I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: OF MONSTERS AND MEN-“Mountain Sound” (Field Recordings, June 13, 2012).

When this song first came out I was instantly smitten by it.  The combination of male and female vocals, the big chorus and interesting instrumentation were just terrific.  And the song is catchy as anything.

And then the rest of the world thought the same and this song became inescapable.

Around the same time I heard Of Monsters and Men, I also heard The Head and the Heart who had a similar aesthetic.  And I still have a hard time telling them apart (even if OMAM is from Iceland and THATH is from Seattle).

This Field Recording [Of Monsters And Men Brings Out The Sun] was filmed on the first day of the Sasquatch! Music Festival.

We managed to get backstage of the Gorge Amphitheater to capture a live session with one of the hottest new bands to hit the festival circuit, Of Monsters and Men. No strangers to natural beauty, the Icelanders were nevertheless stunned by the picturesque backdrop of the Gorge as they performed “Mountain Sound,” one of the new songs added to the American release of their debut album.

“We sleep until the sun goes down,” they sang repeatedly while the sun instead broke through the clouds as if called out by the song’s radiant optimism. The band will continue to thrill fans in larger and larger venues, but it’s private moments like this when Of Monsters and Men best displays its natural charm.

This is a wonderfully low-key take on the song with just a couple of guitars, and accordion and a trumpet (and a big plastic drum as the percussion).

I’ve heard this song so many times that it’s nice to hear it in such an unadorned fashion.  To actually hear the two lead vocals–how unusual they sound.  And to see how much fun the band is having playing at the Sasquatch Festival (yes, in Seattle).

[READ: November 12, 2018] “Show Recent Some Love”

I love Sam Lipsyte’s stories.  I love the tone and breeziness he showcases, even in stories with serious undertones.

This story ( I assume it is an excerpt) is unofficially set during the #metoo movement.  Mike Maltby was recently fired from his own company: “Only an ogre could defend Mike Maltby.”  Isaac, the protagonist, was not an ogre–maybe a jerk–said Nina his life partner.

But Isaac agreed that Mike’s ouster was for the best–Mike had done all kinds of heinous things in executives suites, “because it wasn’t about sex.  It was about power.  And sex.  And probably a few other things.”

But Isaac felt a twinge of remorse because Maltby had hired him and “had also been, weirdly enough for a brief time, his stepfather.”

Issac was never one of Maitby’s bros. He hated the weird old-school sports metaphors that Maltby used like “she’s the Bronko Nagurski of punishingly luscious women on my payroll” (Lipsyte is great).

When Maltby was ousted, the remaining people in charge changed the name from Maltby Media to Haven Media.  And Isaac was sure he’d get dragged under with all of the connections he had.

While all of this is going on, he tells us that a homeless couple had set up camp on the ledge that jutted from the wall of the church on Isaac’s block.  It was June and they’d laid out a narrow mattress and crisp-looking sheets.  The woman had indigo stars inked on her cheek and temple and the man (Isaac had to admit the old junkie was ripped) went by the name Stoma.  As in the sign he posted “This is out stuff.  Touch it at your peril.  –Stoma.”

Isaac took a picture of the sign and Stoma called him a yuppie cocksucker and slowly found a lead pipe to wave at Isaac.

Isaac’s wife and daughter both seem to respect the pair.  His wife said “they are really toughing it out.  Always busy.  Like pioneers.  I hope they find help.”

Isaac is appalled  “Come on. They are high all the time.  They feel much better than we do.”  Isaac suggests she do a photo shoot of them.

Molly, their daughter said, don;’t call anyone for a photo shoot, “I’ll film Doug and Beth for you.”

They are both appalled.  How does she know their names?  She’s talked to them and they gave her a book .  What book?  “I don’t know. It was boring.  It was about these bad people chasing each other through an airport.  I didn’t really understand it.”

Back at work, he is trying to land an account with SisterBoard, a philanthropic group arranging tech training for disadvantaged girls.  It’s a tough sell and they are on to him, but he sells the new company well.

When the head of HR calls him it to her office he is sure he is getting fired but she offers him this advice: “Don’t be a bystander….also don’t let SisterBoard get away.”

As the piece comes to an end, Isaac is about to head into the office when Mike Maltby grabs him and pleads to have a drink with him.  After several drinks, Mike gets to the point–he wants Isaac to support him support in his the way that Mike once supported Isaac.  Throw some freelance work his way–“I gave you a life.”
“You gave me a job.”  Isaac says there’s no way.

As their conversation ends, Maltby reveals the kicker–Isaac’s family have been invited to his mom’s house–with Mike–for dinner.

Coming home he has another interaction with Stoma and Beth.  The day just keeps getting better.

I am drawn to characters like this–not innocent, but not bad.  Caught reluctantly in a place he doesn’t want to be.  I’m looking forward to the rest of the book.