The Happy Booker: If I Only Had an iPod...

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Yes, we know it's been a while—a long long while— since we've run our favorite feature around here. But since we're back and blogging with something that looks like regularity, we thought it was high time to add a few new tunes to our iPod playlist.

Today's guest DJ is our old friend Dallas Hudgens, a man who had the honor of programming our very first iPod feature, way back in the day. Hudgens now returns to add a little music to our Tuesday morning. We're always happy to let the novelist who wrote Drive Like Hell test drive our iPod, at least for a little while.

Season of Gene, Hudgens' second novel, is in stores this week. An October Book Sense notable, Season of Gene is getting lots of attention and well-deserved praise all over the place. Sure, we've read the book and loved it, the critics certainly love it—"Hudgens has scored again." (Booklist) "A nourishing slice of Americana, expletives and all." (Kirkus, starred review)— but we urge you to check it out for yourself with this meaty excerpt now running over at Fanzine.

Locals can hear Hudgens read today at Fall for the Book at noon. Today's festival highlights also include Susan Richards Shreve, Jennifer Egan, and Mitch Albom. Check out the full schedule of events here.

GUEST DJ: DALLAS HUDGENS

Thanks for having me back Wendi. Looks like your iPod has been stocked with some great stuff since the last time I visited. I hope you have room for a few more tunes. I picked five songs that I've been listening to lately and that I like a lot. I hope you like them, too. Unless otherwise noted, you can hear all of them on the artists' MySpace pages.

adorable doorsteps by Capgun coup
This band played the closing party at the Omaha Lit Fest last week. I left early and missed their performance, but I heard they were really good so I checked out their MySpace page. I like this song.

El Condor Pasa by Georgie James
Washington D.C. artists John Davis (formerly of Q And Not U) and Laura Burhenn cover the old Peruvian folk song that Simon and Garfunkel included on Bridge Over Troubled Water. Another Nebraska connection here. Georgie James's CD, Places, is being released tomorrow by Omaha-based Saddle Creek Records.

Lady's Bridge by Richard Hawley
Hawley, from Sheffield, England, has toured with Pulp as a guitarist and also produced A Girl Called Eddy's excellent self-titled album a few years back. He's put out some really good solo albums as well, including 2005's Coles Corner. Lady's Bridge is the warm and pretty title track on his new album.

Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe by Okkervil River
Great band, song, and album (The Stage Names).

Me & Mr. Jones by Amy Winehouse
This one is for LC. A live performance video is posted below with Winehouse singing Tears Dry On Their Own and Me & Mr. Jones.

Comments

Dallas--Jeez, I'd forgotten to order GENE, so it's a good thing I stopped by. I just called my local bookstore and should have it in hand soon--I've heard nothing but great things. As for the song list, I'll give them all a listen except for "Me and Mr. Jones," which I assume is a cover of the Billy Paul original. No way Amy Winehouse could do it justice. Hope our paths cross soon and all best on the novel. With a big tip of the hat--Martin Clark

Posted by: Martin Clark | October 09, 2007 at 11:42 AM

I just finished "Season of Gene" a couple of weeks ago. Though lacking the hyperactive dramatic punch of Hudgens's debut, consistent conflict and a whole heap of mischief keep this lean, amusing novel chugging along. Well worth the read...

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