So I'd like to discuss a few things here first before I go on my merry way again with having a life and whatnot. It'll be in traditional list fashion, and it'll cover a bunch of new ideas that I have floating around in my head. I don't want to put anything down in paper because--oh fuck it, I'll just bust out the big surprise right now: I'm planning on developing my own personal website, dedicated to putting out as much stuff from me as possible.
You see, the main thing that's compelled me to not post anything new and interesting on Vox recently isn't a lack of creative outbursts or a lack of time; I've had a copious amounts of both, and I think that since I am an excellent idea-factory, I need to find a suitable idea-warehouse. I know it's a horrible analogy, but I just have to say that Vox isn't what I need right now. I don't need a commercial blogging site that's more of a social networking gig than a creative warehouse. What I need is a place where I can set aside my ideas, get creative feedback on it, meet a few interesting new people who can critique me and vice versa, and eventually get started in whichever world I feel like pursuing. My own website would be key to that, because working off of Vox, I'm sorry to say, doesn't really cut it. I need a more personal place to put things, and on this site, all I feel that I'm doing is "blogging". And "blogging" is fun every once in awhile, but recently I've felt the desire to make, to create. And making and/or creation will not be done on Vox, no offense to the site. It's got a great design and a great community, but it just isn't for me.
I'm going to keep a lot of the tentatively-titled "JamesBlake.com" (it's not going to actually be that, unfortunately. There's a tennis player who has my name, and although he was my favorite for awhile (and he's still my favorite American player), I cannot forgive him for stealing my webspace) a large secret, just because being surprised is a good experience. But what I can do for you is show you a few features of the website which I shall be implementing.
A Weekly Ramblog
Yes, one that is weekly; scheduled. Amazing, isn't it? I can and will do this, mainly because I've got a lot of time on my hands and a lot to rant about. There's been a lot that I wanted to say, but I have refrained from posting on here because of a few aforementioned reasons and a few reasons I'm keeping to myself.
I'm tired of making you guys go through the anticipation, but I'm also tired of putting something up that I feel is either forced out or soon to be irrelevant. Vox has a horrid history feature, and I really wouldn't like any of my older posts to go the way of the buffalo just because people are too lazy to click the "Previous Posts" button.
Oh yeah, that's another reason why I'm excited to be having my own website: better organization. I'm a very meticulous and neat person, and a minimalist to boot. With all of those complexes layered on myself like a stack of pancakes, it's hard to find a singular website that'll fit my unnecessarily high standards. So I'm going to kill two proverbial birds with one stone (I have to stop with the horrible analogies in this post... seriously) and get my own website for organization purposes as well as creation purposes.
High Fidelity
This is a new section that I've been throwing around in my head for a good long time. High Fidelity is both one of my favorite novels and one of my favorite movies, and I enjoy making lists a little bit too much for the average person. If you've read/watched High Fidelity, you'll know where this is going, but for the uneducated rabble, let me fill you in:
High Fidelity will be a section on my website devoted to "Top 5" lists, and eventually just lists of every size, topic, or composition imaginable. For example, I could have a High Fidelity list for some mundane things, like (taking from the movie) "Best Side 1 Track 1 Songs", "Best [Genre] Records", "Best [Genre] Films", "Best Things to do in [X Situation]". Or for the times when I feel a bit more adventurous, it could be offbeat and quirky things such as "Best Songs to Die To", "Best Breakup Albums", "Best Post-Freaks-&-Geeks Judd Apatow Efforts", and so on.
Of course, I'll give some good advice as well, and I could even take requests or give helpful advice (Like "Best Liberal Arts Schools" or "Best Albums to Listen to in the Car on a First Date").
When it all boils down, I just like making a damn good list.
Mixtapes
My thought process behind this is (in list format!!!):
1) I like making mixtapes.
2) I am good at making mixtapes.
3) People enjoy listening to the mixtapes I make.
4) Why not distribute these mixtapes via the internet? Then everybody would be able to enjoy these awesome mixtapes!
5) ???
6) Profit
And therefore, my website will have a mixtape section. Maybe for seasons, months, dates, or just special occasions when I feel like making mixtapes. Who knows?
Video Podcasts
I've seen a few of the things that I've recorded, and I've sent them to a few friends, and I've recorded a few things with friends, and we've basically come to one consensus:
It's fucking hilarious.
So don't take them seriously (because it's a podcast. How can anybody take those things seriously?!), but I definitely want to start my own video podcasts.
There will also, of course, be sections for just general blogging, writing, and longer/more offbeat film efforts, but that about sums up what JamesBlake.com will be like.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to finish a Terry Pratchett novel while listening to the new Animal Collective B-sides on my record player *snob snob*.
