It isn't an issue.
Jesus, talk about an overreaction.

It's not an issue, and I'm sure it's not directed at you KI, but Urban's right: there are people who seem to believe that every new idea they have must be put into a separate journal, and if that happens not only will the original journal probably suffer, but we'll end up with a family of journals from everyone. I think Urban (and I, in my way) just means: think about it. Can your new idea work in your original journal? If not, then fine, go ahead and make a new one. But don't just do it for the sake of it or because you think it would be cool, or because others are doing it.

Again, not directed at you, and I'm the biggest culprit, but as I explained I had and have my reasons, all valid, for opening new journals. I just think people need to consider before they go opening another journal.

Then that should be on the mods not to approve it and PM the person that this new journal can be put into their existing one. The people who are making them aren't the only problem.

I'm not saying that I expect people cover things like books or films or music or video games or whatever and keep it all in one journal.

If you're just going to review albums and then after doing half a dozen get bored and want to do it in a different way is there really any need to start a new one over it?

It's not a mod issue, it's a personal opinion.
We're allowed those, it's a forum of opinions, remember?

Well no, I suppose not.

Coming soon?

Just throwing out the idea here: if anyone wants to use this thread to announce the ideas they have for next year drop me a line, as I'll be including a section on that from next week, assuming anyone wants to advertise. If not, I'll be just doing my own journals. But it's a chance both to tell people what to expect and maybe to push yourself to actually do all this "new stuff" you keep promising yourself you must start. Nobody's going to hold anyone to anything, but you can certainly get your ideas announced if you want.

I'll be creating a new album next year which will include quite a few new influences from poking around this forum and finding new stuff that catches my ear. I might chronicle the journey, so there's that.

Who's next on the roster for Trollheart's Showroom? Oh, it's Wolves In Sheepskin! Looks like he's abandoned the journal though.

Coincidence?

An instrumental track musically expressing Spider-Man's aerial journey through New York City?

Haven't abandoned it of course, just up to my eyes in Scrooge movies and other stuff. Keep watching this space. No, actually, watch that space...

*wipes tear*

You get me. Finally. Someone gets me. I'm so happy.

*sniffle*

Obviously this is a long way away, but I've been getting into some horror comics today, and am coming to the conclusion that horror and comics go together like axes and foreheads. I think I might do a special Halloween month for my comic journal. How in-depth it's going to be is still to be determined, but something will definitely be done.

And yes, I realize that this will clash with Trollheart's Metal Month, but mine will have a better title, so it's all good.

I'll probably be starting a journal sort of like Goofle's or Sidewinder's on the best albums of every year. I've already done some of this in my current journal, but I'll be putting a lot more thought into my lists and doing a lot more writing.

I'm not trying to discourage you, but I think two people doing that already is enough. Obviously, you're free to do what you want but I would look for something more original. This is assuming you're talking about a list from a certain year to a certain year, like the two of them are doing. Personally, I'd do something more like "albums that mean something to me", "Personal albums", "albums I like that will appear on nobody's AOTY list" or something. I'm not getting at you, I just think if one person has an idea it's inadvisable for anyone to copy him or her, and it seems like you would be copying both of them, rendering both their journals a little less relevant and making yours look like a bandwagon-jumping sort of thing.

You could say my "Futureshock" journal is copying Batty's comic book idea, but we're both looking at different comics, different eras in totally different ways. I always try to make my ideas as original as possible, otherwise people may just roll their eyes and say "Oh. Another best-albums-of-the-decades journal. Wow. How exciting." and move on. Or not. But I know I personally would not necessarily be interested in a third version; I only read the two here at the moment out of necessity, for the update.

As I say, do what you want. I'm not the Godfather here or anything, but I would just say think about what you want to do before you just take someone else's idea/format and copy it.

Go for it Josef, you've got unique enough taste for it not to be a bandwagon journal as TH puts it.

You really could.

Go for it. Although saying will be doing a journal like theirs but "be putting a lot more thought into" it sounds like a left-handed compliment. ;)

I'm thinking of doing some kind of AOR inspired journal in the new year, that won't be a top 10 or 20 like my main journal, but more like and educational nostalgic visit into late 70s-80s AOR, and would probably move along to present day at a similar pace to my metal journal.

