| Author | Message | ||
     Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10299 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer, better known as one half of comedy duo Reeves and Mortimer. It’s very good. Literate books about upper middle class families and their foibles are vastly overrated. Funny crime novels where the protagonist talks to a squirrel in Peckham, south London are underrated. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 2178 Registered: 10-2006 |
Is it really funny then, Pádraig? The funny crime novel does seem the way to go for comedians breaking into print, Hugh Laurie, Richard Osman, well, that's all I can think of. I haven't read a good funny novel of any kind for a long time, since Nick Hornby's first ones and Ben Elton's Maybe Baby. My go-to writer for the funny crime novel was always Donald Westlake, who seemed to manage to get just right the tricky balance between the comedy and the crime. Maybe Bob's managed it too? | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10300 Registered: 05-2005 |
There are a few laugh out loud moments, Stuart. The only other funny crime books I’ve read are all by Carl Hiaasen, who was my gateway drug to crime novels after one of his books was given away free with a British magazine about 25 years ago. I haven’t read anything by him in a long time, but he was a good, fairly gentle introduction to the overall genre. My preference has been a lot more hard boiled for a long time, but Bob Mortimer’s book is worth reading. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10306 Registered: 05-2005 |
Coal Black Mornings, Brett Anderson’s autobiography. I bought it for $10 (new, but supposedly damaged - apart from a minuscule tear on the cover, I can see no damage) on Thursday and have been ploughing through it, it’s that good. In the meantime I’ve also bought his follow up, the part 2, Suede years, he said he wouldn’t write but did because the first was so well received. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10312 Registered: 05-2005 |
I finished Coal Black Mornings and have started Anderson’s second book, Afternoons With The Blinds Drawn. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 2182 Registered: 10-2006 |
Thanks for reminding me, Pádraig! I have one or both of them lying around somewhere, have to get on to them one day. At the moment, my great joy is the Collected letters of Robert Louis Stevenson, a heartbreaking catalogue of illness and moneylessness from Scotland to France to America and elsewhere, but carried out with marvellous humour and zest for life, even as it seems to fade away in front of him. But he has just had an idea for a tale called The Sea Cook, which he hopes will "bring in some coin". Little did he know! The best account of a writerly life I've read since Woolf's diaries. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10313 Registered: 05-2005 |
That sounds very interesting, Stuart. RLS was desperately short of money when there was no welfare state to fall back on, whereas Brett Anderson often mentions in his books how he was on the dole up until Suede started to sell records and get big crowds at shows. The British taxpayers helped keep Suede and countless other bands afloat until they could support themselves through their art. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10322 Registered: 05-2005 |
My Father’s House by Joseph O’Connor. Based on a true story of a Nazi-fighting Irish priest who was based in the Vatican during the Second World War. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 2187 Registered: 10-2006 |
https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and -guides/the-best-indie-pop-albums-of-the -90s/ I'm familiar with the usual suspects, but a lot of stuff here is new to me... anyone recommend anything unmissable? | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10354 Registered: 05-2005 |
I’ve just seen this link now, Stuart. There are a few albums there I’ve never heard, and a few bands I’ve never heard of. I have maybe half of those albums. I’m delighted to see that Lois made the cut. I have it, but haven’t played it in years. I’ll have to dig it out. Thanks for posting the link. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10355 Registered: 05-2005 |
Also, I wrote not one, but two articles about Nick Cave today. I very rarely get to write about music, so this was nice. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article -12039523/Nick-Cave-Aussie-goth-rocker-r esponds-going-coronation-King-Charles-II I.html?ico=authors_pagination_desktop https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article -12039859/Scarlet-Pages-exhibition-Sound garden-Nick-Cave-Foo-Fighter-Silverchair -David-Bowie.html?ico=authors_pagination _desktop | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10406 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Abstainer by Ian McGuire. It’s about an Irish policeman based in Manchester in 1867, investigating fellow Irishmen on the other side of the law. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10417 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Plot, by Jean Hanff Korelitz | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10418 Registered: 05-2005 |
