Book: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

I almost never write negative reviews these days. We have enough resources at our disposal to be able to avoid things we might not like. Generally speaking, any moderately high profile movie, album, or book has been reviewed a handful of times before you're able to experience it and a quick search will let you know what to expect. I realize most people like to just dive in regardless of other people's opinions. I just don't like taking the risk.

There is one exception to this guideline though. If an artist I've really grown to appreciate releases something, I'm going to give it a shot. Very few artists have made it into my favorites and once they have, I'm going to give them my full attention. Haruki Murakami is one of the few. He's proven himself time and again with outstanding examples of surrealist fiction (my favorite literary genre). So when 1Q84 came out I didn't bother looking up reviews; I immediately pulled out my nook and hit the download button.

The story began like many of his other novels: the introduction of a couple colorful characters, vivid descriptions of the setting, beautiful analysis of the musical piece playing in the background while inner monologue carries on with existential speculation. But, I could sense a change in the style. There was a bit more repetition. It took me a little time to notice the pattern, but after the first few chapters it was obvious what Murakami was doing. He was dumbing down his prose by highlighting important thoughts, events, and descriptions by repeating them every 20 or so pages.

Now, the reason I got into surrealist fiction in the first place was because it attempts to describe things foreign to our world, things that people have never seen or thought before. And Murakami is a master of creativity, coming up with conflicts that place very human characters in situations that would be otherwise unfathomable. I can understand that otherworldly content like this might throw someone not well-versed in the genre and a little repetition is good to keep a new-comer from getting lost and discouraged by the density of such foreign ideas. But, at this point I don't need that, and Murakami has never taken this approach before. With his previous novels he dives in to the deep end before you can even realize what's happened, forcing the reader to pick up clues and swim to eventual understanding. 1Q84 doesn't take this approach, it introduces an idea, explains it from various points of view, and then repeats it so there is no misunderstanding.

1Q84 is quite simply Haruki Murakami's attempt to reach a wider audience... And as rich as a couple characters are, as original as the main plot might be, I found myself perpetually frustrated by the repetition. It was like he was dictating the story to a 10 year old. So for me, his tone seemed borderline condescending and to trudge through this 1000 page novel was ultimately a chore.

2/5

A Change of Seasons: Mix of 10 for Spring

There is a subtle indication of the changing seasons that I wait patiently for around this time of year, when the light from the sun seems to be too much for the cold. The bright rays stab through the final gusts of winter, separating them, weakening them, until they can't put up a fight anymore. The morning's dew may still be frost on blades of grass, but when the sun breaks over the horizon, the frost quickly sublimates into a fleeting mist.

It's important to mark this shift in some substantial way so time doesn't just slip by without punctuating events to fill our memory. So for me that means picking a few songs, making a playlist of music to keep in my car where I can listen with the windows down. This list will be devoted to spring, it will be devoted to the blossoming warmth, the collective awakening of all things from the cold.

#1 - Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees

Starting the mix off with such a song may seem a little... cynical. But it's exactly what I was going for to lead into the more beautiful emotions born of spring. Let's take a second to think about all the fake things and step outside into the world that often seems so distant (clothing optional). Let's logoff, shutdown, and unplug, if only for a few minutes, and just listen to the birds and feel the breeze man. Life is too short to spend watering fake plastic trees. (Yes I do realize the irony of expressing that in a blog...)

#2 - The Flashbulb - Meadow Crush

Now that we're outside let's establish some boundaries... just kidding. But we do need somewhere to roam, earth to walk on. Leave that to Mr. Benn Jordan, a master of creating lush atmosphere complete with emotionally stirring melodies that seem to dance around the sky like sparrows darting about for their morning meal of mosquitoes.

#3 - Deftones - Beauty School

And now for something a little heavier. I've been a big fan of these guys since I first started taking music seriously. White Pony was one of my first albums and I've loved everything they've put out since. The Deftones are very good at developing a song with humble beginnings and letting it bloom into a big memorable chorus that has the potential of getting lodged in your head for longer than most people are comfortable with. This song is a perfect example. It bursts forth from the ground and blossoms into something rather beautiful. Your mind has no choice but to take a picture and store it away. For me it's filed under "Songs to play the first day I can roll the windows down"

#4 - M83 - Skin of the Night

Speaking of well-written choruses. Have you ever wished during a great track that the chorus would repeat just a few more times before the end? M83 took this thought into advisement and wrote a track that is literally 80% chorus and for me it never gets old. The words and the inviting delivery warm the blood in my heart. I found myself hitting the "play again please" button a lot when I first discovered it. And every spring since, this has been in heavy rotation on my headphones, in the car, on the stereo, everywhere I can put it.

#5 - The Smashing Pumpkins - Mayonaise

The Smashing Pumpkins are one of my go to bands when I need a break from metal. They have just enough edge, just enough aggression to gently help me down from the adrenaline fest that is my usual listening experience. This song doesn't have much of an edge, but for a Spring Mix there is no better track than Mayonaise; a song about enduring the hard times and trying again. When I can, I will. This is a perfect track for shaking off the last few icicles.

#6 - Queens of the Stoneage - Make It Wit Chu

Spring stirs up all sorts of things. Some don't need any explanation.

#7 - Alcest - Summer's Glory

Yes, the song is called Summer's Glory. I've obviously picked the wrong track, but no! A big reason why I appreciate Spring is that Summer is just around the bend. The gradual progression is nice but I am admittedly a little impatient for the kind of heat that makes you sweat without even moving. So I chose this song to build up some anticipation. Alcest is probably the most metal band on this list so far, but it comes from a sub-genre so removed from the angry foundations of what metal is, I'd have a hard time calling it that. Alcest has managed to come out on the other side of the spectrum creating some really beautiful music. Their new album Les Voyages De L'Ame is worth looking into if this strikes a chord.

#8 - Devin Townsend - Deadhead

This song embodies my cheesier side. I can remember moments during past relationships when I've played this song in the car, starting the track immediately when I know there's a strip of road that I can push the gas pedal to the floor while I glance over lovingly at the cute girl in the passenger seat as the warm wind rushes through the car like a torrent. In those moments I wanted her to know that she was my goddess and I was the fucking man. Usually after the song was over, the arbitrary girl would be thoroughly unimpressed... ha. I should date nicer girls.

#9 - Meshuggah - Swarm

It's about time I put something legitimately heavy on here. This is another one from this year and the album from which this track comes will certainly be a contender for best of 2012. But the reason I picked it for my Spring Mix is the undeniable fact that all of our swarming friends will soon be coming back from dormancy. The mosquitoes, the horse flies, the hornets and wasps. I welcome you back into existence with a punishingly brutal song and I hope my mortal flesh is sweet enough this year for you little guys to dig in.

#10 - System of a Down - Peephole

Time for the finale, which is an opportunity for a few quick words of warning before you get out there and enjoy the warm embrace of the new season.