The Music Banter Members' Journals Monthly Update Thread

[Trollheart]

[rubber soul]

NOTE: In discussion with Pet Sounds about a possible Beatles' thread, stay tuned

[Trollheart]

Over the last few months, and further back, things have been rather quiet here. That's not in any way to take from the people (you know who you are) who have worked so long and so hard on really good journals. Your efforts are appreciated. But overall, the pickings have been a little slim and there hasn't been that much to write about recently. That has changed this month, as a new year dawns, and we have journals all over the place – new ones, old ones, and some serious updates too. So give yourselves a pat on the back; the journal section looks to be on the way back to the former glory it held several years ago. Keep it up guys!

As this is the first journal update of 2018, and we have some relatively new members here, to say nothing of new journal authors, who may not be familiar with this thread, let me quickly* tell you what it is meant to do, and perhaps more importantly, what it isn't.

* =

Spoiler for You can skip this if you're a regular or just don't want to read it:

Basically, the idea came to me nearly six years ago (how time flies!) when I realised that despite all the work being put into many journals, a lot of authors were losing heart, complaining that nobody was reading their material. A few members without journals would occasionally express surprise that such-a-member was writing about this, that or the other, and many weren't even aware the journal section existed. So I suggested people might want to write about what they were, well, writing about. I got no response from anyone, so I undertook to do it myself. In essence, I intended to give a very brief outline of each journal, an idea of what they were doing, and to point people who might be interested in their direction. It began as part of the “What's Happening on MB” thread in 2012 and was eventually seen to have outgrown that in terms of popularity, thereby awarded its own thread in April 2013. So yeah, it's been around for almost eighty percent of the time I've been here.

And generally speaking, it's been wildly successful, has managed to kickstart a new dawn for journal writers, with more people becoming involved than, I think, ever before, and brought you as authors hopefully more views than you might have managed on your own. It's also on the odd occasion become a talking point in the main forum, so it's not quite famous, but certainly well-known. When I was away for almost a year from 2015-16, there were quite a few grumbles about how the thread wasn't updated anymore, and of course once I returned I kicked it back into life. So it's become something of a way of life here for many people, and is now a fixture of the forum. Success!

But some people remain confused as to what exactly it is I try to do here, so for those people, and anyone else who wants to know, I present

The DO's and DON'T's of the Journal Update Thread

I DO ensure every journal that is updated is included. Very occasionally I will miss someone out; I'm not perfect. As the thread is moderated I can't edit my posts once they've been approved, so if I do miss someone out I'll either post a separate entry on them or if they're okay with waiting, I'll include them next month, highlighting the fact that I missed them out on the previous one.

I DO post the update on the first Sunday of every month. Originally it was a weekly thing, but as my workload increased and the work rate in the journals section decreased, and there was less to write about every week, I decided to change it to a monthly update. Anything posted up to 6pm Irish time on that Sunday should be included.

I DON'T read everyone's entries all the way through. This should perhaps be obvious but does not seem to be. Many of you write long and excellent, occasionally rambling entries, and there are the odd ones I have no interest in (like wrestling or beer). I'm always happy to encourage good writing and would never suggest anyone write less, but you can't expect me to read a three-page diatribe on the decline of punk or a one-page tribute to Jim Morrison, or a ten-page expose of the Grammys, or whatever it is you're writing. I simply don't have the time. So your journal(s) will get skimmed by me. I'll write a quick idea of what I see - “Pet_Sounds is looking at Bowie, Occult is checking out Indonesian Jazz, Ki is doing platform games” etc – and will put in as much specific content as I can, referring to albums, games, books, whatever, that pop up in your entries. Much of what you do will however be covered by “and much more.” If nothing else, this encourages people to check out what you're writing.

I DON'T act as a publicity agent or advertising for any one journal, or any group of journals. All I do is point people towards the journals; it doesn't matter particularly if I like them or if I'm interested in them. This is a totally impartial update.

I DON'T include journals that have been a) not updated within the timeframe b) only updated by someone other than the author inserting a comment (even if the author then replies to that) or c) have been bumped for stupid reasons. To be included, you need to write an actual entry.

I DO all the journals alphabetically, so nobody is favoured above someone else. If your name begins with Z, sorry, but you're going to be last. Change your username if it really bothers you that much.

