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We’re suddenly pretty deep in the culture wars here. Deep enough that culture wars is a vastly insufficient term, and it’s hard to think about anything besides the insane bullshit going on in the United States. I don’t have much to say about it that isn’t said better by other people, but to the Americans on this mailing list: good luck, stay safe. Things are gonna get worse before they get better. 

Here’s some music stuff: 

Polaris Prize was handed out this week, and I was half right in my predictions. Yves Jarvis won the album prize for reasons that I don’t understand (and neither, it seems, does Michael Barclay). Even though my pick didn’t win, they put on a great live performance, really reminiscent of a grunge act in 1994. Blog faves the OBGMs ripped it up too, as did Saya Grey, who I think will be a household name in 2 years. And she’s a hell of a guitarist. My song prize predication came through though:

This piece in the Globe and Mail is a pretty good one, even if the scrolly bit is a little wonky in my browser. 

A sneak peek at a book from next week: I’m reading the memoir by Niko Stratis, who is an unbelievable writer and a trans woman from Northern Canada. Spoiler alert: it’s brilliant and you should pick it up. I’d been meaning to for a while, but what convinced me to do it was reading the intro she wrote for the brilliant new Ganser album. 

And a fun fact from the book: she chose the name Niko when she transitioned because she was inspired by Neko Case (whose memoir is also a must-read), but when she first heard Case, Stratis misspelled her name. Eventually that misspelling became permanent. 

Anyway, the book is one of the best I’ve read this year, and I recommend it without reservation. You’ll see a longer piece on it next Tuesday. 

And now:

Recently, Munsch’s eldest grandchild, who is 7, asked him if he was sick and if he would die. “Yes,” he answered, because he believes in being honest with children.

…one of the key motivations for making art is to give us something to do with bad feelings—a way to take feelings that threaten to be purely negative or destructive and make them productive

What got your attention this week? Got a hot take on something? Hit reply and let me know.

Listening:

The Setlist: 40 songs you should hear.

Listen on Apple Music or Spotify.

Reading:

The Shortlist: Seven stunning stories, including the unforgettable “Is This Abuse?” from Ashton Russell. The links are here.

Next week:

The Dad Rock that Made Me a Woman. I’m halfway through and it’s already essential. Plus the new record from Irish punks Adore. It’s a winner.

-hugh

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