The Music Banter Members' Journals Monthly Update Thread

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

In general I've been a little disappointed with the response to the league table and was wondering is anyone that bothered? I've had negative comments on it, a few positive, but it's a lot of work and if no-one's that pushed about it I may as well wind it up.

Don't get me wrong: I enjoy doing it but if it's purely for my enjoyment it's way too much work to do.

Could you all please just check the poll I'll be putting in the main section and vote, so that I can see if I should continue this or kill it off?

Thanks
Troll

I think the problem is that it's a complicated rules system for something that is quite basic. Also why does a 'member's journal' thread need a league table, when the whole concept of a journal is for people to be subjective and do their own thing regardless whether others like it or not.

Personally I think you'd be better off putting your efforts into something else concerning journals and what people are doing with them.

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Next week: battle royale as the Batlord takes on Screen 13 in a winner-takes-all fixture. Be here, or be somewhere else!
Toodles!

Mwahahahaha! Part four is already being typed up and five is about halfway done. Retribution shall be mine!

[Powerstars]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

In general I've been a little disappointed with the response to the league table and was wondering is anyone that bothered? I've had negative comments on it, a few positive, but it's a lot of work and if no-one's that pushed about it I may as well wind it up.

Don't get me wrong: I enjoy doing it but if it's purely for my enjoyment it's way too much work to do.

Could you all please just check the poll I'll be putting in the main section and vote, so that I can see if I should continue this or kill it off?

Thanks
Troll

Dude, I love the league table, it's one of the main things that inspires me to update. Keep it, please.

[Trollheart]

After a lot of soul-searching (not really) I've decided to wind up the League Table. I know it had only been going for a month but it hasn't attracted the sort of attention or interest I had hoped it would, and frankly it's just too much work to do every week for the benefit of a small number of people. So sorry to you few who enjoyed it; had your interest been mirrored in a larger percentage of the members here I would have had no trouble putting in the hours, but as it is it's just too much work for too little reward --- whaddya mean, just like writing a journal?

Anyway, sorry about that but rest assured we'll be keeping this update thread as interesting as possible, with two new sections starting this week, of which more later. Right now though, time to see what's being churned out down at ye olde journal factory...

Hang out the bunting! Give everyone a day off work! Let the church bells ring out in triumph, for the marsupial one is back! Yes, after some considerable absence due, he tells us, to his amazing talents being in demand elsewhere (and who would doubt it?) Anteater has come back to us to create http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-dollars.html, with reviews of sometimes-forgotten metal band Crimson Glory starting us off. Looking forward to this one! Welcome back, big guy! Have a bag of ants!

Antonio is also back! VICTORY SCREEEECH! as he'd say himself. And this week he's having a hard time understanding people who don't like certain music or artistes because, to quote him, they're an asshole. Could see some debate rising about this one! Visit http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ng-ground.html and give him your opinion.

Someone who never left us, and hopefully never will (does that sound gay? I don't care!) is the Batlord, and nobody, and I mean no-body does it better than him when it comes to trumpeting the glory that is True Metal, and smashing a thousand poseurs at a single blow. Head to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...t-schemes.html to read the latest, greatest episode in "The return of the Kings of Metal"! You've only yourself to blame if you miss it! Over at his other journal http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...lks-about.html and he's working through the discography of Death Angel, so more extreme metal ahoy!

YorkeDaddy continues to give us a fascinating glimpse into the workings of a band as they strive to create the next musical masterpiece in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sterpiece.html. I must admit, to my shame, that I haven't had the time to read through all his entries in depth, but I'm going to have to make the time. What's your excuse?


Chrysalis is reviewing albums by Felt, Eric Fourman and the Doors in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...s-journal.html

And as he promised when he offered us http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...chameleon.html a few weeks ago, DJ Chameleon is talking about Fo'Sho Radio, which he appears to have been part of (sorry DJ, I'll read it all soon but at the moment I just can't spare the time) and he's also running a section he used to run on the radio show, called Razor's Edge, where he would stream a newly-released album in its entireity. Only legal release of course! The first one he's looking at here is Letlive's "The Blackest Beautiful". Shaping up nicely, DJ!

On a serious note, Engine is trying to rearrange his drinking habits and has begun a new journal. http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...las-vegas.html will chronicle his attempts to cut down, though not give up, the daemon drink, and we wish him all the best in his endeavours. Always a top-notch writer, his work is something you really should experience, so drop in and lend him your support.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...use-songs.html is the hive of activity and interest we've come to expect from the man, and this week is no different, with the second part of his special on No Wave as well as a review of a new album by Camera Obscura.

