Try Everything Once

Author notes

083: Living On Autopilot

Ian Jay

on Dec. 4, 2006

This page was a real pain to script and color, and as a result, I got it up late again. (Sorry! Things kept getting in the way! There were SATs to take over again and friends to drive around and fancy dinners to argue at! My weekend was pretty much jam-packed!) Nevertheless, this probably makes Betty the most developed character in the series. That'll work, I suppose.

This week in CD reviews: Do get Neutral Milk Hotel's On Avery Island– while it sure ain't perfect, it's an interesting look at the band pre-Aeroplane. Do get the Gothic Archies' The Tragic Treasury– it's a collection of songs written and performed by Lemony Snicket and that one guy from the Magnetic Fields. They originally appeared on the audiobook versions of A Series of Unfortunate Events, and they're in the same ridiculously dreary style (though a bit more synth-laden than I had expected– could they be Cure-influenced?)– it's "children's music for people who despise children", as SPIN put it.

However, don't get Joanna Newsom's Ys. While it's been garnering rave reviews from critics for its deep, flowing instrumentals and its hyper-literate fables-cum-lyrics, the fact is that Ms. Newsom's voice sounds like a goose being strangulated. We found it unbearable to listen to, especially since the album is essentially a vehicle for her voice. I'm rather disappointed in the album, in the critics, and especially Jake, the kid who boldly stated that it was "the greatest album released this year" in his CD review column in my school paper. Jake is usually pretty spot on with his reviews, but I don't really trust him as much anymore. However, I am not disappointed in Ms. Newsom herself, who is a fine harpist and probably an excellent person. It's just… that God dang voice!

Nothing else going on this week. Oh! Unless you count the college thing. I got a nifty little scholarship from the Savannah College of Art and Design (my first choicet.) Don't be fooled by my deadpan delivery of this news– deep down, I'm excited as all get out about this. If they're interested in me, then this might be more step towards mastering the comics medium…

Next week: Lloyd and Betty actually do something besides talk! Don't miss it!

Sincerely,

Ian Jay