we are back, babyyyyyy. this was the month of novellasssssssssss

Beowulf, translated by Maria Dahvana Headley: This was so, so, so sexy oh my God. I picked this up from my local bookseller and it just--it really floored me by how phenomenal the translation was? I was skeptical, I have to admit but I felt the excitement, the blood, and the enduring relevance of this story through this translation.

Grendel by John Gardner: We love a themed read but this just wasn't for me. I think reading it so closely to the Headley translation was a mistake. This was exceptionally well-written and there are some great scenes but I felt that the overly academic approach to Grendel sucked the viscera and fear from the story. Grendel's isolation was so complete that, as a reader, I felt alienated from him. The most exciting and climactic moment was, of course, when Beowulf appears and there is this fantastic line: "Oh my God, he's insane" in the wake of Beowulf telling the story of him swimming for several nights through a storm. But, maybe in a different time, this book would have struck me differently but it was a miss for me.

The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis: One more in the journey to read the complete works of Lewis!! I'd read parts of this before but never completely and in order. So, here's the thing, I love Lewis. I really, really am a True Fan. The way that he organized and categorized the world and human relationships is really impactful and truthful. Even contextualizing him in his time period and social context, I really struggled with listening to the homophobia in this. It really bothered me in this book in a way that his mentions of it in Mere Christianity didn't. Part of it was because the introduction to the book was written by Charles Colson, notoriously conservative evangelical, and part of it was because it was a book on love. I feel silly objecting to something that I knew was part of his belief system, a belief system that I don't think he ever had life experiences to challenge. But--it got to me this time. It is the feeling of: you have helped shaped my worldview and you would pity me? I don't know. There is a lot of gold in here. I had a similar lukewarm reaction to The Great Divorce last year and that book has subsequently never left me alone. So, Lewis is a guy who needs to age in my system, I think.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway: I had such an interesting experience with this one!! I was enjoying it but not feeling particularly moved by it and then halfway through I attended a workshop of an operatic version of it by Paola Prestini and my mind completely changed. Her clear love of the book, the beauty that she mined from it...seeing someone who so clearly loves this book and this story completely changed my perspective on it. And when I finished it, I had a much deeper appreciation for the story, the drama of it, and the beauty in it.

Here Goes Nothing by Eamon McGrath: This sucked. Like, this is already the worst book I have read and will read this year. I mean, it was remarkably bad. I listened to the audiobook version on the drive home from Boston and it was incredible. I listen to audiobooks to help pass the time and this actively made my trip feel longer. I just. It was only 2.5 hours long and I felt like I lost years to this book. The writing was inconsistent--vacillating between pretty good to sophomoric and just filled with poorly constructed metaphors. The story was confusing, without purpose or shape. The idea of the audiobook was to have a customized soundtrack that matched the story and it just--was bad. Like, sir, the reason you never made it big as a musician is because you are bad at this. I understand the romanticization of your misspent youth and a nomadic period of your life...but this whole rebels without a cause thing just didn't land. As I grow older, my patience with the sighing, looking out the window at human foibles and disappointments grows shorter and shorter. My guy, you need better friends. You need to be a better person. Treat your mom better. That's all. It was an interestingly gendered book--the characters are all male and apparently unable to understand or communicate...any emotion or physical urge including anger, hunger, fear, happiness in any way that is remotely productive. The lack of women here was also very noticeable. I mean--to be sure, it was about a group of men and they are in a culture where women are there to be...fucked or are their literal mothers but the narrator low-key drops that he had a nameless girlfriend the ENTIRE time in the last fifteen minutes and you're like, oh my GOD, you really...really...WHAT. You really...really treat the women in your life disposably.

Welcome to July! For this #SnappySingles we bring you songs from Julie Title, Eamon McGrath (featuring Cayley Thomas), Alicia Toner, and Briar Summers.

It seems that no sooner have I wrapped up our month Snappy Singles article for posting, I am already faced with working on the next one.  Time sure is flying by, as summer is officially here, and our friends out in the western provinces have been dealing with crazy hot weather and soaring temperatures so early into the season.  Of course, great new music continues to land here at Team GDW HQ,…

With over 300 songs written and recorded, album of the year credits, and multiple continent-spanning tours, Eamon McGrath has developed a body of work that could rival that of any artist 15 years his senior. This is the house that punk rock built: a fierce DIY attitude and constantly-changing style has guided McGrath across the globe on countless tours, stories from which have been cultivated in innumerable journal entries and song lyrics.

New single, “Sparkle and Bleed,” follows the September 29th release of McGrath’s latest book, Here Goes Nothing, and features guest vocals from longtime friend, collaborator, colleague and bandmate, Julie Doiron. “Sparkle and Bleed” is taken from an upcoming full-length album that will be McGrath’s first release since 2019’s critically acclaimed Guts.

Listen in here!

Eamon McGrath is coming on EU Tour this June!

Before they skipped town to continue on their western Canada tour, we hopped in a van with pan-Canadian supergroup Julie & the Wrong Guys to talk about the logistics of touring with a side project, their new 7" and upcoming full-length, and much more! The group consists of solo artists Julie Doiron (yes, that Julie Doiron) and Eamon McGrath, plus the rhythm section of Toronto heavy-hitters Cancer Bats: Jaye R. Schwarzer and Winnipegger Mike Peters. Just for fun, we set up a little camera inside the van while the interview was happening. This is just a quick clip. The full video of the entire interview is available exclusively to supporters on our Patreon page at patreon.com/witchpolice. Sign up today!

It has been quite a honor to tour with my favourite canadian douche Eamon Mcgrath across the crusty lands of Germany, Austria and Czech Republic for the past 2 weeks. I've been learning so much about myself thanks his genuine and kind soul but also from those beautiful people who showed up at our shows. Also, a massive shout to Fa Reed for being our unstoppable driver, tour manager and photographer (check his photos from the tour herehttp://www.facebook.com/snappp80). Last but not least, kuddos to everyone helping us with sleeping, food, endless chats filled by unknow drinks or last minute houseshows, you made this tour a real succes. Now, I'm lost on my own exile too, but it worth it.