The Music Journals weekly update post, w/e April 7 2013
 

Ah hoy-hoy! Yes it's me, back again and fighting fit. Amazing what the blood of a young child can do, isn't it? Anyhoo, thanks to my various understudies over the last few weeks, this update has gone to hell (er, sorry, Lucifer old chum!) and I'm here to get things back on track. Now, let's see, how do I switch this confounded thing on again? SMITH-ERS! Where IS that blasted fellow? Oh yes, I remember now: silly me. He's spending an eternity as the guest of Satan, writhing in eternal torment, noxious vapour everywhere ... hmm, sounds like my annual colonic irrigation treatments! Ah well, we must push on, mustn't we? Can't let poor old Smithers' tortured soul get us down, now can we?

Huzzah! Success! A buzzing sound issues forth from the machine! Now, password, password...? PASSWORD? DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM, COMPUTER? I'M CHARLES MONTGOMERY BURNS!!! What do you mean, password accepted? Oh, I see. Very well then. On we go...

Still trying to educate people to the delights of soft jazz, Anteater maintains his journal http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ed-masses.html here, where it would appear he just missed the cutoff for last week's update by a few hours. Anyhoo, he's reviewing an album by Jean-Luc Ponty, whoever the devil he is! Check it out, as the kids say!

That highly amusing Batlord fellow has finished his epic story of the triumph of True Metal over Poseurs (ehrm, yes, quite) but he has lots more to say in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...t-schemes.html. This week he's looking at the most Metal people in history and some fellow called James and the Contortions. Hmm. And he's not content to leave it there, either, as he also listens to ... Country??? Yes, indeed: seems that when he says http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...lks-about.html he really means random! Who could have ever thought Country music would assail his ears? And yet here he appears to be giving it a fair shake, with people like Uncle Tupelo (wasn't he the one I pulled the plug on, er I mean, died suddenly of completely natural and unprovable causes?) and Townes Van Zandt. Hop on board, y'all!

Burning Down has been relating her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sic-major.html as she considers her history on music and how she got to be where she is today. Rivetting stuff.

Goofle11 has changed the name of his journal to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-sessions.html --- cool title! He's looking at an album by Catherine Wheel, (didn't I go out with her in '23?) which seems worth a listen.

That brings us back to Trollheart already. Hmm. Well, in his main journal http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html he has a "200 word album review" of Fleetwood Mac's "Mirage, as well as albums by Chris Rea and Passenger, the latter one of his new sections entitled "Rolling the dice", and of course he's continuing his feature on Rory Gallagher. Over in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...i-reviews.html there's a review of an EP by Nina Nesbitt, while on http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html he has more eepsiodes from season one of Supernatural and a character profile of Dave Lister from Red Dwarf.

And so to Unknown Soldier, who's really stepping it up in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html --- he has reviews of albums by Budgie, Blue Oyster Cult and Bad Company: the three B's, eh?

Well, that's about it then for this week. In fact, that's it for every week from now on! I've had it, pandering to the likes of you and drooling over how great your pathetic scribblings are! I have an empire to run, you know: I don't have time for this! Get off my property! Smithers! Release the --- ah, yes. Well, wait there and I'll see if I have anything I can scald you with...

Note: Due to Mister Burns' unexpected withdrawal, the journal update post will be presented from next week by Trollheart again.

Does it make me a narcissist if the main reason why I check this thread is to see what Trollheart has said about my journal?

I do the same thing.

No, it makes you a narcissist because you ARE one! :rofl:
Still, thanks for checking... there'll be a semblance of normality returning to the posts from this Sunday as I take back over. (Who said Boo!?)

You get me. Now tell me I'm pretty.

Pretty narcissistic? :shycouch:

Your signature sucks balls.

Quiet you. I'm just trying to troll Urban. I have nothing against the Fall.

Welcome to Journal Land, population currently exploding!
 

I'd like to think that it's due to my highlighting the wonderful world of journal writing through this thread, though it's probably not, but for whatever reason in the last six months the number of journals has been increasing almost every week. This week alone we have four new people taking the plunge, and our little village is in danger of growing into a town! Yay us!

It's great fun and really rewarding, whether you're a mad daily updater with no life like me, or just occasionally throw a nugget of gold our way. Whichever way you write your journal, and whatever you put in it, I want to say thank you to all those brave souls who have jumped in and made the decision to start one. I doubt it's a decision anyone ever regrets.

It's also great to see people expanding on the traditional idea of just reviewing albums etc, with some really creative thoughts coming from some of our newest (journal) members. All details will be forthcoming in Sunday's usual update post, but I just wanted to take the time to say thanks to all who have put themselves out there, and if anyone is looking for help I'm always here.

Exciting times in Journal Land!
See yaz Sunday!

So, is the journal just a collection of random musings or does it have a strict guideline?

It can be whatever you want, as long as it's not spam.

Just read my Batcave journal or Trollheart's one about television shows and you will see just what the guidelines are.

Always the consummate gentleman TH. I for one, appreciate all you do.


...and I'm not even drunk yet.

Hah! You will be after you read my review of your album! :laughing: Just kidding, I'm floored by it, really... :bowdown:

Apologies to all involved, but I've only just discovered this thread. Clearly, I am slow on the uptake.

Journal Showcase
 

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...3XzokSiMoVcmpw

People from UK/Ireland will understand the above image...

I'm looking at trying to attract people towards the members' journals by featuring a showcase slot in the weekly update post. This could be an old post or a new one, and could be from anyone's journal, new or established, though to be fair I'd say only those updating on that week should be eligible. Of course, that's not set in stone.

