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September 29, 2009
Shorties (Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer, Kurt Vile, and more)
The Lincoln Journal-Star profiles Van Jensen, the cartoonist behind the graphic novel Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer.
"P:VS" takes place after Carlo Collodi's original story. Geppetto's been killed by vampires, and Pinocchio, still made of wood, vows vengeance. He's got at least one big advantage. When he lies, his nose grows, leaving him with an endless supply of stakes, which he loves to jab into the hearts of his foes.
The Philadelphia Inquirer profiles singer-songwriter Kurt Vile.
WFMU's Turner adds: "Especially when it comes to invoking classic rock, it's normally done with a lot of irony and a lot of cut-and-paste, copycat riffs. With him it's right down to the core of what's good about it. It's very evocative of traveling and experiencing things, but he never straps on that guitar like a pretentious bard."
Audrey Niffenegger talks to the Associated Press about her new novel, Her Fearful Symmetry (in stores today).
BBC News profiles former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, whose sixth solo album My Way is out today.
Like me, the Guardian's music blog is excited about Gillian Welch's forthcoming album.
It's always worth the wait for a new Gillian Welch album. Why? Because they are all songwriting masterclasses. And for me, the long gestation period signals nothing less than a perfect album. Though some fans saw the Neil Young-style electrics of Soul Journey as a critical misstep, I thought it was another chapter in the restless career of Welch.
At Amazon MP3: Paramore's new 11-track album, Brand New Eyes, is on sale for $3.99.
Two interesting cover songs:
Andrew Bird covers Harry Nilsson's "Think About Your Troubles" at Aquarium Drunkard
Miniature Tigers cover ABBA's "Mamma Mia" at Cover Me
The Beatles Complete on Ukelele has shared 36 Fab Four cover songs.
Wasafiri lists the 25 most influential books in world literature (as chosen by authors).
The A.V. Club lists 8 musicians who left secular music for God, then returned.
The Japan Times profiles author Haruki Murakami.
The Bay Bridged becomes the first music blog I know of to offer a recording grant.
NPR excerpts from Francine Prose's new book, Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife.
Microphone Memory Emotion interviews singer-songwriter-lawyer John P. Strohm.
Low Overhead + High Margin interviews singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton about the business of being an independent artist.
NPR is streaming in its entirety the new Roseanne Cash album, The List, which features duets with Jeff Tweedy, Elvis Costello, and others.
Billboard interviews Cash about the album.
Win 5 books from Snare Books in this week's Largehearted Boy contest.
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
