Some Updates and Miscellany

Today I don't really have an album review - hopefully in a day or two I will review Mogwai's Mr. Beast - but I do have some thoughts on things I've likely already reviewed and am listening to.

Still listening to Okkervil River - The Stage Names and The Stand Ins today. These albums really work well together. Stage Names kind of represents a louder, fiery atmosphere, like a party full of people and noise or a big concert with a sweaty crowd, whereas Stand Ins is more like an intimate gathering, or a show with only a dozen interested people. Okkervil River might never make the next OK Computer, but I'm perfectly content to buy their well-read, slightly screechy folk-rock music.

Also, I'm listening to Come On Die Young by Mogwai. This seems to be less engaging than their later work - I don't know if I like it as well as Happy Songs for Happy People or Mr. Beast but it's still enjoyable. The songs are more reserved and not as easy to get into, possibly just not as interesting or foreboding, but I still appreciate the mood.

Finally, I've been listening to Fables by Immaculate Machine again. Some of the songs drag a little towards the end of the album, but this is a really solid work. In particular, Kathryn Calder, the female vocalist, really shines. She has a very good voice, perhaps not the greatest, but I'll be damned if her vocals don't get to me a little bit. I really like the frantic songs here - "Jarhand" is pure adrenaline nonsense that I can't get enough of.

In Other News:
I actually slept okay the past two nights! I think it might be time to get out more blankets, though.

For once, I should be taking less action and talking more. How ridiculous is that?