And I’ve just discovered that Jean Hanff Korelitz is a she and is married to Irish poet Paul Muldoon. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4840 Registered: 03-2005 |
Nazis of Copley Square, by Charles Gallagher. I'm 2/3 of the way in. This is about Boston's largely Irish American Catholic opposition to the US entering WWII and the broad underlying anti-semitic sentiment. I find it a little comforting to be reminded that we (the US) have always had this element in our midst, even if the participants change. This is simply one of many generations of MAGA predecessors. I think my next book will be a nice relaxing piece of fiction. | ||
| Simon Withers Member Username: Sfwithers Post Number: 752 Registered: 08-2005 |
Randy, I studied German history (well, European history with most of the emphasis on Germany) at university back in the day - the last millennium sometime... I've largely struggled to revisit Nazi history since then, even tangentially, but I do like your appreciation of the fact that the US has always had some, er, interesting elements. Kurt Vonnegut's Mother Night is one of the exceptions in my reading, but being a novel it's far enough from the source for me to cope with it. | ||
| Simon Withers Member Username: Sfwithers Post Number: 753 Registered: 08-2005 |
I'm in need of escapism and comfort reading of a sort at the moment and I'm re-re-reading The Galton Case by Ross MacDonald, a classic noir published in 1959, which has a little dig at the 'Beat' generation along the way. It follows the same themes as a lot of his novels - they often depend on events from 20 years or so previously - but MacDonald was a very fine writer whose work is very highly regarded these days, probably more so than when he was alive. | ||
| Ric Member Username: Ric Post Number: 19 Registered: 05-2019 |
Steve Kilbey 'places' themed interview https://pennyblackmusic.co.uk/Home/Detai ls?id=27653 | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4845 Registered: 03-2005 |
The latest Guardian article about the seemingly Biblical weather clobbering various areas of Italy. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/j ul/25/italy-wildfires-palermo-temperatur es-sicily-airport-heatwave From reports I've read of my own area (at other times; not now) I know that news reports can sometimes make things sound much worse than the actual fact. Stuart, I hope the winds and rain are not buffeting and inundating you. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10448 Registered: 05-2005 |
Having lived through the 2019/2020 bushfire season of hell, with choking, world’s worst air pollution for months on end, I only wish the reality had been less awful than the reports. What’s happening in southern Europe, North Africa and parts of the US and Canada right now is undoubtedly heading Australia’s way in a few months. And still there are fucking morons here who deny climate change is real. How I despise them. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 2210 Registered: 10-2006 |
Thanks for the thought, Randy! So far, it’s been hot here, but nothing extreme, and I hope that’s how it continues. The fact that Italy has been shrugging its shoulders at man-made “natural” disasters for decades, avoiding even the simplest solutions, offers little sign of a sea-change being triggered in the mentality of those in power. I suspect that glueing yourself to a masterpiece is not going to be enough. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4846 Registered: 03-2005 |
We are definitely a species that does the least at the last possible moment, that's for sure. If we do it even then. The old aphorism attributed to Churchill about the US seems to apply to mankind in general. I'm grateful for being retired and thus graced with the time to walk to some of my errands, to convert my small yard from water-wasting lawn to California native plants that I don't have to water and to reduce my use of heating and aircon to levels that would not be deemed acceptable in an office. And I'm grateful for the free time that I have to wrap my mind around the necessity for these changes. Even so I haven't sent my two 60+ year old Lancias to the crusher. They still get their weekly exercise. It's definitely a process, figuring out how to live now. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10453 Registered: 05-2005 |
A fantastic article about a 74-year-old who goes to a gig every night. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle /2023/jul/31/a-new-start-after-60-at-74- i-go-to-a-gig-every-night-and-once-went- to-725-in-a-row | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10501 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Graybar Hotel by Curtis Dawkins. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10503 Registered: 05-2005 |
I’ve never found Jimmy Fallon funny, and always suspected he was a dick. And then this https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/t v-movie-features/jimmy-fallon-tonight-sh ow-toxic-work-environment-crying-rooms-n bc-1234819421/ | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 2228 Registered: 10-2006 |
