SOUNDTRACK: WEAKERTHANS-World Cafe Live, December 5, 2007 (2007).
I really like the Weakerthans, and they are surprisingly unknown here in the States. I say surprisingly because they write exceptionally catchy (almost absurdly poppy) songs which would fit on many radio stations’ playlists. But what sets them apart is John K. Samson’s lyrics which are clever and interesting and about people and loss (maybe that’s why they never made it down here).
This World Cafe set came about shortly after the release of their last studio album, Reunion Tour. David Dye asks some great questions (I’ve never really seen/heard any interviews with them, so it’s all new to me) and the band plays three songs from the album.
We learn that Reunion Tour was initially inspired by Edward Hopper paintings (and the whole album was going to be devoted to Hopper until Samson grew sensible again). We also learn the official pronunciation of the recurring cat on the Weakerthans albums is Virtute (Vir-too-tay) which comes from the city of Winnipeg’s crest.
They play “Night Windows,” “Civil Twilight” (and talk about the video, which I watched and it’s very cool), and “Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure.” The interesting things about the Weakerthans is that they don’t sound all that different live than on record. So, these songs aren’t terribly revelatory. There are some effects that are changed, and the tempos feel slightly different as well. But nevertheless, the songs sound great. The only problem is that the set seems mixed rather loudly, so there’s distortion (unintended, I assume) on some of the tracks.
Nevertheless, this is a great introduction to a relatively unknown band.
[READ: April 19, 2011] Five Dials Number 2
After just one issue, Five Dials has already lied to us. In Number One, they said that all of the artwork would be black and white, but here is Number 2, and we have a host of beautiful color pictures (perhaps they only meant that Number 1 would be in black and white). Of course, I’m only teasing them because the color pictures are really nice, and they really bring a new aspect to the magazine.
Number Two is a bit larger than Number 1 (twenty pages). This issue has a vague sort of theme as well (it’s unclear if the issues will be thematic in the future), but this one has a general theme of adventure/nature/environmentalism.
CRAIG TAYLOR-A Letter from the Editor: “On Trees and Themes”
Although he says that Five Dials is not a place to come for themes (themes tend to crumble if examined too closely), this issue will have vague sense of the outdoors.
RICHARD REYNOLDS-Currentish Events: “We Do Not Use the Word Lightly”
This is an article from the POV of Reynolds, a guerrilla gardener. He and his team go to different urban landscapes and plant flowers and shrubs and tend to their needs. All of this is strictly illegal as it is public property. In the article, he is actually harassed by the cops for digging up a traffic island. Will he fight back or face arrest? This was surprisingly exciting.
ALISON MACLEOD-A Single Book: Brighton Rock
This very amusing article looks at how much Southern FM radio is sounding like a chapter from Brighton Rock. In this case, the radio is giving listeners a chance to win cash by following rhymed clues. (Sounds like fun, actually), and the tie in to the book (which I’ve never heard of) is quite great.
JAY GRIFFITHS-Dispatch: “Ancient Trees, Ancient Knowledge”
Jay Griffiths is an environmentalist (and has a piece in The Universal Sigh). He writes about the wisdom of forests.
ROBERT MACFARLANE-A Remembrance “The Latter-Day Thoreau”
MacFarlane also has an article in The Universal Sigh. This article is a remembrance of Roger Deakin. Deakin was a fascinating man who lived like Thoreau but for real. He built a house with open windows and doors which let nature in’; he also had a moat in which he swam laps.
ROGER DEAKIN-Dispatch: “On Roydon Fen”
This is a piece from Deakin himself in which he bemoans the loss of the natural world. But his style is not whiny, it is more bemused.
ARTHUR BRADFORD-Fiction: “Travels with Paul”
This is a weird little story about driving with Paul, a guy who hasn’t slept for days. At first Paul drives the car (!). Eventually the narrator takes over, but Paul is just as distracting in the passenger seat. It’s a funny story, more crazy funny than ha ha funny.
BENJAMIN MARKOVITS-“A Change of Climate,” “Cantelice”
Two nice poems.
ALAIN DE BOTTON-Help Pages: “The Agony Uncle”
De Botton continues with his excellent advice. This question is about feeling dissatisfied because he has moved to a wealthier district and everyone else (including himself). But his neighbors have even more. De Botton’s advice is quiet sound.
RAYMOND CHANDLER-How to Write a Letter
These (excerpts from) letters from Raymond Chandler are fascinating. They are all to Hamish “Jamie” Hamilton, Chandler’s UK publisher and close friend. I’ve never read any Chandler (shocking!), but these letters were very interesting.
VLADIMIR V TCHERNAVIN-The HH Archive: “I Speak for the Silent”
Looking back to 1935. This is a short piece in which Tchernavin speaks up for the prisoners of the Soviet system. It seemed to him that all of the prisoners just accepted their lot, playing dominoes and “teaching” the new prisoners how to do things. It’s a fascinating insight.
LAURA OLDFIELD FORD-illustrations
These are very cool drawing with washes of color on them. They’re very dramatic.
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Five Dials Number 2 continues with the excellence that was in Number One. This is really a wonderful magazine. It was an unexpected treat to stumble upon it.
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