In a week where we found ourselves in Google's crosshairs and many smutty, sorry tastefully erotic avatars went to an early grave, my own included, Urban tried to lighten the mood by presenting his rebuttal (never a pretty sight!)
in the form of
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...egetables.html, which though it wasn't really a journal deserves a mention for sheer cleverness and satire. So here is where I'm mentioning it. Other than that, what's been going on down at the new, improved, Google-approved Journaltown? Yeah I know, but it sounds good. It'll be Journaltown from now on. Look, it's either that or Camberwick Green! Okay? Okay. Journaltown it is then.
Anteater promised us an interesting series on an artiste a while back in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-dollars.html, and true to his word, he has delivered, in the shape of the history of ... Gino Vanelli! No, he did NOT invent the Cornetto! Get educated, for god's sake! Ant can help you, but only if you admit you have a problem...
As we anxiously await the reopening of the Batcave, its proprietor has lots of metal to listen to in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...lks-about.html, where he's following up on those Metal Massacre compilation albums by dipping into the albums of those listed, including the likes of Third Stage Alert, Malice and, er, Warlord, whom he seems to have fallen deeply in metal love with. Can't say I feel the same...
One person taking the piss isn't enough it would seem, so now
Briks is also ripping me off, specifically my “Classic albums I have never heard” idea. Well that's all fine guys: just watch this space is all I can say! Down in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html he's looking at albums by Green Day, Jimmy Eat World and the one and only Number of the Beast, which I'm amazed he never heard before!
With the amount of music he listens to I've become firmly convinced that
Goofle11 is the Devin Townsend of Music Banter. Or that he has clones running around. More varied selections this week in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ening-log.html with the likes of Jenny Hval, Antioch Arrow and The Teardrop Explodes among them. Hey, I remember them!
Hammering away in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html as ever is
Ki, who at the moment is on something of a Tad kick, but also fitting in Daturah (?) and talking about Queensryche and my man Devin. Oh I should mention: he's decided to do features on bands that came or come from his hometown of Seattle, so that's kind of where Tad come in. Nirvana soon no doubt.
If you've been following the recent threads in the main section you'll know some people are making it their life's goal to get me into jazz. Yeah, good luck with that...
Neapolitan is another one, and in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...i-journal.html he's very kindly provided some “Jazz for Trollheart”, which I will listen to once everything stops exploding I mean once I get a chance to slow down.
There's more ripping off of poor old Trollheart --- hey: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery they say! Yeah. --- in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html, where he has another Daily Earworm for you (why didn't I put a non-competition clause in that worm's contract? Or have him sign a contract?) and his first selection from “Run for cover”. Internet phenomenon, here I come. Probably not.
Screen13 has been a busy boy this week! Not only has he a review of Devo's “Shout” and a new feature on The Icicle Works in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...all-music.html but he's also opened his second journal, sorry third if teh Rare Singles one is still going, in which he's taking us on a trip through exploitation, horror and grindcore movies. Not in any way my scene, but if
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...reen-13-a.html is yours, then head on over because you know it'll be a great read.
I continue to lag behind the pack again, however I should point out that I am at present working on three major articles for
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, not to mention tons of material for
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...c-emporium.htm, so my actual published output has been and probably will continue to be on something of a drip-feed for a while. Also, if you've been as I say following the threads, particularly this one, you'll know that the guys have managed to convince/embarrass/threaten me into trying out one of my least favourite genres, and from probably about July I'll be changing the focus of the second “Stranger in a strange land” to shine the spotlight on ...
da da da daaaaaaa! Jazz. Yeah. That's what I said. We'll see what happens.
Until then, here's what's happening this week at the Playlist: there's another Roll of the Dice with a great band called Break My
Fucking Sky, and another example of MUSH with Hazel O'Connor. Over at
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html there's the fifth episode of “Les Revenants” and more Frasier. I know it's been slim pickings there recently but be assured there are lots of new series due to start soon, and some more film reviews on the way, to say nothing of the odd other section planned.
That's it from me then for this week but as I say, watch out you rip-off merchants because the master is about to return! Keep watching the skis!
And so
Unknown Soldier immerses himself deep in the metal of the NWOBHM, an exciting time as 1980 hots up in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html with albums from Triumph and Quartz. Ah,that sure takes me back!
Finally,
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...who-thing.html is shaping up to be quite the journal, even if he has only now realised the enormity of the task he's undertaking! Hey, think about me and my jazz odyssey later in the year man! Currently
Urban is looking at some of the rather crappier robots and machines who “Could have been bigger than the Daleks”. But weren't. Obviously.
And now to return to that old favourite, my
and really, with the week we've had could it be anyone else?
So that's us all wrapped up and snuggly for another week. Hey, it's getting cold you know! See you all back here next week for another update, when hopefully more of you will be coming out of hibernation as the birds begin to sing and the sun comes out ... sorry I forgot where I live for a moment!
Till then.
Toodles!