Wednesday, January 14, 2009

this particular wednesday

I love Wednesdays. I have no class or work. I find my Tuesday night filled with anticipation for the next day with expectations for sleeping in, relaxation, productivity, and fun. This morning in particular has been defined by three things:  

1) Frozen blueberries. I read a nytimes piece about healthy things one should be consuming. Frozen blueberries were on the list. While many good foods are depleted when frozen, blueberries are less effected by freezing and contain a plethora of antioxidants and vitamins. So this morning I enjoyed a delicious bowl with vanilla yogurt. 

2) Slaughterhouse-Five, or the Children's Crusade: A Duty Dance with Death. I read half of this 1969 Kurt Vonnegut book yesterday during my break from class, and finished it this morning in bed. It is the perfect novel. I would describe it simultaneously as funny, sad, beautiful, ugly, hopeful, and defeating. I've always shirked away from reading it expecting it to be some guys' book that would be too concerned with itself by being obviously satirical and glorifying men and war. Now don't get me wrong, this book is surely misogynist, but that doesn't take away from the genius of form and compelling technique making a completely unlikeable and weak Billy Pilgrim become the answer to the problem of man killing man the inevitability of death. 

3) M. Ward's Hold Time. This album, by 'Him' of She and Him, is new to me, so I don't really feel I have a concise opinion yet. But I have sure been enjoying it this morning. You can listen to an exclusive first listen here. Here is what NPR says: 

NPR.org, January 12, 2009 - The songs of singer-guitarist M. Ward seem to drift in on the crackling radio waves of a distant time. Warm and intimate, his largely acoustic and usually spare arrangements are a tribute to what Ward sees as the greatest era for American music: the 1950s and early '60s, when singers like Buddy Holly andRoy Orbison infused country-rooted pop with honesty and romance. Ward's latest album, Hold Time, continues this tradition, with a gorgeously produced mix of finger-picked guitars, upright bass and shuffling rhythms, all tied together by his achy voice.

Hold Time won't be released until Feb. 17, but listeners can hear the entire album here on NPR Music as an exclusive preview.

The new disc was mixed by producer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Mogis, with guest appearances by Lucinda Williams,Zooey Deschanel (She & Him), Rachel Blumberg (The Decemberists) and others. Though it mostly features all-new songs, Hold Time includes a handful of cover tunes, including Don Gibson's "Oh Lonesome Me" and "Rave On," made popular by Buddy Holly.

"I think the songwriting style of (Buddy Holly's) period was superior," Ward says in an interview with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen. "There was a certain amount of joy in it, no matter how sad the song is. You get joy in listening to these Buddy Holly or Roy Orbison sad lyrics. I'm attracted to songs that have balance between the darks and the lights and giving them all equal opportunity."

And now I get to head down to Caribou to get school work done. Nice day.

5 comments:

mateo said...

you're always trying to make male authors out to be misogynistic, aren't you? i swear, women these days...

Laura said...

you're crazy!

Jill Batdorf said...

hahahhaha matt's hilarious. and i can hear both of you saying your comments outloud. which is excellent.

but my real reason for comment:

studying at caribou? good girl. perhaps this spring we will get to do that a few times together as i cram for the lsat.

Kate said...

gotta finish that book

Kate said...
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