screw it...

I'm here to confess today that I'm tired of writing. Not long term, not forever. I just want a break. One week, maybe two! And I know if I took a full two week break, halfway through I would be inspired by something and want to jot it down, but right now I'm juggling seven different writing projects (these are only the ones that must be done by today or tomorrow, not including things that I really want to do myself). I just thought to myself, maybe I'll write something for my adoring Discord/Harmony fans, but then the words "screw it!" entered my brain. Jumping from writing about city council meetings, teacher profiles or circus documentaries to writing about theology or the world at large was just too much. I've got so much junk running through my head I can't properly think about this stuff.

So this has entered a new phase in the world of Discord/Harmony. The phase in which you, gentle reader, don't have to hear about my political or religious rantings. It may appear more like a livejournal entry in which I merely rant about work, school or other aspects of my life.

Today's random writing that has nothing to do with anything involving brain power (of which I currently have none, all of which is devoted currently to schoolwork) is about Antony and the Johnsons.

Antony is a depressing New York songwriter who hangs out with people like Lou Reed and Rufus Wainwright (ie poetry with a dash of the maudlin angst). He's a pretty good songwriter, but his voice is really what either attracts you to or repells you from this music. His voice sounds a bit like Rufus Wainwright and Nina Simone got thrown into a blender and unwillingly morphed together. His voice is high and crooning, and features a vibrato that fluxuates about ten yards wide. Megan has politely asked me to play something else when I throw on his CD. This makes me sad myself, but I can really respect anyone that doesn't like his voice. It could be a big detractor.

The other hurdle many may have is the lyrics, which are depressing verging on masochistic. In one song of his first album he asks a lover to hit him because he's been happy lately. Yikes Antony! That song is one that's harder for me to swallow. Love that enters the realm of violence is one that I have trouble with, even when in song.

So judge for yourself. Our lovely friends at Pitchfork have reviewed and posted for download one of his songs here!. It's a b-side called "Paddy's Gone" from a single off his newest album Now I Am A Bird. I think this track works because he layers his own voice into a much larger and attractive harmony. It gives the song, which really only features voice and piano, a deceptively symphonic depth. Enjoy my friends! And let me know what you think!