I DON'T play favourites when I review. In other words – generally, with the odd exception – I won't say “check this journal but not that one” or “this journal is terrible; avoid it”. I try to be as impartial and fair as I can, and if something is not for me, then I realise and accept that it could be for others, and will do my best to communicate that.

I DON'T publish extracts of journals any more unless given permission to do so for a specific section. Links only.

I DO cover all journals in the section UNLESS you ask me not to. I have had this request once and it remains in place.

I DO highlight certain journals/members when writing specific sections (Post of the Month, Trollheart's Hotseat Award etc) outside of the main rundown of the journals.

So, with all that in mind, let's get to the latest crop of entries, the first, as I say, for the new year.

The weird trip that is http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...l-pleases.html continues with a lot of, well, weirdness. Also wrestling matches, and he's reviewing 2017, with artists such as Token and Melanie Martinez. Yeah. Enter at your own risk. Welcome to the Creepshow.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ravaganza.html continues with Elder, Floating Point and Ex Eye, among others and

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...obably-dl.html, Goofle says check out Dua Lipa.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html is open again, and kicking off 2018 is an article on Mississippi John Hurt.

Where can you find a new website for searching for music, Brian Eno and ECM Jazz as well as a touch of home decor? Ah, you know by now. There's only one place: http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnerspace.html.

Kiii is back, and has a new journal. http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-whenever.html with so far Slay the Spire, They Are Billions and Dead Cells getting awards. More to come, no doubt.

When http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...e-listens.html you can expect some weird stuff. Alva Noto, dotsjapan, goreshit, Devils Elbow, the awful CupcaKKE, Venetian Snares ...

Well, he finally gone and went and done it, he did! http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ramblings.html contains all the conspiracy/truther/hollow earth material you've never wanted to read. So if you want to read about A Journey Through the Multiverse, learn Martial Arts or How to Hide Files Inside of Images, you know where to go. Oh, and there's also music. And gun porn. What are you waiting for? Why are you still here?

Okay then: apology time. I slagged off Mindfulness for his attempt at a journal last year, and boy has he stepped up! I mean, we're talking nine new pages this month. No, not nine new entries: nine new PAGES! I don't even want to think how many entries that encompasses! And there's no way I can get through all his stuff here, so I'll just mention Portugal the Man, Lana Del Rey, Lorde, Macklemore and leave you to check through http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...s-spotify.html where it really is all happening. I offer a full and frank and sincere apology, man: you have certainly improved in leaps and bounds, and to reflect that, see further below.


There's a lot happening in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ong-picks.html with Marianne Cressaba, Billy Childs (that one's marked for the Album Club round five), Chtonic, more Cristina Branco, Arkona, Dress the Dead, Helion Prime and so much more!

Not satisfied with breaking new ground musically, Mondo is now running a http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...018-bitch.html in which he will, obviously, talk and write about the books he's reading. So far it's House of Leaves, The Bone Clock, Plague Ship and Alan Moore's Jerusalem, among others. A well-read guy as well as a very talented musician and writer.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...antiquity.html returns for 2018 with Skara Brae and The Bothy Band

The sounds of Durban, Migos, Mary Halvorson Octet, Luke Howard, Monolake and Jimmy Wopo feature in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...p-lighter.html. There's more, of course, much more, and he's looking back to 2016. But you'll have to go check out his journal to see what else there is.

One of Plankton's albums is reviewed in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...listening.html

And finally, another new journal as a relatively new member takes the plunge and introduces us to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...55-2017-a.html. Here you'll find 1955 (Bill Haley a highlight), 1956 (Moondog), 1957 (Sony Rollins and I think he refers to the classic movie The Seventh Seal?) and more from 1958-1962. Am ambitious project, to be sure, but aren't all the best ones?

