Chances Are
(04.10.2005 - 7:17 p.m.)

As promised, some thoughts about recent listens:

Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
Paul McCartney
The album is, simply put, McCartney's most sustained solo work since the mid 1970's. Forget the horror that was Mull Of Kintyre, it seems Macca is back to his poignant, melodic best. Comparisons with the Fabs' are inevitable, given that Jenny Wren has been described by McCartney as a distant cousin of Blackbird, and that the passages of dissonance that pepper the album are reminiscent of Beatles classics such as the always astounding Day In The Life. But this is no bad thing. If you're searching for 45 minutes of strong, intelligent pop music, there is no need to look any further.

Jacksonville City Nights
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
Those who knock Ryan Adams complain repeatedly of his uneven output and his complete inability to edit himself, laying accusations at his door of overly long albums that would benefit from severe scissor treatment. How they must have groaned when Adams announced that he wasn't releasing just one album in 2005, but three.
Fortunately for all concerned, his second album this year is, if not a masterpiece, a very fine effort indeed. More explicitly "country" than anything Adams has recorded before, the album recalls the likes of Gram Parsons or The Band. The End, A Kiss Before I Go and My Heart Is Broken are particular standouts. If this is Ryan returning to them, then long may his roots revival continue.

oOo oOo oOo

I was sorry to hear today of the death of Ronnie Barker. I always considered him to be the jewel in the crown of The Two Ronnies, and his performances in various comedy series such as Open All Hours or Porridge were peerless. His surreal wordplay was exceptional, and whilst I could hardly claim to be his biggest fan, I can appreciate that he will be sorely missed.

oOo oOo oOo

In other news, life continues in the same vein of seemingly neverending work-related stress. Slowly the days have all blurred into one over the past month or so. I genuinely thought that I'd left this kind of peculiar stagnation behind. Apparently, it can come back and strike at any time.

When life gets this way, I'm minded to think of good times past, and hope for more like them in the future. It's funny how removing yourself from your present situation, even if it's only in your head, can be so calming.

I suppose it isn't necessarily healthy, though. Sooner or later you still have to come back down to earth with a thud. Sooner or later you're going to have to face the bleak state of your current existence and try and claw your way out of it.

But maybe not just yet. Maybe another day, when you're feeling a little stronger. Maybe another day, when you're feeling a little braver. Another day.

Always another day.

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Currently Spinning: Wildflower, Sheryl Crow
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