SoGood

I just finished listening to the new Elliott Smith (New Moon). I think it was better than I possibly could have hoped. I've already mentioned I wasn't too fond of From a Basement on a Hill, but I had higher hopes for this because the recordings were older, from the self-titled and Either/Or days.

The thing is, I expected lesser, b-side material. Instead, the songs were great, and as a bonus they formed a pretty coherent whole. It was a good way to spend a Wednesday night at home, listening to Elliott and drinking a little wine. I still had the feeling of sadness because this is it -- this is the last new-to-me material I'll be getting from him. Sure, there are countless live bootlegs and such, but the rations have run out. Who would have thought the bottom of the barrel could be so good?

Tutorials

Have you ever had to complete an online tutorial associated with a grant? I've just taken my first bite of a slice of hell, with an extra helping of bureaucrat-speak on the side.

I am learning to plan and evaluate my grant-related project based on outcomes. I read two sentences, and my eyelids suddenly felt very heavy. Three weeks and five modules await.

From Beyond

I was browsing Amazon today and ran across this: a new Elliott Smith album. It appears to be demos and outtakes from the Roman Candle through Either/Or period, which is my favorite set of albums.

I'm having a hard time sorting out how I feel about this development. Of course, I ordered the album immediately and I CAN'T WAIT to hear it. I didn't really like From a Basement on a Hill, I'm sorry to say, but since these tracks come from the earlier period I expect they'll be pretty wonderful. I listend to only one of the samples on Amazon. The rest will be a surprise.

I guess the feeling is strong anticipation, but it's also subdued and a bit sad. This is a bonus I never expected, and it underscores the fact that my favorite musician is dead. Maybe I'm just being morose on a Monday. Everything does seem dialed down a bit today. I also bought a newly and very posthumously released book by an author who died a Auchswitz.

So, today's theme is missives from beyond.