Kurt Vonnegut’s most influential and well known work. It follows the story Billy Pilgrim, a soldier in World War II who becomes “unstuck” in time, moving forward and backward through moments of his life as he fights through trenches, home life after the war, and alien abduction, all culminating in the Bombing of Dresden. The book explores themes such as fatalism, free will and general existentialism.
So it goes.
Prince’s sixth studio album, Purple Rain is the soundtrack to the film, and the first of Prince’s albums to be credited to Prince and The Revolution. It has been certified thirteen times platinum by the RIAA and has sold over 20 million copies and has even been added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. The album remains true to Prince’s Minnealpolis/R+B sound, while demonstrating a move towards a more rock and pop oriented sound.
J Dilla - Donuts
Donuts is one of the last releases from influential hip hop producer J Dilla, released just three days before his death. Having been diagnosed with Lupus as well as an incurable blood disease, J Dilla created 29 of Donuts’ 31 tracks while in hospital. The title ‘Donuts,’ has a simple explanation - Dilla likes Donuts.
This book follows one Oedipa Maas, who had been named executor, or she supposed executrix, of the estate of one Pierce Inverarity, a California real-estate mogul who had once lost two million dollars and tangled enough to make the job of sorting it all out more than honorary. However, Oedipa finds herself on the trail of a mysterious, historical and seemingly ever-present group known as W.A.S.T.E. (or is that Trystero?)
Often considered the predecessor to Pynchon’s most prolific book, Gravity’s Rainbow, with both being similar in writing style (though this is not as intense).
Surprisingly engaging and at times, incredibly funny. Post-modern ftw
Widely considered the paragon of the ‘Great American Novel,’ the story is set during the roaring 1920’s in New York, and follows Nick Carraway’s interactions with the mysterious Jay Gatsby, his millionaire neighbor, who throws regular and elaborate parties, much to the speculation of his guests, most of whom turn up uninvited with little knowledge but much speculation about Gatsby and his fortune.
Despite receiving positive reviews on its initial publication, The Great Gatsby never saw commercial success during Fitzgerald’s lifetime, and it wasn’t until the 1960’s that its reputation was established.
8infinitebynature asked: Also the blunt rolled at Chronophonium by the river on top of Bleak House by Charles Dickens would have made for some excellent photos!
YES. I dunno if we took photos or not though…plus I haven’t read the book :S
Post it as a submission? Hahaa
infinitebynature asked: Holy fuck you have House of Leaves, I want to read it so badly! Guess who =P
Deeeewwwwwwd, it’s pretty effin’ wild
Listen: Blood Bank
Featuring a few recordings made during his time in the woods where he recorded his debut award-winning album, For Emma, Forever Ago. Bon Iver recently won a Grammy for ‘Best New Artist,’ for his self titled follow up.
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House of Leaves, the debut novel by Mark Z. Danielewski is a love it or leave it type of affair, with a careful and well constructed plot that turns conventional storytelling on its head.
As a horror/love/(potentially)satire novel, the book follows Johnny Truant, who, while searching for a new place to live, finds the apartment of the recently deceased Zampano, a eccentric, blind old man who had been writing a novel before he died, called ‘The House of Leaves,’ a fictional record which details a set of investigations by a world renowned photojournalist (Will Navidson) and his family into the strange occurrences in their new home, eventually culminating in the appearance of a door in their living room that leads to hallways that stretch far beyond the size of the house itself. Johnny Truant, who finds the book, works to give more background to the story while trying to find clues as to Zampano’s motives, and begins to resonate with the madness of Zampano himself, locking himself away as an attempt to hold back his invisible pursuer.
The actual book itself relies heavily on multiple narrators, copious footnotes, disorienting and bizarre type layout, among other things, which can leave many feeling that the book is no more than some pretentious literary fuckery, but if you can get past that, the book is actually worth a read, if only to experience.
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Listen: Can - Oh Yeah
The third album by German rock band Can, second of their albums to feature Damo Suzuki as the vocalist. An incredible undertaking, this album has frequently been hailed as an album like no other, from critics and artists alike, favoring persistent beats (a la Krautrock) jams, and studio magic.
Rolled this one in the car, on the way to a park my mates and I frequent.
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