Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘New Yorker’ Category

Jeffrey Eugenides–”The Oracular Vulva” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Canadian Music, Culture Shock, Funny (ha ha), Funny (strange), Jeffrey Eugenides, LGBTQ, Nature, New Yorker, Research, Rush, Scholarship, Sex, Short Story on November 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: RUSH-“BU2B” (2010).

I’m a little freaked out that Rush has a song that is just initials (it’s so text message-y).  And, listening to the lyrics tells me that the 2 is for “to.”  That is no way for 50-some year-old men to behave!

Of course, neither is the pounding heavy song that is “Bu2B.”  Like “Caravan,” the song opens with a dark and dirty riff.  The song is not as complex as “Caravan” although it also features a quieter section.  After the verse, the quiet bridge comes as a more natural progression (and it, too has some strong bass stuff going on).

What’s fascinating about the song is that despite its heaviness, it is layered with some really delicate keyboards that plink along the top of the sections.  It showcases both sides of Rush in one track.  And lyrically it’s quite dark as well.

These two early release songs have me really excited for the new album, Clockwork Angels, due out in 2011.

[READ: October 11, 2010] “The Oracular Vulva”

Jeffrey Eugenides was the next writer in the 1999 New Yorker 20 Under 4o issue.

I really enjoyed Eugenides’ The Virgin Suicides, and I regard him highly as a writer (even though I haven’t read very much else by him).  About midway through reading this story I realized it must be an excerpt from Middlesex (which I haven’t read, but hope to one of these days).   The bad thing about realizing this is that it impacted my reading of the end, making it kind of hard to assess the story as a story (which, I realize it isn’t, so maybe it’s moot anyhow).

This excerpt focuses on Dr. Peter Luce (the famous sexologist).  The title of the story certainly implies a degree of sexology, right?  I was surprised however, that the story opens with the doctor in a jungle, studying the Dawat tribe.  Luce, a very comfortable middle class sexologist is miserable out in the jungle, with crazy animal sounds, oppressive heat and, worst of all, little children trying to pull down his pants.

The doctor is studying this tribe because they have very specific gender roles–so specific, that the men and women are not permitted to interact with each other at all, except for once a month for three minutes, for procreation.  So, for sexual outlet, the men engage in oral sex with each other (semen being a very important thing for the young men to consume).  Yet no matter how progressive Dr Luce is, he simply can’t deal with the thought of this young boy, who is trying to do his culture’s most honorable thing.  (more…)

Read Full Post »

Tony Earley–”The Wide Sea” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Canadian Music, New Yorker, Rush, Short Story, South, Tony Earley on November 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: RUSH-“Caravan” (2010).

I was watching a great, lengthy interview with Rush on CNN.  At the end of the interview they mentioned that Rush had released two new songs (somewhat unheard of for the band to release a “single”).  I had some extra download cash from Amazon, and was even able to get the “booklet” yeeha.  The song is also available on YouTube, if you want to check it out.

When a song throws you a curve, it’s really only a curve the first time you listen to it.  And boy, “Caravan” has crazy curves in it.  In fact, musically, “Caravan” is easily my favorite Rush song in years.

It opens with some faint chords and sound effects and then kicks in with a loud riff, the likes of which Rush has specialized in lately–heavy, heavy, nasty guitars.  The bass is insane throughout with some breakneck stuff, and then at the 1:30 mark, the bass slides and the song drops out into a delicate, gorgeous guitar piece; it surprised the heck out of me.  It’s brief and effective and sets the stage for the next heavy riff.

The beautiful quiet bit returns and is then followed by another twist: a mildly funky bass solo (which hasn’t featured prominently on the last few albums) which leads into a really cool instrumental mid section, that’s almost like a self-contained song.  All of this leads to one of Alex’s insane solos.  It’s noisy and crazy and wonderful.

I’m very excited about this new album.

[READ: October 10, 2010] “The Wide Sea”

Tony Earley is the next writer in the 1999 New Yorker 20 Under 4o issue.

After several funny, clever and witty stories this rather simple story came as a bit of a welcomed respite.

