So busy at the moment with O Men!!!
Plan is still to release 2.4 in June sometime and then 2.5 in August.
I'm about 20 pages into 2.4 - so it's do-able. I did so much this weekend - must have done about 12 hours yesterday (I feel like a junior doctor) and got no sleep cos i was still buzzing from it all lol.
And now I have two projects I want to get on with - the big poster suggestion that Jamie came up with - it hadn't been on my agenda until I saw a friend's poster and it really inspired me. Will be cool - kind of an updated version of the 'key chart poster' on my website, in the gallery section - all in colour. The version I really want to do has a huge spoiler for Issue 2.7 though.
And the second project is to do an updated/coloured/computer-lettered version of an old O Men issue - maybe issue 1 or 1.18. But that's a way off.
And somewhere in all this I want to work on this Tori strip idea that I've been asked to do for a Tori zine. Erk. I have ideas but all I want to do right now is O Men.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Friday, May 4, 2007
Children of Men
I saw an absolutely fantastic film this weekend - so good I literally had to watch it twice - Children of Men. It’s a deceptively simple movie, but what really grabbed me about it was its fluidity - the way some of the scenes are shot in one take - there’s a stunning car-chase thing not far from the start and the whole hospital battle at the end is breath-taking. The one frustrating thing about it was the subtlety of it at times - I totally missed a couple of important plot-points because they were hard to hear, some people and elements are very casually introduced and are almost missable (good job I watched it again lol). But there is such a real energy to this movie - almost an understated energy - and it has made a huge impression on me.
American Doll Posse - an overview
For me, Tori Amos could do an album where she sings from a phonebook and I would like it - it’s just like that. I think she’s great and I pretty much love everything she does. She strikes a chord. I think the perception of her is that she is mad and annoying and depressing - and you know, I think I can identify with that lol. Look underneath the surface and it’s all very tongue-in-cheek but with a very serious intention. There is a huge amount of fun in Tori’s music, but with a real, human edge.
But anyway, that’s not to say that I don’t recognise when she’s having a weaker moment, though. After Scarlet’s Walk, her music started to get a bit too samey, culminating in The Beekeeper album, which just seemed really middle-of-the-road. Thank god then for American Doll Posse, which sees Tori really raise her game once more.
I was a bit worried about this album. Another long album, another concept album (why can’t she just do 12 simply great, straight-forward songs?) - and maybe worse than that - it’s kind of a concept she’s sort of done before - dressing up as different characters for Strange Little Girls. Thankfully, ADP gives a fresh spin on the characters idea and I adore the fact that each Doll has its own personality and sings different songs - although I do wish there had been a song which featured all of the dolls (admittedly that would have been hard to recreate live, I guess!).
I’ve written individual reviews of the songs elsewhere. Suffice to say, that once again Tori has delivered a stunning album that works on so many levels and has a song for just about any mood. It also flows really well. I think I will find myself listening to this album quite a lot, whereas I found it hard to find time to sit and listen to the equally long Beekeeper.
A lot of the reviews are saying this album is her best since her first album, and some of the songs would have fit well on there. Well I don’t know about that - I think Tori has evolved nicely over the years. What I do like about ADP is that some of the more experimental piano songs (Smokey Joe and Dragon) hearken back to some of her early experimental b-sides - and that is definitely a good thing!
One thing that puzzles me about Tori though - is her apparent wish to be so commercial. The music biz has changed so much over the past few years - singles just don’t seem to matter any more. While other artists - like Regina Spektor and Anthony and the Johnstons - have a blast doing what they do best, stripping it all back to basics, I often wish Tori would do this - do an album of beautiful piano ballads.
Oh, and while I’m talking about being puzzled - I’m really puzzled about some of the promotional elements of this album’s release. Putting the WHOLE album on myspace? Wow. I don’t agree with giving the whole thing away like that. And then there are extra songs which you get if you pre-order with different stores - argh! Stop it, Tori!
But anyway, that’s not to say that I don’t recognise when she’s having a weaker moment, though. After Scarlet’s Walk, her music started to get a bit too samey, culminating in The Beekeeper album, which just seemed really middle-of-the-road. Thank god then for American Doll Posse, which sees Tori really raise her game once more.
I was a bit worried about this album. Another long album, another concept album (why can’t she just do 12 simply great, straight-forward songs?) - and maybe worse than that - it’s kind of a concept she’s sort of done before - dressing up as different characters for Strange Little Girls. Thankfully, ADP gives a fresh spin on the characters idea and I adore the fact that each Doll has its own personality and sings different songs - although I do wish there had been a song which featured all of the dolls (admittedly that would have been hard to recreate live, I guess!).
