“Sometimes all we can do is howl.”
David Ramsey
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from bell hooks, Christopher Curtis, Kate Connolly, David Ramsey, and Henry Grabar.
Longreads Best of 2020: Music Writing
Music has been a salve this year, helping us cope with the myriad challenges that 2020 brought. Here are some favorite pieces of music writing we picked in 2020.
RIP Little Richard, the ‘Self-Proclaimed King and Queen of Rock & Roll’
There are miracles everywhere if you know where to look. And know how to listen: A wop-bop-a-loo-mop-a-lop-bam-boom!
Making Something Out of Nothing With a Scratch and a Hope: The Ballad of Shovels and Rope
“We had nothing to lose,” Cary Ann said. “Fuck it. Band. Family. Let’s give it a shot. . . . Handshake, spit on it. If it gets too nasty we’ll cut and run.”
When Life Imitates Country Music
“The trills in his notes sputter and lift. He sounds like an animal in trouble. Like a lounge singer who’s lost his mind.”
Honky-Tonk Man
“I called him Mr. Chuck. We did what families do: We carefully observed the borders of conversational terrain. The election of Obama, no. The best strategy for grilling buffalo burgers, yes.”