Albums Worth Hearing #5 - Procrastination
I’ve been contemplating attempting the National Novel Writing Month–a creative writing event where people attempt to write a 50,000-word manuscript during the month of November. I’ve had a bout of procrastination for most of the year and have struggled to finish any writing projects I started. Commonality among most people, I imagine.
Part of the issue is whenever I try to find inspiration or a routine to accomplish something I hope to achieve, the people promoting productivity annoy me beyond belief. Why are they all obsessed with getting up at 4 a.m. and running 14 miles on a broken foot? That’s specific. I guess I’m trying to say it’s challenging shifting through actual advice and people who only utilize their advice as a living.
Maybe I’m being cynical, as I usually am. Personal fault. Regardless, I think joining a large creative writing event to this degree would help me. It’d give me a clear deadline, and while the workload would be a lot—just over 1600 words a day—I’d feel good about having a draft of something done rather than another word document started without an end page.
Now, on December 1st and in the following months, would I take the time to edit and get the work to a point where I’d self-publish the book? That’s where the productivity influencers spouting about the benefit of running in the rain would come into play.
This isn’t to say I’ve done nothing. Well, I’ve done close to nothing. I’ve worked and done a low enough grade of creative work that makes me moderately satisfied. Still, I know I can’t keep having a general idea of when I’d finish a writing project or story, only for another year to pass. This spiel connected to my albums worth hearing is some self-motivation for me to look back on. Let’s see how it goes.
1. Zach Bryan - Zach Bryan
Genre - Americana/Country
Release Date - 2023
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Coincidentally, I’m pretty sure Bryan just got arrested for beefing with a cop. He could’ve started an outlaw country movement—he apologized on Twitter; lame, I know. Over the last couple of years, there’s been a resurgence in country. Not in a mainstream sense, since it’s always been massively successful, but with the creativity amongst the songs themselves.
Without sounding like a total dork, many non-formulaic country stars are blowing up, with Zach Bryan being one of the most successful. Many theorize that the shift of country being more online has allowed more alternative avenues of fame rather than the typical path through Nashville.
Hence, we’re seeing artists like Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, and so many others sell so many records while not sounding like another Florida Georgia Line clone.
On this self-titled release and fourth record from Bryan, we see guest appearances by the War and Treaty, Sierra Ferrell, Kacey Musgraves, and the Lumineers. It’s a great record, one that feels very personal and is, in my opinion, a perfect record to show someone who isn’t a fan of country and may get them down the rabbit hole of better records released in the genre.
2. Pat Metheny - Bright Size Life
Genre - Jazz
Release Date - 1976
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I put on a show the other day and had a slew of jazz tunes play in between each band. I’m a big jazz head, as they say (who are they?), and been meaning to listen to more guitar-oriented jazz records since I’ve listened to most George Benson records one too many times.
A few Googles and Reddit posts later, I came across Pat Metheny’s debut, Bright Size Life. Released in 1976 on ECM, the album features Jaco Pastorius on bass and Bob Moses on drums with Metheny on the geet.
The compositions for the record came into being during Pat Metheny's residence in Boston, where he also held a teaching position at the Berklee School of Music. During this period, Gary Burton, a respected vibraphonist, and Metheny's mentor, lent his expertise in arranging the songs. Really killer stuff. I’ll need to check out more from Metheny.
3. Motörhead - Ace of Spades
Genre - Rock
Release Date - 1980
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Who doesn’t love Motörhead? I don’t know what prompted me to go from Bright Size Life to Ace of Spades, but here we are. The production, songwriting, and ethos are everything you’d want from a great rock record (or Metal, whatever you want to call it, don’t yell at me).
I first got into Motörhead as a kid after watching the 2010 documentary LEMMY. The humbleness and general attitude of Lemmy is appealing to anyone, and the records from Motörhead speak for themselves.
I don’t know if Ace of Spades is my favorite from the group, but it’s obviously their most popular, given their most notable track is on it. Catch me driving around blasting Love Me Like a Reptile, and you know I’m in a good mood.