I had an idea for a new journal as well. I was going to go into a used CD store every week and pick out a few random CD's from random genres, listening to them for the first time. You know, I'd pick a few retro ones, a few newer ones, and one or two made by local bands. But i'm moving to a place that's not very close to any CD stores, so I'm probably just going to stick with the journal I have right now. Still, I'd love to see someone do something like this, just digging through random music and seeing what they find (even though I'm sure that it's probably been done before in another journal).

Seems public opinion is with you my man Josef, so as they say go for it. But I'd hope to see that it is very different from the other two, which, no offence to either (and I think Sidewinder was first) are very similar. But like they say, your journal(s) is/are yours, you do what you want. Look forward to seeing it.

Edit: Batty, shut up and get your Voyager episode two ready. I explained about the fact that I had the idea for the 2000AD journal almost a year ago, just slow to put it into effect, and if you think I have some machine that allows me to tune into your thoughts and take your ideas before you even have them, well, all I can say is, patent pending, so watch out guy! ;)

US, sounds like a great idea and a natural progression from your heavy rock/metal opus. I think you'd do another definitive guide definitely.

Actually Streetwaves did it first, only he did it in a thread instead of a journal.

And if Josef goes into more detail than those other ones then it'll probably look more like Unknown Solider's journal than Goofle's or Sidewinder's and that's no bad thing because US's journal is probably the most active on the site.

I meant putting more thought into it than the lists I've posted in my own journal! I love Sidewinder's and Goofle's and I wouldn't insult them. Urban is basically getting at what I mean - the idea is some hybrid between Pounding Decibels and those two. It's not the most original thing in the world, but I'll have fun with it at least.

No I understand. It's totally non-sketchy that you had the idea, but never carried it out until after I had done it myself. I wouldn't dream of accusing you of plagiarism.

I put essentially no effort into my journal aside from having listened to the albums, so any unintentional insult was completely on point!

And I will check out your journal when it starts.

Oh starting next reviews I'm going to use MMMM as a regular reviewing area withsome twists I'm going to review albums differently every month.

I think Unknown Soldier has decent set up. It has a very orderly presentation going from year to year.

As most active I thought it was Th, maybe more collectively. Taken together, Trollheart's journals are nearing a quarter of a million views for all of his journals -- he's presently @ 243,452 views. I know that isn't a statistic of total viewers, but it still impressive.

I mean in terms of activity from other members

Well Trollheart is like a pillar of this community and is the heart and soul of 'journal land' especially with how he promotes it all.

As for my journal, I decided to present it in the form of how I would like to read it myself, which is in an organised/historical in-depth manner.

Well as people are advertising what they're doing in their journals I may as well add mine.

Once I've got the Bowie review out of the way I hope to continue doing some more Now! albums. Also next year is the 30th anniversary of Live Aid. as I was bought the DVD for Christmas a few years ago and still never really watched it properly I might do an in depth look at that.
Nobody has really touched on E.P.s from what I can see so I'm going to do a rundown on my favourite E.P.'s although I'm not sure if it'll be a top 50 or top 100 just yet.
It depends on the material I have to work with.
I'll probably also carry on reviving some of the ideas I've already posted, like ADHD reviews , reviewing albums just because they have awful covers, chart rundowns and poking fun at other members and finish off the Bond themes chart. Maybe I'll even get round to reviewing the other 3 Kiss solo albums from 3 or 4 years ago. And I also promised Trollheart I'd review Genesis The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. But basically I'll just knock out stuff as I feel like doing it.

As far as the Doctor Who journal goes, I need a rethink on that one, originally it was designed so I could knock out stuff quickly but it got to the point I was writing a novel every week and I just ended up losing interest because every entry was becoming too daunting.

Which Kiss solo album did you do? Also I remember many years ago on here you were doing Alice Cooper as well?

