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April 29, 2021
Willy Vlautin's Playlist for His Novel "The Night Always Comes"
In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.
Previous contributors include Jesmyn Ward, Lauren Groff, Bret Easton Ellis, Celeste Ng, T.C. Boyle, Dana Spiotta, Amy Bloom, Aimee Bender, Roxane Gay, and many others.
Willy Vlautin's novel The Night Always Comes is a dark and personal examination of gentrification's effects on the working class.
Publishers Weekly wrote of the book:
"Vlautin offers a stunning, heartbreaking study of one woman’s struggle against fate and circumstance in an America that’s left her behind… This gritty page-turner sings with pitch-perfect prose, and [protagonist] Lynette’s desperation is palpable. Vlautin has achieved a brilliant synthesis of Raymond Carver and Jim Thompson."
In his words, here is Willy Vlautin's Book Notes music playlist for his novel The Night Always Comes:
The songs that inspired The Night Always Comes
1) Dead Moon-Dead Moon Night
If there’s one band who feels like working class Portland it’s Dead Moon. They were and continue to be one of my all-time favorite bands. Fred Cole was a classic songwriter who sang like his life depended on it. Dead Moon Night is the old beat up Portland that the character Lynette, from The Night Always Comes, grew up in.
2) The Wipers-Nothing Left to Lose
Another legendary Portland band. To me this song feels like the scenes where Lynette’s riding around with Cody. It raining and cold and the floor of her life has dropped out and suddenly she’s sitting next to a grifting ex-con.
3) Nick Cave & Warren Ellis-Dust Storm
From the soundtrack to Far from Men. I love Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ soundtracks. I can listen to them all day long if I’m not near cliffs or guns. Because they can lull you into a dark melancholy world that’s hard to get out of. I picture Lynette having her second breakdown in her basement to this song. The music being the air she’s breathing.
4) Spiritualized- Broken Heart
I’ve always loved this song, the beautiful orchestration and otherworldliness. The sonic dream blanketing a heartbreaking soul tune. If there’s a song that is Lynette it might be this one.
5) Harold Budd-Subtext
The keyboard player in my band The Delines turned me on to Harold Budd and a week doesn’t go by where I don’t spend a night listening to him. This is the song that would be playing when Lynette realized that her mother was leaving her and she wasn’t going to get the house.
6) Kamasi Washington-Leroy & Lanisha
I love The Epic, Kamasi Washington’s masterpiece that features this song. I’m always listening to him. When Lynette gets out of the repo trailer and it’s morning and she’s made it I would hope this song would come on the radio. She might be beat up with blurry eyes but Kamasi’s there and the sun’s coming up.
7) Mark Lanegan- Riding the Nightingale
Mark Lanegan has always felt like the NW when it’s winter and raining and the darkness slowly gets you and won’t let you go. This song would be the soundtrack to when Lynette lives at JJ’s and gives up for the first time.
8) Little Ann- Deep Shadows
I heard this song one night on the Portland jazz station and almost had to pull over. I love this song so much. I always think if Lynette could sing, this would be her signature song.
9) A Winged Victory for the Sullen-The Haunted Victorian Pencil
When I hear this tune I always think of Lynette walking down the street trying to stay on the sidewalk and not walk into traffic. So hopeless and destructive yet she keeps walking. Hanging by a thread but still trying to get somewhere.
10) Dead Moon- Dagger Moon
Since the book is set in Portland and I started the list with my favorite Portland band, I’ll end it with them. "Dagger Moon" feels like the mechanic’s shop with Kansas and his gas huffing boyfriend. Lynette is in over her head but what they don’t know is that she’s tougher than they are.
Willy Vlautin is the author of the novels The Motel Life, Northline, Lean on Pete, The Free, and Don’t Skip Out on Me. He is the founding member of the bands Richmond Fontaine and The Delines. He lives outside Portland Oregon.
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