Welcome Distractions
New music, book reviews, short stories and more from blog this week
Plus lots of links to other good stuff that didn’t get there (yet)
Hi! You’re here! Thank you.This was an amazing, challenging week. Everything I posted about was unique and complicated. Everything was much, uh, artsier than the usual fare around here, and I feel both exhausted and energized by it.
The Bill Whitten short story is the coolest thing I’ve posted maybe ever. When I wrote about his killer new record Telepaths back in April, I thought it was kind of destined to reach a handful of people and disappear into the ether. Whitten has no social media (smart guy) so I thought it’d be a fart in the wind like so much of what I post.
AND THEN, in june:
He asked if I’d be interested in reading his book of short stories (uh, yes), and sent me a copy. It’s a great book. Like could-be-NYRB great. So I reached out and asked if he’d consider running a story with it to snag a few more eyeballs. The result? Click and read:
On top of that I wrote about two poetry books by musicians Sara Mae and Nadia Garofalo, which stretched muscles that I haven’t used since my undergrad. I’ve reviewed 500-page novels that have been easier to write about. I have no idea if I did a credible job, but I hope so. I’ve never been more anxious hitting ‘publish’ than I was this week.
Was it worth it? For sure: I’m actually looking forward to the next poetry collection I’m going to read (any suggestions? Email me).
So here’s to personal growth, taking risks and trying new things. Thanks for coming along for the ride. Now let’s read some Stephen King and listen to The Strokes or something.
Got something to share? Lay it on me. And now:
Off the blog: links you shouldn’t miss
The Case Against Substack: Look, I know it’s easy, but Substack is going to be a nightmare eventually, even if you don’t care about the ‘platforming Nazis’ thing. Own your material. And if you’re considering launching something, I’m happy to help you figure out the best way to do that. Reach out!
Speaking of publishing, this Walrus piece about a publishing weirdo is making the rounds in Canadian media. Some think the writer was too harsh on the guy. I think he sounds like a bit of an eccentric blowhard. You?
“Andrew hasn’t put anything about my book on Instagram, but he did post a close-up photo of an a.”
This story about the fraudster behind The Salt Path book is strange. Also strange? I’d never heard of the thing until this article. The publisher is defending it, but I’m not convinced.
Fraud? We got fraud: Someone stole $10 million from a Canadian music creators fund. The story of how it happened would be funny if it wasn’t so infuriating.
I will always watch Back to the Future if it’s on. It’s common to say ‘this could never be made today’, but this time the reasoning is sound:
“If you made Back to the Future in 2025 and they went back 30 years, it would be 1995 and nothing would look that different”
Relevant to the recent book More Everything Forever: this story about the Rationalists and a weird murder cult is a wild ride, and the illustration at the top is gorgeous.
I didn’t love Demon Copperhead, but (1) it led me to read Poisonwood Bible, which is a fuckin banger, and (2) Barbara Kingsolver used the big money from Copperhead to do awesome things. She’s a gem of a human:
“Very privileged people who would really rather not think about their neighbours who are struggling and suffering.”
Bookshop.org’s 100 bestselling books of 2025 so far
What got your attention this week? Got a hot take on something? Hit reply and let me know.
On the Blog
Reading:
I haven’t read poetry with a critical eye since my undergrad, and this week was two writers who are polar opposites.
Sara Mae is a clinician - an MFA with all kinds of style and substance, writing inverted takes on formal styles. It’s complicated, but worth the effort.
Nadia Garofalo is a lyricist with a consistent structure and flow, it’s the more accessible of the two.
Bill Whitten’s collection of noir-inflected short stories were also dense and demanding in the best way, and you should read one of them now!
The Shortlist: We got a shortlist, oh do we. The Turn & Work exclusive, and 11 more stunning pieces of writing from around the web, including blog stalwarts Kelli Dianne Rule, Amy DeBellis and Sumitra Singam. Read em all here.
Got a short story? Send it my way
Listening:
OG Blog pals Dead Anyway released a new EP that’s as strong as anything they’ve done
Velvetine’s debut EP is the rare record where ‘cinematic’ is an apt descriptor. It’s ridiculously good.
Jazz-rock weirdos Bimbo’s second EP does all the things I liked on the first one, but better. Plus the stories behind the songs are terrific.
Mr. Industry’s weird, noisy post-punk sounds like it’s made by a seasoned band, but it’s their debut EP (and it’s #downunderindie)
I had some takes on the Polaris Prize. I made a midlist, clowned on the Song Prize a little, then published my shortlist. Turns out I did worse than last year, got 4 right. Declaring it now for the newsletter: the winner’s gonna be Ribbon Skirt.
The Setlist: about 2 hours of independent music: punk, rock, electronic, hyperpop, and more. Standout tracks by Penny Loafer, Night Hawk and Cruel Sister. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify.
What’s on your playlist? Send me your faves
Next week: Back to more traditional territory. A great book from Jill Ciment and a couple of highly-regarded clunkers. REAL clunkers. No idea if there’ll be music coverage next week, it’s a slow release period so it’s all about discovery. I got nothing in the schedule but that can change in a hurry.
Thanks for being here!
-hugh
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