It was 40 years ago today. . .

But according to this page, it wasn't that big of a deal. . .

A Late Flooding Thaw by Gary Guinn

Full disclosure: I know this book's author. He was a favorite professor, he buys our records, and he read a sonnet in our wedding (all we got him as a gift was Moby Grape CD. Doesn't seem right in hindsight). Anyway, having heard chapter excepts over the years, I was excited to finally read the novel when it was published a few weeks back. I was not disappointed.

In fact, I was surprised to find halfway through the book that I was no longer reading "Dr. Guinn's novel," but a really great book whose authorship no longer mattered to me.

A Late Flooding Thaw is the story of Walter and Emma Bass. Walter is a sort of Jewel Bundren, if he were able to achieve escape velocity from his family. Emma, his wife, shares a certain religous ecstasy with Hazel Motes. And no matter what Randy Zurcher or the author himself may say, I think the owl in the last chapter has to be the Holy Spirit.

Save $10 and order it directly from the publisher here. Or buy it from Amazon.com. Or by it from Wordsworth in Little Rock, where Gary Guinn will be signing books on August 11th.

Sellout's Steal of the Week: Maria Taylor

Thanks to Chromewaves for the link to the Maria Taylor MP3s. No thanks, however, to Saddle Creek for generously providing mono 32 kbs files. Here to rectify the situation are the two songs in all their stereo 192 kbs MP3 glory:

Maria Taylor | Speak Easy
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Maria Taylor | Song Beneath the Song
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More on Maria here. P.S. I still hate Bright Eyes.

Chicago is South of Somewhere

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American Cities That Best Fit You:

70% Chicago

70% Philadelphia

55% Los Angeles

55% New York City

55% Washington, DC

I figured I would end up in Austin, Atlanta, or New Orleans. I like Birmingham, too. I specifically said I wanted to be in the South. But according to this useless quiz, I should be in Chicago (I even said I wanted a sunny and warm climate!).

Which American Cities Best Fit You?

I'll have two with onions and kraut

It's no secret that many Spin South posts have been inspired/influenced/ruined by a cold Fat Tire or two. Now that the kind rep from New Belgium Brewing Company just left 10 cases of Fat Tire in my living room for the upcoming Boondogs CD release show, we can expect great things this week from Spin South.

Let's begin with a link to the Dog Blog from Round Online.

An entire page dedicated to eating hot dogs makes me think of Lucky Dogs, of course.

And Lucky Dogs make me think of the supposed film adaptation of A Confederacy of Dunces, which according to this article is still on hold.

Goodbye and Godspeed

Given Mike Wolf's online presence and influence, it seems appropriate to post this song here in his memory. It was written and recorded the week after he died.

FYI, Lady Crumpet has archived Mike's page here.

Boondogs | Goodbye and Godspeed:
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Dig the song, but we don't call 'em Bayous this far North. . .

Sufjan Stevens has written his first Arkansas song, and wouldn't you know it's about that damn bird... (no disprespect, Todd) Download The Great God Bird from NPR:

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