[Trollheart]

There's no doubt that it's hard to whittle this down to one entry when there are so many people updating so many journals – an embarrassment of riches, you might say. And of course, I haven't read every single post in every single journal, nothing like it. However, for sheer oddness this one I think wins it. Other than Funny Post of the Month, I don't think I've ever before awarded this to a member who posted in someone else's journal, but that's just what Machine did when he wrote this review of It's a Big Joyous Celebration, Let's Stir the Honeypot by Teen Suicide in Occulthawk's journal. Even the Hawk approved of it! Sure, it could have done with, oh I don't know, some page breaks or formatting, and makes one of my traditional walls of text look like a small country stile, but hey, we're not going to be that pedantic, are we? Are we? Great review, and a well deserved shared award, you two guys. But mostly Machine, of course.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1916807


Funny Post

of the Month
The winner of this fought off stiff competition, because by Jiminy, there were some funny posts made this month!
We had this one from Merit, in response to a question (not sure whether serious or just trolling) from Occult: (Note the last line in Merit's response!)

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Are there presently any earthlings outside of our solar system?

Originally Posted by [MERIT]

I believe so. Have you ever heard of Project SERPO? Reportedly, there is a terrestrial exchange program with beings from the Zeta Reticuli star system.

Project SERPO: Releases 1-21 [PDF]


Keep your spam out of my journal.

Speaking of Occult, he wasn't short of the odd funny quote himself. Check this out!

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

A Seat at the Table by Solange was ranked 2016 AOTY by Pitchfork, Spin, and Vibe.

It’s boring, uninspired garbage. Such a fantastic year and this is the best some professional critics can find. It’s incredible. Why do people who don’t like music listen to music? Go watch Judge Judy or whatever.

Mindfulness of course has a shot with this:

Originally Posted by Mindfulness

Macklemore - Bolo Tie Ft. YG

"I never won the spelling bee / I could read people's energy" is the first two lines and I can really relate so thats why this song is probably on this years list.

But in the end, the award had to go to
Rubber Soul, for this unintentional but hilarious mistake in his journal! And special shout-out to Akai, who spotted it, because I never would have otherwise. Thanks man!

Originally Posted by rubber soul

Scandal of the Year: Marilyn Manson sings to JFK

Hard, for once, to figure out who to award

to. There are really four nominees, these being Rubber Soul, Mindfulness, Machine and Merit. But in the end, I think I have to go with Mindfulness, because of the huge improvement in his journal and also the amount of work he's put into it this month. Take a bow!


There's only one possible recipient of this award, and it has to be the return of the Ki(ng) with his new video games awards journal. Kind of thought he might be gone for good, but no, he's back and firing on all cylinders. Welcome back, man.


Just to show that there's still a decent mix of the old and the young* here, we have new journals from
Rubber Soul
Mindfulness
Merit
Exo
Machine

and continuing brilliance from
Occulthawk
Neapolitan
Goofle
Innerspaceboy
MicShazam
Mondo
and of course Blank

* both of which refer to journals, not members. If you've had a journal before then you're considered old, if you're starting one this year, you're young, so rejoice!


I mentioned this last month, and now it's time to kick it into gear. Basically, it's pretty simple. Last one vertical wins the award! Nah, seriously: this year I'll be doing my best to read more of your journals, get into them more, and make a determination as to which is the best of the year. It's for 2018, but I will be taking into account previous work input. I'll be looking for basically four things:
a) Good, insightful writing
b) Reasonably regular updates
c) evidence of passion for what you write
d) Decent knowledge of what you're writing about

I'll explain those a bit more shortly. I want to make it clear that I will NOT be taking into account views, as this is not necessarily any indication of quality, and that's what I'm looking for. If your intention is to appeal to the lowest common denominator by, say, posting your most outrageous YouTube videos or all your albums, fine, do that. But don't expect to be considered. For a journal to win the uncoveted Journal of the Year award its author will have to do more than just slap a bunch of videos or images together.

So what will you have to do, if you want to win? Well, as I said above, you need to fulfil certain criteria I've established, and I'll take them in order now.

Good, insightful writing: Nobody is expecting you to write a novel or a treatise on anything (though of course some members here have that capability and talent, should they wish to utilise it) but use proper grammar, spelling and have some sort of, if not theme flowing through your journal, then at least ensure it makes sense. Make sure I can follow it, understand what it's about, what you're trying to say, what your plan is, if you have one, what you want to achieve with it. Try not to just quote articles or link to them; write your own interpretations of them if you use them, but better yet, just use them (if at all) as a source for your own words. Use humour by all means, but don't become Norg. Nuff said.

