Writer, singer, composer and poet Rick Moody first gained widespread acclaim with his 1994 novel, The Ice Storm, a portrait of dysfunctional suburban life that plays out over the course of a long Thanksgiving weekend. In 1999, The New Yorker named Moody one of America’s most talented new writers, with a voice that constantly pushes the stylistic boundaries of modern literature. He has published five novels, three collections of short fiction and two nonfiction works. He also performs with the Wingdale Community Singers, an acoustic band that blends the sounds of old-time folk, gospel and bluegrass, with hints of rock and baroque chamber music to augment their arch, literary lyrics. Their most recent album is Night, Sleep, Death, released only on LP by Drag City. Moody will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with him.
Moody: This is actually better than Townes Van Zandt’s version, which is plenty good, an elegy to those lost to self-destruction and hopelessness. Jolie Holland is the best fiddle player on earth. And she’s also a singer of singular and somewhat incalculable gifts. The whole history of American music blows through her, and she has the uncanny quality that you would expect as a result. Who’d want to carry around all those ghosts?
Video after the jump.
