The Music Banter Members' Journals Monthly Update Thread

[Trollheart]

Due to the overall pretty poor return in updates since I last posted, and while I do accept that some of you are making the effort, it seems pointless to keep doing this every week. Looking down the list I can see something like twelve journals (that's not twelve members; some have more than one journal, and that's not counting me at all) have been updated since the middle of March. That's twelve in nearly a month. That equates to three a week. Therefore I'm now shifting this to a monthly rotation. Until things pick up, if they ever do, I'm going to post the update on the first Sunday of each month (this one is obviously a week behind, but that was due to personal troubles and also the fact that I had not at that time come to this decision) and it will cover all journals updated up to that point. Any new ones will have to wait for the beginning of the next month. If we end up getting back anywhere near where we used to be, I may consider going back to weekly, but frankly I think it will remain this way. It's become a lot less fun to do, especially when so few are contributing.

So, this update, and this one only, will cover all entries made from March 19 (the date of the previous update) to today, but after that it will be as described above. We kick off then with the return of The Batlord, and his new journal http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...s-journal.html, which unsurprisingly features his non-Metal crush, the one and only Ke$ha (and that's the last time I'm using that stupid spelling, Batty) with a review of her first album, Animal.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...obably-dl.html Goofle tells us, and he's looking at Little Mix this time out. Hey, aren't we all? Stop that!

The Identity Matrix is back, and where else would he hang out but http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ix-domain.html, where he's looking at more Coheed and Cambria (of course) as well as showing off his Top 100 albums and checking out the new one from Mastodon.

Innerspaceboy has some Modern Classical Highlights of 2016 in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnerspace.html and meanwhile he's talking about the frustrations of working with a (thankfully, now ex-) boss who doggedly refuses to be dragged into the 20th century, never mind the 21st in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...rds-9-5-a.html

and Ki is also doing his part to keep the leaky good ship Journal afloat, with Kanye West Month coming soon in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...usic-hall.html, Yooka Laylee and Link in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...is-arcade.html as well as an update to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...iii-story.html

while there's more http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...cking-out.html, courtesy of Occulthawk, with Tom Carter, Medicine Bull and some artistes with very strange names...

Pet_Sounds has words of wisdom from Richard Feynman in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...crap-heap.html

and Qwertyy makes a reappearance after a long absence and he's looking into the new Mount Eerie album in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ramblings.html

One journal that's been criminally ignored by me is http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ower-punk.html, but he's been plugging away there gamely, working without any credit, and it's probably about time I mentioned him. Albums from Sorority Noise, As Cities Burn and Ignite (any connection? No? If there is, they should be the other way round, hey?) so check it out.

That brings us to me. Even I have not been doing as much as I would normally, so I can't really escape blame either, but here's what I have been doing. http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html has moved on to Prince and Kate Bush in the Great Discography Thread, and then we tackled Death Grips (geddit? Tackled? Grips? ) while there are albums by Pretty Maids, House of Lords, Raven, John Martyn and, um, David Roberts in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...i-reviews.html, then we check out Disney's Pinocchio and Fantasia in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-cartoons.html before moving on to Max Fleischer and then some more UnAmerican Animation, checking what England and France had to offer around that time. Finally, there's the second episode of the series in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...s-journal.html.

And now, for the revamped and all-new

I really have no hesitation in awarding this to

for his incredibly in-depth and well-written review of the new Mastodon album. Although I personally don't like the band (or what I've heard of them to date), I have not seen a better review written since Pounding Decibels was last updated, and that's over a year now. Superb, and well deserved. You can read the whole thing here.
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1818943

As for
Funny Post

of the Month
well, it's found its way into my sig, so it's a shoe-in for this one from Violet:

Originally Posted by _Violet_

To celebrate 1000 views on my journal, I have decided to do absolutely nothing.

Thanks for reading.

And finally, big news for all fans of AOR! Wait! Where are you going? Come back! You can't ... hey! Where the hell do you ... um, um, um, FREE BEER! Ah yes, thought that would bring you all back. Now, as I was saying (yes yes, the beer is coming, don't worry) I have asked Anteater for the chance to resurrect his old AOR journal, which was looking really promising but has fallen by the wayside somewhat, and suggested we might collaborate on a new, improved version. He has agreed. So there are no firm details as yet, but watch for more news soon. This will be the first journal I've collaborated on with anyone since Batty, our two failed ventures on Batman: the Animated Series and Star Trek: Voyager having been, well, disasters really, but I have high hopes for this one.

Huh? Beer? I mentioned free beer? Oh you're right I did. You know what, I'll just slip out to the door and see if the delivery has arrived yet. Yeah. I may be some time.



Till next month,
Toodles!

[Trollheart]

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to say farewell to our dear friend Trollheart and his journals. We will miss him and hope he rests in peace. Please stop laughing, there at the back, and put away that ipod! Show a little respect!


Yes, I'm one day early but the update is meant to go out on Sunday and we're in the last day of April, so here we are. For those who don't know/aren't interested let me just confirm that all my own journals are now on permanent hold while I turn my attention to writing my series of fantasy novels in an attempt to become the author I know I can never be. Don't expect any updates for the forseeable future, but feel free to check in on what I've written over the last five years or so and comment if you wish; I will respond to any comments, I just won't be writing any new stuff for a long time. I'm sure you'll all find a way to help each other through this very difficult time, and my thoughts are with you.

As a result of this, I'm going to omit my journals from this update, and all further ones, though I have posted in a few of them since the last time this was updated. As for the rest of you? Well, let's see what you've been doing while I've been knee-deep in maidens with long flowing blonde hair, heaving bosoms and the odd sword...

We've all known for a long time now that http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...l-pleases.html, and so he does, as he returns to his journal for the first time in a while, and gets back into his talk about wrestlers while also reviewing Snapcase, Samsara Blues Experiments and some of Ki's music. Oh, and Keveltrak.

A new journal starting up this month, his first ever, comes from Aloysius who's into dat Spanish music and dancing, and tells us all about in in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...o-journal.html. Don't know what Buleria or Solerea are? Think they're exotic flavours of ice cream? Step right this way, my friend.

Why not try http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...r-journal.html as he explores one of the other loves in his life: the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems? He's kicking off with what is, according to him, the perfect beer...
Goofle reminds us http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...obably-dl.html, this time it's Liz with Just Like You

and another new journal, though not his first, as we take a dip into http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...enre-dive.html, with synthwave up first, featuring Pertubator, Wasted Doom, Mitch Murder and Carpenter Brut

There's more suffering through the manners and mores of an office that's firmly rooted in the twentieth century (circa 1978) in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...rds-9-5-a.html

and everyone's favourite commie is back as Isbjorn reopens http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html to take a look into the music of folk legend Woody Guthrie.

Kanye West month kicks off early in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...usic-hall.html with reviews of 808 and Heartbreak, Yeezus and, rather surprisingly because he's never ever mentioned liking it before, but there you go: Life of Pablo! Or if computer games are more your thing head down to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...is-arcade.html where he'll tell you all about Flinthook . On a more serious and sombre note, there are more personal musings from Ki in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...iii-story.html.

Back http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...c-odyssey.html we welcome the return of Mordor, and he's looking at Bowie, Sufjan Stevens, Flaimg Lips and more. Oh, and getting into dark folk. Apparently.

Back too, after a year and a half is our own Suzy Creamcheese, now reverted to his former identity and known once again as Oriphiel. He's taking us into part two of http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...rgy-story.html, which he's calling Sweat and Stone. Check it out.

Someone's actually taking up my idea and using http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-journal.html, and it's rostasi, who's looking at The Residents.

Finally, we have http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...t-you-yac.html as our esteemed Super Moderator joins us in Journaltown to share some of his favourite, possibly obscure, Polish artists, such as Męskie granie and Maciej Maleńczuk . Welcome Yac; your name (and the absence of Zero) means you get to close this update out.

So, who's going to be my choice this month for

I'm gonna give it to the “new guy”, who certainly seems to know his stuff as he opens his first journal:
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1822946

As for
Funny Post

of the Month
Well, much as I hate to go to the obvious candidate, I really did laugh hard at this double insult which showed up in Violet's journal but is from our own rsident jester, Batty:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Go sh*t a bag of dicks.

Finally, I couldn't leave this without dragging Ori screaming out of the grave, could I?

Yes, after eighteen months and a name change,um, back, Ori returns with the long-awaited (maybe) second part of his disco story with aliens and gangsters. Um. Next you'll be telling me Batty is writing the next episode of Return of the Kings of Metal!

I honestly don't have a lot else to say. My own absence from the journals section will keep me a little less interested in what goes on there, but I'll be keeping this update, well, updated every month, so kudos to those of you who have made the effort and we'll see you all again in June.

Till then,
Toodles!

[Oriphiel]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

For those who don't know/aren't interested let me just confirm that all my own journals are now on permanent hold while I turn my attention to writing my series of fantasy novels in an attempt to become the author I know I can never be.

Don't put yourself down, man. You're a fantastic writer, and your novels are going to be badass. Of course, you are going to send us all free copies once you finish them, right?

[Pet_Sounds]

Kudos to you for getting down to business on your novels! Feel free to send me a PM if you want to chat about the writing/publishing world—you could say I have some inside knowledge.

