Edition:
Paperback
Synopsis:
MANUFACTURER ERROR LEADS TO COMPACT DISC MADE OF PAPER–RAP FANS CONFUSED
After years spent polishing her new full-length album, Dessa woke to bad news on Monday morning. “We’ve never had this problem before,” said the Doomtree CD manufacturer, “but the record came off the line…as a book.”
In a lightning-fast entreprenuerial manuever, Doomtree Records decided to market the book anyway. In under fourteen minutes, the Minneapolis collective formed a publishing arm, Doomtree Press. Their business plan was drafted via text message. At a midday press conference, Ted Romeo announced, “They’ll just have to read it analog–page by page.”
At press time, the CD manufacturer was “correcting the problem” and was confident that Dessa’s record could be pressed in the near term.
My Thoughts:
Look – I love Dessa endlessly. I could listen to her albums on a loop for the rest of my life and probably not tire of it (that might be a slight exaggeration, but I do think she’s incredible). She is an enormously talented writer and rapper. I just want to make sure that I’ve gotten that out of the way before this review begins. Also, I will always hold that hometown flame, and shill the work of anyone from Minnesota (unless they’re people whose ideologies or whatever I don’t agree with, obviously) to the point where you’ll all be incredibly annoyed with me. But Dessa, you guys, omg. She’s so good.
I mean….
So, anyhoo…
Spiral Bound is a collection of short stories, ponderings, and poetry which I’ll break down into my normal collection format.
The Stories:
Alice Drowning
This is the story of a landlocked girl who is terminally seasick. It’s really a beautiful story, and one of my favorite in the collection. Alice’s feeling of being out of place is so relatable.
The Greatest Remove
This one I think deals with feeling safe. Honestly, I struggled to ‘get’ this one, although it is written beautifully.
Sleeping on the Stairs
This one is so beautiful! It deals with learning to relax/meditate using the imagery of a staircase.
“It is 4:23 in the morning. I am at the top of the beautiful, stupid staircase in my head.”
A Little Note On All Of It
A poem about life.
A New Purpose
A very short poem that I related to very much.
Saint Maxwell
A story about Dessa’s brother, death, and the transitory nature of things.
The Jacket Dove
Just a lovely little poem.
Nostalgia
A poem about growing older and, well, nostalgia.
The Leviathan
While backpacking in Uruguay, Dessa meets a man named Life. Gods, this one is absolutely beautifully written.
Camera Obscura
Spending time on her father’s sailboat, and contemplating existence. Just lovely.
Overall Rating:
While reading her words in Spiral Bound was less of a transcendent experience than hearing them from her, this is still a wonderful book of thoughts and stories from a very impressive writer.
You can check her out with Doomtree. And you should. They’re amazing. Here’s a lil Post-Apocalyptic Minneapolis action for you. You’re welcome. And can we get her live-reading from Spiral Bound? That’d be sweeet.
Someone please get me those No Kings gloves. I hear my birthday’s coming up.
About the Author:
Dessa is a rapper, singer, and essayist who earns her living on the road. She’s performed around the world at opera houses, rock clubs, and sometimes standing on barroom tables. Her imaginative writing and ferocious stage presence have been praised by NPR, Forbes, Billboard, the Chicago Tribune, and the LA Times. As a musician, she’s landed on the Billboard Top 200 as a solo artist; a member of the Doomtree collective; and as a contributor to The Hamilton Mixtape. She’s been published by the New York Times Magazine, MPR, the Star Tribune, Minnesota Monthly, literary journals across the country, and has written two short collections of poetry and essays. She splits her time between Manhattan, Minneapolis, and a tour van cruising at six miles per hour above the posted limit.
Want to buy this book? You can get it direct from Doomtree here.
Spiral Bound By Dessa Doomtree Press Published: January 6, 2008 Paperback 71 Pages Dessa's Website Doomtree's Website
