Freegal Favorites

With the library closed and many of us self-isolating, I hope library patrons are taking advantage of the library’s digital offerings as much as I am. I’m a music fanatic, so use Freegal pretty regularly. I like to collect music, both physical and digital, and have a large amount of music stored on my computer. For those new to Freegal, it’s a service available to City of Dubuque Library card holders, where you can download 5 free songs a week and keep them. My family and I often browse what’s available and download songs on each of our cards weekly.

Freegal has a wide variety to choose from with a collection of over 3 millions songs. There are a lot of newer material as well as obscure releases. I download both. Here are some of my recent favorite albums I've collected.

Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple

This is the new album from Fiona Apple. Apple came to the public eye in the mid 90s with the release of her first album, Tidal, and has continued to release strong albums that blend pop, jazz, and other forms with smart, personal, and often biting lyrics. This new album is getting a ton of positive reviews. It’s no wonder why – so far, after just a couple listens it's blown me away. It's very demanding of my attention. The arrangements are interesting, with Apple's voice and the piano often at the center with jazzy, and often understated, percussion and other effects—dogs barking, and lots of vocal overdubs. If that seems like an odd combo, it all blends together perfectly. I’m excited to continue to listen to this album.

The New Abnormal by the Strokes

This is the ambitious new album from the New York band, the Strokes. I was a big fan of this band when they came out in the early 00s. This album follows the trend in popular music of incorporating all things 80s. There’s a lot of synthesizers and electronic effects on the vocals. I’m liking it a lot so far. At times  it's similar to Daft Punk and other times it channels the rock side of the 80s, like Billy Idol. They are self-aware of their influences and embracing them unashamedly. Even with the apparent influences the album still sounds fresh while retaining that classic Strokes sound. Just take a look at one of their new music videos with animation sure to attract the children of the 80s. 


Someday My Prince Will Come by Miles Davis


This is an early 60s release from Miles. This might be one of his classic albums to fans, but it was new to me. The songs are very relaxed, romantic, and perfect to wind down to. The titular piece is an excellent instrumental rendition of the 1937 song from the Disney movie Snow White. The way that melody comes through on the trumpet gives me chills.






The Unexplained by Ataraxia

Ataraxia is the name of a project from musician/composer Mort Garson. Apparently Mr. Garson was a big producer of easy listening albums in the 50s and 60s. He was also a pioneer of the Moog synthesizer and did some incredible compositions of a wide variety including occult themed ones like this, a series of albums for each sign of the zodiac, a satire of the Wizard of Oz (The Wozard of Iz), and an album to play to your plants (Mother Earth's Plantasia—I know it sounds goofy, but this album is a lot of fun. I recommend checking it out!).

The Unexplained is a series of songs centered around different meditations (song titles include "Tarot," "I Ching," "Seance," "Cabala"...). This album came out in 1975 and sounds like the soundtrack to a horror or epic fantasy movie from the 70s or 80s. It's fun music to work to, or perhaps to accompany a board game with friends (or perhaps D&D?).


Halloween III: Season of the Witch Soundtrack by John Carpenter & Alan Howarth

I was on a kick of early electronic music for awhile. Here's another on the spooky side. I love John Carpenter movies and one of the main reasons is the music he (and frequent collaborator Alan Howarth) compose for them. They set a very distinctive mood and are very much of their time—but also stand outside of time in an odd way. I somehow never watched Carpenter's Halloween movies all the way through until I recently checked them out at the suggestion of a friend. This movie has nothing to do with Michael Myers. It ended up sticking with me though, and I would say it's my favorite of the three (I prefer science fiction horror over slasher films). Whether you've seen the movie or not, the soundtrack is great! I've noticed that Freegal has a lot of music soundtracks for both recent popular movies as well as older ones.

Old No. 1 and Texas Cookin' by Guy Clark

I love Guy Clark and these are two of his most popular albums. He’s an influential folk/country musician who helped to define the Americana style. These albums are his first two from the 70s, but he made albums up until his death in 2016. His lyrics are poignant and witty. Lyric-wise I can only think to compare him to Townes Van Zandt and John Prine. I play these albums a lot. They’re perfect for a lazy Sunday Morning.






There's such a wide variety on Freegal, enough to satisfy any taste. What gems have you downloaded?

~Ben, Adult Services

Music Memoirs

Looking for books that are both entertaining and straight forward? Music memoirs are a fun way to learn about the events behind your favorite performer's career. The story lines are often similar (though that's part of the fun) – a tale of a dreamer, who kept working at his/her craft, either with or against his/her parent’s wishes, proved everyone wrong, went through periods of darkness and doubt, often formed a substance abuse disorder, but rose above and conquered the world, then perhaps (depending on how career-expansive the memoir is) was humbled once again when the new band line-up proved less popular with fans, or they had a drug relapse, then they eventually found spirituality…or something like that. Here are a couple I’ve read recently that I have really enjoyed and below is a link to more of the library’s music memoirs in print and digital formats. Although the print formats may not currently be available while the library is closed, you can add them to your reading list!