-blake
And so I've learned to retreat at the first sign of danger.
I mean, why wait around if it's just to surrender?
An ambition, I've found, can lead only to failure.
I do not read the reviews.
No, I am not singing for you.
"Let's Not Shit Ourselves (To Love and be Loved)", by Bright Eyes
So I had a few computer problems over the last week, and these required me to be away from the internet as I sent in my computer to the great guys at Circuit City for repair *cough*. My real computer should be back by next Friday, but until then, DougSwain has been kind enough to loan me his old laptop. It's no speed demon, as he says, but it gets the job done. And so I'm back, at least temporarily.
I have a number of updates to dwell upon, but for now I wanted to leave you with the knowledge that I haven't forgotten about this site, and that I'm just whetting your appetite for some new material to come.
Some things I may or may not talk about include a "jamesblake.com", a new movie of mine finally starting production (finally), a few short stories, and a good old ramblog that I just haven't had the time to type out for awhile but has been slowly ripening in me like grapes...of wrath...
So yes, you'll be showered with beautiful things, and hopefully I'll be showered with an unbroken computer in the next week and a half or so. All will be well in the land of the internets.
-blake.
It's a quickie, but a goodie.
I obtained an advance copy of Weezer's 2008 self-titled Red Album today for...official...reviewing...purposes...and stuff.
But to make a long story short, I've listened to it multiple times over already, and I can come to this consensus: it's NOT "Make Believe", and it DOESN'T suck. More updates as they come, but yeah...it doesn't suck.
I'm quite surprised. Relieved to hell, but surprised. I thought that they were going to disappoint us all again. Thank god; I needed some more 90's in my life.
You may resume your normal activities now.
<3.
-blake.
So I'm just going to pretend that I didn't lie to you guys about getting a blog post up on my first post-hiatus post. I'm not that bad, seriously. Things just came up yesterday...like Grand Theft Auto 4 and a mix exchange... they were serious business. Seriously. But today, as I'm only ripping some Bowie records to my computer, watching Firefly and living under tonsil house arrest for seven more days, I have nothing better to do than to shower you with some ORIGINAL MATERIAL! Yaaaaaaay.
But hold on, I first need to switch records.
Okay.
As you all probably know by the massive amounts that I hype it, talk about it, or even post it casually on this very blog, I am a semi-professional writer. I've been writing fiction for a large part of my life to varied success, and I've written editorials and reviews non-professionally for blogs of my own, my friends' blogs, and a few forums that I frequented at one point or another. But recently, I've decided to get a new job, which I've often referred to as semi-professional. This job is with Suite101 (plug), a website where experts on a wide variety of subjects get paid (kind of) to write articles about whichever subject you claim to be an expert in. Seeing this as a good opportunity for me to bring my writing to the masses and get paid (kind of) at the same time, I joined the site as soon as I saw an advert for it. I am now ending my first three-month stint as a Contributing Writer at Suite101. I've gotten over 1,000 pageviews, a few diggs, a few requests from local bands to be reviewed that I've very professionally ignored since I thought the bands wanted positive reviews, and a whopping 68 cents.
Yeah, 68 cents is right.
See, the time I've spent at Suite101 has taught me a great deal about internet business and how to write for the internet. I can't say I like writing for the internet, but I'm going to reapply for the job when my three-month term runs out on June 11th just because I need the experience and I appreciate what little recognition I get. However, this blog is up here for a reason, and that reason is for me to warn all of you NOT to take an internet writing job should one emerge unless you've really got nothing better to do (like me).
I'll lay it down on the line right here, plain and simple for you to see: Do not do professional internet writing unless you enjoy writing for search engines and retards.
I'm not saying that the only people who surf the internet are idiots--because then I'd be saying something about myself--but unfortunately, the majority of them are. I've had to avoid writing about moderately intelligent things multiple times in my articles, and my most 'daring' article was about Death Cab for Cutie's new album Narrow Stairs. The article was originally going to be about their rift with Atlantic Records, but it was too "unclear" if i put it in the last two paragraphs, even though I didn't have enough information about it to make the entire article based around it. So I cut it out, what else could I do? I left the part of my article most important to me out, and replaced it with a sentence or two at the end where people could do their own research if they wanted to.
And why did I do all of this? Because people are idiots, and if I don't write for idiots, then the idiots who can't search for terms more complicated than "New Death Cab Music" won't read my articles. I've been told multiple times that I don't tag my articles well, and that I don't fit enough 'keywords' (which are basically tags) into my articles. I've ended up having to load the articles up with certain keywords which will catch the eye of search engines, which in turn sacrifices my integrity, among many other things. What the site is trying to do is stuff my writing into a tiny little niche, and if you haven't noticed from my past blogging, my writing doesn't like to get "niched" very much.
