Category: Art & Music

Okay, I said it before, but Laura, you rock.  I’m having a blast with Pandora Internet Radio.

I’ve set up several stations but I keep going back to a few because I’ve discovered new bands and as most of you know, there’s nothing I like better.  (Okay, except getting lost in the writing zone and clearing a chapter… or book.)

But I’ll give you a for instance.  I typed in Massive Attack and first Pandora gives a description of the music, then they pull up similar artists.  My ears were pleasured this morning by Portishead, Beth Orton and oh man, VNV Nation’s Carbon from Futureperfect!

Lovin’ this!

I’ve been a trip hop dweeb forever.  I asked for trip hop back when music store clerks would go “huh?”  Okay, yeah, some of them still do that, but not everyone can stay on top of things, right?

But, it’s wonderful to be able to type in a band name and have music tailored to that style come up in all its new or old glory. 

My other favorite stations so far are Murcof, Mogwai, Sigur Ros and of course, as always, I must mention Over the Rhine.  I’ve written about them a lot, including here .  In fact, I was going over the Art and Music category to the right and I’ve covered quite a bit of music here.  Mood music for writing, etc. 

 Anyway, the Over the Rhine station is great!  They’ve played artists I’ve tooted on this blog like Vienna Teng, Tori Amos, Imogen Heap and even the Bodeans!  Right now, I’m listening to Freed by Tracy Bonham.  I still own a copy of her CD The Burdens of Being Upright.  Been a long time since I explored what Tracy has been doing.

I also find a bit of amusement in the music descriptions.  I typed in Kidneythieves this morning and they bring up the electronic and tech influences with the hilarious addition of “extensive vamping.”  LOL!

So, next is one of my other favorites, Anathema and then I might type in Billie Holiday and see what comes up.

Oh, and I am not slacking on the writing, so hush. I’ve actually critiqued several fantastic chapters from Rachel and finished up another of my own.  Good music in the background is essential to the creative spirit.  Mine anyway.  Cheers!

Hit a snag.  After that incredible first day word count, nothing.  We had several huge family issues hit us at once on Thursday, so the last couple of days were the kind I hope never to experience again.

Sometimes life smacks us around, bites our ass then hangs around gnawing for awhile.  No worries, I fought back after that first day or so of stunned helplessness, yanked it off and put things back into perspective.

Now, I have to make up the words to hit that average I need to make my goal.  You see, I’m hoping to pitch one on one with an agent in March, so this book has to be ready to go by then. 

Since I nearly doubled that first day count, if I add 500 words to that 2500 daily goal for a few days, I should be able to make it up quickly.  Plus, I hadn’t planned to work Sundays, but I’m changing that decision. 

Life issues or not, I’m looking at this as a job.  Granted, I don’t get paid much for it yet, but I’m ever hopeful that will change in the future. <g>

It’s been a long time since I shared weekend art and music.  You will have the most wonderful time exploring this artist’s galleries and the prints are reasonable!

  I love finding an artist who can give me perfectly emotive photographs that inspire fictional characters.  This is a great example.  I’d love to write her story.  The artist is Crybaby.  Click on the name to explore, there’s a link on the page for Browse Gallery and look for Water Nymph. Wow.  Various styles of art, but all extremely talented.

And for music, she isn’t signed yet, but keep an eye on Kate Nash.  http://www.myspace.com/katenashmusic Merry Happy is smart and fun and if you’re in the mood for something stripped down, yet lovely, listen to the Nicest Thing.

 

In Freaking Love with this artist’s work.  Keep an eye on Natalie Shau.  Check out her work here.  I have several prints on my wishlist to purchase very, very soon.

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As for me, I’m still alive and banging at this keyboard.  I mentioned short, intense bursts before and wow, did they shorten.  I don’t know if it’s the holidays or my lack of good plotting right in the middle of the book, but I’m as easily distracted as a baby.  Flash of something shiny and I’m toddling off…

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I’m literally forcing myself to write today because I’m pitifully behind with my CPs.  Shame.  On.  Me.  And I just hate it when the only thing that flows from my fingertips is crap.  Not even a hint of shine to this work, yet I persevere because it’s usually in the piles of er… we’re tired of that icky metaphor, right?… stuff… that I uncover a gem.

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I also really want to work on that short sci-fi, horror piece and get it sent out.  Also, have a few other paying writing jobs in the works.  Writers do reach a point where they like the paycheck—byline or not.  Heh heh 

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I’m also trying to juggle all the activities this month.  I’ve come to the conclusion that I have too many friends and family and damn it, they are all precious to me and I won’t give one of them up.  Anyone know where I can get a clone? 

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Here’s a question for you.  If you could make two clones of yourself but your mind could only be in one… would it be the one who got to write full time or the ones who make the family and friend party rounds?? 

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Be honest. <g>

It’s been a little while since I did a music post and this blog was originally going to be about music and writing.