This is a very straightforward story about Jim and his Uncle Al. They live in Aliceville (which, I had to look up, is in Alabama).  Jim takes many trips with Uncle Al “to see a man about a dog.”

This particular trip is Uncle Al’s chance to buy Belgian horses (Uncle Al and Uncle Zeno currently use mules on their farm).  They travel to South Carolina (which, looking on the map is quite far–over 550 miles!). (more…)

Read Full Post »

Donald Antrim–”An Actor Prepares” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Donald Antrim, Drugs, New Yorker, Play (Drama), Set at School, Sex, Superchunk, William Shakespeare on November 4, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-Late Century Dream (2001).

A Superchunk song that opens with keyboards, “Late-Century Dream” is one of the most mellow singles that they’ve recorded (even more mellow than some of the acoustic songs they’ve done).

It’s followed by “The Length of Las Ramblas” an even more mellow track.  This one is also full of keyboards (sort of tinny, high pitched keyboards) and acoustic guitars.

Rocking guitars return on “Becoming a Speck” which reminds me of “1,000 Pounds.”  It’s a fast-paced, punchy song with a guitar solo that sounds like it might collapse on itself any minute.

“Florida’s on Fire” is an acoustic rendition of the song from Here’s to Shutting Up. Initially, when Superchunk was a punky bratty band, these acoustic numbers were kind of a novelty.  Now they showcase the extent of musicianship that the band possesses, and this one is no exception.

It’s a good EP, and the last one that I bought prior to their return this year.  They have a couple other ones that I’m going to try to track down.  But in the meantime, it’s all Majesty Shredding.

[READ: October 10, 2010] “An Actor Prepares”

Donald Antrim is the next writer in the 1999 New Yorker 20 Under 40 issue.

This story is a funny look at college theater.  The subject is not terribly new, and yet there are so many wonderful details and the theater teacher is so over the top that this story was completely enjoyable.

The narrator is Reginald Barry, Dean of Student Life and Wm. T. Barry Professor of Speech and Drama at Barry College (ha!) and this semester his students will be performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream.   I had to look up some of the quotes in the story to make sure they were actually from the play (I didn’t know the line “Use me but as your spaniel, spurn me, strike me” was in Shakespeare), but they are, and Antrim takes lines like this and runs with them.

Barry has wonderful plans for this production which he envisions outside on the grounds of the campus, with a culminating orgy occurring just as the fireflies come out. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Chang-rae Lee-”The Volunteers” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Chang-Rae Lee, David Bowie, Death, History, Military, New Yorker, Pornography, Sex, Short Story, Superchunk, Violence, War on November 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-1,000 Pounds (2000).

This EP has four tracks: an acoustic version of the title song and, for the first time that I’m aware of, a cover track.

“1,000 pounds” is another great Superchunk single.  It’s boppy and catchy and there’s more and more instrumentation thrown into the mix–acoustic guitars, more strings, a crazy sounding guitar solo with effects I don’t recognize.  It’s also another song where the title is sort of thrown into the chorus without making it sound like the focus of the chorus–another fun Superchunk trick.

The acoustic version subverts the original somewhat with a strange swing vibe.  And speaking of vibes, there are actual vibes in the song.  It almost sounds like a different song entirely.

The second song, “White Noise” is a no longer novel twist to a Superchunk song (they’ve been throwing in so many twist to their sound that it’s impossible to pin them down to anything).  There’s a cool guitar and bass line that sound, somehow, unlike anything else they’ve done.  The soloing is also pervasive, running throughout the verses.  It’s a very cool song.

The big surprise comes in their cover of David Bowie’s “Scary Monsters.”  Their version is noisy and feedback-filled with crazy guitar solos throughout some of the choruses.  It’s full of reckless abandon and is one of their craziest track in some time.  And really it sounds almost nothing like the original.

It’s a great EP and worth tracking down.

[READ: October 10, 2010] “The Volunteers”

Chang-rae Lee is the next writer in the New Yorker’s 1999 20 Under 40 collection.

