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November 27, 2010
Shorties (Pink Martini, Barack Obama's Children's Book, and more)
Weekend Edition interviews pianist Thomas Lauderdale and vocalist China Forbes of Pink Martini about the band's new holiday album, Joy to the World.
The Los Angeles Times examines the controversy surrounding Barack Obama's children's book, Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters.
Apparently, controversy is the watchword for some children's picture books this season: At least that's the case for one book that has sparked quite a discussion in media outlets, including the decidedly un-bookish Fox News. In Barack Obama's "Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters," the president of the United States appears to endorse some historical figures — including Cesar Chavez, Georgia O'Keeffe and Maya Lin — over others as models for children. Isn't it great to know that the leader of the free world thinks enough of children to write seriously for them — seriously enough to be controversial? (Although, in fairness, with the state of our politics, any move he makes will be objectionable to someone.)
Yesterday's updates to the online "best books of 2010" lists included the Independent's best books, the New Statesman's best books, and more.
Yesterday's updates to the list of 2010 year-end online music lists included NME's best albums, MOJO's top albums, Q Magazine's albums of the year, and more.
On sale for $1.99 at Amazon MP3:
The Arcade Fire's The Suburbs album
Big Boi's Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son Of Chico Dusty album
John Lennon's Power To The People - The Hits album
John Mayer's Battle Studies album
Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster album
LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening album
Mavis Staples' You Are Not Alone album
The National's High Violet album
Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album
Robert Plant's Band of Joy album
The Roots' How I Got Over album
Sade's Soldier of Love album
Sara Bareilles' Kaleidoscope Heart album
Spoon's Transference album
Train's Save Me, San Francisco album
The Walkmen's Lisbon album
Weezer's Hurley album
the XX's xx album
On sale for $3.99 at Amazon MP3:
The Velvet Underground's The Velvet Underground & Nico album
The Open Book is offering signed and personalized copies of Justin Kramon's marvelous debut novel, Finny.
The Scotsman talks to members of Vampire Weekend about the band's success.
The Huffington Post lists books with great shopping scenes.
The Globe and Mail profiles Wyclef Jean, "the hippest president Haiti never had."
The People's Daily Online lists China's richest writers, as well as foreign writers who made the most money in China this year.
The San Francisco Chronicle recommends gifts for "music maniacs who have it all."
The Guardian will soon offer a short stories podcast.
Covers Blog examines hip hop's love affair with hockey.
The Guardian has authors choose their favorite books of the year.
Dan Hicks talks to Jazz Times about his new holiday album, Crazy for Christmas.
The Scotsman interviews Denise Mina about writing the graphic novel, A Sickness in the Family.
Follow me on Twitter and Stumbleupon for links (updated throughout the day) that don't make the daily "Shorties" columns.
also at Largehearted Boy:
previous Shorties posts (daily links from the worlds of music, literature, and pop culture)
Online "Best Books of 2010" lists
Online "Best Music of 2010" lists
Atomic Books Comics Preview (highlights of the week's comics & graphic novel releases)
daily mp3 downloads
Largehearted Word (highlights of the week's book releases)
Try It Before You Buy It (mp3s and full album streams from this week's CD releases)
weekly music & DVD release lists
