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Comments

• [1] Judy Pokras from Sarasota, Florida August 22, 2007 - 04:00AM

  This is an intriguing question, and it's hard to pinpoint only one album I'd like to see turned into a novel. I like novels whose characters have mysteries to solve, but that are still character driven, if that isn't an oxymoron, and I'm trying to think of an album whose lyrics are mysterious. I keep coming back to Dylan's albums because their lyrics are so pithy and leave the listener wanting more. I'd say either "Blood on the Tracks" or "Desire" because their songs are the prettiest of all the Dylan I've heard. But I'd also be intrigued to read a novel that corresponded to an album I recently discovered, "Whatever you love, you are" by Dirty Three. This one because it's so ethereally beautiful and--yes--mysterious, partly because it has no lyrics.

  
  
• [2] Courtney from downtown August 23, 2007 - 01:46PM

  -anything by the decemberists.

  -Wilco's "A Ghost Is Born"

  
  
• [3] Jugi from Prospect Heights August 23, 2007 - 05:42PM

  The Flaming Lips' "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" would make for an interesting, perhaps teen sci-fi/fantasy novel. Word is the show may be coming to the stage, but perhaps Wayne could be prodded into detailing Yoshimi's trials and travails on the printed page first.

  
  
• [4] Cliff Milledge from Clinton Hill August 23, 2007 - 06:10PM

  It's hard to come up with albums that would translate well into novels, which makes Schatz's treatment of Rid of Me all the more impressive... Concept albums with an obvious narrative arc would be disappointing and derivative. I'm looking forward to checking out Schatz's book because it sounds like she has done what Polly Jean said about cover songs (and I think Johnny Cash said something similar once too): You play someone else's song until you make it your own and it takes on your own voice.