No matter how much I hate my writing getting cut down at every possible opportunity, and generalizing my articles with two or three keywords, I don't think I'm going to leave this job. I'm going to stick with it because I like talking about music that much. Music is basically my life, and writing about music--even if it is for the internet--is a good enough job for me. It might not be Rolling Stone, but if I keep this up long enough, maybe someone important enough to matter will see me and realize that I don't suck at writing.
So if you're reading this and you work for any sort of publication which includes music review--hell any sort of publication which could plausibly include music review--get in touch with me. I do good shit.
For the rest of you, don't write for the internet. You don't need to stoop to that level. I especially shouldn't be stooping to that level, me being better than you and all, but I really like my music.
Did I just sell out?
-blake
That didn't take long, now did it?
Yeah, it's true, I'm bringing Unconventionalitismnessity back from the not-so-dead for a few reasons, which I will list off to you in a very Jamesblake-like fashion herein.
1) I've decided that I once again have something to say.
Isn't that cute? Like in any motivational movie, this one ends (or is it a new beginning?) with the main character (me, of course) being inspired and willing to do new things again. I've got a large amount of things to say, and although Tumblr is cutting it (for the most part), a very large part of me wanted to share it here again. I'd list these things off, but that would ruin the surprise of many things to come! Of course, the reasons I once again have something to say are circumstantial and they include me basically being under house arrest until June 5th (not literal house arrest, tonsillectomy house arrest), me deciding I don't want to lay down and die from this depression (I'll get to that in a second), and some peculiar fever dreams involving an eyeless talking catfish (I need to stop parenthesizing things and making lists. It's a bad habit). So you can thank any number of these factors, but your eyes are once again about to be orgasming with the juicy pulp of my brilliance.
2) It gives me something to do with my life.
As I said, I'm going to be locked in my house for 16 days of this 74-day summer, which sucks a whole hell of a lot. In addition to this, I've been sent home on medical leave for depression, so being in my own house isn't really what I want to be doing right now. In addition to those two things, I have a whole lot of work that I want to get done, both in film and in a real job. So naturally, I'm fucking pissed. Don't worry, I'm not going to wear black, start bitching about how my life isn't perfect and start writing poetry; I just feel that it'd be good for you to know that I have absolutely nothing better to do with my life than to entertain you sick fools. And entertaining I am doing.
3) I need to work on my writing.
Along with the depression thing, I've been really unmotivated to write anything. I haven't completed a short story since May, and although my films are coming along fine, I'm getting a lot of help and kicks in the ass from my friends whom I love dearly and support tenuously. Unfortunately, these friends don't care as much about my writing, so I figure that if I ramble enough on this, I'll get enough will and motivation to get back to the ol' short story grind. Hopefully my brilliant strategy will work.
4) I have a compulsive urge to promote everything I do, and Facebook/IM isn't enough to spread the word.
Yeah, that basically sums it up.
5) A catfish told me to do it.
Need I say more?
So while I may or may not post something else today, you guys should look at the stuff I've been working on over at Suite101. I've written a bunch more new, interesting articles about music, and I'm going to revise them over the course of this week and post another so that I can be considered for a feature writer, which is pretty cool (or as they say in the music business (hellatight). You can expect something up very soon, although it might be quick and Tumblr-esque. In the meantime, I strongly suggest that you check out the links I have to other stuff of mine in my profile. They're really worthwhile, I promise.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to spend my time under tonsillectomy-house-arrest playing Risk with my father who got hit in the eye with a rock the other day so he can't do anything until Friday either. Oh yeah, there's gonna be some bonding.
-blake.
P.S.- I'm probably going to stop tagging things just because I really don't like the system and don't feel that it reflects what this blog is about. Any input?
That didn't take long, now did it?
Yeah, it's true, I'm bringing Unconventionalitismnessity back from the not-so-dead for a few reasons, which I will list off to you in a very Jamesblake-like fashion herein.
1) I've decided that I once again have something to say.
Isn't that cute? Like in any motivational movie, this one ends (or is it a new beginning?) with the main character (me, of course) being inspired and willing to do new things again. I've got a large amount of things to say, and although Tumblr is cutting it (for the most part), a very large part of me wanted to share it here again. I'd list these things off, but that would ruin the surprise of many things to come! Of course, the reasons I once again have something to say are circumstantial and they include me basically being under house arrest until June 5th (not literal house arrest, tonsillectomy house arrest), me deciding I don't want to lay down and die from this depression (I'll get to that in a second), and some peculiar fever dreams involving an eyeless talking catfish (I need to stop parenthesizing things and making lists. It's a bad habit). So you can thank any number of these factors, but your eyes are once again about to be orgasming with the juicy pulp of my brilliance.