I’ve written individual reviews of the songs elsewhere. Suffice to say, that once again Tori has delivered a stunning album that works on so many levels and has a song for just about any mood. It also flows really well. I think I will find myself listening to this album quite a lot, whereas I found it hard to find time to sit and listen to the equally long Beekeeper.
A lot of the reviews are saying this album is her best since her first album, and some of the songs would have fit well on there. Well I don’t know about that - I think Tori has evolved nicely over the years. What I do like about ADP is that some of the more experimental piano songs (Smokey Joe and Dragon) hearken back to some of her early experimental b-sides - and that is definitely a good thing!
One thing that puzzles me about Tori though - is her apparent wish to be so commercial. The music biz has changed so much over the past few years - singles just don’t seem to matter any more. While other artists - like Regina Spektor and Anthony and the Johnstons - have a blast doing what they do best, stripping it all back to basics, I often wish Tori would do this - do an album of beautiful piano ballads.
Oh, and while I’m talking about being puzzled - I’m really puzzled about some of the promotional elements of this album’s release. Putting the WHOLE album on myspace? Wow. I don’t agree with giving the whole thing away like that. And then there are extra songs which you get if you pre-order with different stores - argh! Stop it, Tori!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
O Men thoughts
I am having conflicting thoughts about The O Men at the moment. I have to say, I’ve never been so excited about the series as I am right now. The stuff I’ve got coming up in the next couple of issues - I just can’t wait. I love to experiment with the series, and I am getting such a buzz out of what I am doing right now. I wish I could show you all now.
On the downside, a chum of mine who runs a comic shop in Ireland has lowered his order from me saying that ‘interest hasn’t been great in volume two’. That is a bit of a slap in the face lol, and it does set the mind racing. Is it shit? Is it worth bothering? Have I made it too complicated? Does my Photoshop suck? Hmm. Maybe the amount of issues works against me a bit - but I quite like it. There’s stuff coming up that really plays with stuff that’s current, but also refers to volume one storylines (without getting bogged down, I don’t think).
But you know, I’ve had so many ups and downs with the series, and there isn’t too long to go now with it. Let’s hope the next up or down is an ‘up’, eh?
(And even better, I just finalised what I’m gonna do with Issue 2.6, bringing a couple of plans forward - and it’s gonna be a real shocker!)
On the downside, a chum of mine who runs a comic shop in Ireland has lowered his order from me saying that ‘interest hasn’t been great in volume two’. That is a bit of a slap in the face lol, and it does set the mind racing. Is it shit? Is it worth bothering? Have I made it too complicated? Does my Photoshop suck? Hmm. Maybe the amount of issues works against me a bit - but I quite like it. There’s stuff coming up that really plays with stuff that’s current, but also refers to volume one storylines (without getting bogged down, I don’t think).
But you know, I’ve had so many ups and downs with the series, and there isn’t too long to go now with it. Let’s hope the next up or down is an ‘up’, eh?
(And even better, I just finalised what I’m gonna do with Issue 2.6, bringing a couple of plans forward - and it’s gonna be a real shocker!)
Sky UPDATE!!!
Well it’s all sorted now, after nearly all going horribly wrong (long story, suffice to say, the first day I needed to be at home - and to work at home- I’d been ill and off work anyway, so had nothing to work on - so I had to rearrange things lol). And then ‘Ben’ from Virgin Media phoned and offered a last-minute deal - money off for reduction of service (losing Sky etc), and I must say, it did cross my mind to stick with what I had, but I’m glad I didn’t. So now Virgin Media is out of my life, I have Sky, BT and will soon have broadband yey! I love Sky!!! You can set programmes a week ahead! I can watch the West Midlands news and feel like I’m back at home in Birmingham!! I have got More 4 +1, so I can watch Deal or No Deal when I get in lol!!! (The only downside is that I’ve lost the Cartoon Network, but ah well.)
So four months of trying to organise this fecking thing is obviously all worth it lol.....
(But BT are so shit. At first, I thought I wasn‘t set up for Broadband but now apparently I am. That took about 2 hours on hold to find that one out. And then I lost my old number, even though I had asked to keep it. That involved about 3 more hours on hold and a rude guy who I had to put the phone down on. He was saying that they could check the recordings to check if I asked to keep my old number. I said, ‘well if you can do that, why couldn‘t you go back and retrieve all my details from my first order which you LOST ALL RECORD OF‘, but of course they ‘can‘t do that‘ because of the Data Protection Act. Grrrrr.)