You can get not only http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...anderings.html over at her journal this week but also samples of her music! And she is good, man! Whaddya mean, prove it? Step this way, and bring your wallet...

A year later ... Yeah, after some serious internet problems which he warned us he was going through, Mondo Bungle is kickstarting http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...istortion.html again, presumably now hooked up to a 10 TB fibreoptic line, or something. He's looking at one of his heroes, Mike Patton, in his first entry after coming back from the abyss. Welcome back man! Look forward to more of your work.

There's another example of Pedestrian's incredible prose in "Freetalk", which of course you all as ardent fans of hers know you will find in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sswalking.html, so why am I bothering to tell you? Ah, you know, just in case you forgot...

Screen13 is continuing the Singles Club over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...all-music.html with a good one from Elvis. No, Costello.

As for me, well my own journals have suffered a little this week, mostly due to the fact that I've been sampling quite a few classic albums. So http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html has just the one entry, another "Great moment in history set to music", while http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html brings you the third episode of "The Onedin Line" and the final episodes of season one of "Supernatural".

Ah, but those http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ver-heard.html! Now that's a different story! There's Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson, ABC AND Judas Priest! Oh, and speaking of classic albums, the one I review in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...i-reviews.html is certainly not a classic, and is in fact the only album the weirdly (but perhaps appropriately) named Eniac Requiem ever released before splitting up.

Unknown Soldier is still http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html in 1976, and this week he's reviewing albums by The Babys, Aerosmith and also running off another list of bands who didn't make the cut for this year. Hey, is it just me, or is that Trapeze album cover uncomfortably highlighting the word "rape"? Is that just an unfortunate coincidence?

Wolverinewolfweiselpigeon is certainly going hard at it! In http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-tripping.html she's looking at the work of R Stevie Moore as well as Belle and Sebastian, the Antlers and more.

So to our Showcase. This week I'd like to talk about someone I mentioned returned to us last week, and who has been working pretty hard ever since. I don't think I'm overstating the case either to say that she appears to be one of the most loved members on Music Banter, and certainly everyone has missed her. Glad you're back with us!

Starting her journal in 2009, a year before I did, Lateralus has covered a wide range of topics, from fanbases to bass guitars (see what I did there?) and you're sure to find something to interest you. Like this:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

Lateralus' Guide To...

Music Festivals

I love music festivals, and I go to at least a couple every year, and this summer I've got a few great ones lined up. However, I always find myself coming across people at the festivals, or bringing friends with me who know nothing about music festival etiquette and find themselves not having a good time because of this. So I thought I'd put together a survival guide of sorts.

1. If you're attending a multiple-day music festival which involves camping, DO NOT under any circumstances set up camp anywhere near the portable toilets. It may seem convenient at the time, but as the hours wear on you will understand why it is not a good idea... also bring your own toilet paper!

2. Set up your camp near a landmark or something that stands out so you can remember where your tent is. Stumbling around probably intoxicated and trying to find your tent when it is dark, crowded and smelly is NOT fun.

3. Dress sensibly. Especially if you are a girl, because girls tend to be the stupidest when it comes to music festival attire. If you were high heels, your feet will not only be sore but probably bloody and mangled. If you wear a miniskirt you will most likely be groped by herds of guys for the duration of the festival. Wear something comfortable that you don't mind getting dirty.

4. If you plan on drinking, make sure to brings LOTS of money. Drinks will most likely be overpriced and taste like piss. If you plan on eating, the same rule applies. Don't waste all your money on booze and remember to have water handy.

5. Be prepared for: mud, dust, sunburn. Also, dancing in the mud like a dirty hippie may seem like fun at the time but you won't think so when you realise you have to spend the rest of the weekend looking like this:



6. Avoid taking cameras and video recording devices into the crowd, and if you have a mobile phone keep it in your pocket. Not only do these objects risk getting crushed, but as I learnt the hard way one year, the crowd is often sprayed with large amounts of water.

7. Get an itinerary! There's nothing worse than missing a great band at a festival because you didn't know which stage they were playing at and at what time.

8. If you can, try to volunteer to work at a festival you're really keen about. You get to go for free, often get special backstage access, and only have to 'work' for a couple of hours and then get to use the rest of the time to enjoy yourself!

9. Bring as little valuables as you can, and if you do bring valuable items keep them on you at all times or keep them locked and hidden in your car. Tents and campsites are a huge target for invasion and pinching things. If you're camping with friends and have a few tents between you, set them up so they the entrances are all facing each other - seems simple but is a pretty nifty security trick.

