Or click the song titles to hear individual tracks.
Story: And So It Begins
Song: “I Think I Need A New Heart” by Magnetic Fields
A lot of the characters in Treats are dreamily passive, idealistic but apathetic; allowing things to sort of happen to them, narrativizing themselves within their circumstances. I wanted to set the theme and tone of the collection with this story, and so something from the wryly self-conscious 69 Love Songs seems an appropriate opener.
Story: A Lover’s Guide To Meeting Shy Girls; Or; Break Up Record
Song: “This Boy Is Exhausted” by The Wrens
The character in this story, Devon, struggles for seven years to create the perfect breakup album, never quite getting there. While I had in mind he was making something closer to that of Washed Out or Memory Tapes (long live chillwave), This Boy Is Exhausted from the (almost) perfect breakup-album The Meadowlands seems a more fitting pick.
Story: One Of Those Life Things
Song: “Blue in Green” by Miles Davis
I wanted to write about a creeping realisation of trauma. This song is playing in the background at a certain point within the story, it feels like the sort of song you could half-remember, half-hear; not sure if it’s even playing at all.
Story: Both Boys
Song: “Can’t Feel My Face” by The Weeknd
The unnamed character in this story hooks up with two boys on the same night, I imagine, at a party. And this is the last song I really enjoyed listening to at a party.
Story: Where I Am Supposed To Be
Song: “This Is Me” by Demi Lovato + Joe Jonas
This is from the Camp Rock original soundtrack.
Story: This Small Written Thing (read it here)
Song: “Smackwater Jack” by Carole King
The protagonist in this story struck me as a woman who would really like Carole King.
Story: Beautiful Existence
Song: “Birds” by Electrelane
The character in this story becomes increasingly maddened by the birds cheaping outside her window. Fuck those birds. This is my anti-Jonathan Franzen story.
Story: It’s A Shame About Ray
Song: “It’s A Shame About Ray” by The Lemonheads
Obviously.
Story: Dates
Song: “It’s Not The End Of The World” by Super Furry Animals
My first legitimate date was to see Super Furry Animals. I think they were touring Rings Around The World. All (both) of my life’s boyfriends were also there, but I didn’t know them yet. Also, I think this is a very romantic song.
Story: Treats
Song: “Silent Sigh” by Badly Drawn Boy
Another theme (indeed , the titular theme of the book!) I wanted to explore was parsing our experiences via singular apparently significant moments, the sweet, ephemeral nature of them (i.e. treats). Tried to think of a song that’s a bit of treat to hear, and was quite surprised (nay, horrified) when this sprung to mind.
Story: Taxidermy
Song: “Dig, Lazarus, Dig!” by Nick Cave
Bit about “rebirth” this one, I suppose.
Story: Penguins
Song: “Bump n’ Grind” by R. Kelly
This is my penguin-sex story and I’m not really sure what song should go here.
Story: Toxic Shock Syndrome
Song: “My Body” by Perfume Genius
This is story about bodies, betrayals of the body, assumptions about your body, and also, about being pleasured by a stranger on a plane.
Story: Here’s To You
Song: “Why Don’t You Get A Job?” by The Offspring
This story references the singer (Dexter Holland!)’s brand of hot sauce: Gringo Bandito. I flip-flopped between this and the one with Zooey Deschanel in the video, but this got it for the excellent gender politics.
Story: Sundaes At The Tipping Yard
Song: “Favorite Writer” by Magnapop
My friend described this story as “so on the nose it’s a nose”, which I take exception to. It’s partially about learning to write, and so this is fitting in both tone (drippy) and content (writer).
Story: A Single Lady’s Manual for Parent/ Teacher Evening
Song: “Mama Said” by The Shirelles
“They never leave their wives” is something my mum once said.
Story: The Getting Of The Cat
Song: “Me An My Friend The Cat” by Loudon Wainwright II
There are a lot of cats in this collection, though I am allergic to them. I’ve never cried about that, but given the right circumstances, I believe I could. This is a good song off an otherwise absurdly sexist album.
Story: As Understood By The Women
Song: “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Kill
I really wanted Bikini Kill somewhere on the playlist.
Story: Penguins
Song: “7/4 Shoreline” by Broken Social Scene
I was struggling with this one, but, tributaries, shorelines, etc. Please buy the book.
Listen to the mix on SPOTIFY »
LINKS
Purchase / explore TREATS:
Freight Books | Goodreads | Amazon (UK)
Read a story from the collection:
