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A music mockumentary for the ages
Music obsessives and comedy fanatics will both find something to love in The True Story of the Coward Brothers, a wholly original audio mockumentary written by new-wave legend Elvis Costello and starring Costello and fellow music icon T Bone Burnett as the titular brothers. A rocking, rollicking listen, The True Story of the Coward Brothers opens on a dispatch from Your Name Here, a radio show hosted by Sterling Lockhart (an exquisitely stoic Harry Shearer), as Henry and Howard Coward regale listeners with the inside story of how their merciless band manager swindled their fortune and ruined their shot at fame. Madcap storytelling and catchy, brilliantly produced mock-pop earworms abound. And the cherry on top? This gem is directed by Christopher Guest, the filmmaker hailed for mockumentaries such as Best in Show and This Is Spinal Tap. —Alanna M.
A love letter to creation and creativity, 40 years in the making
There’s no arguing that Haruki Murakami is one of the most brilliant creative minds and writers of the 21st century. And for fans, The City and Its Uncertain Walls is not only long-awaited but also fits beautifully into his literary legacy – expanding on a 40-year-old short story of the same name, and acting as a companion to Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. While the motifs, moments and world all feel familiar, The City and Its Uncertain Walls still stands wholly on its own. As always, it’s impossible not to get lost in Murakami’s creation or narrator Brian Nishii’s performance. It’s not just a love letter to magical realism, creativity and writing, but also reflects the author’s own experience with his craft — as a labour of love that was 40 years in the making, and was most definitely worth the wait. —Michael C.
Signs point to cosy, delightful listening
I’m fully on board with the low-stakes fantasy moment we’re having right now, and so hitting play on this debut was a no-brainer for me. Following Tao, a fortune-teller who specialises in foretelling the mundane, Julie Leong spins a yarn about identity and chosen family. Narrator Phyllis Ho is new to me, and she positively sparkled in this story; her voice is at once buoyant, exuberant and gentle – so fitting for a cosy fantasy. I challenge you not to grin while listening. —Sam D.
So many people have been touched by the music of rock icons Savage Garden, myself included. But even if you haven’t put in the hours tearing up to “Truly Madly Deeply” or grooving along with “I Want You” (chic-a-cherry cola!), I think you’ll agree that this memoir is the opposite of its title. With Unlovable, vocalist and lead songwriter Darren Hayes takes listeners from 1970s suburban Queensland to arena stages around the world, not flinching from the trauma of a dark childhood marked by violence, addiction and abuse. In his own captivating reading, Hayes adds to his already significant renown as a great storyteller, performer and interpreter of the human condition. —Kat J.
Peter Dinklage gives an amazing performance as Hercule Poirot
I have a confession: I am a huge Agatha Christie fan! The Mysterious Affair at Styles was my first introduction to what is now my favourite genre: mysteries and thrillers. So, when I heard there was a multi-cast adaptation, starring the phenomenal actor Peter Dinklage as the legendary Hercule Poirot, I was intrigued to hear how the story and characters would translate. The production did not disappoint. The cast created an experience that brought the classic mystery to life in a thrilling new way. The audio adaptation has an immersive and atmospheric quality that truly transported me to the world of Styles Court. This was a wonderful treat and homage to Christie’s original novel. For fans of classic mysteries and immersive storytelling, this adaptation is a must-listen. —Dawn G.
A Tribute of Fire is romance author Sariah Wilson’s debut into romantasy, and I seriously hope it’s not her last. Every year, Ilion sends two maidens to compete in a life-or-death ritual, with no maiden ever making it out alive. In an attempt to protect her kingdom, Princess Lia arranges to be selected. When she and her untrained sister, Quynh, are forced into the deadly race, Lia insists that they will both survive. She must navigate a maze-like city while protecting her sister and resisting her undeniable attraction to Jason, a dangerously handsome enemy sailor. The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, sizzling chemistry between Lia and Jason, non-stop action and found-family dynamics, combined with Therese Plummer’s narration – and that cliffhanger (which I am still recovering from) – made A Tribute of Fire an incredible start to a series that I look forward to continuing. —Patty R.
Ken Cuperus has done it again!
‘Tis the season again at Fletcher’s Grove, and I couldn’t be more excited! Grace Barlow – now Emily Lane – has been instructed to maintain a low profile around her new town. Emily’s Christmas store, Under the Mistletoe, is thriving, and she’s even found a little romance with Sam, a handsome local police officer. Despite the instruction to maintain a low profile, Emily ends up on the front page of a newsletter for her heroism. When Obsidian Midnight picks up on signs of life from Emily, her safety is threatened — and she doesn’t even know it. The captivating narration from the cast, led by Cobie Smulders and Raymond Ablack, provides an internal cinema full of plot twists and a cliffhanger that left me ready for the next installment of this wonderful series. In the meantime, I’ll be watching the Hallmark adaptation that will be out on small screens October 31! —Disha M.
The Serviceberry could heal us. Will we listen?
Years ago, a friend very appropriately gave me a copy of Lewis Hyde’s classic The Gift. It was one of those thunderbolt-type books that divided my thinking into a before and after, forever changing my outlook on art, commerce and reciprocity. So it feels like another gift of serendipity to find Robin Wall Kimmerer, botanist and thunderbolt-caster herself (Braiding Sweetgrass), meditating on similar themes in her new release. Short but incredibly potent, The Serviceberry explores how shifting our perspective on what the market economy calls “natural resources” by more properly understanding them as gifts could transform our broken relationship to the Earth. Drawing on Indigenous practices and wisdom from other scholars and activists, Kimmerer reveals how gratitude and the mutual flow of love and care can move us into a sense of abundance, in turn restoring justice and sustainability to the natural world. This is a beautiful listen, narrated in Kimmerer’s own voice, that I’m abundantly grateful for. —K.J.
More listens we're looking forward to this month