Not Dead Yet by Phil Collins


The drummer and lead-singer of Genesis, and solo-artist, shares about his working class upbringing (in contrast to his British public school bandmates), how the drum set he received at the age of three formed who he would become, his early beginnings playing with bands in the swinging 60s clubs of London, and his struggles balancing work and fame with family life (admittedly, not well).  I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Collins himself. Collins is a good storyteller and hearing him talk about his life is a treat. You can tell he’s a very reflective person and tries to be as honest and candid as possible. Although he does share some of the darker aspects of his life, specifically his affair that led to his third wife, and his period of heavy alcohol abuse in the early 2000s, I often had the feeling that he wasn't sharing everything, or that he was making sure not to hurt his "nice-guy" persona, but hey, you can only degrade yourself so much. Overall, Collins is very likable and tells his story with wit and grace. The only downside of the audiobook is you don’t get to see the photographs from Collins' life that are included in the print version.


Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy

Chicago-based alt-country/rock musician and leader of the influential band, Wilco, Jeff Tweedy writes with his kids in mind. You can tell family means a lot to Tweedy (a similar theme that went through Collin’s book) as he reflects on his upbringing, his closeness to his mother and (to a lesser extent) his distant alcoholic father, and how his wife, Susie, helped him through many of the dark points in his life. In fact his love for his wife and kids are some of the most endearing parts of the book. It’s also hard not to get caught up in his excitement about some of his first gigs and meeting some of his idols in the early chapters. Tweedy's unique personality shines throughout. He's a humble, quiet guy, who can joke about his anxiety and neurotic quirks. Although, like the Collins book, it feels like sometimes Tweedy glosses over some of the darker sides of his life—the depths of his pain-killer addiction, feuds with former bandmate, etc. He does write about them often, but maybe it's that he doesn't feel proud of himself. I can't say that about the authors of the next book.


The Dirt by Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, Tommy Lee, and edited by Neil Strauss

This may be one of the sleaziest of memoirs (although I haven’t read Stephen Pearcy from Ratt's book, Sex, Drugs, Ratt Roll, which I heard may take the cake). Readers who shy away from reading about glorified tales of debauchery should avoid this one. This one is completely over-the-top. Any terrible thing you could think of somebody doing, probably happened in this book. Like me, you’ll likely find yourself disgusted and in awe, often simultaneously. This one is quite the opposite of the previous two memoirs. Instead of glossing over the darkness, the guys in Mötley Crüe revel in it; brag about it. Alternating between perspectives of each band member, it’s a behind the scenes glimpse of the excess of 80s rock star culture. It's often laugh out loud funny when one band members' story contradicts another, leaving one to wonder how things really played out. Through all the sleaze, there are tragedies in each band members life that force them to grow - for example; Nikki Sixx's several heroin overdoses, or the death of Vince Neil's 4-year old daughter Skylar to cancer. You don't have to find the band likable to find this sociologically fascinating! Note: The Netflix film of the same name does a pretty good job condensing and capturing the tone of the book.

What's Next?

One book I'm looking forward to read is Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon because I'm a big Sonic Youth fan and I'd like to read about her perspective on the grunge scene of the 90s (a genre their band is often thrown in with, but predated) and playing in a mostly male-dominated profession. I also have The Beautiful Ones by Prince in my to-be-read pile because the movie Purple Rain only gave me a small taste of what the performer's life, and the Minneapolis music scene of the 80s, was like.


Click here for music memoirs in print and CD audiobook


Click here for digital music memoirs


What music memoirs have you really enjoyed? Share in the comments.

Staff Review: All My Colors by David Quantick

All My Colors by David Quantick is the story of Todd Milstead. Described as an egotistical a-hole— he’s a wannabe writer who talks a great deal more about writing and writers, than actually doing the work. His eidetic memory makes him able to quote books at length—a trick he uses at parties, mostly to the amusement of himself. When he finds himself quoting whole sections of a classic book nobody has heard of, All My Colors, he goes into a mania trying to track it down. When he fails to find any evidence of the book's existence, and he can’t get the story out of his head, a supernatural force seems to force him through the process of pounding it out on his typewriter in a few days—the physical toll of which is described in humorous, graphic detail. After a publisher picks up the story, and it becomes a bestseller during his book tour, the otherworldly madness begins.

I enjoyed All My Colors. It kept me turning the pages and had dark humor throughout. It very much had the feel of a classic horror story à la Twilight Zone, Tales From the Crypt, etc. where the person gets their comeuppance and through the horror or shock there’s a moral to be had. This made it familiar and fun, while fortunately original enough to be unpredictable. It also reminded me of some Chuck Palahniuk books—with a self-absorbed male slacker anti-hero (likable enough however), the delight the author takes of running the protagonist through the rungs, and the sarcasm. This is a light horror story, in that although there’s moments of gruesome detail, it’s infrequent and counterpointed with comedy. The supernatural suspense is key in keeping the story moving.

Although Milstead is described as a jerk, Quantick makes him likable. That’s partly because of his one-liners and partly because, although he behaves badly and makes some poor decisions, he’s grappling at being a better person—just like most of us. One complaint some may have is that the supporting characters, for the most part, are not so memorable, apart from perhaps a Middle-earth obsessed bookstore owner. They are all supporting characters to Todd, which I guess is sort of the point, but with uninspired female characters, any message about the effects of toxic masculinity come off as a little less than sincere.

Fortunately, I didn’t approach this book expecting any deep revelations. I expected a fun supernatural romp and a little escapism, both of which I received. Although there might not be anything transformative about the story, it provides a bit of ghoulish fun and excitement, and not a few laughs. If you’re looking for a horror story that doesn't take itself too seriously, All My Colors should fit the bill!

 ~ Ben, Adult Services

Staff Review: The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

In sixth century England, a mist covers the land that clouds the past, leaving people with only their immediate memories. The Buried Giant, by the 2017 Nobel Prize winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, opens up with a distant landscape of rolling green hills, hazy skies, and humble dwellings. In this medieval village, we meet our protagonists, Axl and Beatrice. When they seem to have a faint memory of being parents, their quest to find their adult son drives the narrative.

A Saxon warrior and his apprentice escort the aging Briton couple as they travel through an England in which Britons recently made peace with nearby Saxon villages, though mistrust and danger are ever present. We encounter old enemies of the Saxons, Monks who may not be who they appear, and a few mythical beasts along the way—though the most looming threat may be what lies behind the mist.

As their journey is on foot, the story moves at a similar pace. Someone looking for high action may abort at this point. Although there are parts with action and suspense, they burn slowly. Someone interested in an atmospheric story full of symbolism and rooted in English lore may proceed. I felt I was walking with the characters—I suppose partly because I was walking while listening to the story—but also because the descriptive text and repetitive dialog had a certain rhythm I found immersive. The resonant voice of the audiobook narrator, David Horovitch, and his skill with dialects certainly played its part in pulling me in as well.

The repetition may be irksome to some. Axl constantly addresses his wife as Princess, which may be cute at first, but happens about every time he speaks to her. There’s also a key character Sir Guwayne, from English lore. How many times can he remind the characters that he fought by King Arthur’s side? The answer is, a lot. With all the repetition and little back-story, some may find the characters flat. Usually, I prefer complex characters, but Ishiguro has a way of revealing complexity by withholding details. The repetitive rhythm and the present-tense characters make them anybody, the stuff of myths. The repetition also has the eerie quality of mirroring our own behavior.

The moral questions the book raises are fascinating and perennial giving it the feel of a modern myth. Must we bury the past to make peace in the present? Or do we bravely bring the past to light and seek clarity to heal old wounds? Is our conception of self made from internally repetitive myths? These questions make the book one to ponder long after the last page.

~Ben, Adult Services

Staff Review: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson contains a lot of information jam-packed in a little book. Could someone learn a subject like astrophysics in a hurry? Do I know all about astrophysics now? No, but I do have a general idea about the problems astrophysicists are working with and a genuine interest in these mysteries. That is perhaps the best place to be on a new subject. Tyson has the book extremely well organized and his enthusiasm is infectious.

We start out with the Big Bang Theory, how that theory came about, and the substances that made up that very early universe after the Big Bang. I never took chemistry in high-school, and I remember just bits and pieces from physics (sorry Mrs. Walton), so a lot of the terms went over my head. One gets the general picture of the universe in its infancy with particles swirling around, interacting with each other creating a kind of cosmic soup. He made me want to go back and figure out how protons, electrons, and neutrons work. What are those things called quarks? – and what a great name! 

Along the way we discover things like Dark Matter and Dark Energy – how they were discovered and what they are. Einstein gets his props of course and it’s emphasized just how much of a mark this guy left on the field of physics and consequently, the world. Most of modern astrophysics comes back to his theories – attempting to tweak, prove, or disprove some aspect. The chapter on light captured my interest, having a wife who is a visual artist kept me thinking about the relationship between light, colors, and our ability to see. 

This is a great introduction to the subject of astrophysics and it’s laid out in a language one doesn't need an advanced degree to understand. Don’t approach this book thinking you’ll be an expert when you finish. Expect to think about the universe as an astrophysicist might and get a taste for their language and the problems they’re working on today. This book begs for multiple readings. It may cause you, like me, to want to dust off those mental shelves of information you packed away after high-school and re-approach these subjects with a new found optimism and curiosity. It’s never too late to flex those science muscles and practice your career as an armchair Astrophysicist.

~Ben, Adult Services