Does he cry through broken sentences like "I love you far too much"?

Apologies for my recent lack of writing,to be entirely honest I've been far too preoccupied to discuss music lately as for the most part I've been consumed by Harry Potter,what with 'The Deathly Hallows' and 'The Order of the Phoenix'.Well I did my part with the midnight queuing and was rewarded with a pristine copy for only £5.I won't share my views on Harry Potter here as it's not the place but suffice to say that I enjoyed every minute of it and cried lots.My reading since have been a lacklustre experience in comparison.My current read is my initiation into the 33 and a third series on classic albums,my first choice is Colin Meloy's book on The Replacements 'Let it Be'.It reads more like a memoir than a book about the Replacements,and as a bona fide fan of The Decemberists it's nice to read about Meloy's formative years.

In musical news I am honoured to announce I will be seeing a certain Ryan Adams again in a matter of months in what looks like a beautiful venue in Cardiff.I feel beyond lucky,and can only assume the two tours this year are my cosmic payload for the shitty reasons behind missing last year's solo tour.(There was a hospital stay and much trauma and general devestation,both from being ill and missing Ryan).I will also be seeing Rilo Kiley next month,which I am looking forward to despite the godawfulness that is 'The Moneymaker'.A funk-style song leads to just one question:"WHY?"

In another attempt at discourse on my most treasured albums I bring Bright Eyes 'Fevers and Mirrors'to the table.After listening to it whilst travelling through some of the Midlands less desirable spots yesterday I was overwhelmed by how fucking much I love this album.Not a new revelation of course but one it's worth remembering despite,or maybe because of my recent Conor bashing on this blog.Songs like 'The Calendar Hung Itself' and 'Haligh,Haligh,A Lie,A Lie'never fail to move me.I love the desperate emotion in lines like "she had eyes bright enough to burn me,they reminded me of yours" and "I was determined in Chicago but I dug my teeth into my knees".As for 'Haligh...'that has the honour of being the first song I added to my favourites on the arrival of my MP3 player and it's still there.Every line is exquisite,where has that attention to detail when discussing despair dissappeared to?So it was nice to be reminded of the awe I experienced when first listening to Bright Eyes is still there.I then listened to 'Letting off the Happiness' and Read Music,Speak Spanish',the latter being an album I need to be in a certain kind of mood for but completely adore.

So all in all a time for revisiting and rediscovering old favourites rather than new ones,but that's certainly cheaper for me anyway.I am also playing 'Born to Run'religiously,and must say that it's a perfect soundtrack for washing up.The soundtrack for reading 'The Deathly Hallows'consisted of much Bruce Springsteen and Ryan Adams and a healthy side order of Harry and the Potters.How awesome is it that Harry Potter has inspired so many bands?I mean come on,'Voldermort Can't Stop the Rock'?There are no words to desribe that level of greatness,wizard rock rules.

And on that note,my geekiness fully exposed I will depart and return soon with word of my latest fixations.

The scales always find a way to level out

Firstly I have to say that being an obsessive music fan isn't as easy as the casual fan might be led to believe.Because just as there is always the chance that something new or previously undiscovered/unnoticed song or album might be unearthed and enhance your existence,there is also the threat that something previously amazing and untainted,might suddenly become humdrum without a second of warning.This may be coming across as wholeheartedly melodramatic,perhaps even trivial.If that's the case it's probably better you find your way to another blog entirely,you see this one isn't about discussing the world and its many conflicts,its much more micro than that,and it concerns itself only with my various rantings and ravings about music.

Anyway,the artist the above paragraph most relates to at the moment is Bright Eyes.As previously mentioned I've been struggling,nay wrestling with 'Cassadaga'since its release,and this week came to the conclusion that I could do no more.I resigned myself to not liking the album and managed to accept that it isn't my fault,sometimes these things just don't work out.However,I still felt a trickle of glee at the thought of seeing Bright Eyes live and hoped the most recent songs would fully come to life live.Alas,that was not to be and so another,slightly less crushing blow was dealt.The gig was at a rather large venue and indeed my least favourite local venue.I struggled to see easily despite changing location several times,and eventually chose to stand fairly near the stage with an awkward side view some of the time.The gig lacked the spark of previous Bright Eyes gigs and the only real moment of connection I felt was during 'The Calendar Hung Itself',one of my very favourite Bright Eyes song.Even one of my favourites from 'I'm Wide Awake...'and the only song from that album not featured last time I saw them('First Day of My Life'for fact fans)rang hollow in its new,speedier version.I spent the majority of the gig feeling frustrated and aching(both physically and metaphorically).

So there we are,another perfect relationship in shreds.I know it seems unreasonable,idealistic and all the rest of it to expect your favourite artists to keep you happy,but such is the euphoria when you first discover them that you feel confident they could never disappoint you,until one day the manage to easily when you're not expecting anything.

It's a shame that this post is so heavy with its own woes,but after endless posts detailing my love and excitement concerning various artists,I guess the balance needed to be addressed.Don't worry about my negativity though,the next post will be about a life changing album.At the risk of repeating myself I will say that the life of any hardened music fan is always swinging from disappointment to hysteria,the risks have to be taken I suppose.