Demob Happy

The big post 9-11 book from DeLillo 7/10 In ‘Falling Man’ DeLillo tries to tackle the Big Theme of the 21st century – namely September 11, 2001 – and how it has impacted on the collective psyche. However, there is less of the virtuoso authorial omnipresence of Underworld, for example, but more examination of the [...]

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‘Central And Remote’ 8/10 I came across Grizzly Bear via Dan Rossen’s brilliant – but wholly different – earlier project Department of Eagles. I was initially underwhelmed and bemused, but I persevered and can back previous reviewers who have labelled this a grower. If like me you have come to Grizzly Bear via Department of [...]

Grizzly Bear - Easier [ 3:44 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Kingdom of heaven? 7/10 I have to say I’m surprised by some of the negative reviews of this book. Could it be perhaps the reviewers hadn’t read a Paul Theroux book before and didn’t know what to expect? UK fans of Theroux’s misanthropic, razor-sharp observations should have no qualms about the author turning his sights [...]

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Lost classic but will they make another? 8/10 I would be tempted to describe this album as a ‘lost classic’ since it started as a minor independent release by two college roommates in 2003 and has steadily developed a cult following. People will continue to look back to this album while one half of Department [...]

Dept of Eagles - The Horse you ride [ 4:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Touching from a distance 7/10 Control is a biopic about the legendary Manchester post-punk band Joy Division, and more specifically about their late lead singer Ian Curtis who hanged himself at the age of 23, having produced only one album and a handful of singles. Such is the legacy of the music made in this [...]

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Reading of responsibility 9/10 The Reader is a subtle, thought-provoking work that continues – but does not quite belong to – a tradition of Holocaust literature. The novel very cleverly raises questions about the nature of complicity and the boundaries of responsibility. It also examines the idea of collective ‘amnesia’ and its consquential twin, collective [...]

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Follow the herd 9/10 ‘Shepherd’s Dog‘ is a significant departure for Sam Beam and judging some fan reaction it is not going to be an easy transition for a large bulk of his followin. However, if like me you were not particularly enamoured to his old style – stripped down folk in the mold of [...]

Iron and Wine - Carousel [ 4:02 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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