Argh, the man's over the top desk-slapping hilarity at his guests' every fart makes him impossible to watch. The chat show format nowadays is too limiting to be particularly interesting, though I do enjoy the occasional monologue, usually Colbert. Sometimes I dip back into the TV archives for a Dick Cavett show, when intelligent conversation seemed to be the idea rather than joke trading and pre-prepared anecdotes. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10504 Registered: 05-2005 |
I like Colbert and Seth Meyers. What turned me off Fallon, apart from his mainstream unfunniness, was seeing a clip of him talking down to Meyers (who took over Fallon’s old show when he got promoted to Leno’s spot) as if he was an inferior, lesser talent. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10511 Registered: 05-2005 |
Karin Slaughter - The Silent Wife | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10517 Registered: 05-2005 |
This article on bad behaviour at gigs. I’ve been to so few gigs in recent years due to Covid that I haven’t seen this kind of behaviour, but I don’t doubt it’s happening. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre e/2023/sep/14/behaviour-music-gigs-live- shows | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4859 Registered: 03-2005 |
Pádraig, your article is one of a number that have come out on the subject over the past month or so. These articles always remind me of the time I opened my yap (and wish I didn't) at Robert's first Powerhouse show for "The Four Ages" series. I was so charmed and surprised by his little flourish of falsetto that I said "love the falsetto, Robert" after the song was over. I think it embarrassed him. But I DID love it and it perfectly reflected his joy at finally being back on stage and finally restarting his performing life after the nightmare of Grant's death. Still. I wish I'd kept my yap shut. The danger comes when you identify TOO much with an artist. You can forget that they aren't your personal friends. When the Go-Betweens played in Los Angeles at the Troubadour in 2005 at some point when a lot of people in the audience were shouting requests to them, I decided "what the hell" and requested "Friday on my Mind" as a joke. I was up quite close to the stage so I was heard. Robert responded "Friday on my Mind?" in his absent-minded professor's manner and Grant started playing the instantly recognizable opening guitar riff. But I wish I'd kept my yap shut there too, even if it was all taken in good humor. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10520 Registered: 05-2005 |
I remember you shouting that out at the Powerhouse, Randy. SO embarrassing. (Not really) | ||
| David Gagen Member Username: David_g Post Number: 513 Registered: 02-2007 |
What great shows they were. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4861 Registered: 03-2005 |
Yes David, those were all magnificent shows. I remember Pádraig and I attended the early rehearsal/soundcheck for the first show. As I recall Robert did a cover of the Saints' "The Prisoner" which is one of my favorite songs by them. I knew it was going to be great. The whole experience was exceptional. I remember Robert talking at the start of the first show, kind of bringing us all up to speed. I remember him telling us that he'd spent the past year "drawing breath." That sounded just right to me. He must have been a bundle of nerves that night. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10522 Registered: 05-2005 |
Seeing Robert play four nights in a row was one of the greatest music experiences of my life. Thanks for reminding me that we also saw the soundcheck. I took a chance that there would be one, went up, found I was right and sent you a text. You ran the whole way up from your accommodation, as I recall. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4862 Registered: 03-2005 |
I remember getting that text Pádraig. I think I'd just spent some time with Christina Gallagher (who posted on here back in those days) and had gone back to where I was staying for a breather and then I got your text. Since I was late to the Go-Betweens I don't have great memories of seeing the band with Lindy on the drums or Amanda adding her wonderful musical coloring, or of Robert Vickers' cool 60s visual presence. I saw the Mark II band three times which is pretty good considering how late I was and one of those three shows was the superb Barbican career retrospective. But Robert's "Four Ages" is the peak for me in terms of live concert experiences by anyone. He was able to dive all the way into his canon and had great occasionally self-deprecating stories about the songs. Even his cover versions were spot-on for me. In addition to "The Prisoner" he did a version of "When I Was Young," one of my favorite songs by Eric Burden's 60s band The Animals. And of course the whole thing was wrapped up in the experience of exploring the city that spawned the Go-Betweens and meeting so many people from this board including yourself and David. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10523 Registered: 05-2005 |
