SOUNDTRACK: SAVAGES-“She Will” (2013).
I f
ound this song in heavy rotation on NPR. I had never heard of Savages before (this is from their debut album coming out this week), but they seemed interesting. And the description was intriguing–saying they sounded like Siouxsie and the Banshees. And that is right on, from the shimmery 80s punk guitars that open the song to that strange goth-y wail that Siouxsie possessed, to the rumbling basslines, this song hearkens back to a darker, wonderful era.
It’s a really great sound–evocative without mimicking. It’s certainly an uncool sound that Savages are pulling for (in the 2010s) and I like them all the more because of it. I’m curious to hear what else they do.
And that ending note is a killer. I want to hear this whole album.
[READ: April 30, 2013] “Oh, My Darling”
The “teaser” for this short story says “I am so close you could touch me.” And with this piece of information in mind, this story is dark and creepy right from the start.
The story begins as a letter: “Hello, Vanessa.” And the letter continues to compliment Vanessa on her name, those three satiny syllables (the letter writer won’t deign to use that silly “Nessa” that others do).
The narrator pushes back to some months ago when Vanessa’s husband says he believes that he has Aboriginal bloodlines (despite his blue eyes and Scandinavian features). Vanessa knew immediately it was because of the case he was working on—an Aboriginal case, obviously—with… Connie, a student of Haida birth. She replies to it with a funny (to me) comment: “What part do you think is Aboriginal? I hope it’s something simple, like your foot.” This comment from Vanessa’s husband, intimating infidelity is compounded by their daughter’s insolence: “You are a cruel fucking cow.” (Vanessa has weight issues which makes this hurt even more). Vanessa knows this is just how teenagers are, but it still hurts. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 