Basically, the plan is to take an entry and reproduce it here, to encourage those to whom two clicks of a mouse is too much trouble ;) to see what they're missing. Hopefully it should drive visitors to that person's journal, and by extension the rest of them too.

I don't want to send loads of PMs to people asking permission, so I'm going to adopt an "opt-out" approach, which means I'm taking it as the default position that you have no problem with my reproducing a short extract from your journal here. If you do, please PM me and request me not to use your journal as a source for the Showcase. You don't need to give a reason, and I won't argue, but really, why would you not want to display your artwork, as it were, for all to see? Isn't that why we're all writing our journals? Anyway...

If, on the other side of the coin, you would like to be featured a particular week --- and if you have a particular piece you would like me to use as your showcase --- let me know and I'll certainly do what I can.

Any Youtubes will not be used, though I will refer to them so that anyone wishing to see the videos will again be driven to your site. None of the extracts will be very long, but they should ideally typify your journal. Long album reviews (such as mine!) are unlikely to be posted, unless you agree it's ok to take an extract rather than the whole thing.

Just another idea to "drive traffic", as they say, and show people who don't read the journals what they're missing. If there are no objections I'll be starting this tomorrow as part of the weekly update post.

Thanks for your time, now get off my property before I release the hounds... :bringit:

Instead of doing that here, why not start a new thread for it? A dedicated thread will get more attention and will be easier for people to navigate.

I can do that yes. Initially it was suggested I piggyback on this thread, but it has got some attention and interest now, so maybe it is time to start its own dedicated thread. Should I keep it in this subforum do you think?

No. Put it in Editor's Pick.

I have not noticed this thread since joining and I read about it on another. I could be an isolated case, but on the other hand, if I missed it, others could too. In my view, it should be sticky in the two most widely visited sub-forums, General Music and The Lounge. Is that possible? Anyway, it's just my opinion, speaking as a relative newbie.

Can't have one thread in two different forums.

Okay, well, it was just a thought.

Wow! Editor's pick! I've arrived! :D Cool. I'll do that now. Thanks BD.

Yes, because it's a thread that demands decent, on topic posts, so moderators will have to approve them.

Okay then, anyone looking for the Journals Update Post, it now has its own dedicated thread here http://www.musicbanter.com/editors-p...te-thread.html.
Thanks!

Just incase anyone reads these and hasn't seen it yet, please read the thread below and don't log in to this site please.

http://www.musicbanter.com/announcem...ml#post1338836

Son of a bitch! Now I've got to use my second choice password. I hate that password. ****ing doucherockets!

You could make it an announcement in the Mod Panel, I think.

HEY EVERYONE!

So I'm trying to start some threads that have good discussions. Ones that are general and cause you to think or debate rather than only ones about specific artists or genres. I'm hoping I can get some more people in there so we can get these going as much as possible!

These kinds of discussions are ones I'm most interested in contributing to as a member especially since I'm trying to spend less time in the lounge! :}

Here are some that I've started recently. And one I started a while ago that can still be discussed now!

http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...sic-taste.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...jectivity.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...ensorship.html

Here are some threads started by other members that can get ya talking!

http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...-artistic.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...ng-enough.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...his-music.html

The FAIR Album Club is two years old this month, so why not join us in our latest poll:-
http://www.musicbanter.com/country-f...july-30-a.html

Or dip into some of the thirty-eight albums we have discussed so far:-
http://www.musicbanter.com/country-f...lbum-club.html

Congratulations Lisnaholic on reaching the two year mark! Wonder if the Prog Rock Album Club will last that long? Well done!
:clap:

Thanks Trollheart! I hope the Prog Rock Club keeps going too; how many members can you count on ?

The FAIR club could be bigger, but like yourself presumably, I don´t do it for the glory and adulation alone. A few friends swapping musical recommendations is justification enough imo, and between us we have conjured up a roster of albums to be proud of.

I think we have 4, maybe 5 regular members. Others come in, say oh I'd like to be in on this, and then we never hear from them again. Sad really, but we've a nice little clique going, so it's okay.

Yes, we also have people who seem interested but then vanish, but that´s like MB in miniature really.

Unfortunately, the leavers never say why there´re disappearing, so you´re left with a nagging doubt about how your club could be made more attractive... in connection with which, I´m considering posting some of those discussion-prompt questions that I think you use in order to beef up the chat about the different albums. Do you think there´s going to be a problem if I steal the idea from you (or Pedestrian) ?

Quote:

"Conjugate THIS, pal!"

^ :rofl:

No problem. Steal away. Copy the text of the questionnaire if you need it from one of the posts. It's a good way to standardise some of the rambling that can go on when people (like me) talk about albums and it means that everyone is basically giving the answer to the same set of questions, so not only does it make it easier for people to evaluate an album, I think it also encourages new members who might otherwise be put off by thinking "man I have to write an essay for this thing!" It's not quite join-the-dots, but it gets you started.

OK, thanks, TH. Consider it stolen !

The poll closes at 7am tomorrow so go ahead and vote for the next album that we review in the hip hop album club.


http://www.musicbanter.com/rap-hip-h...ng-thread.html

Come vote on your favourite track from MB contestants for the "Hollow" theme in the Great Biweekly Artists of Music Banter Song Off Act II.

http://www.musicbanter.com/general-m...ml#post1464208

Hey everyone! I was wondering if anyone would be interested in having a themed week in the Journal section (like the Bowie Week that we had awhile back).

Billy Joel week?