a reader's companion to sidney's catalog

a year ago i read, no, make that, devoured, hemphill’s biography of hank williams. you can read that piece here at the book review page. everything i have to say about his writing is in that piece, or it should be, but to be frank it was fantastic (especially considering that it was a biography, one that read like a novel). it’s terrible that his death only now leads me to seek out his novels and more of his writing. hope you will do the same.

the new album is great, as is the video for “actor out of work.” early contender for album of the year.

thanks to the boys and girls at npr music. this is a really cool album, the mix of electronic and live instruments is captivating. some tracks make better use of it than others, but there are quite a few gems in here (“get older”). theres a word for this … polyrhythmics? is niiice.

i was initially frightened and deeply skeptical when i moved to nyc and first encountered this arcane contraption. but the second time around i was very much won over. my hesitations were asuaged, and turning the big lever was a much more gratifying experience… it’s certainly better than the goddam punch cards and optical scans. long live the lever!

listen to this.