gorgeous photos of our beautiful country: mountain ranges, Utah steppes, seascapes, everything.

So, yes, this book becomes more of a coffee table book than anything else.  But it’s also a very good conversation piece.  And now, when someone says they’re from Montana I can asked them how many times they’ve visited Ted Turner’s buffalo ranch.

This book actually works as a great company to State By State.  That book was a very personal insider’s look at the non-touristy elements of our country.  While this one looks at some of the touristy bits from an outsider’s perspective (and an insider’s details).  It fills in gaps (and asks new questions) to create an even more complete picture of our country.  (The photos are better in this one though).