Why Posting Is Light
- Posted by Johanna on December 5, 2006 at 8:15 am
- Category: Meta
Posting will be light this week, unfortunately. I’ve got a ton of terrific books I want to write about, but no mental energy or stress-free reading time for reasons I can’t reveal or discuss right now. (Thank you in advance for your good wishes. Yes, KC and I are fine and healthy. Yes, it’s day-job-related. Yes, it’s a rotten time of year for this kind of thing to happen, but at least I still have a position.)
In the meantime, I leave you with this recommendation: I’m surviving by listening a lot to Robbie Williams’ 2005 album Intensive Care. It’s his best album yet (although I haven’t yet heard Rudebox). IC was never released in the US, because Americans have crappy taste in music, and I only have this one because wonderful hubby KC got it for me as an import for last Christmas. I’m probably going to have to get Rudebox the same way, assuming it’s as good.
IC is moody and complex but without resorting to only one note in tone or theme. (It’s also the one with design and artwork by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.) It’s got songs that I don’t mind having stuck in my head, which makes for a nice distraction from the corporate shenanigans.
December 5, 2006 at 11:19 am
“Rudebox” is very idiosyncratic. It’s a fitting follow-up to “Intensive Care” but I don’t think it’s as successful. That being said “King of the Bongos” is something I can listen to all day, and there’s something nicely sarcastic to “She’s Madonna.”
December 5, 2006 at 11:32 am
“IC is moody and complex but without resorting to only one note in tone or theme.”
A quote I never thought I would see on your blog, even out of context…
December 5, 2006 at 1:09 pm
Sounds like a cool CD! Sorry to hear about the work stuff, hope it gets better!
December 5, 2006 at 1:24 pm
all the best at work!
Robbie Williams is huge here in Europe. Although I’m not considering myself a RW fan, I think he is a good musician and a great entertainer. I never understood why he is isn’t successful in the US.
December 5, 2006 at 3:50 pm
The reason he isn’t as successful is his camp aspect, much like the Scissor Sisters. Middle America just doesn’t seem to Get It when it comes to campy material.
I loved Rudebox much more than Intensive Care. It’s a bit more abrasive but I think it’s probably as close to an actual artistic statement Robbie’s gonna make. He’s always been a guilty pleasure (I still can’t really justify all the schlocky power ballads) but Rudebox I actually bought less like it was porn and more like the new album it is. :)
December 6, 2006 at 5:17 am
I must admit, it took me a long while to come round to the idea of Robbie Williams as a serious artist after Take That, but once I did, I was hooked, and still am. And so are my kids.
IC is very good indeed, and the cover art is wonderful. Enjoy!
December 6, 2006 at 9:21 am
Best of luck with the work craziness.
December 6, 2006 at 11:04 am
Well, the layoffs have been made, and my former team dispersed. I’m settling into my new role (in the past two months I’ve been told I’m going from manager to supervisor to special projects manager, only no one knows what that last one will mean).
But my wonderful hubby got me a copy of Rudebox, which I’m looking forward to sampling. Thanks for the recommendations!
December 7, 2006 at 6:19 am
Johanna, my deepest sympathies about your situation at work. Sorry you had to go through it, especially at this time of year. I hope this weekend you get a chance to really put it all aside and get some much need rest and refreshment.
You know they say manga picks you up and never lets you down. :-) I think the new volume of Baby and Me is what you need for a nice mental get away. ;-}