[Frownland]

I'd ask you to base a villain on me but I'm sure you're already way ahead of me on that one.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Oriphiel

Don't put yourself down, man. You're a fantastic writer, and your novels are going to be badass. Of course, you are going to send us all free copies once you finish them, right?

Of course. And thanks for the encouragement.

Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds

Kudos to you for getting down to business on your novels! Feel free to send me a PM if you want to chat about the writing/publishing world—you could say I have some inside knowledge.

Thanks man. I'll bear it in mind.

Originally Posted by Frownland

I'd ask you to base a villain on me but I'm sure you're already way ahead of me on that one.

Funny you should say that: there's this big massive talking tree whose leaves tinkle with the most awful free jazz imaginable and whose bark is prized as making the very best narcotic in the twenty-nine kingdoms....

[Key]

Thanks for the mention TH.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Kiiii

Thanks for the mention TH.

You're welcome. As usual, you're putting in some of the most work keeping the place going.

[Trollheart]

For those interested, I've posted some extracts from my first book here
http://www.musicbanter.com/media/446...ml#post1830237
Comments welcome as always.

[Trollheart]

Ah, June! Summer is just around the corner: here in Ireland you can tell by there only being six and a half days of rain. Enjoy it while you can.

For a whole month there hasn't been a terrible amount of activity here, but then I have suspended all my journals while I concentrate on my novels, so who am I to point the finger?

So let's see who has been putting in a shift over the last month. No, I told you, I'm writing ... oh, forget it!


And we kick off as http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...l-pleases.html and what he pleases this month is to review Courtney Barnett, Alanis Morisette , Run the Jewels and rather a lot of Soundgarden.

Next up is “Flamenco Guitar Albums you have to hear” in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...o-journal.html, with Paco de Lucia, Vicente Amigo, Rafel Riqueni, Manolo Sanlucar, Tomatito and more. Also "Palos of flamenco part three: Alegria"

A rare journal from Exo, who doesn't do journals, but this time he, well, is. http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-section.html brins us the Stevenson Ranch Davidians, Haisuinonasa, Living Hour, Covet and more.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...r-journal.html is one thing. Getting wasted with style when you're broke is quite another. Frownland slavers over Dogfish Head (huh?) in “The Drool Section”. Yeah.

Now, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...obably-dl.html, one of which is Belle and Sebastian's Tigermilk while

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnerspace.html include the Orb and Moondog, while there's more making fun of the less technologically savvy in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...rds-9-5-a.html.

Seems Kanye West Month didn't last. Degenerated, or developed if you prefer, into a discussion about the trashiness of the cover art on Life of Pablo and then Ki gave it up. He's also talking now about Chris Cornell, all down in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...usic-hall.html, while 20XX gets the treatment over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...is-arcade.html. As if that wasn't enough, there's also http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...an-do-you.html with Daniel Bedingfield, Ryan Cabrera and Devin Townsend. Finally there are more deep musings, along with some pretty cool pictures, in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...iii-story.html.

There's so much to take in when Mordor's http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...c-odyssey.html that I don't have time to write it all down, but talking Mike Oldfield, Sufjan Stevens, Catherine Ribeiro and Tim Buckley, as well as a whole lot of prog rock.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...cking-out.html include Kristoffer Alberts/Lasse Marhaug and Cabaret Voltaire, courtesy of Occulthawk.

Oriphiel continues the story of http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...rgy-story.html and also has a new journal, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ove-story.html, which is proceeding nicely.

And Hey (!) () http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...t-you-yac.html wraps it up for this month, with an interesting exchange between Yac and Batty, see below.

Someone, well, Frownland, said Neapolitan is one of the funniest members on here. I don't see it personally, but that's just me. But once again the winner of
Funny Post

of the Month
is pretty much the undisputed jester of the forum, our very own Batty, who when presented with this video in Yac's journal
came up with this response:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Awful, but I would buy property on that woman's vagina.

In fact, you know, fuck it. I know this was unintentional by him, but in the same post Yac came up with this hilarious gem, so I'm gonna have the two of them share the award. Oops! A fan of Hitler and a Pole: could be trouble a-brewin' here!

Originally Posted by Yac

I don't know much about geese, other than they are aggressive bastards with a dark void where a should should be.

Goes to Mordor for this gem, which succinctly demonstrates what stuck-up cunts we prog heads can often be:

Originally Posted by Mordor

I'll be listening to prog rock for the rest of the week. Threw the whole folder on my music player this morning.

First sample is a recent and out-of-the-way band called Birds and Buildings. As we sat enjoying ice cream one day, my friend told me about this band. I mentioned that I'd never heard of them, and he smugly said, "Of course not."

And that's it. I'm off to enjoy the Irish summer with my cats. Well, you know...

See ya some other time!
Toodles!