Lit Bits-6/25/2014

Ally says:

Every Life Has A Soundtrack

When I think back on what made me pick that comic up that day in Midtown Comics, I can’t remember if it was the cover or the title.

Maybe a little of both.

I suppose it doesn’t really matter. Because inside I found a story that rang true from the first few notes….which happened to be from Debaser by Pixies….

“Gonna grow….up to be…be a Debaser.”

MixTape by Brad Abraham contains a cast of characters that reminded me of the kind of person I was in high school – the kind of people my friends were: Unsure. Sarcastic. And constantly using music as a means of communication. This was back at a time when my ability to say 'I like you,' 'I’m sorry,' 'I’m wrong,' and especially 'I love you' – were all better said in the words of someone else, set to a tune you’d never forget.

The first arc of MixTape deals with our main core characters:

Jim Abbott, 17 – Soundtrack: Pixies, Joy Division, REM

Terry Allison, 17 – Soundtrack: Bands you’ll hear about in about a year from now

Lorelei Cross, 17 - Soundtrack: The Smiths, The Cure, the Clash, Kate Bush, Madonna (only in secret)

Noel Dunlop, 17 – Soundtrack : Beastie Boys, INXS, Depeche Mode, New Order

Siobhan King, 17 – Soundtrack: Who cares? She’s back from Europe!

One of the great things about MixTape is that each issue centers on a different character in this core group. One of my favorites was issue 4, which centers around Siobhan, Jim’s love interest. Without giving too much away Siobhan’s story more than any other, details the power of music, the way it gives us a language like a tow rope to scale and navigate the dangerous landscape of high school, love and heartbreak. Siobhan’s sister, who is leaving for Seattle, gives her a single parting gift. A record (I won't tell you which one - read it yourself) and a note: “Every life has a soundtrack, babe. I found yours.”

Look, I've got an older sister. All my music came from her. I understand the power of a bequeathed album especially as a parting gift. I won't lie. I got all teary-eyed.

It is with one part humor, one part heartbreak and one part nostalgia that Brad Abraham weaves this coming of age story. Marco Gervasio and Jok create beautiful stark black and white panels, complete with all the visual “feels” that Abraham crafted for his characters.

I started reading comics late. I wasn’t hooked as a kid by The Capes so I’ve always gravitated to the more independent stream. Comics about regular people managing their life. MixTape is exactly that.

At the end of the series, the ultimate question is asked:

What song do you want them to play at your funeral?

Me? I haven’t decided yet. Today, I’m going with Wave of Mutilation.

“You think I’m dead, but I sailed away. On a wave of mutilation, wave of mutilation.”

Do yourself a favor and check out Brad’s work. 

And follow him. You won’t be disappointed. 

PS....On a side note: Ipods sort of suck don't they? I mean, playlists just aren't the same, are they? I used to spend hours making mix tapes for my friends - passing it to them in the halls in class. And then later on when we got together, all we did was talk about music. Look, I know people wax poetic about the 90's all the time but it was a bit of a high water mark wasn't it? It was a different time. I think that's what Brad does best. He brings you right back there, back when music was everything. 


Aleathia says:

Did you ever have a story that stayed with you for the whole of your life?  A story that crossed your path at just the right time in your personal growth that it affected you deeply?  Yeah, I thought so.  

The fall I turned 14 I started high school.  My teacher Mr. Grinnell assigned this book for a report.  At that point I had never heard of Shirley Jackson.  At first glance one would think this would be a story of winning, of good luck.  When I finished this story I was horrified.  Did things like this really happen?

I grew up in a series of small towns where people helped each other like good neighbors should and everyone knew everyone else's business.  I had never been exposed to the idea of stoning.  It haunted me as a young teenager and I later went to the library (we didn't have the luxury of the internet) and looked up stoning and read about the cultures that implored this method of dealing with things.  That was 27 years ago and this book still haunts me.  