So four months of trying to organise this fecking thing is obviously all worth it lol.....
(But BT are so shit. At first, I thought I wasn‘t set up for Broadband but now apparently I am. That took about 2 hours on hold to find that one out. And then I lost my old number, even though I had asked to keep it. That involved about 3 more hours on hold and a rude guy who I had to put the phone down on. He was saying that they could check the recordings to check if I asked to keep my old number. I said, ‘well if you can do that, why couldn‘t you go back and retrieve all my details from my first order which you LOST ALL RECORD OF‘, but of course they ‘can‘t do that‘ because of the Data Protection Act. Grrrrr.)
Apologies
I’m really sorry for people reading my blog who couldn’t give a shit about Tori Amos - but she just had a new album out and it excites me! I will stop talking about her soon, I promise...
Song reviews
Here are my track by track thoughts on Tori’s new album, American Doll Posse, for anyone that might be interested. (Anyone? Helloooo?)
Yo George - A lot of reviews have picked this one out as one of the best tracks - even though it’s only just over a minute long (maybe they only got that far...). It’s a neat little song, just Tori on piano, which is what she does best. Not sure how this one will stand up to the tests of time - how much longer will George Bush be around in power for? It‘s unusual for Tori to do something so direct - but I like it anyway. 8
Big Wheel - awesome first single. I challenge anyone to resist shaking their butt to this. I love the bit in the middle where Tori just chants ‘I am an MILF’ (even though those silly American radio stations didn‘t love it lol) - all very groovy. 9
Bouncing Off Clouds - Wow, Tori has never done a song like this before. It’s very Kate Bush, very dancey - in fact it makes me want to hire out a nightclub and just dance to it all night. Having the lyrics in the CD booklet brings out some of the hard-to-hear lyrics, such as the background lyric ‘I’ll put on my silver’ (such a cool little clouds reference) - I love that little lyric and I’m putting it on one of my comic character’s t-shirts. 10.
Teenage Hustling - I’m not quite there with this one yet, but as is often the case with Tori, a song can suddenly leap on you a couple of months down the line. The only weird thing about this song is that it sounds like it should be towards the end of the album. 7.
Digital Ghost - Tori’s obviously put the more straight-forward songs at the start of the album, and the experimental ones towards the end. This is another one that hasn’t grabbed me yet (although it’s one of the few ones that I didn’t listen to until the album came out - whereas I think I listened to everything else about 50 times). I don’t normally pay huge attention to lyrics, to be honest, although I do find that Tori’s made a few obvious references in this song (in your ‘net’ etc, all very computer-related), which isn’t like her. (Actually, since writing all this yesterday, this song has grown on me massively!!!) 8 and a half
You Can Bring Your Dog - Blimey, I wasn’t expecting this from a Tori album lol. Like the previous songs, this hasn’t quite grabbed me just yet, but I’m sure it will. I love it when she does the jam thing at the end and goes ‘You can bring your dog/you can bring your mom’. 7.
Mr Bad Man - I heard so many bad things about this song before I actually heard it - and I was expecting something dreadful. I thought it would be like the godawful ‘Ireland’ off the last album - what the hell was that? I absolutely adore this song - again, it’s quite Kate Bushy. Just a huge amount of fun. 9.
Fat Slut - Again, this has grabbed a lot of attention, but I’m not sure why, as it barely gets into gear before it finishes. Ah well. 5.
Girl Disappearing - It’s weird having this one follow the raucous Fat Slut. It’s not my favourite Tori ballad (well, not at the moment, anyway), but it has its moments. 8.
Secret Spell - Again, I heard bad things about this one - bland etc - but I adore it. It’s got a nice, fresh sound to it. (I’m fully aware that six months down the line I’ll probably have gone off this one and Mr Bad Man, and I’ll probably be adoring Teenage, Digital and Dog). 9.
Devils and Gods - Another interlude song that barely gets going. It’s pretty, and it’s one of those rare Tori songs that doesn’t feature any piano. 7.
Body and Soul - I’m still finding the groove of this one, but I do like it. It’s a very surprising Tori song - it reminds me of a cross between Throwing Muses and PJ Harvey. I’m trying to distance myself from the fact it reminds me, in the verses, of Spirit in the Sky and that awful Rachel Stevens pop song (she only really had one, didn’t she). 8.
Father’s Son - This is a gorgeous little gem, so nice to hear so much piano. 8.