This story is set during World War II.  However, unlike most WWII stories that I have read, this one is told from the point of view of Japanese soldiers (specifically, it is narrated by a Korean-born, Japanese-raised medic).

The narrator, Lieutenant Kurohata, is friendly with an inferior soldier, Corporal Endo.  He and Endo are from the same town so they have a friendship which, when they are alone, supersedes their ranking differences (although Kurohata is a little uncomfortable about that).  Endo, like many soldiers, is somewhat obsessed with a series of photos of naked women.  He is constantly trading for new ones and then showing them (surreptitiously) to Kurohata.  Kurohata is not terribly impressed with the behavior–he seems more mature in general–although he also implies that he is not very sexual–and he finds the whole proceedings somewhat beneath him. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Antonya Nelson–”Party of One” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Antonya Nelson, Funny (ha ha), Marriage Trouble, New Yorker, Short Story, Suicide, Superchunk on October 29, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK Hello Hawk (1999).

Hello Hawk is another of my favorite Superchunk songs (and it’s vastly different from “Hyper Enough”).  It opens with some really interesting guitar noodling.  And then after a bridge that promises a noisy chorus, the chorus backs down into another gentle section (followed by the loud and heavy post chorus…a neat trick).  This song is also laden with strings (!).  And it’s catchy as heck.

The second song, “Sexy Ankles” sounds (recording style-wise) like early 60s rock and roll.  It’s quite odd for Superchunk, although it rocks nicely at the end.

The final three tracks are acoustic version of songs from the Come Pick Me Up album.  The paradox: as the original songs grow less heavy and rocking, these acoustic versions become less dramatic as interpretations of them.  And yet, since the originals are growing more complex, these acoustic versions sound even better than previous acoustic versions of their older songs.

[READ: October 10, 2010] “Party of One”

Antonya Nelson is another of the 1999 New Yorker 20 Under 40 writers.  I’d never heard of her before seeing this story, but I enjoyed it enough to want to check out more of her stuff.  This is the story of a broken love affair.  And yet it has so many different angles, and so many wonderful observations (and disarming frankness), that it struck me as a wonderfully original and enjoyable story.  Even the way she used the title was clever.

First the breakup.  It is not the main character who is breaking up, but rather her sister.  The main character is meeting her sister’s lover, who is married.   He is getting cold feet and her sister is despondent.  What is wonderfully twisted about the story is that the sister has a had a previous affair with a married man and when that affair ended, she tried to kill herself.  I hate to reveal this tasty piece of information, but it really highlights the interesting angles of this story–the affair was with her the narrator’s husband.  [Woah]. (more…)

Read Full Post »

William T. Vollmann–”The Saviors” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Anarchy, Big Books, Communists, Death, New Yorker, Russia, Short Story, Superchunk, Threats, Violence on October 28, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-“watery hands” (1997).

Even though I enjoy the manic energy of early Superchunk, I find myself really enjoying the later, more “sophisticated” songs.

“Watery Hands” continues this more “sweet” sound that Superchunk has been exploring.  It also includes a cool break that offers a little bass solo as well as even more keyboards (so it seems that the keyboard experiment pleased them).

Meanwhile, the final song, the “watery wurlitzer mix” of water hands is a goofy track, probably the first throwaway track on a Superchunk EP.  And yet, having said that it’s a catchy and silly little ditty, heavy on the wurlitzer and oddball keyboard sounds, which all but eliminates the original, except for faint traces of guitar that pop up here and there.

The middle track “With Bells On” is a decent mid-tempo song.  Nothing terribly exciting but even unexciting Superchunk is usually pretty good.

[READ: October 9, 2010] “The Saviors”

William T. Vollmann was the next writer in the New Yorker’s 1999 20 Under 40 collection.

I have heard a lot about Vollmann.  And I have read a few articles by him.  But I’m sort of daunted by his output.  And this is the first piece of his fiction of that I’ve read.