I noticed this and as they say with these things, less is more:)

The Music Banter Members Journals Update Thread: Week ending December 21 2014
 

Ho ho ho! Last update before Christmas. Hope you all have your presents bought, and your credit cards are booked in for a nice relaxing rest after January! Let's see what's in Trollheart's sack shall we? Actually no: I might get arrested for that! Let's just check out your journals instead...


All those already aboard http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ravaganza.html (you know, it's going to be hard to maintain these nautical metaphors and puns for the next however-long-he's-doing-this-for) have already enjoyed some fine music and some finer writing from he who enjoys insects as part of his diet, and soon he'll be delving, he tells us, into Steely Dan's classic “Aja”, but for now there's a video on the making of it.

Who the heck is Deadpool? Well, if your idea of fun is to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-oblivion.html, then the Comix Guru will answer all your questions.

Briks is dipping his toe into waters usually guarded by Pet_Sounds. Yeah, he's going all folk down http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html , with a look at Simon and Garfunkel and more haiku reviews, as well as a review of Wishbone Ash's opus, “Argus”. Oh, and some losers called (wait for it) Dragon Guardian! :rofl:

Another of http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...rly-years.html is the second album from Queen.

Frownland may be http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...wnapilago.html, with nobody coming to rescue him any time soon, but that doesn't mean he can't rant on about how much he hates the latest/last Pink Floyd...

It's 1997 too in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...63-2013-a.html and he's checking out music by God Speed You Black Emperor!, Electric Wizard, Idiot Flesh and one I've been listening to, Yo La Tengo.

And JosefK has started his own list, though he maintains it will be more a sort of hybrid between the above and Sidewinder's journals and the mighty Pounding Decibels. Time, as they say, will tell. You can check out the first picks for http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...year-year.html including 1965, for which his top six (?) begins with The Sonics...

Those Scrooges of the forum I spoke of last week? Ki's one of them, perfectly happy to “go die in a fire” (his own words) rather than celebrate the birth of our lord Santa Claus. He's grumpily firing off death metal salvos at the holiday season, including material from Lamb of God, Children of Bodom and Amon of Amarth (sorry, just Amon Amarth) in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html. He has also announced he'll be “taking a Trollheart”, I believe the phrase is. Different to “doing a Trollheart”, this one is defined as “reaching that point where you begin to burn out or for other reasons are tired of updating your journal and decide to take an extended break”. Best of luck to him. Better to burn out than fade ... oh. Wait...

Machine, on the other hand, is getting into the spirit of it all with a review of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...l-madness.html while http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-song-day.html come from MF Doom, Sunny Day in Glasgow, The Flaming Lips and Neutral Milk Hotel, something from Charlie Brown and Jesu, then in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...otistical.html he's getting over his self-doubts and talking about the influence jazz drumming had on his music.

In http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...dern-rock.html sometimes you need a First Aid Kit, so see Neapolitan about it...

Oriphiel has had his road trip delayed, so has used the time to finish his entry on Los Nuggetz, and also has time to add more to his western while he's http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ck-garage.html. Looks like he's angling for that Workhorse of the Week award again this week, and he's well on the way to getting it, with entries on post-punk, rockabilly bands and even The Bangles! And the Beatles! Does this guy ever sleep?

What have John Denver, Simon and the less talented one and Billy Joel all got in common? They're all to be found on http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...crap-heap.html! But school's out for this kid apparently, and he's celebrating with some of his favourite music.

It's 1996 in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ar-1965-a.html where he's reminiscing about Neutral Milk Hotel, Modest Mouse, Unwound and others. And now it's a year later, and he's looking at Ween, Radiohead, Mouse on Mars and Faith No More for 1997.

Just having missed the update for last week by a few hours, Tristesse returns http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...tristesse.html, and celebrating the U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! He's looking at bands like Semisonic, Capital Cities and Matchbox Twenty.

