April 25, 2025, 1:54pm
This week we at Lit Hub sought deep focus, wise Dad energy, and salt. We celebrated surprises and anniversaries. We looked spring in the face and said, do your worst.
Speaking of the season. Drew Broussard is “reallllly digging” a 2023 Kali Malone album, Does Spring Hide Its Joy. He insists this record—an ambient, durational groove featuring three long drones for cello, guitar, and sine-wave oscillator—is “probably the best writing background of all time.” Happily for fans on a roll, Malone has a deep bench. Two weeks ago, the experimental composer reissued her 2019 breakthrough, The Sacrificial Code, to much acclaim. And if drones aren’t your bag, here’s another listening recommendation.
James Folta has what he describes as a turbulent relationship with sunflower seeds. But this week he and the salty snack reentered a honeymoon phase. (“The grocery store near me stocks the good Turkish seeds, and I can’t get enough of the little guys.”) Though tough to crack, deez nuts also make good fidget spinners. Pair them with the drones and get cracking, all ye on deadlines.
I got joy this week from an original movie—Vera Drew’s The People’s Joker. This madcap, IP-flaying odyssey is high pastiche. Drew takes aim at the superhero franchise, and the clubby comedy world. But it’s also a coming-into-self story about her transition, employing totally novel animation and practical effects. Every frame surprised me, and that made for such a nice viewing experience. We can still be surprised at the movies. Isn’t that nice?
Jessie Gaynor drew inspo from a three-part series on Tay Zonday, AKA Adam Bahner, of “Chocolate Rain” fame, on the podcast Sixteenth Minute (of Fame). Bahner describes his life “before and after virality” and “delivers an absolutely fascinating lecture on the political context of his song that touches on Ellison, Derrida, Chomsky, the algorithm, Black Lives Matter, and Occupy Wall Street (among many others). And of course, his speaking voice remains wonderful.”
Jonny Diamond wouldn’t have made it through a very stressful week if it weren’t for another periodically viral presence—Jon Hamm. Your Friends & Neighbors, Hamm’s newest show on AppleTV, is not a comedy per se, but apparently scratches an itch for a mid-century matinee idol in the Cary Grant idiom. According to our EIC, “Hamm comes very close to nailing that rare handsome/funny/pathetic 1940s film star persona.” And we’re here for it. Elsewhere in good TV Land, we’re getting reports that Dan Sheehan has finally caught the Hacks bug. To everyone else on the fence, come on in, the water’s smart!
In IRL news, Molly Odintz attended the 11th anniversary party of La Reunion, the Austin housing cooperative she helped found (and name!). And Julia Hass went to Schmuck, a Manhattan cocktail bar, where she also enjoyed a salty surprise. A cocktail with cheese in it. Who’da thunk.
We wish you a weekend of creative inspiration, oohs and aahs, and savory bites/sips. Hang in there.