the memory palace » civil war

What They Saw

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:08:44 +0000

This is the third episode in a series of Civil War stories I’m doing every month for Slate.com as part of its Slate Daily Podcast

Music: Two pieces here. Both straight out of a favorite summer of mine, maybe 1999. First (and last): “Another Sunday” by Tara Jane O’Neil and second, “Every Day a Sunrise, a Summer Every Year” by Telegraph Melts.

Crazy Bet

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:10:22 +0000

This episode is part of my on-going collaboration with Slate.com. Once a month, for a stretch, I’ll be producing a Civil War-themed podcast as part of the series.

Road Trip

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:58:45 +0000

Notes: This episode appeared originally as part of a series called “Civil War Stories” I’m doing for Slate.com. Starting in August, 2011, these episodes appear monthly as part of Slate’s Daily Podcast and then appear here as part of the regular podcast feed two weeks later.

Music: Just two tracks this time. A loop from “In the Devil’s Territory” by Sufjan Stevens. Then “You’d be so Nice to Come Home to,” off of Nina Simone’s Live in Newport album. Incidentally, this track is one of my very, very favorite things that exists in the world. Also, it’s the second time i’ve used it in an episode. First time was the first one. A long time ago.

I Have Not Yet Begun to Rot

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:49:25 +0000

The martial song in the front is from the Horatio Hornblower soundtrack. The part that comes up in the middle of that and then picks up again after, is “Dmi We Meet Again?” from Jon Brion’s Synechdoche, New York soundtrack (slightly enhanced). The Porter part starts with a mix of “To Rest Near You” by Rachel’s and “Something You Can’t Return To,” also on the Synechdoche soundtrack. Then “Song for Jesse” from Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ score for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Follow that up with a couple from the Marie Antoinette Soundtrack, “Opus 17″ by Dustin O’Halloran and “Avril 14″ by Aphex Twin, in that order.

There’s a ton about Jones’ body (incidentally, this is the story I’ve gotten the most “I knew this story, but I like how you told it” sorts of emails about). For some reason, I was particularly charmed by a webpage straight out of Portsmouth, NH (R.I.P Yoken’s). They’ve got pictures of the preserved, dead Jones there too.

Presidente Walker

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:44:31 +0000

That’s Running Thoughts, by Deerhoof up top followed by a chopped up, I’m Still Your Fag by Broken Social Scene. Two Psapp cuts (King Kong and Chapter). And then Jupiter, by Jersey Turnpike. (Jersey Turnpike make their second appearance in two episodes).

Best thing I read about Walker? A book called “Fillibusters and Financiers: The Story of William Walker and His Associates” by Walter Oscar Scroggs, written in 1916. Thank you Google Books.

The Brothers Booth

admin — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:09:23 +0000

The first two pieces are two different versions of Aphex Twin’s “Jynwythek Ylow.” The first is by a chamber ensemble called Alarm Will Sound from an album in which they do chamber music versions of Aphex Twin compositions–which sounds super-lame but is actually pretty great. The second version is the original of the Drukqs album. The piano piece is “Opus 23″ by Dustin O’Halloran.

I’ve read about the Booths in several places (you kind of can’t avoid them), but I think I fell for Edwin’s story during the visit Sarah Vowell takes to see his statue in Gramercy Park in “Assasination Vacation.”

International Brotherhood of Mothers

admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:56:58 +0000

The two piano pieces that bookend the piece are by Max Richter from his 24 Postcards in Full Color record. The one in the middle is Maybelle by Ida. It popped up on shuffle the other day and stunned me. I hadn’t heard it in years. It’s really lovely.

My friend, Tony Field produces a show called “Backstory with the History Guys.” A version of this story airs on their mother’s day special. www.backstoryradio.org