READ OUT LOUD #5

the man who invented fantasy

By Dan SINYKIN

...static...silence…static…

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming…

Well, it’s been a year since the last RoL. A lot happened in the space between but this space is not the platform to divulge in such things. So, we move forward. Though in this instance I am looking backward. Kind of.

In a previous life, I ran with my fellow enthusiasts of nerd culture at Del Rey Books, purveyors of some of the best in science fiction, fantasy, horror, graphic novels, and licensed products of all things geek. We’re talking properties such as Star Wars and Game of Thrones, and authors including Robin Hobb, Terry Brooks, Pierce Brown, the list goes on. It was an amazing time in my life and I’m forever grateful of the opportunity to work on such amazing books and with such amazing colleagues. Much love and shout outs to those I rubbed elbows with.

The origins of Del Rey are, in a sense, legend (considering the imprint’s wares, appropriate). Formed in 1977 by editor Judy-Lynn Del Rey, the imprint’s humble beginnings as a paperback genre publisher focused around the novelization of a film known as Star Wars: A New Hope. Yes. Judy-Lynn then brought on her husband Lester to tackle the fantasy side of Del Rey’s genre fiction…

And thus, this latest Read Our Loud selection comes from professor Dan Sinykin and his incredible essay, The Man Who Invented Fantasy. Maybe not the birth of the genre itself, but in terms of fantasy in popular fiction and popular culture, it starts with Lester Del Rey and The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. Considering where fantasy is now in culture – a mainstream genre, I find it fascinating. I hope you will as well.

Thanks for being here. And thanks for listening.

Read Out Loud #4

Progression Through Unlearning, Snapcase’s Timeless Hardcore Classic, Turns 20

By Dan Ozzi

If you’ve been following the stops and starts of ROL you know that we launched with the excellent work of music writer Dan Ozzi and his time with Dillinger Four. For this installment we’re again giving a voice to Dan’s words, this time his amazing retrospective on an amazing hardcore album – Progression Through Unlearning by Buffalo hardcore titans Snapcase.

This was a foundational album for me as I began to explore punk and hardcore. It just sounds...different. Feels different. Hits different. It’s powerful and it’s thought provoking. I found myself listening to it often again this summer as I was dealing with a lot of difficulties and emotions. Through the crushing riffs and breakdowns, the intense screaming of vocalist Daryl Taberski, there’s a message of introspection, positivity, and trying to become a better self.

Snapcase is back together, at least for the time being. They played in July this summer at Crossroads, the best venue for a show in New Jersey, and will be heading to Chicago to play at the legendary Riot Fest this weekend. The fact that they’re still playing these songs live means so much. Enjoy.

Read Out Loud #3

Vince Brings Green Days to Green Bay

By Tex Maule

It’s been a little while since the last ROL. I had another article lined up, recorded and ready to debut, but there was a bit of a snafu and I had to pivot some. Nonetheless, I’m very excited to reveal the next selection! We will be turning away from music to focus on one of my true loves in this world (besides my family and friends, of course) – the Green Bay Packers.

With the Super Bowl this coming Sunday I thought it would be appropriate to highlight the man the very trophy is named after – Vince Lombardi.

So, please enjoy my narration of a Sports Illustrated article from 1959 highlighting Lombardi’s first year coaching the Packers, written by Tex Maule. At the time of the writing, the Packers were surprisingly undefeated on the season with a 3-0 record and starting to get some attention throughout the country...an inquisitive, “What’s going on out there….?”

Speaking of the famous question often shouted at the sidelines by the legendary Lombardi, I tried to get in character a bit for this one and give my shot at Lombardi’s voice with his quotes. I’m interested to see what you think.

As always, thanks so much for listening. If you have an article that you think would be cool to narrate – hit me up! Send me an email – joseph.scalora@gmail.com

Go Pack Go.

Read Out Loud #2

Stuck In Lodi

By John DeRosa

An appropriate band for the holiday, that’s for sure.

In 1997, one of my best friends let me borrow their copy of Collection I by The Misfits and like most who heard their raw, dark, horror and sci-fi infused punk at a formative age – I was blown away. Horror Business. London Dungeon. Teenagers From Mars. Those who know….know.

At the time of that initial listening the band was legendary and essentially myth, having split in 1983. While Jerry Only got the band back together years later with his brother and a new singer (a version that I saw live many times, including a Halloween show in NYC featuring a mini-set of Ramones songs with Joey on stage), something always seemed missing. That something of course was the brains behind the whole operation; founding member, original singer, marketing guru, record label owner, I could go on... Glenn Danzig. He ran the show and left me wondering what it would be like to see the original Misfits live.

Enter John DeRosa’s amazing autobiographical essay of his own Misfits fandom, published on Pitchfork Media. He takes you back to where it all began, in the working class town of Lodi, NJ, not far from where he grew up. He interviews former band members, other people in the scene at the time, and even visit’s Danzig’s father.

As a HUGE Misfits fan at the time – reading this was heaven. For the past 17 years I would type “Stuck In Lodi” into google to make sure the article still existed. The fact that it’s still out there for others to find makes me smile.

Now, the Danzig-fronted Misfits are back. They’ve played huge shows all over, including Riot Fest and headlining Madison Square Garden. I haven’t gone to see them and I really have no desire to. I just don’t think seeing the Misfits in an arena really makes any sense. I like the nostalgia and the band’s place in my life exactly where it is.

I think John’s essay is a big reason why. Thanks John.

John DeRosa is an incredible musician and songwriter who makes some exceptional ambient music under the name Aarktica. He recently released a new record that’s quite lovely. Give it a listen.

This article was published by Pitchfork. Click the image to give it a read!

Read Out Loud #1

IN DILLINGER FOUR WE TRUST

By dan ozzi

What a way to start this!

Dan Ozzi. He’s an excellent writer and journalist. His book Sellout (check it out HERE) is a page-turning history lesson on punk, emo, and hardcore and how it bubbled up to the mainstream. Sometimes successfully, sometimes not, but always testing the ethos of a band, the “scene”, and the fans. If you frequented punk shows in the late 90’s / early 2000’s, it’s required reading! You’ve probably read it already. Right? Thought so.

I discovered Dan’s work back in 2015, when he wrote an amazing profile of one of my favorite punk bands, Dillinger Four. When the idea of narrating my favorite internet articles was percolating in my skull, this was the first piece I thought of. I just hope I gave Dan’s writing and D4’s legendary history the reverence and hilarity they deserve!

This article was published by Noisey, the music arm of Vice Media. Click the image to give it a read!