10. And as a final checklist, make sure you also remember to bring: ID, fully charged mobile phone, a hat, sunscreen, water, food that doesn't need to be refrigerated, toilet paper, lamps or torches, portable chairs, warm blankets, a backpack (can often double as a pillow), and a good attitude! Yay, I'm lame!

Now, as I mentioned, to no doubt the sound of raucous cheering, the League Table is no more. I do however want to replace it, and so this is what I've come up with. Similar to the Showcase, "Young Guns and Old Hands" will afford an opportunity for both those just starting out on their journals and those who have been at it for years to showcase their work. Each week, assuming there are enough new journals to go round --- which going by the last few months should not be a problem --- I'll introduce you to a new journal and remind you of one that is a bit more established. Whether you check them out afterwards is up to you, but this section will hopefully give you an idea what you're missing, perhaps remind you to check out an old journal or maybe even give you the spur to start your own, when you see what people just like you (but with less fingers maybe, and only one head) have created.

I'd like to kick this off with a journal that was mentioned in the above update, and which is showing great promise. The idea of "shadowing" a band while they create their album --- which could turn out to be huge --- is an interesting premise for a journal, and YorkeDaddy, who already has the quite inspired "YorkeDaddy revisits albums he used to hate" journal, seems to be pouring all his energies into this. And a fine job he's doing too. Here's a truncated example of the kind of thing you can expect to find for just the click of a mouse...

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sterpiece.html

Originally Posted by YorkeDaddy

Entry 3A: There’s No ‘I’ in “Let’s Make an Awesome Album”

So entry 2 was written by Schuyler, but now we’re back to Bryan (YorkeDaddy) for this next entry.

We have our concept developed, but relatively loosely. Handcuffing yourself when trying to create art is one of the worst things you can do. From here the only place to go is to the actual writing process itself! While most musical acts formally or informally declare one band member or outside source as the designated writer, we like to take a different approach.

The best way to describe our methodology is as a Lennon and McCartney relationship without the occasional George or Ringo. Now, I’m not comparing us to Lennon and McCartney, I’m saying that we tackle writing an album at about a 50/50 split, and both of us have different writing styles that contribute to the sound that comes out of those speakers when you listen to our music.

Let’s go into further detail and into some of my deeper philosophies that encompass songwriting. I believe that there are two ways of writing songs, and neither way is fundamentally better than the other, nor is one of the methods more “difficult” or “impressive” than the other. I believe you either write music from the heart or from the mind.

That’s not to say that music from the ‘mind’ isn’t heartfelt or that music from the ‘heart’ isn’t intelligently thought-out. I just believe that in songwriting, the music will either flow naturally and sporadically (writing from the ‘heart’), or the music will be more intellectual or technically sound (writing from the ‘mind’). If I were to classify existing artists to provide examples of what I’m trying to describe, I would say that acts such as The Antlers or Neutral Milk Hotel write from the ‘heart’, while acts such as Radiohead or The Beatles write/wrote from the ‘mind’. All four of those acts are remarkable bands that have released brilliant material, but the writing and subsequently the emotions I feel when listening to them differ tremendously.

Now, in case you're wondering "what about the rest of it?" I want to make it clear that unlike the main Showcase, these will only feature a literal extract, not a full post, so as to hopefully give you the incentive to seek out the full thing. Which you can do, by clicking the link above.

As for the Old Hands, well who's older than Urban? Other than me probably. You never quite know what you're going to find in his journal, but one thing is for sure: it will never be boring. This man has a way of making even a single line entry fun and quirky, and he doesn't need reams of copy to get his point across, unlike others we could mention, Trollheart!

Anyhoo, I'd like to present to you one of my favourite entries from his journal, and if I say the words "kitchen" and "spam", and you don't know what I'm talking about, then read on...

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

Posting In The Style Of Other Posters

Each month I pretend to be someone else on the forum.




Hello youarelucky welcome to musicbanter. I'm sorry that you had your last 23 accounts banned and I'm sorry that profanity was used when you last tried to tell us about your wonderful kitchens. It would be nicer if you can share your knowledge of kitchens in a less hostile environment here and I welcome your contributions to the discussion on the forum should any kitchen related conversation where your much needed expert opinion would be much welcomed.

I had a look at some of your kitchens. Before I went to your website I researched what a kitchen is and it said this.



