SOUNDTRACK: BOBTOWN-“Don’t Fear the Reaper” (2012).
I heard this song on the radio today. When it started I didn’t think much of it–a nice acoustic guitar which… suddenly sounded familiar. And then, no doubt, it was “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” With banjo! A good song can be played in any genre, and while I never would have guessed that this song would work in this genre, man, Bobtown knock it out of the park.
Bobtown has five members–two men, on bass and banjo, and three women who sing in gorgeous harmony. And if you know “Don’t Fear the Reaper” you know that there are various vocal parts, which these woman tackle beautifully. Their version gave me chills.
Now, befitting a bluegrass band, they did not play the super fast part (in fact they ignored that entire section of the song–the didn’t use cowbell either). I was initially a little disappointed because I wanted to hear what they would do with it. But it was truer to their version to leave it out and by removing it, they made the song a little different–more sombre, less wild. And it was really good.
This version below is not the studio version, it was recorded in a stairwell. But the band sounds great in this unlikely location.
[READ:April 7, 2013] Seminar
I grabbed this book at work (just like Cousin K). This book was also short, which was a plus since I knew nothing about it. It was also a play and it listed the cast from the opening on Broadway. And I was rather surprised. Hamish Linklater (the brother on New Adventures of Old Christine), Jerry O’Connell and..Alan Rickman! I hadn’t heard of either of the women (Lily Rave–she’s been in nothing I’ve seen and Hetienne Park–her first role).
The story is a one act play about four college-aged writing students taking a seminar with a former great writer and current old man.
The four students are Douglas, a cocky writer who has connections and talent and who has been published in Tin House and is soon to be published in The New Yorker. Martin, a shy writer who is rather insecure, although he proves to be very talented. Kate is a girl who Martin knew from high school. She has been writing the same story for six years and is outraged at the way her fellow students and their teacher behave. And Izzy (who I thought was a man for a few pages) is a sexually adventurous woman who seems to be willing to do anything to succeed. (more…)
In addition to reading, Sarah and I watch TV, too. In the past, I posted occasional updates to a Tab devoted to TV. But I’m going to put new information in individual posts instead. So I’m starting with this season’s TV.