So... The journal function on this site is so weird. There's no comment function, which makes it decidedly un-forum-y. I just read this girl's journal, and it was really interesting. But sometimes I'll read people's "latest journal" because let's face it, I need something to do when I'm procrastinating, and it's like... ANGST. Not that that's a bad thing, I'm pretty angsty myself... But it's just weird. What was the function of the journal? Were we supposed to write about music? If so, why no comments? Maybe I'm just confused becasue it's so late.

Neil Gaiman, described by SciFi Weekly as a "shaggy writer in black", is perhaps one of the most imaginitive fantasy writers currently publishing. I first got into Gaiman when a good friend forced me to read "American Gods," which I then bought. My favorite Gaiman short story consisted of a writer, living in an Edgar Allan Poe-type world, who wants to write "fantasy," which to him is our reality. It is Gaiman as he sees himself in the mirror that is or isn't reality. It should be no surprise to anyone, then, that I just got into the CD "Where's Neil When You Need Him", a complilation of tracks based on the works of Neil Gaiman. My favorite tracks are "Mr. Punch" and "Come Sweet Death", by Future Bible Heroes and Voltaire, respectively, but the whole CD is amazing. The idea of basing a song off another creative work is, I think, the most amazing tribute a musical artist can give an influence. Speaking of someone who loved Don MacLean's "Vincent" even before she knew it was about Vincent Van Gogh, and loving Vincent afterwards, and also as someone who appreciates how awesome and unique Gaiman's world is, this CD is the reflection of words in music. So it's highly recommended. Check out the entire CD, and then afterwards, read ALL the influences: Tracks 1, 7 and 15, the first two named "Coraline" but by Rasputina and Rose Berlin respectively, and 15 called "The Cold Black Key" and by Ali Azam, are about Gaiman's childrens' novel Coraline. (Neither of the "Coraline"s are listed on this site yet, but "The Cold Black Key" is...) Tracks 2 and 6, "When Everyone Forgets" by ThouShaltNot and "Even Gods Do" by Thea Gilmore, are about Gaiman's novel "American Gods," which is my favorite work he's done till now. (Neither of these are listed, either. Drat.) Track 3, "Trader Boy" by Tapping The Vein, is based on Gaiman's children's book "The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish." This isn't listed either, but it will be. Tracks 4 and 14, "Ravenstar" by Lunascape and "You Better Leave The Stars Alone" by Ego Likeness, are based on the novel "Stardust," the second thing of Gaiman's I read. Track 5, "A Fish Called Prince" by Deine Lakaien, is based on the Gaiman short story "The Goldfish Pool." It, finally, is listed on this site... Sci Fi Weekly says that this song is one of the weaker tracks on the CD, being "unctuous". I respectfully beg to differ. However, I haven't read the story, so maybe there's something I'm missing. The song itself is wonderfully experimental and the piano itself justifies its creation. Track 8, "Magda Treadgolds Märchen," by German artist(s)? Schandmaul, is apparently about the Gaiman short story "The Kindly Ones, according (again) to Sci Fi Weekly's wonderful(ish) review. However, you don't need to understand the German to appreciate the Celtic-ish violin blended with the growly guitar. (I'll try to get a translation, and also plan to look up the short story.) Track 9, "We Won't Go" by Hungry Lucy, is about Gaiman's childrens' book "The Wolves In The Walls." Track 10, "Come Sweet Death" by Voltaire; Track 12, "The Endless" by Razed In Black; and Track 17, "Sister Named Desire (Remastered) by Tori Amos, are all based on the "Sandman" stories (which I have not read enough of to be a credible expert.) However, "Come Sweet Death" presents Gaiman's alternative view of Death, as a beautiful woman, kindly, who comes to those who are ready and welcome her as well as those who struggle, and the tone of the song, far from being somber and despairing, takes the mood of a good ska song. Bravo! All three of these tracks are listed on this site. Track 11, "Mr. Punch" by Future Bible Heroes, is creepy and catchy at the same time. Based on "The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch," which is, according to wizarduniverse.com, "a Vertigo graphic novel created by Gaiman and artist Dave McKean and inspired by the Punch and Judy marionette shows popular in England," (in which case I HAVE to read it) it blends two feelings together in what becomes a contradiction of fascinating and cheery brutality. Lyrics available on this site, but listening to the song first is recommended so you can fully appreciate the contradiction. Primary musician on this track Chris Ewen said in an interview with wizardentertainment.com about the genesis of the song, "Mr. Punch is so identifiable that you couldn't do a disco track or something about Mr. Punch. I thought the music really had to emulate the character and the book." The coolest part of the interview? When Ewen said about Gaiman that "He sent these joyous little e-mails around to all of us, saying he dug the track." AAAAH! Track 13, "Wake The White Queen" by the Crüxshadows, was inspired by the Gaiman-written, Dave McKean-animated, Henson-esque "Labyrinth"-a-like film "Mirrormask", which comes highly recommended. Also listed on this site. Track 16, "Vandemar" by Joachim Witt, is based on the Gaiman TV series "Neverwhere." However, the movie was distorted, and Gaiman wrote a novel that I believe Neil and I agree to be far superior. Lyrics are on this site, though also in German. All in all, I think I agree with Sci Fi Weekly when they say that this CD has "a distinctly '80s sensibility," and would go further to say that it is everything the 80's could have been, but fell short of. (That esteemed periodical also makes a point of highlighting tracks that are in 3/4 or 6/8 or other unusual time signatures, which contributes to the originality and probably, subconsciously to my liking of the pieces herein.) Get this CD.