I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: YOLA-Tiny Desk Concert #934 (January 17, 2020).

Yola was just nominated for a Grammy for best new artist.  And it does seem like she just came out of nowhere.  But she has been making music for a least a decade (with the band Phantom Limb) and was singing backing vocals for bands like Massive Attack before that.  She finally went on her own a few years ago and then released her Dan Auerbach-produced debut album last year.

This Tiny Desk features Yola singing three songs from that debut album and wow, what a voice she has.

With her bouncy Afro and a big smile, Yola’s presence behind the Tiny Desk was commanding, her energy captivating and, oh, that voice!

I had the exact same reaction as Bob Boilen:

I assumed her background was as a southern gospel singer, until she spoke. Her British accent was a shocker.

She’s very funny between songs as she chugs water and then jokes how she puts it here and it comes out here (on her forehead).

Yola’s affection for American music, from Dolly Parton to Aretha Franklin, is at the center of her character and expression. It’s likely one of the reasons she chose to write and record her debut album, Walk Through Fire, at Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound Studio in Nashville, and why it was such a perfect fit for her.

The second song, “”I Don’t Wanna Lie” is a “newie” and it is my favorite song of hers.  I absolutely love the chorus–so catchy and powerful.  It’s a shame it’s only on the deluxe version of her album.  Instead of piano, the keys are a great organ sound and the main riff on bass (from Taylor Zachry) and the great guitar licks (from Andy Stack) make this song a great soulful rocker.

For the last song, “It Ain’t Easier,” she picks up the acoustic guitar and is accompanied by slow guitar lines and that cool organ sound.  Drummer Jamie Dick is using brushes to emphasize the gentleness of this song.

I’m not sure what it takes to get someone to go from backing and guest vocalist to making a way for herself.

Now this singer from Bristol, who once sang for Massive Attack, and sampled by Iggy Azalea and The Chemical Brothers, is front-and-center.

But it was a great decision.

[READ: January 23, 2020] Giant Days Vol. 8

In this book, friendships are fractured and the future of our trip is in doubt!

As Chapter 29 opens we see Esther looking fabulously academic as she heads to her Romantic Lit class. She is the star of the class and always has the right answer. Until today.  McGraw’s ex-girlfriend Emilia has just started taking the class and as Esther rants “It’s not fair to sing that good, look that good, and think that good.”

Meanwhile Ed Gemmell is trying out a new look–overalls and a braid and, boy howdy, Daisy does not like it.  She asks, “Are you ‘fine’ because you joined a cult and they’taken away your pain?”  He says he’s tried so many things but girls are not interested in him.  Daisy sets him up with her friend Kathy with whom he should have lots in common.  She’s geeky and sexy!  But when she tries to move things forward he demurs.  Daisy is furious, “she could not have been any more your type if she’d been the result of a lab experiment to create the perfect Gemmell mate in one of those nightmare sci-fi shows you both like so well.”

The Esther/Emilia issue resolves itself at a literature professor’s soiree.  When one of the teachers gets handsy with Esther. It is Emilia who is there to help her out.

Chapter 30 is about Daisy and Ingrid. Ingrid has exciting news about their future.  Daisy asks, “by ‘exciting’ do you mean stressful?  because sometimes you do.”  Susan and Esther have had just about enough of Ingrid, but she’s only in the country until the end of the semester.  Surely they can wait for Daisy’s sake?  Ingrid’s news though is that her visa has been extended.  She is never leaving.

So Susan goes out on an errand and Esther goes out on a separate errands.  Neither wants the other to know.  But when their errand leads them to the same place and Susan is with McGraw and Esther is with McGraw’s ex, well, luckily, Esther manages to avoid a scene.

But the book ends with everyone fighting.  Esther blurts out that she and Susan hate Ingrid.  Esther can’t believe that Susan is back with McGraw and Susan can’t believe that Esther is friends with Emilia.  Of course when McGraw formally breaks it off with Emilia, Emilia won’t talk to Esther anymore.

In Chapter 31 things come to a head.  The last straw for Esther and Susan was when Ingrid ran up the heating bill. McGraw: “the more I look at the number the more of an achievement it seems.”  The bill they received is a”red variant” (ha) last call.  They ask McGraw to see if he can help.

But McGraw is on edge because Emilia’s brothers are rather ticked at him. And he fears for his safety (justifiably).

My favorite joke of the book comes when Daisy explains that she has been sleeping on a shelf in Ingrid’s room rather than going back home.  But the shelf fell down.  McGraw asks, “How long were the screws?” Daisy: “I just nailed it up with lots of nails.”  McGraw to Ed: “Nails!  That borders on nihilism.”  Ed: “She’s a nail-ist.”  McGraw: “Only a monster would make a joke out of this, Ed.”

Daisy winds up taking McGraw to a sports bar because she doesn’t care about anything anymore.  McGraw get an awesome flashback to the days before he met Susan.  He was dating a girl who took his virginity.  This girl was awesome but she loved sports bars and McGraw hated them.  He knew he was only in it for the sex and he wanted to get out (he has that moral compass).  So he did the one thing that she could not stand–he grew his now-signature mustache.

In the sports bar, McGraw sees a way to get back all of the louts in a sports bar as well as pay off the gas bill.  It involves Daisy’s preternatural gift at pool.

As the chapter ends Ingrid informs Daisy that the time is coming when she will have to choose between her friends and her girlfriend.

Chapter 32 shows their apartment is in terrible shape.  The landlord helps some things but they have to restrain McGraw from trying to help out.  He was so frustrated that he couldn’t help them, that he dismantled and restored Ed Gemmells broken coffee machine.

Their housing woes maybe solved though when Esther’s boss tells her about a place that’s now available.  Her boss’ friend had a terrible break up.  He is miserable but his place is gorgeous (the juxtaposition of his misery and their delight is very funny).  Esther is head over heels that they will all move in.  But Susan and Daisy are dithering about it.

Ingrid introduces Daisy to some new friends: “I got rid of my old friends, they were boring.”  Daisy hears Internal Susan: “That’s definitely not a red flag.”  And that’s when Ingrid asks if Daisy will move into this large apartment space with her.

Even worse, back at the boys’ place, Dean has once again destroyed Ed Gemmell’s coffee maker. He tried to make a cold brew with coconut water.  Ed cannot possibly live with that many again.

And then the shocking revelations come out:

Susan and McGraw are going to live together.

Ingrid and Daisy are going to live together.

This leaves Esther (with a house with a sauna…who is passing that up?)

And also Ed Gemmell (and Dean).

What will happen to our heroes?  Gasp!