As you have probably guessed, I’ve been spending nearly all my writing time focusing on the final edits of the three books in my Bridgetown trilogy.  Which means many hours staring at the monitor while listening to appropriate writing music.  It’s been a mix of new and old lately, going from specific albums I listened to during the initial writing sessions down in the Belfry (mainly releases between 1997 to 2004), and tunes from the last five years or so, starting in 2009 when I finally picked up Book 3 and and finished it early in 2010, all the way up to today.

I’ve been trying to mix it up lately so I don’t end up sticking with the same few albums on constant rotation (*cough*Sea Change*cough*), and expanding on a few themes here and there.  I’ve been making a few new compilations lately that reflect a more eclectic and time-spanning mix.  Here’s a few for your enjoyment

I was never a fan, but somehow The Battle of Los Angeles just hit all the right buttons for me, and I consider it their best album.  And that bass riff?  DUDE.  This is great when I just want something angry and aggressive.

Yes, I know, Failure’s Fantastic Planet is still on heavy rotation during my writing sessions, but “The Nurse Who Loved Me” is by far one of their best ever songs.  It’s a brilliant track maybe about heroin addiction?  But the construction of the song is truly epic, going from quiet to deafeningly loud and back again.  Great for when I need to bleed out the excess energy.  [Also: go to YouTube and look up their recent visit to KEXP, they put on an excellent show.]

Not the biggest fan of this video, but the title track to Foals’ new platter is excellent.  It’s angry and driving and relentless.  As you have probably guessed, I tend to be so laid back that I need music to get me pumping, especially if I need to write a big action scene.  Something like this track (or the whole album, come to think of it) is great for that.

And on the other end of things…

I do loves me some epic mood music full of reverb and darkness, yes I do.  [See, this is what happens when you introduce early-era Cure to a teenager from a small town in the 80s.]  2:54 creates some dark and beautiful sounds, and are always worth listening to.  Extra points for somehow managing to film a video in a pea-soup fog that only adds to the atmosphere.

Tamaryn is a new purchase that won me over on first listen.  Equal parts Curve, My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins — essentially shoegaze nirvana — has been getting repeat listens this past week while I work on the edit for The Persistence of Memories.  Lovely to listen to and easy to get lost in.

In a somewhat similar vein is another recent favorite, Wolf Alice.  I got to see them play a surprise show at Outside Lands last month and they were incredible.  Great melodies that can be alternately dreamy and aggro.  Another repeat listener.

Thanks for listening and being patient!  I promise, I’ll get a more thought-out and enjoyable post soon!   🙂