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June 6, 2011
Shorties (The Riot Grrl Movement, Oscar Hijuelos, and more)
The New York Times examines the lasting influence of the riot grrrl movement.
At Goodreads, Oscar Hijuelos lists five great works by Latino writers.
Hijuelos also talks to the Philadelphia Inquirer about his new memoir, Thoughts Without Cigarettes.
Flavorwire shares some relatively obscure cover songs.
The June edition of Words Without Borders is the online magazine's second queer issue.
Pitchfork gives Alina Simone's new album Make Your Own Danger a 7.2/10.
Her singing is both forceful and subtle. It draws out the nuances of lyrics that are full of sinister but deflected evocations of some beautiful oblivion. Pivotal events lurk around every corner here, before and behind, seldom revealed. As someone who seems to always be on the verge of blowing up, that must be a feeling Simone knows well. Maybe her unwillingness to go all in as an American classic or Eastern European curiosity hasn't ingratiated her with a marketplace that likes tidy narratives, and maybe she's getting a little fed up with it. When a shotgun goes off in the harbor on "Gunshots", you can hear the bang in her voice.
The Observer recommends literary role models for women.
NPR is streaming Marissa Nadler's new self-titled album (out June 14th).
The Irish Times interviews author John Banville.
New York Magazine profiles Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff.
Sheff, 34, is part of a rarefied group of tweedy singer-songwriters that includes the Decemberists' Colin Meloy, Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, and the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle. And despite his affection for the loss of consciousness, he is famous for his braininess and hyperliterate wordplay. His band is named after a short story by Russian author Tatyana Tolstaya. He has written for McSweeney's and was nominated for a Grammy for his liner notes to Roky Erickson’s latest album, True Love Cast Out All Evil (which Sheff also produced). He even dresses like a shaggily foxy English professor, all suede elbow patches and earth-toned trousers. "I sometimes fantasize about teaching, because I really enjoy the sound of my own voice," he says with a laugh. "I'd like to hold some AP class captive while I pontificate on things they could care less about."
Author Arundhati Roy talks to the Guardian about her political activism.
NPR is streaming cellist Erik Friedlander's new album Bonebridge (out June 14th).
Gigwise interviews Tom Vek about his new album, We Have Sound.
The Wall Street Journal examines the state of modern young adult fiction.
NPR is streaming BOBBY's self-titled album (out June 21st).
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 (news and links from the worlds of music, literature, and pop culture)
Atomic Books Comics Preview (highlights of the week's new comics & graphic novels)
daily mp3 downloads
Largehearted Word (highlights of the week's new books)
Try It Before You Buy It (mp3s and full album streams from this week's CD releases)
weekly music & DVD release lists
