A Chronicle of Early Failures, Pt. I
Yes, it has been a week, almost, since I have updated this page. In that time I have experienced enough delight to fill a half-empty glass with poop. In case that doesn't mean anything, consider:
•Today I finally worked up the courage to send my latest sestina to McSweeney's, from which it was rejected no less than 30 minutes after I first emailed it to them. At the very least, they are prompt. At best, they are exclusive. Piss. Lesson learned: my sestinas still blow.
•On Friday I had a brief meeting with my writing professor, at which time I was castigated for indirectness and lampooned for assholiness. Deserving? Maybe. Cold? Brisk. Lesson learned: my sestinas still blow.
•Last night, Muscle Shoals and I played our first gig to lukewarm reception and multiple fuckups. We also played to $40, which mediated the pain of butchering horribly a two-guitar rendition of "Starman". Lesson learned: not as many fans of outer space as I had initially supposed.
STAGE I: Anger, resistance to the unachieved. Universalization and otherization of what has not been done, blame, etc. Punk rock.
Joy Division - Failures (Of the Modern Man)
STAGE II: Despair, realization of the lack of what has not been achieved. Droning sensation in the temples, blood swells.
The Dead Texan - A Chronicle of Early Failures, Pt. II
STAGE III: Acceptance, contemplation. Eno.
Brian Eno - Failing Light
Buy Brian Eno Ambient 2: Plateaux of Mirror
Buy The Dead Texan s/t
Buy Joy Division Substance
•Today I finally worked up the courage to send my latest sestina to McSweeney's, from which it was rejected no less than 30 minutes after I first emailed it to them. At the very least, they are prompt. At best, they are exclusive. Piss. Lesson learned: my sestinas still blow.
•On Friday I had a brief meeting with my writing professor, at which time I was castigated for indirectness and lampooned for assholiness. Deserving? Maybe. Cold? Brisk. Lesson learned: my sestinas still blow.
•Last night, Muscle Shoals and I played our first gig to lukewarm reception and multiple fuckups. We also played to $40, which mediated the pain of butchering horribly a two-guitar rendition of "Starman". Lesson learned: not as many fans of outer space as I had initially supposed.
STAGE I: Anger, resistance to the unachieved. Universalization and otherization of what has not been done, blame, etc. Punk rock.
Joy Division - Failures (Of the Modern Man)
STAGE II: Despair, realization of the lack of what has not been achieved. Droning sensation in the temples, blood swells.
The Dead Texan - A Chronicle of Early Failures, Pt. II
STAGE III: Acceptance, contemplation. Eno.
Brian Eno - Failing Light
Buy Brian Eno Ambient 2: Plateaux of Mirror
Buy The Dead Texan s/t
Buy Joy Division Substance
posted by P at 7:48 PM
1 Comments:
phil, though my comments may be too late to assuage you, i'll give it a go.
one day, the sestina will reappear as the dominant form of poetry for the 21st century. and on that day, i will be sure to attend your coronation as champion of sestinas, and dave eggers will have to remain outside in the rain.
but professors, they are a different breed. "indirectness" and "assholiness" sound like terms that fill in for lack of an actual criticism. plus you can't spell the latter without "holiness." i guess that means you would make a better pope than greg.
and finally, i would suggest that the less-than-stellar reception of your "starman" cover is not due to any particular fault of yours (or the other guitarist), but america's general reluctance and lack of trust regarding the space program today. whatever happened to our national sense of adventure? and why, oh why, must we perpetually blame bowie for our own fickle nature? you tried, but not even a double guitar glam assault could overcome america's cold shoulder to the final frontier.
clearly, you can now see why you ought to feel no remorse at the judgement of inferiors. they are, after all, entirely wrong. my sympathies for placing yourself under their infininte ignorance. a shower, a new pack of smokes, some dollar drinks at nick's (if i remeber correctly), and you'll feel like a new starman altogether. good luck.
-Matt
Post a Comment
<< Home