by Jim
I’m admittedly not the biggest fan of these guys. I’ve honestly found them a little cheesy. (Seriously, who walks around in a foot suit of armor when they’re performing?) That being said, even the cheesiest metal band can have a few good songs! When to Listen: Lot of positive energy here. I’d say write with this during the initial brainstorming? Readers, Do you have a … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
Hammerfall… there really is nothing I need to say about these guys. They rock and I love them! When to Listen: This is a hero song. Listen to it when everything else has been stripped away. I guess to put it simply, write this as your ‘final boss confrontation.’ Readers, Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? Please feel free … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
I admittedly wasn’t a huge fan of Annette when she was with Nightwish. That being said, I’m glad she found her place and is actually doing well. This band seems a lot more suited to her style of singing. When to Listen: I would say general playlist. There’s enough here to justify playing it while the juices are already flowing. Readers, Do you have a question … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
I’ve never been a huge Amon Amarth fan… but after this cover, I may re-examine that. This girl’s voice is amazing! When to Listen: This is a very recent add for me, so I’m not 100% on where it should go. Based on the tone and tempo, probably a for use during a major conflict in a story. This is definitely a fitting song … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
Full disclaimer, I’ve decided to take a dive into some nostalgic music, the first of which will be from the latter half of my youth, then I’ll progress backwards. So a lot of this will not be metal as I didn’t become a metalhead until High School. (Metalheads, ye be warned.) Why am I doing this? Nostalgia is a very powerful/emotional evocative state of … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
Cheesy, shades of the 80s… but I’d be lying if this wasn’t a guilty pleasure of mine. I’m old enough to remember the 80s quite vividly and there are days that I find myself willing to give almost anything to be back there again. When to Listen: This song is pure positive energy. Listen to it when you first start writing. You’ll blow through … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
I’m not usually an instrumental guy. That being said, if I get something that really stands out, I have to share it. This one made it’s way on my playlist a few months ago. When to Listen: Scene description, especially outdoors. This could also be the right time to describe an epic battle. Readers, Do you have a question about writing, publishing, my stories, etc? … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
Before I get to today’s recommendation… I just want to say that searching for new music to whet my appetite is becoming a chore. YouTube recommendations have all but dried up… and honestly in my preferred genres, everyone is either trying to be the next Within Temptation or Nightwish. They all come off sounding incredibly generic and watered down by comparison. Then you’ve got … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
“In ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ an Old Story for (Yet Another) New Millennium” –New York Times “NBC’s live ‘Superstar’ rose up from its own chaos and found salvation in the end” –Washington Post “For fans eager to see this blast from the past resurrected with freshness, passion and contemporary attitude, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert delivered.” –Hollywood Reporter “‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Brings Strong Voices … Read More Jesus Christ Superstar, Honest Review
by Jim
A metal band that thinks they’re a bunch of dwarves… and there’s nothing else that really needs to be said about that. My friend introduced me to these guys as kind of a joke… not knowing that I’d actually really start liking them. When to Listen: When writing high fantasy. Like anything to do with Vikings, knights, witches, orcs, etc. You can also use … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
So every now and then I go to my Youtube playlist and click on a couple of videos on the recommended list, hoping to find some new music to try out. Every now and then I come across a gem… other times, I wind up with a headache, questioning my existence. Finding this little gem is the result of the former. They’re fairly generic … Read More From My Writing Playlist
by Jim
Poor Rihanna, and I mean that literally. This is an artist who peaked way too early in her career. I’m not usually into this type of thing, but this song found a place on my playlist very quickly. When to Listen: Villain creation is a good place to start, but also during the creation of dark scenes. I like to listen to it at night … Read More From My Writing Playlist
James Harringtons Creative Work 