MALONE-MAIL No. 15: I Want To Belieeeeeve
Wow! I can't believe you all are still here. I've been such a lousy ringleader (and yes I'm using circus terminology, because it's American Horror Story season once again, thank Edward Mordrake)! November is here, which means that it's glorious, glorious fall—everywhere but 90-degree Los Angeles! (And, you know, the entire southern hemisphere, but whatever.) I already have like 5 cavities, probably, judging by the number of leftover Jolly Ranchers and Whoppers I've been inhaling. Anyway, it's been like two months now so we might as well get right to it.
What I've been writing...
Impossibly, I was granted the privilege of speaking with André "3000" Benjamin about Jimi Hendrix for GQ.
I interviewed Jessie Ware about her new record, Tough Love, for my first piece at The Fader.
I wrote about pop outsiderdom and the Lorde/Majical Cloudz show here last month for Grantland.
Wrote this very long history/evolution of the vampire for WIRED. People were so mad.
Also reviewed the Lana Del Rey show (haha) at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for Billboard.
For another first, this time at Cosmo, I interviewed bearded lady Jennifer Miller about AHS: Freak Show.
Also, in case you've never seen Fringe or were thinking about revisiting: wrote you a WIRED binge guide.
In honor of Halloween, the WIRED team also drummed up this collection of terrifying non-horror movies.
Jim Davis talked to me, also at WIRED, about Garfield and the Internet.
And for another first, a great one: I covered the Hello Kitty convention from the tattoo parlor for Vanity Fair.
What I've been reading...
I'm still editing for Vulture! Faves of late: Ali Barthwell's list of messed-up Sex and the City moments, Brittany Spanos' Charmed demon ranking, and Beca Grimm's ranking of Def Jam releases.
Also:
Ann Friedman on the importance of friendship diversity for the Cut.
Julieanne Shepherd interviews one of the best bosses around, Danyel Smith, for Rookie.
Kyle Chayka found/interviewed the original doge's owner for Matter. (For non-Internet types, this is doge.)
Anita Sarkeesian at the New York Times, of course, on Gamergate and the future of video games.
Adrian Chen with an incredible feature at WIRED on people who weed out unsavory stuff on social media.
Andrew Iwanicki's terrifying account of being a bedrest NASA test subject at VICE.
Sasha Geffen's brief but wonderful account of Perfume Genius's hella queer Letterman gig at Pitchfork.
Cord Jefferson's deeply moving essay about his mother and, more broadly, kindness, for Matter.
And I'm only part-way through it, but Brian Phillips's amazing feature about sumo wrestling at Grantland.
Also also: Have you read The Empathy Exams yet? Leslie Jamison is an incredible essayist; this is a great feels collection, if you're in need of some pep talk.
What I've been listening to/watching...
So much X-Files binging. You'll find out why in the next MalonE-Mail.
Also, have you seen The Flash? It's so white, & so corny...but still, pretty fun, in a Sleepy Hollow sort of way.
And of course, How to Get Away With Murder is, predictably, amazing.
NOT: Scandal or Homeland. Hate that I had to quit, but things have gotten bad with both.
Music-wise, I've been driving a lot, which means I've had a lot of one-on-one time with my ~iPod Classic.~ Kanye (My Beautiful Dark...), Lil Wayne (Tha Carter II), Vampire Weekend (Contra), Perfume Genius (Too Bright) and Ex Hex (their debut record Rips is indeed driving music) are all on repeat right now, whatever that means to you.
P.S. (Parting Shot):
In case you hadn't seen this on social media, I'm including it here, because I won't lie and say I'm not extra proud of my Halloween costume.