Weekend Listening post

[highlyeccentric]

Music:

As I was making the last listening post, I bought Dessa's 'Sound The Bells', a collaboration with the Minnesota Orchestra. Of the tracks that weren't on 'Parts of Speech', this is one of my favourites (not the same recording, alas):

Watch on YouTube

I also bought Cher's Believe, because, uh, it seemed imperative in lockdown. This was probably prompted by Grace Petrie and Ben Moss' cover, which formed part of their Lockdown A-Z. Other highlights from that series (if you open on mobile in the instagram app you get the 'watch full video' option) include Backstreet's Back, Hit me with your best shot, Jesse's Girl, Let it Go, Oops I Did It Again, Part-time Lover, Romeo and Juliet, Sound of the Underground, Time After Time, Uptown Girl, and When You're Gone. Or maybe I've just always really wanted a dorky butch singing power ballads.

Just now, I have joined every other queer on the internet by purchasing 'Fetch the Boltcutters'. I missed the Fiona Apple memo until now, and I don't think this is an /earthshattering/ album or anything, but I'm impressed with the turns of phrase, especially in 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters' and 'Under the Table'. And the syncopated rhythms in 'Shameika'. And the entire everything of 'Relay'. I will not embed examples because if you haven't looked it up already I assume you're deliberately Not Interested.

I've also just been listening a lot more than usual to my very long-established playlists - some organised by mood, some by genre, some going right back to undergrad.

Podcasts

Fiction:

I really, strongly recommend The Least of These by Veronica Roth, especially in The Current Context.

You want to do this together now? Best said.
Least said, I think you want to. I think you don’t want to do it on your own. So go ahead. Tell me what you’ve got.
Best frowned at the first word that showed between her spread fingers. Okay. Then I think we need to start with the young.
You mean you want to start with the old, Least said, raising an eyebrow. That’s who you want to leave to die, right?
I’m saying we should spare the young, Best said. And the skilled.

I particularly liked Magnus Archives episode 24, 'Strange Music', a great classic-genre set piece. 'Growing Dark' was interesting, and probably laying further plot, but what struck me is that it's another layer in the complex laminate this show is building up about faith and belief, both Christian (various sorts) and the supernatural. Cults are involved, treat with appropriate caution. (Still kind of surprised I got through 'Confession' and 'Desecrated Host' without freaking the fuck out.)

Other:

I really enjoyed The Spouter Inn's Little Women episode, although I was surprised they mostly skirted around the most common queer readings (they did this with the Illiad, too). They DID present an interesting reading of Laurie as gender-deviant in some ways, meaning he meets Jo on an equal level, but didn't pick that thread back up and DO anything with it when discussing Good Wives and the 'we're too alike' reasoning and so on.

I also enjoyed their Gertrude Stein episode, although it did not convince me to LIKE Stein, or regard positively her action in ventriloquising her (more femme, sits with the wives while Gertrude talks to artists) partner's 'autobiography'.

Comments

[oracne]

I adore Fiona Apple but haven't had the brain space to listen to the whole new album yet. The radio has played a few of the songs, at least. I seem to like the radio right now because it feels more like interaction with The World.

[highlyeccentric]

I think if my radio were in the main room, instead of an alarm clock, I might listen to more of it! I have some radio-station-issued podcasts, but they tend to be more newsy than music-and-chat.

[oracne]

We have a local station, WXPN, that is publically supported and very soothing.

[0dense]

oh dude that Uptown Girl cover is bomb!

[highlyeccentric]

Isn't it just!