Won't forget me this time around! So what's been happening in my journals, you ask? You don't ask. Well I'll tell you anyway. It's basically Christmas overload in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html as I continue to open more presents that have been left Under Trollheart's Tree from Christian Benteke, YorkeDaddy, Bob, James, Mordwyr and Blarobarg, among others, while we get a really WEIRD Christmas going with the first six selections of the most unusual Christmas songs suggested by your good selves, and look at a Christmas album from Yes's Jon Anderson. There's non-festive fare too, as we look at the new album from (cough) Nickelback (Praise be to the Chad!) and also tackle a classical opus, while down on http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html there are more Christmas TV specials from Blackadder and Supernatural, with the Scrooge Showdown continuing in earnest and introductions to The West Wing and the original Star Trek. Dredd's fight against Call-Me-Kenneth hits something of a bump when he's taken captive by the killer robot in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-2000-ad.html and if you're wondering what happened to Strontium Dog, well, just stay tuned...

Unknown Soldier takes us out this week as Metallica's “Kill 'em all” takes third spot for 1983 in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html.

And now it's time to award the
http://www.trollheart.com/workhorse.png
which I did consider, seriously, giving to Orph again this week, but though he's done sterling work on his journal I'm loath to offer the award to the same person two weeks running. So I've been looking at the work one member has not actually done, but plans to do, and the research he has put into his project for next year.
http://www.musicbanter.com/avatars/8...ine=1415366657
Yeah, it's not necessarily for his current journal (as I think this will be a new one) but he has really thought out his metal year, due to begin in January, which he's calling "The Devil's Dancefloor", and with the amount of research he's done, not to mention having one month already pre-written (THAT'S how to do it guys!) I think it's only fair to give him the award this week. Well done Justin, and we look forward to seeing the fruit of your labours in the coming year!

http://www.trollheart.com/retrojournal2.png

This week I'd like to look into the journal of someone who doesn't always get the credit he deserves, and yet the views on his journal show that he's as well-read and popular as many of us. Yeah, it's time to pay homage to that master of the one-liner, the calm voice in the storm of drama, the one, the only, (don't call him Neap!)
http://www.musicbanter.com/avatars/2...ine=1418656157
Neapolitan actually has two journals, as I'm sure you'll all know, but this one started while I was away and has already got some great stuff in it. After a brief introduction explaining what http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...dern-rock.html was all about, Neapolitan got right into it with an entry on Solid Space, followed by Burning Hearts and then Crystal Stilts. If you haven't heard of any of these bands call in and see Mr. N, as he seems to be quite the authority on them. Having begun his journal in September, there was a gap of a month between Burning Hearts and Crystal Stilts, but this guy was never one to throw in four entries a day like (ahem) some people I could mention: as Urban would say, quality over quantity, and that's certainly what you get here.

That brought us up to date, at least to the point where I revitalised this thread, so although it was a short look it was a very productive one, and if you've been meaning to check this journal out but never got around to it, make the time to do so. You won't regret it.

http://www.trollheart.com/classicj2.png

Continuing our look into the very beginnings of Unknown Soldier's "Pounding Decibels", we're now up to 1973, which kicked off with the usual intro and then Montrose took tenth spot with their self-titled debut, followed by what had become by now mainstays of this era in his journal, Zep with “Houses of the holy” at number 9 and then a new entry at number 8, where we met an Aussie band called Buffalo and their “Volcanic rock”. Grand Funk were back at number 7 with “We're an American band” while Nazareth came in at number 6 with “Razmanaz”, leaving Free to take the midway point with their last ever album, “Heartbreaker”. Alice was back at number four, grinning and holding a chainsaw as “Billion dollar babies” was just beaten out of the top three by Blue Oyster Cult with “Tyranny and mutation”, which was also US's Album Pick for that year. Into the top two then with “Never turn your back on a friend”, good advice from Budgie, leaving Ozzy and the boys to take top slot with “Sabbath bloody Sabbath”.

