Stuff and Things

There was a goth night above the Hatchet in Bristol last night - a proper tradgoth/ deathrock/ post punk affair, too. I really meant to go and distribute some VBB CDs. But predictably I felt like death warmed up and didn't make it. It's just as well I was too tired to post to LJ last night or it would have been long, self-indulgent and depressive. Especially as I didn't feel well enough to do anything constructive at home either. Ho hum. One of these days I'll make it out of the house for something social.

I do feel marginally more human today, so went out and purchased an exercise bike. Yes, I know there are people contracted to off me if I ever stoop to that, but the only one who I'm still in contact with is recovering from nasty neurosurgery at the moment.

But seriously, I'm tired of being flabby and out of shape. I'm not fat, I'm just - well, the end result of being an aging stick insect that the years are catching up on. Now, exercise itself is problematic for people with ME/CFS, which is why a gym is out of the question - it's unlikely I'll ever be able to ride the damn thing for more than 10 minutes at a time which makes paying for a gym an even bigger waste of money. Ditto with leaving the house to cycle, walk or run - I never know if I'll run out of strength halfway through whatever I'm doing. So an exercise bike it is. Plus, I always need more places to leave laundry to dry.

I did read an interesting book this week and have some more music nerd thoughts, but those deserve separate posts if I get around to it.

Heathen

Fiona wanted to know what I thought about the new Bowie album, so I thought I'd share with everyone.

It's a good album. Well crafted songs, interesting array of instrumentals, some stunning vocals, and at least 3 songs that immediately got my notice (Slip Away, Slow Burn and 5:15 The Angels Have Gone. Especially Slip away). A few songs do funny things that either go nowhere or don't go where you expect, but overall I like it, and I expect it will grow on me. It is vastly superior to Hours, his last effort (which is very much Bowie's Boatman's Call - no matter how many times I listen to it, it cannot hold my attention all the way through, or recall anything about it).

Then I went and put on "Young Americans". Big mistake. Maybe it's knowing every single note to every single song on YA and having done so for at least 15 years, but played back to back, "Heathen" isn't in the same league.

My verdict: Definitely worth buying, definitely worth listening to, but don't expect it to change your life.