Although 2007 is seven years ago, I feel like the subjects (dumb newscasters) were pretty soft even then. This essay seemed a bit like a blunt instrument hitting a soft object.
It’s a good collection and only slightly dated. Nevertheless, he is an inquisitive reporter, looking for truth and traveling far and wide to find it (even braving the depths of FOX news). But I found his shorter, sillier pieces to be a but too much. I enjoyed his “reporting” essays (from GQ) quite a lot. At some point, I stated that I thought I would enjoy his non-fiction more than his fiction. This is Saunders’ first collection of essays and non-fiction. I came away from this Tiny Desk Concert really enjoying Jim White and wanting to hear more from him. And Jim White seems about the sweetest, nicest musician in the world. The final song is called “A Town Called Amen.” It’s another boppy little song, charming and sweet. And that has made his songwriting much more difficult. Then he talks about how for his old songs (like the previous one) he was kind of bummed. I like it (except for that falsetto note at the end). “Somewhere in the World” is a gentle ballad about finding the person you are waiting for. The story goes on about a racist incident in which his daughter rises above racism. There’s a fascinating story about a gift that Jim sent to Bob. He says that it took him several tries to get the music right for this one. “Stranger Candy” is a darker song (full of lessons). “Turquoise House” is a boppy little number about not fitting in. Then he gives a funny story about working with the guitarist for P.M. I enjoyed that he played his harmonica solo without playing the guitar at the same time (I don’t know if the guitar was prerecorded or looped, I think prerecorded).
“Jailbird” is a slow ballad that is quite beautiful. So with him and a drum machine, he sings some really pretty songs. He also says that he writes songs not a bout “you” but about “me.” Jim admits that anything can set him off on a tangent (most of which are thoroughly engaging). And then somehow Jim would edit it into a 17 minute piece. But he’s a gifted songwriter and storyteller.īob explains how he and Jim tried to work together for All Songs Considered, but that every time Bob asked Jim to do a 3 minute piece, he’d hand in a 15 minute piece. And I’m still not entirely sure who is he. I didn’t know who Jim White was before this Tiny Desk Concert. SOUNDTRACK: JIM WHITE-Tiny Desk Concert #8 (November 7, 2008).
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