Programmable Soda - I thought I would hate this one as I‘m not a huge fan of Tori‘s eccentric, whimsical songs. I saw Tori play it on a daytime TV show (for old people) and first I thought ‘okaaaaay’ and then I thought ‘did she just say ‘genital panic’ on daytime TV?’ (yes she did). I love it though, and I love her singing on this one. 8.
Code Red - Oh my god. Now this is where the album really turns a corner - it’s pretty much all top-notch from here on. This song is fucking fantastic - it took me a few listens - it’s kind of a groovier sister of ‘iieee’ from her fourth album. Probably my favourite at the moment. 10.
Roosterspur Bridge - Swoon. I’ve been waiting for Tori to do a sad little song like this for a long, long time. Wow, takes my breath away and brings a teeny tear to my eyes. 10.
Beauty of Speed - At first I just dismissed this as another Carbon/Barons of Suburbia song, but this just about carves its very own little niche. This is pretty much a perfect, beautiful song - oh and I love the ‘temper-ature‘ lyric. 9.
Almost Rosey - This is a great song, but my only problem with it is that I heard it totally acoustic first, so it’s a shock to hear so much instrumentation on it. I do think the instrumentation adds to the song, it gives it a sense of drama, but maybe it could have been introduced a bit later on in the song (especially the guitar). It just seems maybe a bit over-produced. It’s a gorgeous song though. 9.
Velvet Revolution - One of the shorter songs on the album (and one that I’d have been happy to see go off the album) - it’s fine for what it is, but not really my cup of tea. 6.
Dark Side of the Sun - I guess this is kind of the show-piece/climax of the album and I wasn’t looking forward to this one, mainly because I don’t always like the showpiece songs on Tori albums - or at least they’re not normally my favourites (Little Earthquakes, Yes Anastasia, Scarlet’s Walk, The Beekeeper). This one blows my mind though - a real powerhouse of a song. 9.
Posse Bonus - hehe fantastic - just a whole bunch of fun. I was worried this one might irritate me a bit, but I really don’t think it will. 8.
Smokey Joe - This is another one that I am less familiar with, but I can tell it’s really going to grow on me. I absolutely adore the idea behind this song - it’s kind of an insane duet with one of the Doll Posse (Pip) - they practically sing on top of each other and you can only hear the lyrics if you check out the lyrics sheet. I love it when Tori layers her lyrics like this - she did it on Space Dog and Doughnut Song. 8.
Dragon - Again, not very familiar with this one yet, but I know it’s going to become one of my favourite ever Tori songs - I can just tell. The piano at the start just sends shivers down my spine - and I wish Tori would do more piano-based songs like this. 9.
Miracle - This is a kind of b-side thing - an extra available through i-tunes. It’s a great little pop song, I really like it - glad it’s not on the album though! 7.
Yo George - A lot of reviews have picked this one out as one of the best tracks - even though it’s only just over a minute long (maybe they only got that far...). It’s a neat little song, just Tori on piano, which is what she does best. Not sure how this one will stand up to the tests of time - how much longer will George Bush be around in power for? It‘s unusual for Tori to do something so direct - but I like it anyway. 8
Big Wheel - awesome first single. I challenge anyone to resist shaking their butt to this. I love the bit in the middle where Tori just chants ‘I am an MILF’ (even though those silly American radio stations didn‘t love it lol) - all very groovy. 9
Bouncing Off Clouds - Wow, Tori has never done a song like this before. It’s very Kate Bush, very dancey - in fact it makes me want to hire out a nightclub and just dance to it all night. Having the lyrics in the CD booklet brings out some of the hard-to-hear lyrics, such as the background lyric ‘I’ll put on my silver’ (such a cool little clouds reference) - I love that little lyric and I’m putting it on one of my comic character’s t-shirts. 10.
Teenage Hustling - I’m not quite there with this one yet, but as is often the case with Tori, a song can suddenly leap on you a couple of months down the line. The only weird thing about this song is that it sounds like it should be towards the end of the album. 7.
Digital Ghost - Tori’s obviously put the more straight-forward songs at the start of the album, and the experimental ones towards the end. This is another one that hasn’t grabbed me yet (although it’s one of the few ones that I didn’t listen to until the album came out - whereas I think I listened to everything else about 50 times). I don’t normally pay huge attention to lyrics, to be honest, although I do find that Tori’s made a few obvious references in this song (in your ‘net’ etc, all very computer-related), which isn’t like her. (Actually, since writing all this yesterday, this song has grown on me massively!!!) 8 and a half
You Can Bring Your Dog - Blimey, I wasn’t expecting this from a Tori album lol. Like the previous songs, this hasn’t quite grabbed me just yet, but I’m sure it will. I love it when she does the jam thing at the end and goes ‘You can bring your dog/you can bring your mom’. 7.
