SOUNDTRACK: BIDINIBAND-The Land Is Wild (2009).
Dave Bidini was a driving force behind Rheostatics. Although when I think of the band, I think of Martin Tielli’s wackiness and Tim Vesely’s hits, which kind of makes Bidini the sort of stable, middle of the road guy. But I don’t think that’s right either as Bidini has both a wacky side and a hit-making side. But this “solo” project focuses mainly on Bidini’s storytelling skills. Most of the songs are little narratives, which is always enjoyable.
“Desert Island Poem” is actually a story of the dissolution of the Rheostatics–when they survived a plane crash in Drumhella and ate the drummer. “Memorial Day” surprises because of the clarinet solo (which works wonderfully). “We Like to Rock” and “Song Ain’t Any Good” are the other kind of song that Bidini writes–songs about playing music. These kind of songs are always dopey and “We Like to Rock” is no exception–I think I ‘d like it more if it weren’t so tinny sounding. “Song Ain’t Any Good” is kind of funny, especially if you get through the whole song, although I don’t know if multiple listens are rewarded.
On the other hand, “The Land is Wild” is a great song about Bidini’s other passion: hockey. This is a lengthy (nearly 7 minute) story about Bryan Fogarty, a young hockey player who was a star at 21 but a forgotten addict by 31. It’s a sad, cautionary tale about how the hockey establishment all but ignored him as he wasted away. “How Zeke Roberts Died” is a very similar song, it’s an 8 minute biography of Liberian singer Zeke Roberts. This song has lead vocals by a variety of singers.
“Last Good Cigarette” is a delightful ditty about smoking with famous people (and it is super catchy–ha-cha!). “Pornography” is a funny political song about George W. Bush that is also quite catchy. And the wonderfully titled, “The Story of Canadiana and Canadiandy” is about living close to America.
Although the album is mostly folky and kind of mellow, “Terrorize Me Now” shows some of Bidini’s more wild guitar noises. And the final song, “The Ballad of 1969” is a great song that is reminiscent of the kind of highs that the Rheos would hit. There’s a bonus untitled song [later called “The List (Killing Us Now)”] which is a simple song of people who have aggrieved him. It’s funny, especially in the live context it is given.
While not as great as a Rheostatics album, this release is like an extension of the band. Bidini has a new album out which I haven’t heard yet, but I’ll certainly be checking it out.
[READ: March 5, 2012] “Haven”
Munro is back (talk about prolific!) and she has created a darkly claustrophobic house in which to place the young protagonist of this story.
The story is set in the seventies. The protagonist is from Vancouver, but her parents are heading off to Africa for a year so they have sent her to live with her Uncle Jasper and Aunt Dawn. Despite this mission to Africa, they are not going there for a missionary purpose, they are going there to teach (and haven’t come across many heathen). They’re also Unitarian. Uncle Jasper, on the other hand, insists on saying grace before meals and gets on the protagonist when she starts eating before the prayers.
It turns out that Uncle Jasper is the man of the house. Aunt Dawn does not begin eating her meal until the discussion of grace is over (after receiving an invisible nod from Jasper). More examples of her deference are given, but the quote that sums up Aunt Dawn (whether she said it or not) is “A Woman’s most important job is making a haven for her man.” Although, given that, Jasper does show her some affection: a gift and some closeness towards the end of the story.
The protagonist is a free spirit and bristles as the restrictions that Jasper has placed on them. But she doesn’t really fight them because the entire community seems to follow the same rules. Jasper is the town’s doctor. Everyone knows and respects him. And when the protagonist has to visit him after wiping out on a bike, she learns that his professional manner is warm and gentle, exactly the opposite of his home manner.
The bike incident could have been trouble–she hadn’t asked to take the bike–but it turns out to be more of a lesson for her. Soon enough, Aunt Dawn says, she’ll have friends and won’t need to go gallivanting around. The quote that follows sums up the situation succinctly and direly: “She was right, both about my acquiring new friends and about the way that that would limit the things I could do.”
The action of the story comes when Aunt Dawn, for once, tries to do something without Jasper knowing. Jasper did not entertain people. Ever. He didn’t like others in his house. When new neighbors move in next door, they invite Jasper and Dawn over for dinner. Jasper accepts and, despite himself, has a nice time. Dawn knows they must reciprocate, but can’t imagine how that would happen.
Around the same time, a string trio is to be performing at the local arts center. It transpires that one of the trio is actually Jasper’s sister. But they are long estranged and do not speak. The neighbors are going to the performance, so Dawn invites the neighbors and the trio over for an after-performance cake and tea (on a night when Jasper is at a dinner).
The party is quite a success until they lose track of time. Jasper doesn’t say anything when he storms in, which makes it all the more worse. Later he reveals that he doesn’t even like music–a waste of time, he says.
The story takes something of a surprising turn (to me). It doesn’t feel safe to reveal the surprise even though it’s not a spoiler kind of surprise. But it shows Jasper remaining truly unemotional in what could be a comic scene but is resolutely not.
Although the story follows the life of Jasper, the heart of the story comes in the middle when the protagonist, while not entirely swayed by Jasper’s way, feels less alienated by it. I can’t help but wonder if that is what her parents anticipated.
Munro’s stories are so real, I can see every detail of this house, and its claustrophobic tidiness. It’s a great story.
I Just Read About That... 
I just finished Lives of Girls and Women and really loathed the book. It was my first actual book read of Alice Munro. I’ve read a ton of her short stories scattered around magazines, but not ever a full book. I was so disappointed. I wonder why. I will check out this New Yorker though because I do love her short fiction.
That’s interesting Cassie. I have never read any of her books, just a ton of her short stories, like you. Of course, with her output I’ll never have time to read any older material, so maybe I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. Thanks for writing.