Seroxat Beats

Since the demise of Guided by Voices, I find that I have absolutely no taste in music. I listen to everything. A glance at the tracks I've downloaded over the past week- and there have been a lot, as I've been laid up in a place with shit-hot broadband access- reveals gospel, rock n roll, blues, metal, noise, country, folk, garage, comedy gangster rap... artists as diverse as Nancy Sinatra, Black Dice , Gism and Paul Robeson. This is a good thing, I think, and I'm not saying I ever lived in an indie-rock ghetto, but... I just seem to have no anchor, no foundation to my music taste. I don't know where to start looking for music. I guess it'll be the same in record shops- I used to march assuredly over to "Rock/Pop, G" as soon as I entered the store. It was a good starting point. God knows what I'll do now. I think I'm the kind of person that needs a favourite band. So there's a vacancy open. I'm considering a few candidates already, but if anyone would like to get in touch and try to sway me one way or another, feel free.

I think the Seroxat's starting to work... I don't feel quite as mad anymore. Or rather, I still feel it, but it doesn't bother me as much.

Still fucked though.

Well well

It's ages since I've written on here. I was going to wait until I had something good to say, but that doesn't look like happening... so here's some crap for you to digest.

After easing off for a while, my panic attacks have returned with reinforcements... last week there were days when I could barely stand up without palpitating all over the shop. A couple of times I had these weird little fits where I went really hot, my pulse went mental and my body kind of spasmed... it only lasted for a second but it shit me right up. I asked the doctor whether it's even possible for anxiety to casue symptoms this severe... he said (words to the effect of) "Yes, just not in normal people". So I'm recuperating at the parental home for a few days, and have been put on Seroxat, although I haven't started taking it yet. I wonder if any (either) of you have had experience of this drug... should I believe the doctors, who think it's amazing, or the media horror stories? I'm pretty much resigned now to the fact that I'll be retaking most of my final year... I don't really care at the moment though, I just want to GET BETTER. No kidding.

Oh, and the Inland Revenue are trying to take me to court because I didn't give them my fucking council tax exemption form on time... that really is exactly what I need.

Anyway, here are some observations I've made of late...

Chris Morris's Nathan Barley- exactly what I expected, but not quite as good (Fucko has some wise words to say on this matter).

David Lynch's Dumbland- exactly what I expected, but not quite as good... so far (I've only seen episode 1).

Wolf Eyes- the only band I've yet encountered that I find myself unable to listen to due to the fact that they just make a horrible noise... I usually like bands that just make a horrible noise. Yellow Swans, for example, make a horrible noise that is a lot of fun to listen to. Wolf Eyes do not. I suspect there's some Emporer's New Clothes type shit going down there.

Looking at my "albums of 2004" list I realise that I could have made a far better one. Not to worry, this isn't fucking nme.bastardcom. But here are some artists I've been enjoying lately-

Six Organs of Admittance
Sufjan Stevens
Mastodon
Akimbo
Professor Longhair
Shearwater
Prefuse 73
Diamanda Gallas
And so forth.

The Nook has started up a blog. It provides a fascinating insight into the inner workings of one of this country's last great enigmas.

I think that'll do for now.