Thanks for the respite from the depressing world of politics. Not that I need to add another book to my already bloated reading list, but Burton's sounds worthwhile. Too many books, too little time.
I've never been a huge fan of Tom Waits. He's an acquired taste that I've never fully managed to acquire, although my husband loves his work. I was introduced to him eons ago in college along with Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and Leonard Cohen. Those guys stuck; Waits did not. Speaking of legacies, have you listened to Paul Simon's latest work, Seven Psalms? It's magical.
Thanks for sharing these parts of your life, Damon; it's always an intellectual discovery. I'd heard of Burton, but never read any of her work--now it looks like I'm going to have to; your description of her book as "weaving together elite-level ideas with demotic and material developments" makes me want to read and compare her to other such wide-ranging intellectuals as Lasch, Scialabba, or Crawford. And as for Waits, as another commenter put it, he's an acquired taste, one that I've also personally never acquired--but I never knew "Downtown Train" was a Waits cover! I'll have to go back and listen to it, and the original, again.
Thank you for the book recommendation, I’m excited to read it, you definitely opened my eyes to the fact that plastic surgery and trans issues probably come from the same place of self actualization, but from your comments on the book, “accepting limits, and our givenness,” it doesn’t sound like your entirely positive about this phenomenon, which is where I certainly fall on the issue.
I’m a bit surprised that Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis isn’t on your ballad list. It’s one sad ballad. But Kentucky Ave. from the same album is quite a song - hits me hard every time. I started listening to Waits in my late 20s, but that was just Closing Time and Rain Dogs (which I didn’t like initially). But 20 years later I find his music more compelling than I did originally and I’m listening to him a lot more now. Political Beats really should have you back for a three-episode segment on Waits.
Did you know?
https://pitchfork.com/news/tom-waits-reissuing-his-studio-albums-from-1983-to-1993/
(Not a big Waits fan so scanned through that part. If this is repetitive, my apology.)
Thanks for the respite from the depressing world of politics. Not that I need to add another book to my already bloated reading list, but Burton's sounds worthwhile. Too many books, too little time.
I've never been a huge fan of Tom Waits. He's an acquired taste that I've never fully managed to acquire, although my husband loves his work. I was introduced to him eons ago in college along with Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and Leonard Cohen. Those guys stuck; Waits did not. Speaking of legacies, have you listened to Paul Simon's latest work, Seven Psalms? It's magical.
Thanks for sharing these parts of your life, Damon; it's always an intellectual discovery. I'd heard of Burton, but never read any of her work--now it looks like I'm going to have to; your description of her book as "weaving together elite-level ideas with demotic and material developments" makes me want to read and compare her to other such wide-ranging intellectuals as Lasch, Scialabba, or Crawford. And as for Waits, as another commenter put it, he's an acquired taste, one that I've also personally never acquired--but I never knew "Downtown Train" was a Waits cover! I'll have to go back and listen to it, and the original, again.
Any way you can share your ballad playlist? Sounds epic.
Thank you for the book recommendation, I’m excited to read it, you definitely opened my eyes to the fact that plastic surgery and trans issues probably come from the same place of self actualization, but from your comments on the book, “accepting limits, and our givenness,” it doesn’t sound like your entirely positive about this phenomenon, which is where I certainly fall on the issue.
"Derelict musical" is probably the best description of Tom Waits' work that I've ever read.
Thanks for the Tara Isabelle Burton recommendation. I enjoyed your essay.
I’m a bit surprised that Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis isn’t on your ballad list. It’s one sad ballad. But Kentucky Ave. from the same album is quite a song - hits me hard every time. I started listening to Waits in my late 20s, but that was just Closing Time and Rain Dogs (which I didn’t like initially). But 20 years later I find his music more compelling than I did originally and I’m listening to him a lot more now. Political Beats really should have you back for a three-episode segment on Waits.