 

 

I won’t be streaming songs in here until I can figure out how to use my own bandwidth.  However, I will give you sites with either clips or whole songs.  You may not always like all my choices, but who knows, you might find something that you can’t live without.  If you do anything, make sure to check out the last one.  You won’t be sorry. 

 

 

Today, I’m focusing on mostly instrumental groups.  Some label them post-rock but I find that description too vague and occasionally, it can lead me to some pretty funky music.  Which, of course, can be a good thing.  I love nothing more than finding a small, unpolished or polished gem in an over-populated rock garden. ( Bah.  Bad metaphor, but I’ve got the WIP on brain here, so let’s get you some new stuff to listen to and I’ll go back to my rewrites of a sticky, sticky chapter. <G> )

 

 

So, after saying that, this first one isn’t instrumental.  I stumbled upon them by accident when they were compared with another of my favorite bands.  Can’t remember who it was at the time, but I do remember not agreeing with the comparison.  However, this
Arizona band, Calexico, is a hard one to pin down.  They have kind of a sexy, desert feel with strong Latin influence.  All you have to do is pull up the website and listen.  www.casadecalexico.com   The music just continues to play. 

 

 

They are touring with Sufjan Stevens so we’ll segue there.

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Sufjan Stevens.  I bought A Sun Came years ago and it has to be one of the most fascinating and strangest CDs. Has a strong Celtic feel to the opening with soft, male vocals.  I want to love this CD and in fact, do love parts of it.  But the truth is, I rarely play it because there are jarring snippets between a lot of the songs that just throw you out of the music enjoyment.  I loaded it into my computer and cut those out, then burned a new copy.    But, I found a lot of promise there, so I’ve tried him again.  Now, if you’re in the mood for something soft with a little bit of a Simon and Garfunkel (with a hint of old country, too) feel, check out this video.  www.creativearson.com/sufjan/   
Illinois seems to be the most popular recording of Sufjan’s. You can listen to clips at Amazon.

 

 

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Dirty Three—  Australian like the next group,  I swear there must be a melancholic and contemplative slowness to the country.  Some of the music is so drawn out and loose, you want to lie on the floor and close your eyes.  (I’m a pretty high-strung person, so music that makes me pay attention to actual life is a good.)  If you like moody strings and guitar, check them out.  I own Ocean Songs which sounds a little like it was recorded in or near water… or water pipes anyway.  Some of it is so pretty… Click on their name to check out Cinder on Amazon. 

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Hungry Ghosts – Australian band I’d like to hear more from.  (www.myspace.com/alonealone — now, this is the kind of music you play when you want to chill, contemplate the universe… write.  The song that comes up first is Alone, Alone and it has a rough, twangy opening and then flows into something melancholy and beautiful.  Play this when you write that really tough scene—the one where your main character has to come to a few painful realizations.  Same with I don’t Think About You—only this one has a bit of a naughty, gypsy flair.  Pulls at the heartstrings, yet makes you smile.  )

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Mogwai—Man, people either love them or hate them.  Some think the music is too dark and sad.  Yeah, it can be.  I love the CD Happy Songs for Happy People and yes, we’re talking sarcasm here.  Hunted by a Freak has been on this blog and my Myspace page.  If you have the time, sit through it.  Has a nice build-up—lots of emotion.  The violins later in that song never fail to make me stop and close my eyes.  The song in its entirety is here.  http://www.mogwai.co.uk/t/

 

 

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Since I’m talking about some instrumental rock bands, I have to mention Explosions in the Sky.  Oh, this is pretty music.  More subtle than Mogwai and not quite as funky as Godspeed You Black Emporer, they do the emotional build up but it’s more sparse and heavy on emotion.  I love The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place. Click here and pick one– I love the third… You might recognize this Texas band’s sound from the soundtrack to the movie Friday Night Lights. 

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Mum!   (You can click at the bottom if you want to explore without registering.) This group from
Iceland is also a hard one to fit into a mold.  The CD Finally We Are No One is so nice.  One review said fey-like, which is an interesting description when everyone’s view of Fey is different.  I mean, there’s a big difference between say, the world of Froud and well, Laurel K. Hamilton’s Gentry Fey. <g>  When you listen to the song Green Grass of Tunnel, at first you might feel like you’ve stumbled on a secret world.  I suggest turning it up loud because my very first listen was loud and I got goosebumps—  Okay, there is a bit of ethereal, fairy like female vocals, so be prepared. Actually, I think my favorite off that CD is We Have a Map of the Piano.

Let’s see if this works… go here and choose one of the longer clips. 

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Now, I’m leaving you today with one that is so incredibly good, I will sometimes just play it over and over.  Listen to the entire song, the build up of emotion, that voice…  see if it doesn’t bring tears to your eyes.

 

 

Sigur Ros—Another Icelandic group that tends to grab me by the throat.  Go here www.sigur-ros.co.uk/media/ and click on the first choice “untitled #8.  Atmospheric and absolutely lovely.

 

 

Take care,

Rinda