I don’t know if this is representative of his work, although from what I understand it kind of is.  This is historical fiction loaded down with details (some details which I have to assume he’s made up).  This story compares the lives of Fanya Kaplan and Nadezhda Konstantinova Krupskaya.  (As with so many Russian based stories, those names are hard to keep straight as the story goes along).

In the first paragraph we learn that Fanya Kaplan tried to assassinate Lenin on August 30, 1918.  She was captured and later executed on September 3.  In the second paragraph, we learn that Nadezhda Konstantinova Krupskaya was Lenin’s wife. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Allegra Goodman–”The Local Production of Cinderella” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, Short Story, Superchunk, WXYC 89.3 FM--Chapel Hill, NC on October 25, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-Laughter Guns EP (1996).

The first track “A Small Definition” is a surprisingly slow track from them.  Even when the band kicks in about midway through, it’s still a fairly mellow sound  And yet it is not a light track by any means.  (A nice squalling guitar solo certainly helps.)  But in case you thought the band had mellowed, track two “Her Royal Fisticuffs” brings back their punky bratty sound.

The third track, “The Mine Has Been Returned…” brings in a new sound altogether.  It opens with a heavy heavy destorted bass riff (instead of the usual guitars).  But the real surprise comes with the very distorted organ sound that throws the bass into sharp relief

The final song, “Hero,” is part surf rock part detective song, and continues the interesting departures that Superchunk explore on this disc.

And then there’s the bonus track.  It’s a radio broadcast from WXYC a radio station in Chapel Hill.  The track is a 42 minute deconstruction of “Hyper Enough.”  It’s a few guys (and radio callers) dissecting the song in incredible detail.  (hey listen to one verse about 20 times).   The track starts about 20 minutes into the show, and they have just gotten past the first verse).  At about 10 minutes into the track, the discussion turns into a fascinating look at deconstruction and the primacy of the author.  There’s a caller’s snide comment that the band is all on crack and they should stop wasting their time–which of course, leads to a discussion of how drugs might impact the lyrics of the songs.  It’s a crazy track and a crazy radio show.  And shows how much fun college students can have when they really enjoy something.  I listened to it when it came out, but haven’t listened to it again until this week.   And I enjoyed it just as much this time. Perhaps I’ll try again in another 15 years.  Oh, and until iTunes, I never knew the song was called, “Cool-Ass Mutherfuckin’ Bonus Track.”

[READ: October 1, 2010] “The Local Production of Cinderella”

Allegra Goodman was the next writer in the 1999 New Yorker 20 Under 40 issue.

The opening paragraph of this story confused me greatly.  I wasn’t sure exactly what the author was trying to say.  I re-read it three times, and then it finally clicked.  And after that, the story flowed very nicely.   The story is set in Hawaii in 1978.  Two women, Roselva and Helen, have worked at the Hawaii Dept of Human Services at adjoining desks for years.

Roselva is Chinese-Hawaiian, very religious and a real believer in her job.  Helen is of German descent and was born in Maine.  She wanted out of human services. (more…)

Read Full Post »

A.M. Homes–”Raft in Water, Floating” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, A.M. Homes, Masturbation, New Yorker, Short Story, Superchunk, The Cure on October 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-Hyper Enough (1995).

“Hyper Enough” is one of my favorite songs of all time. I don’t know if there’s much more that i can say about it.

“Never Too Young to Smoke” sounds surprisingly like a Cure song to me.  The guitar seems very unSuperchunk and Mac’s voice even has traces of Robert Smith in it.  It’ s neat trick.  And it’s good song, too.  It’s got a lot of slow building tension (again, unusual).  And it really pays off.

The final track, “Detroit Has a Skyline” is another acoustic version (original on Here’s Where the Strings Come In).  It has certain Cure-isms on it as well, but it is much more clearly Mac than Robert Smith.  It has a great chord progression in the bridge, but we knew that from the original.

[READ: September 30, 2010] “Raft in Water, Floating”

A.M. Homes was the fifth writer in the New Yorker’s 1999 20 Under 40 collection.

I’ve really enjoyed A.M. Homes’ books.  I liked The End of Alice, and I really liked This Book Will Save Your Life.  She has a few books in between these, but I’ve been remiss about reading her.

