Hi everybody, and welcome to another edition of Switchblade!
What a year, huh? Hopefully you are able to take it easy for the rest of December. I’m keeping it short and sweet this month since I’ve got a lot going on at work and at home.
Book Updates
Keep your eyes peeled for a (late) 2022 publication date for my Link Wray biography. Bazillion Points, my publisher, has a dedicated email list for the book that you can sign up for. That and this newsletter will ensure that you are the first to learn about pre-orders, pub date announcements, events and everything else book-related when the time comes.
One thing I’m working on over the holidays is more book edits! And being the nerd I am, I’m actually excited to do them. Which reminds me of this 2020 tweet that really hit home.
That’s a Wrap
Have you checked out your Spotify Wrapped for 2021? Mine had a disturbing amount of Crazy Frog (thanks, 5-year-old) and Elliott Smith, so I made my own playlist of 100 songs that I loved this year—old, new and in between. Check it out here if you need six hours of Dana-approved music. Playing it in order is recommended, but I won’t be offended if you shuffle. Please note that there’s plenty of swearing to be had. And a disproportionate amount of Link, of course.
With so many distractions this year, I wasn’t especially motivated or curious with music and there was a lot that either slipped past my radar or that I just couldn’t muster enthusiasm for. (I haven’t even heard the new Kacey Musgraves 😬.) Instead, I opted for comfort listens—mainly Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk (can’t quit you, Lindsey), the Melvins’ (A) Senile Animal (I’m a sucker for double drummers) and Link’s 1979 album Bullshot, which I wrote about back in May.
I know no one cares about anyone’s end-of-year lists, but on the off chance that you were wondering what my 2021 favorites were, here you go. (A couple 2020 releases included because the past two years are a blur.)
Willow | Lately I Feel Everything
El Shirota | Tiempos Raros
Bill Callahan | Gold Record
Julia Shapiro | Zorked
Maple Glider | To Enjoy Is the Only Thing
Jaime Wyatt | Neon Cross
Lana del Rey | Blue Banisters
Megan Thee Stallion | Something for Thee Hotties
PACKS | Take the Cake
Lil Nas X | Montero
Doohickey Cubicle | Don’t Fix Anything ;)
Here’s hoping those of us who have lost some of our music mojo get it back in 2022. Have a great rest of 2021, and I’ll talk to you in January. P.S. Watch Reservation Dogs on Hulu if you get some free time! It will not disappoint.
Dana