I am not sure they assign this book in school anymore with the world being so politically correct, but kids should read this book to understand the true definition of hard times and hard decisions, to understand the sense of horrid duty.  Shirley Jackson was an amazing writer.  I think she gets overlooked a lot.  Give the old girl a try.

Music Monday-5/19/2014 Johnny Mathis

Aleathia says:

This morning I was walking the dog and listening to a Buddhist teaching.  It was a rough one that vanquished the idea of what we think hope is....hope is poverty because it gives you a false sense of suffering in the world.  I struggled with this one and my body felt like it wanted to physically reject the idea.  This is how I know something really rings deep in me.  So what does this have to do with Music Monday?

This tough idea made me think about my teenage years when my mother was going through brain surgeries for trigemnialneuralgia.  I was largely in charge of taking care of her at the age of 14.  I cooked and cleaned, wrote out the bills, took care of my brother, and cleaned up after my mother.  It is what you are supposed to do for those you love despite how hard it is and how much you miss.  She never forgot my kindness even in her heyday of alcoholism.  When she was very ill she loved to play Johnny Mathis on repeat.  It was the only thing that soothed her and the only thing that gave her hope.  Hope is poverty because it gives you a false sense of suffering in the world.  There it was again.

In the final box of my mother's items that arrived at my house, inside were a sleeve of CD's.  Some of them from the more recent years of her music taste and others from the days I remember...Johnny Mathis, The Everly Brothers, Traffic, and Meatloaf.  So here is a song that I have heard over the years that always reminds me of a dark time for my mother, but reminds me of how I was able to rise to the occasion and be a better person for it.

Johnny Mathis-"Chances Are"

Music Mondays-4/28/2014 Fleetwood Mac, Flying Avocado Mixed Tape

Michelle says:

Song of the Week

So my ex and I had an eerily similar love for the same bands. Neither of us had encountered anyone else with the same favorites, American Analog Set, Broken Social Scene, Blonde Redhead. In the wake of any breakup, it's also best to avoid bands you came to like as a result of the union. Those are Tree People, Wooden Birds, High Highs, to name a few. So my music catalogue is currently a little facked in the options department. This song and performance came on my Simon and Garfunkl Pandora station and I'm diggin it. It makes me think of how I am on a new road.

Never Going Back Again

Aleathia says:

Oh man....music.  Isn't it the best?  I know that my life is a series of well orchestrated mixed tapes with each song laden in memory or some sense of feeling that moves me.  When I was in college (the first time) I was a DJ at the college radio station.  It was a hole in the wall....a place for the rejects...and it did not get any respect.  I wanted to change things so I ran for general manager and won.  Over my time there I brought in new equipment, got more students involved, and created a sense of community by involving other clubs with the radio.  I even had the president of the college listening to my Thursday morning jazz program.

My music taste has a multitude of origins.  My fiance is a consumptionist.  He devours a group at a time and really learns everything about them, learns every measure of every bar of music.  Me, I just listen and love the concept of blending songs that shouldn't go together.  I'm a music dabbler-a bit of this and a bit of that. So here is the first of many mixed tapes you will see from me:

1. Andrew Bird-Yawny At the Apocalypse
2. Songs: Ohia-Lightning Risked It All
3. Bonnie Prince Billy-Am I Demon?
4. The Shins-A Comet Appears
5. Florence and the Machine-My Boy Builds Coffins
6. Belle and Sebastian-I Want the World to Stop
7. Fugazi-Epic Problem
8. Ryan Adams-The Drugs Not Working
9. The Black Keys-Sinister Kid
10. Black Uruhu-Fire and Brimstone
11. Santogold-Creator
12. Thom Yorke-And It Rained All Night
13. She Wants Revenge-Disconnect
14. Mumford & Sons-After the Storm
15. The Punch Brothers-Welcome Home
16. Gregg Yeti and the Best Lights-The Girl with the Expiration Date
17. Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs-Devil's in the Jukebox
18. Calexico-Trigger
19. Johnny Cash-God's Gonna Cut You Down