I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: TWIN PEAKS-“Spiders (Kidsmoke)” (from WILCOvered, UNCUT Magazine November 2019).

The November 2019 issue of UNCUT magazine had a cover story about Wilco.  It included a 17 track CD of bands covering Wilco (called WILcovered or WILCOvered).  I really enjoyed this collection and knew most of the artists on it already, so I’m going through the songs one at a time.

This was the last song on this compilation and it’s my favorite.

There’s a lot of Wilco songs that I like and “Spiders (Kidsmoke)” is way at the top.  The song is really long and doesn’t change a lot but the changes are fantastic.  One of the great things about the song is Nels Cline’s insane guitar work throughout–noisy and seemingly uncontrolled, but somehow fitting in perfectly with the 1-2-3- bass line.

This version by Twin Peaks is as good, if not slightly better than the original.  I say that because the band sounds a little fuller during the verses which I like (although it does make the change to the noisier section less dramatic).  And Nels Cline;s guitar work is more interesting than the Twin Peaks version–although they do some cool things too.

I think Twin Peaks has a bit more of the heavy alternative sound the I like.  The vocals are great, the guitars are great.  I’ve now listened to both versions back to back and I like them both!

This cover actually made me investigate Twin Peaks more and I was bummed to find out that they had just played a show in our area after I had listened to this song.

Next time!

[READ: February 20, 2020] Princeless: Volume 5

This book opens with Adrienne and Bedelia enjoying a cleansing bath in a lake (I assume).  While they are getting clean, Adrienne mourns the state of her hair.  How often she has tried to straighten and control the knotty curls on her head.  And after some serious thought, she has Bedelia shave it all off.  I love that when she pops out of the water newly shorn, she looks gorgeous–well done Emily Martin.  On a less great note, there’s a scene in the water where Bedelia, who is a strong and rugged half-dwarf lets not forget, is drawn with a waist that would be about 10 inches across in real life–bad form Emily Martin.

In book two, Devin and Kira are trotting along (with the tough Kira getting nauseous on the back of a horse).  When suddenly Kira smells… an elf.  And it is her duty to kill it.  Kira dives on the elf’s travelling companion, who is Prince Wilcome.  The elf, named Tempest, quickly disarms Devin and takes his sword.  They are at an impasse.

Next we jump to the dwarf kingdom.  There are two male guards out front discussing music and almost come to blows during their argument, calling each other girlie and arguing which one is the real man.  But when another dwarf comes along shouting Dragon, we find out that the dwarf dragon slayers are all women.  They prep themselves and get ready to make dragon stew.  After a kiss between Benna and Gretta they fling the dwarfs through the air from a catapult.

As Benna lands on Sparky (for she is the dragon, of course), Bedelia turns and says Cousin Benna?  Through some deft maneuverings, the dwarfs help Sparky land safely (despite their enormous reservations) and Bedelia gives a big hug to cousin Senna who “demands an explanation for this hugging.”

Back in the forest Devin and Kira convince Tempest and Wilcome to team up with them.  Tempest is at first not willing to go into the black forests.  But Wilcome convinces her (and says that Devin likes her).

The next book shows Greatnarn greeting Bedelia and securing Sparky so she’ll be safe (from the dwarfs).  Inside, we get a humorous reminder that Bedelia is half-human when she tries on a dwarf robe.  Then, during the feast, it is revealed that Bedelia’s mother has taken over the monster farm.  Bedelia is shocked to discover that her mother is nearby and didn’t try to find her.  She yells, “she ran away, she gave up on her own family.  Its unforgivable.”   Greatnarn says sometimes you have to walk away to help yourself.  She made that choice and now so have you.  Woah.

As that settles in the go to visit to Groggy, the Smith.  Bedelia is afraid to tell him that she is the one who made Adrienne’s suit of armor (women are not supposed to be smiths), but he is so impressed by it, so complimentary, that when she admits she made it he is thrilled at her skill.

Back in the forest Kira hears something but she can’t detect what it is.  Tempest says she can feel something as well.  Before they can react, two gigantic rock worms charge through the surface and swallow Devin and Wilcome.  Kira dives in to rescue them, but it’s up to Tempest to do something she’d rather not (we don’t know what or why exactly).  But it’s the only thing that can save her friends.

After the armor tour, Bedelia reveals some shocking news.  She is not going to go with Adrienne right now.  Adrienne is afraid she said or did something, but Bedelia says no, she needs to go talk to her mom.  And since Sparky can’t travel with Adrienne (it’s; not safe for dragons here) she will take Sparky to the farm while Adrienne goes to find her sisters. I hate to see them separated, but it does lead to two very compelling stories.

The first trip is Adrienne and Benna travelling up the mountains.  Benna has been Adrienne a really hard time, but she reveals that it’s just the dwarf way.  She then shows her how to plow through snow like nothing and they actually start to get along.  They reach a shelter, which is quite nice.  “We’re not barbarians,” Benna says.  That’s when Adrienne even her what it’s like dating a woman.  She says were you always like this?  Benna says try not to say “like this,” it makes it sound like there is something wrong with me.”  She continues, “everybody’s a little different. Gretta’s only been attracted to girls, But Benna thought she liked guys until she met Gretta.”   Then she tells the story of how she knew Gretta was the one for her.   It’s very sweet.

Adrienne says that when she thinks of the person she wants to be with she doesn’t get any picture at all.  Benna says that that’s healthy, your’e still trying to figure out who you are, too.

The next is Bedelia and Senna going to the monster farm (which Senna thinks is an abomination).   When they arrive at the farm, Bedelia’s mother looks up and says, “Is that my girl?  Get over here, sweetie.”  But we, and Bedelia, are shocked to realize she is talking to Sparky.

Meanwhile in the woods, everyone has been spit out of the worms and are relatively safe.  But while everyone is squabbling about various things, Devin steps up and takes charge!  He says they don’t have time for bullying and territorial nonsense.  They have to find his mom, their queen.  Before they all head off together, Kira acknowledges that Tempest saved her life and a bond is formed.

On the farm, we learn that Sparky’s real name is Amanda (who names a dragon Amanda?).  And then Bedelia’s mom actually sees her.  Her mom tries very hard to make up but Bedelia is resistant.  It takes Senna to tell her to give her mom a chance.

The book ends with two of the hired knights–Sir Rocks the Mighty and Sir Walsh the Braggart–seeking shelter in the room where Adrienne and Benna are resting.  They don’t know who Adrienne is, so she is safe.  Until she puts on her armor.

I can’t wait for volume six!