Mr Bad Man - I heard so many bad things about this song before I actually heard it - and I was expecting something dreadful. I thought it would be like the godawful ‘Ireland’ off the last album - what the hell was that? I absolutely adore this song - again, it’s quite Kate Bushy. Just a huge amount of fun. 9.
Fat Slut - Again, this has grabbed a lot of attention, but I’m not sure why, as it barely gets into gear before it finishes. Ah well. 5.
Girl Disappearing - It’s weird having this one follow the raucous Fat Slut. It’s not my favourite Tori ballad (well, not at the moment, anyway), but it has its moments. 8.
Secret Spell - Again, I heard bad things about this one - bland etc - but I adore it. It’s got a nice, fresh sound to it. (I’m fully aware that six months down the line I’ll probably have gone off this one and Mr Bad Man, and I’ll probably be adoring Teenage, Digital and Dog). 9.
Devils and Gods - Another interlude song that barely gets going. It’s pretty, and it’s one of those rare Tori songs that doesn’t feature any piano. 7.
Body and Soul - I’m still finding the groove of this one, but I do like it. It’s a very surprising Tori song - it reminds me of a cross between Throwing Muses and PJ Harvey. I’m trying to distance myself from the fact it reminds me, in the verses, of Spirit in the Sky and that awful Rachel Stevens pop song (she only really had one, didn’t she). 8.
Father’s Son - This is a gorgeous little gem, so nice to hear so much piano. 8.
Programmable Soda - I thought I would hate this one as I‘m not a huge fan of Tori‘s eccentric, whimsical songs. I saw Tori play it on a daytime TV show (for old people) and first I thought ‘okaaaaay’ and then I thought ‘did she just say ‘genital panic’ on daytime TV?’ (yes she did). I love it though, and I love her singing on this one. 8.
Code Red - Oh my god. Now this is where the album really turns a corner - it’s pretty much all top-notch from here on. This song is fucking fantastic - it took me a few listens - it’s kind of a groovier sister of ‘iieee’ from her fourth album. Probably my favourite at the moment. 10.
Roosterspur Bridge - Swoon. I’ve been waiting for Tori to do a sad little song like this for a long, long time. Wow, takes my breath away and brings a teeny tear to my eyes. 10.
Beauty of Speed - At first I just dismissed this as another Carbon/Barons of Suburbia song, but this just about carves its very own little niche. This is pretty much a perfect, beautiful song - oh and I love the ‘temper-ature‘ lyric. 9.
Almost Rosey - This is a great song, but my only problem with it is that I heard it totally acoustic first, so it’s a shock to hear so much instrumentation on it. I do think the instrumentation adds to the song, it gives it a sense of drama, but maybe it could have been introduced a bit later on in the song (especially the guitar). It just seems maybe a bit over-produced. It’s a gorgeous song though. 9.
Velvet Revolution - One of the shorter songs on the album (and one that I’d have been happy to see go off the album) - it’s fine for what it is, but not really my cup of tea. 6.
Dark Side of the Sun - I guess this is kind of the show-piece/climax of the album and I wasn’t looking forward to this one, mainly because I don’t always like the showpiece songs on Tori albums - or at least they’re not normally my favourites (Little Earthquakes, Yes Anastasia, Scarlet’s Walk, The Beekeeper). This one blows my mind though - a real powerhouse of a song. 9.
Posse Bonus - hehe fantastic - just a whole bunch of fun. I was worried this one might irritate me a bit, but I really don’t think it will. 8.
Smokey Joe - This is another one that I am less familiar with, but I can tell it’s really going to grow on me. I absolutely adore the idea behind this song - it’s kind of an insane duet with one of the Doll Posse (Pip) - they practically sing on top of each other and you can only hear the lyrics if you check out the lyrics sheet. I love it when Tori layers her lyrics like this - she did it on Space Dog and Doughnut Song. 8.
Dragon - Again, not very familiar with this one yet, but I know it’s going to become one of my favourite ever Tori songs - I can just tell. The piano at the start just sends shivers down my spine - and I wish Tori would do more piano-based songs like this. 9.
Miracle - This is a kind of b-side thing - an extra available through i-tunes. It’s a great little pop song, I really like it - glad it’s not on the album though! 7.
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