Reasonably regular updates: Not everyone can update every week, nor do I expect it. You do what you can, when you can. But for a journal to be considered for this award, I need to see some sort of effort to keep it regular, keep it current. If you haven't updated for six months, well, don't expect to be considered, unless you up your game this year. And even if you do kick up the regularity, don't do it sporadically. A journal that is well written and updated twice a month or more will receive more attention from me than one which is well written, updated in February, then not again till September, and so on.

Passion: Who the hell writes unless they care about what they're writing? Unless they're getting paid to write dry old copy, of course. But here, if you have bothered to begin a journal, you surely enjoy or have an interest in what you're writing about. That should come through in your writing. If it doesn't look like you're really that bothered, or you're not putting in the effort, that will be a mark against you. You can do that, obviously – nobody is stopping you – but you will hurt your chances of being considered for any awards.

Knowledge: Anyone can blag their way through a journal, cribbing information from Wiki, RYM, Discogs or any other source. But if you really don't know your subject that will show, and will go against you. Besides, why would you bother to or want to write about something of which you have no experience or knowledge? The old writer's adage, “write what you know” has never been so true and appropriate. Of course, you can research and gain knowledge, but you shouldn't write about something before or until you know what you're writing about.

What's the prize? What do you mean, what's the prize? An award of course.
Oh all right, if you insist.
The winner will receive a download file containing his or her choice of five complete discographies (or as much as I can find available) of his or her favourite artist(s).
Second prize will be three discographies
Third prize will be one discography.

Prizes can be delivered by whatever method you wish, though file sharing sites are probably the best option. That can be discussed with the winners.

So, if you want to be in with a chance of winning, either keep up the good work you're doing now, step it up if you're not exactly pushing yourself, or improve what you are doing. Results will be announced just before Christmas, so you might have yourself a nice little Christmas present.

I will allow people to vote if they want, but I tried this before and nobody bothered, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was no interest. At any rate, even if you do vote, it's my choice so I'll only use your votes as a basic guide, maybe a tie-break in the event I can't choose. For your information, and to either spur you on or make you grin with pride, the following are at the moment all in the running:

(These are in alphabetical order by member name)
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ravaganza.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnerspace.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...e-listens.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ramblings.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ong-picks.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...s-spotify.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...018-bitch.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...p-lighter.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...55-2017-a.html

If your journal is not here, don't despair. This is merely a basic list of the ones that have impressed me so far, and there's almost a year to go. Some journals are as yet too early to be considered, but do show promise. Others may not be here simply because I haven't had the time to read through them and see what they're like. Potentially, everyone has a chance to be in this list, but you should also know that journals can drop out of the list. If someone updates furiously for three months and then stops doing so for six, for example, that journal is going to be in danger of no longer being considered for any awards. Of course, if you've previously had a journal but let it slide, and want to have it considered for an award, you can do that: just get working on that shit.

I should also add, I know some people have an aversion to these sort of friendly competitions and prefer not to be included, so if that's you let me know and I'll remove your journal from the list under consideration. All rights and preferences will be observed and adhered to.

Oh, and no sabotaging anyone else's journal!

So that's it for this first update of 2018.
See you all in a month.
Toodles!

[MicShazam]

I want to try and start doing a bit more with my journal, maybe make it a bit more substantial. I'm just not sure in what way. I do kind of like the simplicity of the way I recommend music by just suggesting that people take a listen if they're curious - with little to no writing.

I could even start a new thread about other stuff than music, but I don't know.

I'll probably be experimenting a bit in the coming month.

[Plankton]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

One of Plankton's albums is reviewed in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...listening.html

Actually, it was for the last album from Zoetrope. I was just a fly on the wall.

[rubber soul]

Actually, my Marilyn Manson line was intentional. My news headlines are, shall we say, a little fractured?

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Plankton

Actually, it was for the last album from Zoetrope. I was just a fly on the wall.

Oh sorry: didn't check the link.

Originally Posted by rubber soul

Actually, my Marilyn Manson line was intentional. My news headlines are, shall we say, a little fractured?

Still damn funny even if it was intentional.
"Er um, I thought this was supposed to be a broad? Where's my broad dammit? I want answers!"

