1) Drive-By Truckers, “Live at Plan 9: July 13, 2006” / This 2021 release of an earlier show (played in the age of Isbell, Neff and Tucker) underlines everything I love about the Truckers: a ragged aesthetic, rocksteady ethics, tremendous story-songs and revolving lead vocals that allow listeners a chance to absorb greater perspective. Just a stellar, scorching set.
2) The music of Allah-Las / I tripped through this week alongside the psych-leaning L.A. band, recalling afresh just how smart and magnetic their songs are. Two degrees shy of being a radio band, but also two degrees shy of being too cool for school, the Allah-Las strike the perfect balance.
3) Sinai Vessel, “I Sing” / Caleb Cordes’ latest houses so many moments of hard-won beauty. Somewhere between the anthems of emo and the wide fields belonging to singer-songwriters, Cordes’ work is meek but never frail, pushing joy and gentleness through the smallest spaces they might occupy.
4) Julia Phillips, “Bear” / Phillips’ novel subverts the man vs. nature story, pressing two sisters’ very different responses upon encountering a nomadic bear. The beauty of their sibling bond aches within the reader; the inherent need to believe in any means of escape unsettles; and the writing softly stuns.
5) Natalye Childress, “Satanist/Boygenius,” for Major 7th / Writing in conversation with one of my favorite bands for one of my favorite lit mags, Childress touches on something both fundamental and mystical about the way music reaches us right when it becomes most necessary. We are forever trying to find one another, and the music finds us, teaching us hope against hope.
as i turn from a spur route onto 127 west, two things happen in quick succession: up ahead, i spot the first sign announcing where you are; it means i’m getting closer. seconds later, familiar chords come through the speakers, g / d / bm / g. i smile to myself, because i can’t help but believe it’s a message from you.