Rick Derringer was someone you should “Also check this out” with his album “All American boy”, and some albums not to make the cut included more from Alice, also Uriah Heep, Lizzy and Aerosmith. Their time would come! Heep actually made a showing elsewhere, in the “Live Album section” with the imaginatively titled “Live”, while “Hard, Heavy and a Classic” featured Mott the Hoople's “Mott”, as well as the eponymous debut from The New York Dolls. And ZZ's “Tres Hombres”. AND The Stooges' “Raw power”. 'AND ... “Kings of oblivion” by The Pink Fairies! '73 must have been one hell of a year! I was only ten, what do I know? ;)

Part two of “In the shadow of Sabbath” featured Pentagram and Necromandus, and then we were into 1974, which opened with, after the usual intro, a Double-Header from Deep Purple at number 10, with “Burn” and “Stormbringer” sharing the slot, while number 9 saw another Double-Header in Kiss's debut and “Hotter than Hell”. Buffalo were back at number 8 with “Only want you for your body”, and number 7 featured BTO's “Not fragile”, before he went all Double-Header on us again and awarded Nazareth two slots at number 6, with both “Loud'n'Proud” and “Rampant”, with Aerosmith making a showing at number 5 with “Get your wings”. Number four had “Phenomenon” by UFO, then the top three were, in order, Bad Company's debut, Budgie with “In for the kill” (also his AOTY) and BOC with “Secret treaties” taking the top spot.

In “Also check this out” we had Granicus's (who?) self-titled debut, and this year there were a lot of albums that didn't make the cut, including offerings from Lizzy (again), Montrose, Scorpions, Rush and Grand Funk to name but a few. Before we left 1974 US decided to talk about Queen and Hawkwind in two two-part articles, and in “Hard, Heavy and a Classic” we had The New York Dolls again, this time with “Too much too soon”.

And so we bade farewell to 1974, I turned twelve and started thinking that there might be more to music than what was on the radio...

I have to break this up into two sections again, thanks maximum image count! Be right back....

This week one exchange just tickled me, and though generally I would not nominate my own posts, this was in Batty's journal so I think is okay. Also, for the first time ever I'm quoting two posts, but only because without each the joke is not as funny. Not that it's that funny in the first place, but, you know, it made me smile, which is why this double entry is my
http://www.trollheart.com/quill.jpg
This

http://www.trollheart.com/batty.png
and his rather sheepish response
:laughing:

Before I go then, and wish you all a Happy Christmas, let me just run one more thing by you:
http://www.trollheart.com/crypt2.png
http://www.musicbanter.com/avatars/8...ine=1405079407
I used to really enjoy this journal. Silenzio had a great way with words and listened to some really different stuff. I wonder why she stopped writing? If you're out there, girl, we miss ya! Here's an example of what she used to write in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...mix-music.html
So that's it for this week, and indeed for the last update before Christmas. I'll see some of you around in my or your journals, and on the forum, but to anyone who I may not see and who's reading this, have a great Christmas and I'll see yaz all again next Sunday, when it's all over!

As we say here in Ireland, Nollaig Shona!
Or if you prefer
Toodles!

No mention of my exceptional (and quite frankly better written and more to the point than your long winded effort) Nickelback album review?

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1063929

I didn't so much as stop the Alice Cooper one, I don't think I've listened to him since I last updated it save the odd bootleg or two.

There's always one, isn't there? There you are: I'm not perfect. But in reality I don't wish to bring down the wrath of The Chad upon us. Beware, for he may be near, and if you speak his name ... oh no! Too late!
http://www.tntmagazine.com/media/cha...il-lavigne.jpg

JustinJJustin is, as already mentioned here, doing Devil's Dancefloor next year, and I've decided to join him by featuring the section in my journal as well. However, I will not go very in-depth about the albums (unless I've known them for a long time and have a lot to say), and I won't do all of them, since I don't have time to write long-winded reviews about 15-20 albums a month.

I'm going to review Wolves in Sheepskin's Knuckle in the Mud and one of Plankton's albums (listened to three, not sure which to review yet), some time in the new year. Other than that, I have no idea, but that's kind of the point with my journal. I might post some of my own piano noodlings -- show all of our hotshot guitarists how to play a real solo! ;)

But I know you all want me to review Billy Joel's entire discography in extreme detail, so I might do that too.

I'm taking a week off of My Album/Song Of The Day next week, in fact I might not be constantly active on here next week, or you know maybe I will.

I'll be interested in seeing this.

If two more people second (and third, I suppose) this, I'll do it. ;)

Rather shocked that you'd be interested, BTW.