Kitchen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



What is a kitchen

Also did you know that the surname Kitchen means
Family Facts for: Kitchen

I often wondered if the actor Michael Kitchen had any ancestors in his family that worked in kitchens. I think a few culinary delights have come out of his family over the years




I particularly enjoyed your White High Gloss Shaker Style Kitchen



This looks very vegan friendly due to the peppers on display in it, or Bell Peppers or Sweet Peppers or Capsicums as they are known as throughout the world. I'm disappointed that you have what looks like a joint of roasted meat in the background. Have you ever considered using the peppers for a delicious healthier meal instead?

Again, to read the full thing --- and you really should, and his other entries --- wander your mouse over to the link above the entry and just depress the button. What? I don't know: tell it it's getting fat and nobody loves it I suppose! You want me to do everything for you?

So that's the latest from the world of journals, old, new, and, er, not so old or new. Don't forget if you want to start your own journal yadda yadda yadda you know the drill by now. This pre-programmed, automated response will terminate in three, two, one....

Toodles!

[Powerstars]

Trollski? You forgot the update.

The memory is the first thing to go. xD

[Powerstars]

Oh never mind it's here. Damn shame about the league table. If it's okay with you, I'm willing to do something of a "reboot" of it. PM me and we can hopefully get on agreeable terms about it.

[YorkeDaddy]

I admit that I liked the table quite a bit, but it's pretty clear that you're already pouring more than enough work into this so if it's taking a lot of your time then it's the right decision!

I really like that you do this in general, too. It's motivation, and it's nice to see my name on these posts. Makes me feel like I matter :P

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Powerstars

Oh never mind it's here. Damn shame about the league table. If it's okay with you, I'm willing to do something of a "reboot" of it. PM me and we can hopefully get on agreeable terms about it.

No, I was watching for the update to be posted. If it hadn't gone up by this morning I would have assumed it had been missed, and would have reminded the mods. They're quite busy, you know...

As for the table, well I'd be interested to hear your ideas. PM me and let me know what you have in mind. I'm not saying I'll go for it, but I'll certainly listen to what you have to say.

Originally Posted by YorkeDaddy

I admit that I liked the table quite a bit, but it's pretty clear that you're already pouring more than enough work into this so if it's taking a lot of your time then it's the right decision!

I really like that you do this in general, too. It's motivation, and it's nice to see my name on these posts. Makes me feel like I matter :P

You don't. Nah, seriously, I wanted to try to strike a balance between those who feel they've been here years and people should be reading their journals, and the newly or recently-started ones who are just getting going. I didn't want anyone to feel, to use a football term, they were Peterborough United facing the might of Manchester United (Americans, insert your own giant/minnow team analogy) --- everyone should have a fair crack at being recognised, which is why I created the "Young guns and old hands" section, so that there's a good balance and as much fairness as I can achieve.

Incidentally, I should add that anyone who wishes to be featured, in either side of the section, is free to PM me, though the Showcase will still be my choice. Similarly, if for some reason somebody would rather not be featured, do let me know as otherwise silence is taken as assent.

[Powerstars]

(NOTE: Trollheart, if you don't want this published yet, feel free to remove it, and be sure to PM me)

Me and Trollheart are working something out about the league table. I will be doing the work, but Troll will have like an executive producer place. We're gonna try to work this out with some of you guys to make sure that it's more to what the community who actually care about it want. If you don't know what the league table is, allow me to explain.

It will be a chart showing the top 20 journals in terms of views, content, feedback, and etc. It will, along with the weekly update, be posted every Sunday if it gets off the ground. Unlike the previous league table, as I previously said, it's design will rely moreso on community feedback. Here are the current ways to earn points by writing articles:

"YouTube video(s)/Few lines written/Comment (by author) --- like maybe in response to what someone has posted --- 1 point

Short album or other review (few paragraphs, not too detailed) ---- 2 points

Long album or other review (think Big Ears, Anteater, me) ---- 3 points

Short, or relatively short, feature or other item that is not a review --- 5 points

Longer article that is not a review --- 8 points

In-depth series, collection, feature which runs over more than one post ---- 9 points

The post which begins a series like the above ---------------- 10 points

Unique or different posts (like Pedestrian's art or scripts, Po's art and Urban's kitchen article) --------------- 20 points"

And how to earn points by how often you post:

"Daily ... ...........................10 points
More than twice a week .... 8 points
More than once a week ... 6 points
Weekly ............................. 4 points
Fortnightly ........................ 2 points
Monthly or less ................. 1 point"

If you have ideas on any other ways to earn points, or ideas to adjust point values and perhaps things to remove, let me know. We'll work something out!

[Powerstars]

Well guys, at least let me know if you want to attempt to continue onwards with the league table Troll had going or start it over.