I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: NOW, NOW-Tiny Desk Concert #672 (November 15, 2017).

I really enjoyed the Now, Now album Threads.  It had a synthpop feel but with some cool slightly darker elements that kept the listener guessing.  The blurb describes it like this: “Its songs carried in them a weary recognition of how desire and nostalgia linger in the body and mind.”

I had no idea that it was released five years ago.

So I was pleased to see them on the Tiny Desk Concert.

But in the intervening years, their sound has become more poppy with (at least in this recording) many of the darker elements smoothed over somewhat.

Now, Now took the Tiny Desk stage with a minimal setup (dig the sampler as drum kit) that laid the vocals bare, but still lent the songs a room-filling pulse. Among those songs were “SGL” and “Yours,” the two singles that heralded the band’s return this summer (a full five years after Threads, with a pared-down lineup and no album yet announced, though the rumors say next year).

I hadn’t heard those singles.  But they are poppy and KC Dalager’s voice has become much more breathy.  Bradley Hale’s synths are very bouncy and sort of 1970s-sci-fi documentary sounding.

Jeffrey Sundquist and Daniel O’Brien join them, but I’m not sure who does what.  The guitar is quiet and echoed, adding textures to the songs.

Before the final song, they thanks NPR for their support and then KC says, “This [Tiny Desk] is the one thing we’re doing that my mom was really excited about.”  The final song, “Separate Rooms” is from Threads.  It retains some of the feelings of the original, but the synths still have the newer bounciness which is a little disconcerting.  The original also has a lot more guitar in it.  I almost don’t recognize the song.

It’s hard to know how different these songs would sound with a big drum sound (it’s funny to see the drummer standing there with his hand behind his back the whole time).  But I definitely don’t enjoy them as much as the original.

[READ: May 2, 2017] Junior Braves of the Apocalypse: Book 1

I saw this book at the library and I was intrigued by the title.  And, seeing it was from Oni Presss, I knew it would be a good read.   And, boy was it ever.

Without trying to reduce the story too much, call it a male version of Lumberjanes but with a whole end-of-the-world, zombie vibe thrown on top.

The book begins on Day 1 as we see a gruff and, frankly, angry-looking dude waiting for someone.  Turns out he is Padre Ron,the adult leader of the Junior Braves.  And over the next few panels we meet the braves.  There’s Travis (a bossy, jerky kid) and his (dorky)brother Marvin.  There’s Lucas, who is mad that they don’t say prayers. There’s Johnny who is Native American living with a foster family.  He is sullen and quiet.  And then there’s Raj (whose mom is overly cautious and thus, so is he) and Amir, a rough kid who knows Krav Maga.   And then there’s Dylan.  Their other adult leader is a recent graduate named Buddy.

Padre Ron is, as I said, kind of jerk, telling the parents that their boys will go out as children and come back an men and blah blah blah.  Exactly the thing that would make me hate the Scouts if we did that now.

Then Padre lets Buddy know they are not going to the promised camp.  The are going to a very secluded spot that proves to be very cool indeed.  Everyone has a pretty good time (except maybe Johnny) for 7 days.  But as they head back home, something… everything is wrong.

There is destruction everywhere–trucks turned over, building burned, general end of the world type devastation.  The Troop decides to camp out in a church for the night, but while they are there, Dylan gets grabbed by a zombie creature and Padre–showing that he actually does care for them, immediately goes after him.  Unfortunately, it leaves the rest of them along with only Buddy to protect them.

The chapter breaks include Junior Brave information (like in Lumberjanes).   The first break shows trail markers (which prove to be useful later in the story).

The remainder of the book has become something of a zombie story.  The creatures are never identified as zombies exactly, but that’s more or less what they are.  But what makes the story so much better than a typical zombie story is that out heroes are all Scouts (or Braves) who all have badges in various skills–and they are all put to good use.   Plus, this is a darkly comic book, so there’s a lot of humor too,.

But make no mistake this is a YA book–there’s cursing and a lot of violence.

The boys find a place to crash for the night, but things are not safe.  However, in the light of day, the next morning they see someone driving a car.  They think maybe there’s hope.

Actually, it’s only Johnny who sees the car.  He left to get help–although everyone thinks he ditched them.  The driver first believes that Johnny is a creature; however, when he realizes that not only is he not a creature, but he is actually a student in his school (the driver is the science teacher), he is relieved.  He tells Johnny that people are safely gathering at the school.

But the school proves to be a crazy place.  One of the teachers insists on acting like everything is normal–she even gets mad that Johnny is not paying attention during “class.”  Meanwhile, the lunch lady is concerned that they are running out of fresh food.

Another chapter ending includes “The Blackfoot Story of Two Bears”–one is evil and one is good and the bear that wins is the one you feed.  There’s a scribble from Johnny that reads “Guys this story is a bogus white people thing. I mean COME on!”

While the kids try to decide what to do a policeman comes to the rescue.  Except he’s not a policeman and he’s not rally a savior.  He is a mall security guard with a gun and an attitude.  And he knows Buddy.  Although he doesn’t hassle the few remaining live people–he takes them to safety in a big box store.

The store is being run by Bull, a big asshole with an even bigger gun.  He bosses everyone around–the rednecks who are still alive in the place and now, the Braves.  Its a shame that all of the survivors are these drunken idiots but that’s what you get.  They do have the guns after all.

There’s a very helpful end of chapter section called How to Dress A Wound, most of which I know but there’s a thing about sugar being useful because bacteria can’t grow on sugar–it works to treat a wound. Who knew?

As the story moves along and the kids can’t wait to get out of this hellish box store, one of the boys find a generator and is able to more or less fix it.  But then Travis finds it in good condition and starts it up.  Which means that he and one of the adult losers uses the generator to play video games.  Travis bonds with this guy and Travis becomes a de facto adult in the group.  He even winds up with a taser at one point.

Is it turning into every man for himself or is  “A Brave is Brave” more than just a slogan?

As the book ends, they find one of their list Braves, but another is still missing.  And as Day 11 begins the Braves are planning a hike to Seattle where they believe everyone has relocated. It’s a 90 mile hike but everyone is up for it, especially if they sing the Junior braves song “The Other Day, I met a bear….”

I loved that we never find out exactly what happened to the world.  And I’m very happy to see that there’s another book in the works.  However, this first volume came out in 2015 and there is no actual sign of book 2 anywhere, yet.