[Trollheart]

Sad news to begin with. Looks like we lost two journals as this month ended. Rubber Soul decided the banter here was too much for him and pussyed out, I'm sure the guys would say – you might also say he was hounded out (how's that for a mixed metaphor?) - but whichever way you look at it, I have to assume his journal will not now be completed, which is a pity as it was shaping up to be quite interesting. And the manner of his departure, or rather, the circumstances under which it took place seem to have upset our old young friend Pet_Sounds, who has announced that he, too, is leaving. We'll be sad to see them gone. Well, I know I will anyway.

But life goes on. Does it? Yes, it does. Here's what's been happening while all that was happening.

The prophecy has been fulfilled! What? Oh, something about Future Sound of London. What? Look, just check it out here http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnerspace.html

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ramblings.html has gun porn (again) and an article on software to make you think someone is someone else, which is damn scary.

Not quite so scary, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ong-picks.html has Sivan Arbell, Karen Beth, Chris Potter, Dir En Grey, A Perfect Circle, Barren Earth, Faun Fables and tons more. Mind you, though that's a lot of work, he's not satisfied with that and so has also opened up http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...not-music.html, in which he'll be reviewing and discussing everything he's interested in that isn't music. This includes his own personally-created computer game, Pan's Labyrinth, Snow White and the Huntsman, Cold Mountain and yes, Beautiful Dreamer, Ori: the needling finally paid off.

Michael Marshall, Brett Easton Ellis, Sarah Waters, David Mitchell ... just some of the authors Mondo is pursuing in his http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...018-bitch.html

and in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...s-spotify.html it's El-P, Hundred Waters, White Stripes, ASAP Ferg and more under the Mindfulness microscope.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...p-lighter.html continues with such diverse topics as Black History Week, Benoit Pioulard, the chamber works of Kaija Sarriaho, art and science and, um, the genitals of female hyenas.

As mentioned in the intro, sadly, and for various reasons, Pet_Sounds has decided to leave us entirely. Not just close his journal but leave the actual forum. I can't deny that recent unrest surely contributed to that decision (he refers to it himself) but it's a sad day. Therefore there will be no more entries in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...crap-heap.html, but you are of course free and indeed encouraged to check out what will now be an archive of his music and thoughts on same. We wish you fair winds, Spencer, and success in all you do. You will be missed.

Zoetrope is again the subject of http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...listening.html

And so too farewell and all the best to Rubber Soul. He threatened to leave once before, I talked him out of it, but to be frank I'm not here to smooth ruffled feathers. My own have been disturbed in the past; sometimes I've ****ed off for a while (but always came back, sorry about that), sometimes I've gotten into huge pointless rows and sometimes I've just ignored it and let it slide. These days, the latter is what I try to do if at all possible. Life is too short (although in fairness, life is by definition the longest thing you will ever experience!) and people can be ****s. You don't have to let them get to you.

Some people enjoy being superior and arrogant, some like hurting others – it's the eternal struggle of the weak and the strong. Quite honestly, people here are very unlikely ever to change, so if you can't accept the bad with the good (if there is any good for you) then you're probably better off doing what Rubber Soul did, which was to leave. In a huff. Wouldn't quite recommend that last part; leaving with dignity, if possible, beats throwing your toys out of the pram and stalking off, though I recognise RS had just undergone a deep family bereavement. Still, people in general here don't care about that, and the sooner you realise that, the better really.

All of which means that we have to say goodbye to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...55-2017-a.html long before it even got out of the sixties. Here's hoping we'll hear from him again some time in the future, but for now it's


No
Funny Post

of the Month
this time around. As you may have gathered from, well, the whole article really, the tone of this update is pretty downbeat and sad. It's never easy to lose members, much less longtime ones, and it's sad too when one of them has lost a parent while this is happening. So I'm really not in the mood for picking out funny posts this month and therefore this section is being skipped this time.

Can't ignore all the hard work though put in by MicShazam on his new journal, and that wins this month's


Other than that, not a lot more to say. I'm not personally depressed (not like last time) but for me at least, there's a pall hanging over the whole journal section at the moment, which hopefully will be dispelled, or at least will have retreated by the time I do March's update. Till then,
Toodles.

[OccultHawk]

Maybe Rubber Soul is back on his writing forum writing about writing about his writing forum on a music forum.