I listened to that Ezra Klein/Kyle Chayka podcast last week as well. The curation vs. algorithm discussion really stuck with me. Afterwards, I made a list of some of the folks I still look to as curators and you were at the top of the list. Thanks for all the years of connecting me to so many excellent pieces of art, thought and culture... I love doing the same for others!
Radiohead is my favorite band and I can agree that Ok Computer and Kid A are masterpieces but I also revisit In Rainbows more than any of their other albums. Not sure if you've ever mentioned it but I highly suggest Cole Kushna's podcast Dissect where he spends a season going in depth on albums, track by track. The latest season actually was on In Rainbows.
In regard to planting fruit trees, 1) the next best time is now. And 2) did you know if you plant an apple seed from a hybrid apple (Honey Crisp, Sweet Tango . . .) You will not get that hybrid, it will be the DNA of one of the trees it was derived from, the only way to get the hybrid is to take a cutting from a tree and root it?
1. The Lakeline Farmers’ Market has free composting and I take my stuff there—nice to know I might take old books there.
2. Need to buy a copy of The Denial of Death! I’m anxiously awaiting a used copy of White Noise. I had checked it out from the library, but then decided I wanted to be able to mark it up. I bought a copy from Half-Price Books, but that copy is already marked up. I want the joy of discovery myself, so have ordered another used copy. Can’t wait to read it—loved the feel of both well-worn trade paperbacks in my hand.
Have you heard of “OK Rainbows, In Computer”? It’s a playlist that alternates between OK Computer and In Rainbows and sounds like a coherent whole. Great way to revisit those albums!
Hey Austin, I'm curious how you store your blackout poems? Have you written about that? I've been creating my own and I taught some friends how to do it this weekend (using Keep Going as examples). They loved it so much they want to make it a regular event together. Now I'm wondering how we can store them.
So good! The Radiohead article would be enough (my top 2 albums are In Rainbows and The Bends), but I also loved the gardening post and the reminder of Junichiro Tanizaki. I want to check out In Praise of Shadows and reread an old favorite, The Makioka Sisters. Thank you!
Speaking of Bechdel, my partner and I watched the "Fun Home Reunion Concert"(virtually) based on the musical adaptation at Joe's Pub a couple of weeks ago and I found myself in tears during "Ring of Keys" and "Days and Days." Sharing because, since then, Bechdel's name/work has appeared multiple times in what I've watched/read. Funny how that works!
The asshole in your brain! Ha! Genius! Mine deserves a good punch to the kisser! 🥊
I listened to that Ezra Klein/Kyle Chayka podcast last week as well. The curation vs. algorithm discussion really stuck with me. Afterwards, I made a list of some of the folks I still look to as curators and you were at the top of the list. Thanks for all the years of connecting me to so many excellent pieces of art, thought and culture... I love doing the same for others!
Radiohead is my favorite band and I can agree that Ok Computer and Kid A are masterpieces but I also revisit In Rainbows more than any of their other albums. Not sure if you've ever mentioned it but I highly suggest Cole Kushna's podcast Dissect where he spends a season going in depth on albums, track by track. The latest season actually was on In Rainbows.
Hi Austin, I just became a paid subscriber because I've really enjoyed all of your posts this last few months. Thank you for all the digging and sharing you do. I'm a musician, filmmaker, writer, and designer, and I love how you draw inspiration from different disciplines. I just released a new song called Vampire and the music video I directed for it. It's hopelessly artsy and weird, and you might like it. https://open.substack.com/pub/roquemarcelo/p/the-vampire-music-video-is-out-now?r=1qzups&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true
In regard to planting fruit trees, 1) the next best time is now. And 2) did you know if you plant an apple seed from a hybrid apple (Honey Crisp, Sweet Tango . . .) You will not get that hybrid, it will be the DNA of one of the trees it was derived from, the only way to get the hybrid is to take a cutting from a tree and root it?
Love this, of course!
1. The Lakeline Farmers’ Market has free composting and I take my stuff there—nice to know I might take old books there.
2. Need to buy a copy of The Denial of Death! I’m anxiously awaiting a used copy of White Noise. I had checked it out from the library, but then decided I wanted to be able to mark it up. I bought a copy from Half-Price Books, but that copy is already marked up. I want the joy of discovery myself, so have ordered another used copy. Can’t wait to read it—loved the feel of both well-worn trade paperbacks in my hand.
3. This is what I’m attempting after poet Naomi Shihab Nye mentioned it: https://staffordchallenge.com/
Another great list! I love artists/creatives sharing with each other what inspires them and what makes them think. Thank you!
Have you heard of “OK Rainbows, In Computer”? It’s a playlist that alternates between OK Computer and In Rainbows and sounds like a coherent whole. Great way to revisit those albums!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMPmk-7aBLA
I wonder if we ever outgrow our need for Winncott’s “transitional object.” Thank you for sharing!
Hey Austin, I'm curious how you store your blackout poems? Have you written about that? I've been creating my own and I taught some friends how to do it this weekend (using Keep Going as examples). They loved it so much they want to make it a regular event together. Now I'm wondering how we can store them.
Austin is a writer who draws (but, I think, really an artist who writes). I think I might be an ice-cream-eater 🍨 who does therapy.
So good! The Radiohead article would be enough (my top 2 albums are In Rainbows and The Bends), but I also loved the gardening post and the reminder of Junichiro Tanizaki. I want to check out In Praise of Shadows and reread an old favorite, The Makioka Sisters. Thank you!
Speaking of Bechdel, my partner and I watched the "Fun Home Reunion Concert"(virtually) based on the musical adaptation at Joe's Pub a couple of weeks ago and I found myself in tears during "Ring of Keys" and "Days and Days." Sharing because, since then, Bechdel's name/work has appeared multiple times in what I've watched/read. Funny how that works!
Great tips this week Austin. Going to try for a more search, less feed kind of week