This is an extraordinary story about the power of music and how important it is to people's lives. Why it matters, and why protecting it from monsters such as the Taliban is so vital. https://www.theguardian.com/global-devel opment/2023/sep/21/the-love-for-music-is -still-there-saving-afghan-music-heritag e-taliban-crackdown-one-cassette-at-a-ti me | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 1535 Registered: 04-2005 |
Pádraig, Don't know if you've seen the 2014 film "Timbuktu", about the Islamic extremists taking over a village in Mali ? The music features very sparingly, but so very powerfully. Treating such a subject, you might imagine that the film could be bleak and horrific, but it manages to put its message across even with humour in parts. Much "lighter" in tone than you might imagine. For exemple there are young French-born guys fighting, who tell the village youngsters that it is now forbidden to play football. And then spend all their time chatting about who is their favourite player of the '98 national team  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGO5_qNn z1M | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10524 Registered: 05-2005 |
I hadn’t heard of that film, Andrew. Mali has produced such great musicians over the years, it’s disturbing and distressing to read about what the Islamist terrorists do there. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10558 Registered: 05-2005 |
My Magpie Eyes Are Hungry For The Prize - The Creation Records Story, by David Cavanagh. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10569 Registered: 05-2005 |
Dennis Lehane - Small Mercies | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4878 Registered: 03-2005 |
An extraordinarily depressing column in the Los Angeles Times about a variety of news and entertainment media resorting to AI as a last ditch attempt to overcome their economic challenges. It's behind a pay-wall unfortunately, but in case LAT allows nonsubscribers a few articles for free, here's the link: https://www.latimes.com/business/technol ogy/story/2023-12-01/column-the-depressi ng-fall-of-sports-illustrated-reveals-th e-real-tragedy-of-ai By coincidence I am finally reading "Brave New World" for the first time. I'm only up to page 55 and thus have no idea what sort of plot it will develop but our current events certainly aptly demonstrate the essential gullibility Huxley depicts in his characters. Most people really will swallow anything. It's the "What are you reading?" thread but I'm going to attach my Song of the Day here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMtV01gV 2Ik Poly always was far-seeing. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4879 Registered: 03-2005 |
And here's the live alternative, just because . . . . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9NB6mIy XWI | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10590 Registered: 05-2005 |
Thanks for the link, Randy. That is depressing. Sports Illustrated was for so long famous in journalism for its high and exacting editorial standards (apart from its annual wanker servicing “swimsuit edition”). It’s genuinely shocking to see how far it’s fallen. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10592 Registered: 05-2005 |
I came across this while googling for something else. It’s a very honest appraisal of his life in music journalism by David Stubbs, someone whose writing I more often admired than liked. https://davidstubbs.net/i-was-so-much-yo unger-then-im-older-than-that-now-early- days-at-melody-maker/ | ||
| David Gagen Member Username: David_g Post Number: 519 Registered: 02-2007 |
Just finished Hilary Mantel's first 2 magnificent books on Henry V111 and the destruction of Ann Bolyn, Wolf Hall & Bring Up The Bodies. Now for the 3rd book. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 2056 Registered: 08-2006 |
Terrific books, David. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 2057 Registered: 08-2006 |
"The Upstairs Delicatessen" by Dwight Garner: A sort of memoir by the terrific New York Times book critic that puts his twin loves of literature and food into a kind of sensory and memory blender. I came away from his book with a list of at least six books he references (and he references many dozens) that I have to check out. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4883 Registered: 03-2005 |
One of the books I'm planning to order after the Xmas hullabaloo has passed is Paul Simpson's "Revolutionary Spirit." I have a real weakness for his music anyway, and his book promises to be a great account of the northern post-punk scene as well as a valuable account of the lifetime meanderings of a quirky artist who never would have been conventional enough to be one of the stars of his generation. My kind of guy. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 4886 Registered: 03-2005 |
Robert, on summer in Brisbane: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle /2024/jan/03/the-empty-streets-of-my-tow n-in-summer-gives-way-to-a-wild-reckonin g-in-february | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 10619 Registered: 05-2005 |
Thanks, Randy, I hadn’t seen that. What a fine writer Robert is. |