2) It gives me something to do with my life.
As I said, I'm going to be locked in my house for 16 days of this 74-day summer, which sucks a whole hell of a lot. In addition to this, I've been sent home on medical leave for depression, so being in my own house isn't really what I want to be doing right now. In addition to those two things, I have a whole lot of work that I want to get done, both in film and in a real job. So naturally, I'm fucking pissed. Don't worry, I'm not going to wear black, start bitching about how my life isn't perfect and start writing poetry; I just feel that it'd be good for you to know that I have absolutely nothing better to do with my life than to entertain you sick fools. And entertaining I am doing.
3) I need to work on my writing.
Along with the depression thing, I've been really unmotivated to write anything. I haven't completed a short story since May, and although my films are coming along fine, I'm getting a lot of help and kicks in the ass from my friends whom I love dearly and support tenuously. Unfortunately, these friends don't care as much about my writing, so I figure that if I ramble enough on this, I'll get enough will and motivation to get back to the ol' short story grind. Hopefully my brilliant strategy will work.
4) I have a compulsive urge to promote everything I do, and Facebook/IM isn't enough to spread the word.
Yeah, that basically sums it up.
5) A catfish told me to do it.
Need I say more?
So while I may or may not post something else today, you guys should look at the stuff I've been working on over at Suite101. I've written a bunch more new, interesting articles about music, and I'm going to revise them over the course of this week and post another so that I can be considered for a feature writer, which is pretty cool (or as they say in the music business (hellatight). You can expect something up very soon, although it might be quick and Tumblr-esque. In the meantime, I strongly suggest that you check out the links I have to other stuff of mine in my profile. They're really worthwhile, I promise.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to spend my time under tonsillectomy-house-arrest playing Risk with my father who got hit in the eye with a rock the other day so he can't do anything until Friday either. Oh yeah, there's gonna be some bonding.
-blake.
P.S.- I'm probably going to stop tagging things just because I really don't like the system and don't feel that it reflects what this blog is about. Any input?
Sorry guys, I'm going on a hiatus from this blog.
I just don't have anything expansive to say anymore, so for the time I'm headed back to the Tumblr.
This probably isn't permanent, but I just don't really want to blog at the moment, so I figured I wouldn't keep you in suspense.
Sorry about February-April
-blake
I have a few more new articles up on Suite101 (check the link on the right side of the page), and I've started updating my Tumblr account. A lot, actually. I also haven't written anything, although I have a few new cool ideas. So you're not really missing anything in this little interlude of me not posting anything ever. Sorry, but it's the stone cold truth.
In other news, don't you hate it when you're doing something that you're not really supposed to be doing, and you get so caught up in it that you don't really notice anything else that's going on, like people walking by and noticing everything you're doing, but you're not aware of it because you're so swept up in this one little menial thing? Yeah, me too.
Currently listening to: "Headfirst for Halos", by My Chemical Romance
Currently playing: Computer Solitaire
-blake.
Maybe this time things might go your way
You're never gonna win unless you play.
Break down, take your chances,
Never mind the circumstances
Break down, keep on playing
Roll the dice and bet it all, put a quarter in and make the call.
"Game Show", by Mad Caddies
Sorry about the whole "lack of news" thing, but I've been noticeably swamped with midterm work, sorting-out-my-life work, Suite101 work, and Jenny work. So here's a few awesome updates of stuff to come!
I've been setting another ramblog aside for quite some time now, and I'm probably going to be posting that in the next week or so (over my spring break).
I have three short stories in the works for class, as well as a full version (yeah, that's right, I'm finishing a large story) of On Self-Sabotage that should be up by the time May rolls around.
My movie is all ready to go minus a few crew members. Filming is going to take place on the week of May 20th, before I go to France for the summer.
I am also trying to be a film major! How exciting!
I'm writing out four or so more articles on Suite101 in the next week. Before that, however, you can read my older articles here, here, here, and here.
Also, there are a few exciting new albums coming out soon (or already out) that everyone should know about!
Already out!
- Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band, Thirteen Blues for 13 Moons
- Gnarls Barkley, The Odd Couple
- The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely
- Wolf Parade, Pardon My Blues
- Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs
-blake
I have black hair now. It's for my role of Leon Trotsky in "Variations on the Death of Trotsky", part of David Ives' one-acts, All in the Timing. They're all really funny plays, and I enjoy working with the cast and directors. Also--
Ah, fuck it. You just want to see my hair.
There ya go.
-blake.
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
Links from my Friends and Family
My other-other website, it's a group blog with Rory and s...
My good friend Doug's website. Very, very great stuff.
