I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: THE WARPED 45’s-“It Takes a Toll” (2010)

The Warped 45’s were being interviewed when I turned on CBC Radio 3.  I couldn’t tell much about them from the interview, so when the DJ played the song, I was somewhat surprised to hear the banjo and alt-country sound.  When coupled with the vocals, they bore an unmistakable resemblance to Cracker.

I’m not a big fan of the alt-country genre.  I like some bands but overall it’s not my preference.  This song was absolutely representative of the genre (as far as I’m concerned).  It did pretty much exactly what I thought it would do.  And for all of  that, it was a good song.  I can’t imagine I’d ever listen to it again, however.

This song comes from the album 10 Day Poem for Saskatchewan, which I mention because I like writing Saskatchewan.

[READ: June 22, 2010] “Own Goal”

The fine folks at the David Foster Wallace listserv were chatting about this piece.  I had started to read it (because I like Wells Tower’s fiction) but I gave up after a paragraph or two.  It just didn’t seem that interesting as a nonfiction story.

And yet, after the discussion, I decided to give it a try.  It is a fascinating story about the Homeless World Cup (in soccer).   The strange thing about the story is that all of the players are homeless and, by their own admissions, pretty much desperate characters. In other words there’s not really any likable characters in this piece.

Even the one guy who makes it to the finals in Melbourne Australia (!) is pretty much of a jerk.  (He, who has gotten kicked out of his house, has the temerity to dis Melbourne as “not being Sydney”).

I didn’t love this piece, but I’m fairly certain that it had more to do with the subject than the writing.  Nevertheless, it was an interesting glimpse into an underworld that I didn’t know existed.

As for his writing, it’s rather rare that a non-fiction piece (that’s not a humor piece) makes me laugh out loud, but he did it.  I’m going to quote that line here.  So, if you’d like to avoid any spoiling, skip the block quote:

And I say, “Mm, mm,” which comes out less as a sympathetic murmur than as noises betokening erotic pleasure or the consumption of good food.

Outstanding, especially in context (which I have removed so you’ll have to read it).

It appears that Wells Tower has written several non-fiction pieces.  I wonder if they’ll get collected soon.  And, no, I haven’t had time to read his short story collection either, but I understand it is outstanding.