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September 9, 2009
Shorties (Chuck Klosterman, Tao Lin, and more0
At the A.V. Club, Chuck Klosterman reviews the remastered Beatles albums.
It is not easy to categorize the Beatles’ music; more than any other group, their sound can be described as “Beatlesque.” It’s akin to a combination of Badfinger, Oasis, Corner Shop, and every other rock band that’s ever existed. The clandestine power derived from the autonomy of the group’s composition—each Beatle has his own distinct persona, even though their given names are almost impossible to remember. There was John Lennon (the mean one), Paul McCartney (the hummus eater), George Harrison (the best dancer), and drummer Ringo Starr (The Cat). Even the most casual consumers will be overwhelmed by the level of invention and the degree of change displayed over their scant eight-year recording career, a span complicated by McCartney’s tragic 1966 death and the 1968 addition of Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono, a woman so beloved by the band that they requested her physical presence in the studio during the making of Let It Be.
NPR also reviews the remastered Beatles albums.
The Village Voice reviews Tao Lin's new novella, Shoplifting from American Apparel.
A.L. Kennedy talks to the Socialist Worker about her new short story collection, What Becomes.
Backbeat Online interviews Sebastien Schultz of the Bad Veins.
Cool Hunting recommends The Indie Rock Coloring Book.
With the Magnetic Fields' classic album 69 Love Songs turning 10 years old this year, don't forget the blog, 69 Love Songs, Illustrated, which features comics for the album's songs.
Slate examines Pearl Jam's unlikely commerce collaboration with Target.
Drowned in Sound interviews Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne.
MTV reports that a Beatles graphic novel is on the way.
London rapper Speech DeBelle has won the 2009 Mercury Prize.
Drowned in Sound interviews DeBelle.
The September issue of Bookslut is online, and includes interviews with Sarah Manguso, Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa, and musch more.
David Bazan offers recording notes from the sessions for his new album, Curse Your Branches.
Topless Robot lists the top 13 nerd songs you've probably never heard of.
The Top 13 Albums Project is aggregating lists of the top 13 albums of the decade (2000-2009). Add your list and be heard.
Follow me on Twitter for links that don't make the daily "Shorties" columns.
also at Largehearted Boy:
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
