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December 31, 2008
Shorties (Tim Fite, Salman Rushdie, and more)
Yesterday's additions to the "best of 2008" online book lists includes Comic Book Resources' best comics of the year.
Yesterday's additions to the "best of 2008" online music lists include Fingertips' top free and legal mp3 downloads and Rolling Stone's best music videos.
Chelsea Now visits New York's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex.
The newly christened Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in Soho has the potential to establish itself as a lively alternative to the usual circuit of New York City tourist destinations. While pondering a soiled urinal behind glass, contemplating what Elvis Presley doodled in his road bible or soaking in the sounds of Black Sabbath may be disconcerting for the Whitney crowd, there will certainly be legions of music nuts who will dive right in and wallow in the sounds and memorabilia of this new satellite version of the original hall in Cleveland. And if being in the close proximity of John Lennon’s piano or Prince’s purple raincoat have you salivating, there are actually some items in the store that can be taken home with you. For a price.
Minnesota Public Radio examines the marketing options facing a 21st century author.
Freesofree.net is an online archive of Dinosaur Jr. live sets.
The New York Times notes the negative effects of internet sales on independent booksellers.
Mr. Ross said he realized that Cody’s was doomed when he noticed that in the last year he hadn’t sold a single copy of that old-reliable for undergraduates, Kant’s “Critique of Pure Reason.” Students presumably were buying it online. Sales of classics and other backlist titles used to be the financial engine of publishers and bookstores as well, allowing them to take chances on new authors. Clearly that model is breaking. Simon & Schuster, which laid off staffers this month, cited backlist sales as a particularly troubled area.
Daytrotter's Wednesday session features in-studio mp3s from Earl Greyhound.
Pop Candy, my favorite pop culture blog, lists its favorite graphic novels, movies, albums, and television shows of the year.
Singer-songwriter Tim Fite writes (and shares) a song about the Linesville Spillway in northwest Pennsylvania for NPR's All Things Considered.
The Hold Steady's Franz Nicolay talks to C-Ville about his solo album.
Nicolay called Major General "kind of a grab bag," and said that the songs range from tunes he pitched to other bands to tracks that he wrote years ago then gave a lyrical overhaul to ("You don't always want to sing things at 31 that you wrote at 21.") Asked about his commitment to multiple bands while recording his solo album: "Ideally, I wouldn’t have a deep drawer of unused songs when I die."
Mac Word offers a firsthand account of self-publishing a book.
CNET's Digital Noise blog makes music tech predictions for 2009.
Fimoculous lists its most notable blogs of 2008.
The Telegraph interviews authir Salman Rushdie.
Asked why he provokes such dramatic reactions, Rushdie says he can't avoid it, as if it's somehow stamped on his DNA. 'There's a quote by Robert Browning that I'm particularly fond of - "Our interest's on the dangerous edge of things." Something in me, not consciously willed, takes me to those edges. But, at the same time, part of the nature of the artist, at least as I see it, is to increase – by however little – the sum total of what it is possible for us to understand. Nothing of great interest for me is done sitting safely in the middle of the room. You want to push the boundaries as much as possible. But I suppose if you do that then people are going to push back.'
Neatorama examines the relationships between 10 famous authors.
NPR features a streaming Tiny Desk Concert from singer-songwriter David Dondero.
also at Largehearted Boy:
Online "best of 2008" music lists
Online "best of 2008" book lists
daily mp3 downloads
Try It Before You Buy It (mp3s and full album streams from this week's CD releases)
weekly music & DVD release lists
tags: music books popculture indie news
