Some days the ghost isnt with you. And some days it is.
Almost didnt want to do anything today. Instead I got the most productive session in terms of word-count in about 2 weeks. Also it was dialogue-heavy and I suck at dialogue.
What else can I say? Here’s a nice lazy song to celebrate.
Been on an immense Bon Iver binge in recent weeks, what with it being that cold autumn/winter point of the year. Great stuff for writing too. Doesnt draw attention to itself in a distracting way yet paints a very moody picture that cant help but inspire something. Now that I’ve absolutely exhausted the two albums, I’ve gone back to root around for more Justin Vernon stuff. Volcano Choir, Justin Vernon, DeYarmond Edison, the Hadestown album by Anais Mitchell he featured so heavily on.. everything.
So here’s a random gem from the gemstack:
Didnt write anything yesterday or the day before, which sucked. Especially lame because I’d planned to go to the Nanowrimo group meeting at Madlab. Instead spent the entire evening failing to fix a faulty laptop which needs returning today. Laame! Also especially lame because yesterday was the halfway point when people should be on 25k if they’re on target. I of course, am working at half-speed so was expecting to hit 12.5k yesterday. And yes, that should’ve been in the bag what with me being at 12.3k two days earlier but life’s weird like that I guess. Came home and collapsed in bed within probably 45 minutes.
To atone for that though, I’ve just did my very first early morning sitting. Got a 666 word character POV done. Shortest one yet, but I’ve got the entire day to think of and do a second and third to make up for my shortfall. Hopefully I can turn this into a new routine and get double/triple sittings into a day. Who knows, maybe I can still realistically hit 50k. I’m gonna start going gym again so time management is going to get a little bit hairy. Yolo.
Bonus song: Die by This Condition (from Sessions EP)
Madlab site: Madlab.org.uk
This Condition bandcamp: ThisCondition.bandcamp.com
You know I’ve lived in Manchester since before I was two years old. And honestly, I’ve always been a proud Manc through and through. In more recent years, I’ve made a half-assed attempt to get to know my city more. All the cultural sneaky things it has to offer that I’ve embarrassingly not made the most of, having grown up here spoilt to it all. I want to see the world. I think I’m one of those wanderlust souls deep down (Myspace Tom is my hero: he retired with the sale and now spends his life travelling the world and taking awesome photographs) but I’m not in any financial situation whereby I could just disappear into the sunset like that as if I were some cowboy in a Western. So why not root around in my back yard and explore the hometown that I love so much? I mean I cant tell you how much it used to annoy me when I was at uni and students living away from home would talk about places I’d never been..
Anyway, as of now, I’ve actually yet to do much, but I’m very more so aware of what Manchester has to offer me, and everyone else that lives here. But it just hit me like a bag of bricks this morning how much I really care about this city.
Today’s agenda:
– Longsight library to collect Bell Jar and sort some banking
– Manchester Uni JRUL library to get some work done (they still let in alumni, right?)
– Town errands
– Maybe get more work and writing done in the Triangle or something
– Apply for a school governorship
– Go check out a DSLR videomaking get together if I’m still alive
To finish on a totally unrelated note, here’s some Jimi:
One love,
Abdul J
—
Tom’s twitter: @myspacetom
Tom’s instagram: instagram.com/myspacetom
I think this was in Argentina? Definitely South America anyway, as is evident by some of the football chants nearer the beginning. Say what you will about Oasis, but as a Manchester boy I definitely cant help but be partial to them. Noel is great here, but it’s the crowd that make this seem so damn good. They’re with him the entire way. Song starts just before the 1:00 mark for those that want to skip in. Love the ending.
Thought I’d mix it up a little bit and post some audio instead of a video of a performance. And a demo at that, as I understand it. To be honest, I’d rather it stay as it is.
Oxygen
BONUS:
Worldstop
Twitter: @TheRoyEnglish
Tumblr: royenglish.tumblr.com
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/royenglish
Sorry, have to get a little hipster this time. I prefer his studio version of this song, but I also like the unadulterated style on his live performances too. Heard a few covers that were done nice, but in the end they always sound a little too polished and sanitised. Justin Vernon just sounds like his heart is bleeding out. Such a classic album. I’m still trying to get around to making time to hear the self-titled followup. Dont know why I havent heard it already to be honest.
Website: BonIver.org
Twitter: @BonIver
I swear, this isnt supposed to turn into a blog strictly covering my favourite live acoustic/stripped down performances. But I imagine regardless of whatever it is supposed to be, it was always going to have a bunch of them scattered throughout. The actual song starts just after 2:17. Not particularly new, but an instant classic for me.
Website: cityandcolour.com
Twitter: @cityandcolour
abdulj. 