I am so ready to be that wind.
Since returning home to Nice I’ve spent a lot of time pondering what I want to do with the rest of my life. I have an overwhelming urge to do something different and experience new adventures. Thankfully, Alicia feels the same way. Getting married seems to have triggered emotions contrary to what one would normally expect—instead of looking forward to settling down, we want to shake things up.
After discussing various remedies for restlessness, we agreed that what we want to do most of all is see the world before it becomes completely uninhabitable and/or fascist. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on a worldwide adventure thanks to generous wedding gifts from both sets of parents and the money we’ve saved by not buying a whole lot of stupid shit we didn’t need. Throwing even more caution to the wind, we let our clients know that we will be closing our consulting practice for three months beginning in April. We figure we’ll lose two-thirds of our client base, but we’re willing to take the risk because we’re thinking of closing the business anyway.
Due to this seemingly endless period of worldwide instability, we thought it was silly to map out a three-month itinerary so we decided to start with Japan and wing it from there, only going to countries we’ve never visited. We’re leaving in early April and will likely be back in Nice by the first week in July. After spending a few days at home, we’ll repack for another summer in Cork County and get the hell out of France before the Olympics begin and the alert levels go off the charts.
What this means for y’all is that I have to wrap things up at altrockchick.com before we leave and I’m not sure I’m coming back. I had scheduled six months’ worth of reviews and when I looked at the list a couple of weeks ago, the little voice inside my head said, “You can’t possibly do this.” After twelve years and six hundred or so reviews, I’m pretty close to burnout. Because I’ve already quit three times and eventually came back, we can fix the odds of my return at 50/50.
While I don’t have enough left in the tank to fill the many holes in my study of popular music from 1920 to the present day, there are some tasks I want to complete before I head into the wild blue yonder. It bugs me that I haven’t done enough reviews of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell to earn them a spot on the menu bar, so my revised plan includes two for Neil and one for Joni. As I don’t want to get close to overload, I’ve decided to change to a bi-weekly publication schedule for now, which means I will only be able to review three more XTC albums before I split. Because I haven’t done much in the way of kick-ass rock ‘n’ roll lately, I’ve planned to do a Song Series piece consisting of some great rock singles and tracks that appear on albums I’m unlikely to review. I filled the other two slots with my first exploration of Joan Armatrading and one glorious burst of nostalgic indulgence.
I originally published a fixed schedule, but as usual, shit happens and I’ve had to rejigger the damn thing several times. For the latest information on what and when I expect to publish before my departure, check the “Coming Soon” widget in the right-side menu bar. Note that several of the reviews will be pre-scheduled, appearing after our departure date.
We’re flying out on April 5 and from that date forward I won’t be accessing the site or responding to comments and messages (the last two reviews will be scheduled in advance). My mother has graciously agreed to approve or trash comments; she’ll also change the home page from time to time so the site doesn’t look like a virtual ghost town. The CONTACT ARC button will disappear along with my Gmail account. When I return sometime next summer, subscribers will receive an email link to a post containing the answer to the question, “Should I stay or should I go?” I might come back fully recharged or decide to write on topics other than music or give up writing entirely and become a schoolteacher, a video game designer or a physicist. Anything’s possible.
And that’s exactly where I want to be right now—in a space where anything’s possible.
2023 was a record year for altrockchick.com in terms of hits, visitors and comments, so I want to thank each and every one of you for making that happen. I wish you all a safe and joyful New Year!
Cheers!
Best wishes on your coming adventure! All Japanese cities sitting by Inland sea on the side of Honshu Island are worth a visit, especially the towns in the beautiful rural area. And of course you’re welcome to China’s flourishing indie music scene: it’s a lot of fun, because different areas in China can have awfully different cultures, and they are vividly shown in the local bands’ songs. The music you hear in public places in China or Japan won’t be that far from the American “mainstream” music, but great chances are that you will run into some inspiring traditional music! vuv
As a long time reader and fan of this blog (much longer than I have this wordpress account!) and the devoted & witty blogger behind it, I am pretty sure that I’m gonna stay here for much longer, no matter which direction you’re in. I enjoyed the marvelous reviews accompanied by some beautiful music that I would have never heard; now I’m ready for anything new that’s coming.
Wishing you enjoyment and surprise, in your travels, and I look forward to the reviews you have still scheduled.
I know that feeling after hundreds of items, I’m at 725 musical compositions combined with mostly other people’s literary poetry. It becomes harder to surprise oneself after that many.
Exactly! I’m tired of “hearing my own voice.”
I see that not only the last two XTC albums are not on the schedule but also Psonic Psunspot, the 2nd Dukes of Stratosphear release, is not on there as well, Hopefully you can review those as well before you go on your trip, good luck with the trip.
It’s possible I could get into a hot streak before I leave and XTC will be priority #1. Right now I’m skipping Psonic Psunspot, the two Apple Venus albums and both “punk period albums” and I would like to complete the narrative. Fingers crossed!
Love reading your funny witty insightful reviews. Have a wonderful trip.
Good luck with everything. Glad you’re happy. I will miss you. Love to both of you ,mike
I hope for your return as no one writes about music quite like you do. If it is the end though I thank you for everything you’ve written as is. You more than deserve a permanent break from the site. There’s countless artists that have changed my life that I wouldn’t have ever noticed if it weren’t for what you put out and I thank you for that. Have fun seeing the world before it burns!
Exciting!! We just finished the first leg of our world tour. We’re taking 2024 off, hopefully we’ll still be permitted to travel in 2025. Safe travels, have fun. 💜🩷
Shame , ( for purely selfish reasons ) I was looking forward to your reviews of Apple Venus & Wasp Star. Bon voyage , as an unadventurous sort of person myself , I do admire intrepid people.
It’s always possible that I’ll get on a hot streak before I leave and if I do, those two are my top priorities. I hate leaving things unfinished.
I’ll miss you when you’re gone. But do what you feel. It’ll be fine. Happy New Year!
I can recommend Kyoto and Nara. I’ve been thinking about walking Kumano Kodo or Nakasendo.
Happy New Year and to your endeavors!
Good for you! Your list of “to do” albums is formidable but your slant on them will be, as always, insightful and individual. All the best for your travels.
Thanks for inspiration on top of all the words about the songs. I hope you continue this enterprise but i more hope you and yours remain healthy and curious and enjoy travels. Random suggestion: Mexico City, so good these days. I can arrange magic housing, this offer never expires. Life IS a Long Song.
You mean like rental housing? I am interested in living in Mexico. Am from California.
Chris
erskinetrans@gmail.com
Enjoy!
And thanks for all the fantastic reviews to date.
PS Try not to use too much carbon on your travels…
Will do! Google Flights just started reporting on flights with lower emissions, which will be very helpful.
As we have done before, we will hope you return to writing about music, but you’ve provided us with a lot of entertainment — and much to think about — over the years and you deserve the break. As for “Should I stay or should I go?”, you know we’ll be calling for a “double,” but only if it’s still as enjoyable for you to produce as it is for us to read. Your honeymoon series was a blast and maybe you’ll be charged up to do a travel series when you get back?
Thank you! I don’t even want to think about a travel series right now but I have to admit it’s a strong possibility if I decide to return. I’ve always liked integrating reviews with life experiences.
Sounds very exciting, the sort of thing I would never dare to do…
Totally understand the desire to do it.
Will miss you though!