And this story was definitely not my favorite.  It is written in an exceedingly detached tone.  A young woman is floating on a raft.  She is described by an almost uninterested 3rd person voice.  Even the young woman’s conversations are robotic and emotionless.  In many ways it reminded me of Bret Easton Ellis’ style of distant characters.

Her boyfriend comes over, he gives himself an orgasm which she is complicit in and yet somewhat oblivious to, and then it gets really strange. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Rick Moody–”Hawaiian Night” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in 20 Under 40, Death, Funny (strange), New Yorker, Rick Moody, Short Story, Superchunk on October 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-“Driveway to Driveway” (1994).

This disc is a first for Superchunk EPs.  The three “B” sides are all acoustic.  One of the nice things about that is that it showcases how good the songs are underneath all of the noise and distortion.

“Seed Toss” is from No Pocky for Kitty & “Sick to Move” is from Superchunk.  Obviously, they’re good songs or they wouldn’t have chosen them (out of all the back catalog…I mean, they could have chosen “Slack Motherfucker” after all).  And these acoustic versions are fun and interesting.

The final track is an acoustic “Driveway to Driveway.”  This is the most immediate in terms of comparison to the original (not least of which is the acoustic is a minute longer).  It allows them to breathe a little bit (and to make the lyrics more clear).

I’m not suggesting that Superchuink should be acoustic by any means, but it’s nice to hear the heart underneath the noise.

[READ: September 30, 2010] “Hawaiian Night”

Rick Moody is the fourth New Yorker 20 Under 40 author in the 1999 issue.

I’ve enjoyed a few of Rick Moody’s works (although now that I looked him up I found that he wrote a book called Garden State set in Haledon NJ (right near where I grew up…how did I not know this?…I shall have to read it very soon).

This piece seems like an experimental scene rather than a short story (or perhaps it’s from a longer work?).  It begins quite fascinatingly in a stark narrative style.  Pieces of information are doled out.  The information sets a scene with more and more detail. It is “Hawaiian Night” at a corporate picnic.  We see the limbo and the tuna skewers.  And then we meet the cast: dozens of interchangeable children having sanctioned fun amidst the adult workers.

And then suddenly things grow dark.   (more…)

Read Full Post »

Sherman Alexie–”The Toughest Indian in the World” (New Yorker, June 21 & 28, 1999)

Posted in Books about writers, LGBTQ, Native Americans, New Yorker, Sherman Alexie, Short Story, Superchunk, Violence on October 20, 2010| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: SUPERCHUNK-The First Part (1993).

The First Part opens with a guitar riff, very different from the chugga-chugga songs that they’ve played on the other tracks.  In fact, at the end of the verses, the bass backs out entirely leaving an interesting and unexpected sound for the song.

The second song, “Connecticut” is similar in that it also has a guitar riff (and a kind of solo) in the introduction.  The surprise comes at about a minute thirty-five when the guitar solo kicks in and the song suddenly shifts into an all out rocker.  This change is especially surprising since the song is just over 2 minutes long.

“Foolish” plays with a distortion-fueled repetitive riff that keeps the song moving.  It’s really quite infectious and something of a departure for the band.  This whole EP shows quite a leap forward in terms of Superchunk singles.

[READ: September 30, 2010] “The Toughest Indian in the World”

Sherman Alexie is the third author in the New Yorker’s 1999 20 Under 40 collection.

I have read a few Sherman Alexie pieces, and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read.  And yet, for some reason, he’s not one of the authors I keep a look out for.

This story is about a newspaper writer. He is Spokane Indian.  We learn a little about his past.  And one thing–his father only ever picked up hitchhikers if they were also Native–is a tradition he follows today.  Even though his girlfriend doesn’t want him to pick up anyone.   We also learn a little about his previous girlfriends (like the white woman who only dated non-white men).

Alexie’s writing style is wonderfully fluid and relaxed during this background information. It’s a very easy read, and quite funny too.  But things change when he meets the titular toughest Indian. (more…)

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »