The Music Banter Members' Journals Monthly Update Thread

[Neapolitan]

Originally Posted by butthead aka 216

Good stuff, TH. Thanks for the mention. I plan on shoehorning in much more music in the future. Hopefully I can get into some other members' journals.Not a lot of music I particularly like but I'm not exactly someone with a wide scope or musical variety either.

Hopefully just as a reader. Even though I haven't touched my music journal in months, for some reason I still worry that if I start it up again you would have the uncontrollable urge to poop all over - to borrow a phrase from Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.

[Trollheart]

Been doing a lot of work on my journals this week, so no time to conceive and write a snappy intro to the update. Let’s just dive right in, shall we?

Starting us off this week is Buttheadaka216, but he’s tired (he says) and only manages a little sort of postscript to his Alkaline Trio article. Never fear, he promises much more to come in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...therapy-s.html

We have another new journal! This time it’s Closer, who is looking at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...bient-rnb.html, with what looks like some lyrics posted this week, hers or someone else’s I don’t know but check them out. Will be keeping an eye on this.

Normally I don’t include entries posted after the Sunday 6pm local time deadline, but DJ deserves to be an exception. If you take http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...chameleon.html you’ll find an eloquent guy trying to deal with the very recent passing of his mother. Some of us, me included, know what that’s like and sadly those of you that don’t will at some point, so lend him your support, cos it’s needed at a time like this.

If it’s “Heavy Doom Metal” you want --- or possibly "Funeral Black Death Doom” --- then head to Engine’s place for some more http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...avy-music.html --- that’s Heavy with a capital H!

(DJ I know that might seem really harsh juxtapositioning, given your situation, and I apologise, but it’s all down to the alphabetical listing. Hope you’re not offended man…)

After all the work he’s put in over the last few months it looks like Ki is taking a break till the new year, and hasn’t he earned it? Before he goes off to enjoy the Christmas, he’s posted about the solo work of Zep’s mainman, Robert Plant, in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html. Nice work Ki! See ya in 2014 mate!

After her mega-update last week, Ladyislingering is back with part eight of her “Sounds of 2009” recalled from her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html, with music from The Cars, Patti Smith, The Alan Parsons Project and, uh, Sparks? Who woulda guessed?

Plankton has news of another of the http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...r-players.html he’s looking at, with one Robert Emmanuel…

… which takes us right up to me. Christmas being the way it is, TV and films and all, I’ve been working hard on the other main journal, of which more soon, But in the meantime, things have not been slack at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, where in addition to wishing you “Have yourself a Metal little Christmas” with so far seasonal songs from Manowar, Alice Cooper and Kamelot, we’ve a full review (finally) of the album I’ve been raving about for the last few months. No, it’s not Daft Punk, in fact it’s not any kind of punk. Rod Stewart’s new one, “Time”, is the album in question, and before you laugh give it a listen. Other than that, we’ve got an album from Vangelis, another dose of MUSH and a retelling of the Battle of Britain through music. Sort of. Also, have you been collecting Trollheart’s Christmas Message? You could win a prize, you know! Check it out! http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1390653

“Christmas on the couch with Trollheart”? Now come on: how many of you ladies have put that on your list to Santa? Come on, be honest. Raise your hands. Don’t be shy. Ah. I see. Not. One. Single. One. Fine. No, no, if that’s how you want it, I’m fine with that. No, look just forget it, okay? I’m fine! Really! No! Look, I SAID I was fine, didn’t I? Can I just get on with this update now? Please? Thank you. Mutter mutter people never appreciate me grumble grumble revenge soon take all be sorry mumble nobody spared …. Huh? Oh yeah, where was I? Well, “Christmas on the couch with Trollheart”, far from being the (Ah-HEM!) fantasy of so many ladies here at MB is in fact (No, just shut UP okay! I SAID I was FINE….!) my recommendations for TV programmes you should watch out for over the Christmas. I can ony speak to Irish or UK TV of course, but already we’ve had “The Snowman”, “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” and “WIlly Wonka and the chocolate factory”, with a lot more to come as we get closer to the big day!

As well as that we have some of the worst Christmas movies ever seen, in “25 of the worst Christmas films --- ever! (probably)”, more season two Supernatural, as well as a review of classic World Cinema movie “The Seventh Seal”. Whew! Oh, and what was that about the "Battle of the Classic Christs"? Stay tuned!

Over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html Unknown Soldier is about to reveal the top album of 1979, as he sees it. Number 2 is AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell”: can you guess what number one will be? No? Then click that link, man!

And just when you thought it was safe to peek inside that crypt to impress the big busty blonde who works in accounts, William the Bloody is leapin’ http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ta-coffin.html as he finishes off his article on the Sisters of Mercy and goes headlong into one on … Blood for Blood! Like the irony there Spike, sorry William!

It’s time to return to my

and I’ve chosen this one for various reasons. One, it shows the level of debate in his journal, which is certainly jumping. Two, it shows his almost encyclopaediac knowledge of his subject matter, and three, it shows the interest that has built up over time with his journal, which quite rightly is receiving its fair share of nominations for Journal of the Year in the 2013 Awards thread: go there now and register yours! Yes it’s our old mate (not so much of the old, I know!) Unknown Soldier, with this gem, posted today:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top and Thin Lizzy are the 'Z's' Lizzy have already been featured, ZZ Top usually appear in the extras section and Zeppelin were well past their best at this stage.



I'm not including EP's and you won't be boycotting anything either!



Remember UK and US release dates sometimes differed and I've used UK release dates most of the time.

As this thread is now starting to get where a lot of people first started listening to this kind of music (early to mid 1980s) more people will therefore be more knowledgeable and critical of certain entries such as me not putting a band like AC/DC in top spot.

The criteria I've used to rate the albums has been a mixture of what I personally like, what is influential, the type of impact the album had when it was released and in the future, its originality, its consistency, the opinions both positive and negative of music critics etc but when in doubt I've gone with my gut feeling which is what I've done for the no.1 spot in 1979, as I believe the album is what this journal's all about.

So that wraps up another update, as things begin to hot up while the weather cools down. Don’t forget, if you want to win yourself some albums check out my competition, and if you don’t then to hell with you! See you all back here next week, same place, approximately same time for the next-to-last update before Christmas.

Till then, as ever,
Toodles!

[butthead aka 216]

Another stellar update, TH.

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

Hopefully just as a reader. Even though I haven't touched my music journal in months, for some reason I still worry that if I start it up again you would have the uncontrollable urge to poop all over - to borrow a phrase from Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog.

The Journal section is where I button up the collar and adjust my tie. But I also have the runs right now, so it's gamble you'll have to take.

[Trollheart]

Oh man! Less than two weeks to Christmas! Hope Santa got my list --- what’s that you say? No, surely not! Why would anyone ---? Look, maybe I’d better just calm down and go through this week’s update before someone else upsets me. This is the next-to-last update before Crimbo, so expect many Xmas references, some appropriate, some not.

Briks starts us off this week with another visit to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html, in which he’s discovering that all he wants for Xmas is “gothic rock” as typified by The Cure and Bauhaus. Looking for more examples, so anyone familiar with that genre might let him know?

Butthead is back, all rested and ready to remind us that http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...therapy-s.html, though his journal is being kind of taken over… There’s an interesting argument raging between The Batlord and DJ on the subject of TV doctor shows. Really! I’m not kidding! Naughty or nice? You decide. Or don't. What do I care?

Perhaps one of the best-reearched and intelligently written journals in the section (but enough about me!) Gavin B is continuing his journey through http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...songcraft.html with articles on Mack the Knife, Blind Willie McTell and the great Scott Joplin, and more!

With Ki taking a well-earned break over Christmas, it’s up to LiL to keep the flag flying for MB’s favourite couple, so she’s wrapping up her look at 2009 while also checking out yet more T-Rex and some Lesley Gore, Slade, Golden Earring and more in her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html

Powerstars is starting off the “Twelve Days of Alternative” as he promised, with so far articles on Nirvana, Stone Roses and Smashing Pumpkins. Lots more to come in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html . Well, nine more I guess!

Everyone needs to check out the journal http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnections.html to bear witness to one of the best posts I have ever read. Ever. If you can’t be bothered (shame on you! No presents for you!) check below…

The spirit of Christmas is in full swing over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, where we’ve got more metal Christmas songs, this time from Far, as well as another selection from The Albatross, Room 101 which oddly enough has some people’s hackles up (!) and a very unwelcome guest comes to call! But http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html is of course where the magic happens this time of year, and we’re continuing our look through 25 really bad Christmas movies, spending more time with yours truly on the Christmas couch, while also getting in some more Babylon 5 and The Returned. Oh yeah, and Mister Burns crosses over from the Playlist to make his dread presence felt here too. Oh dear…

Unknown Soldier is of course doing the biz as ever, with reviews of albums by Kiss and some that failed to make the cut in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html. Wonder if he’ll charge into 1980 now or wait till after the festivities?

William the Bloody is wrapping up his review of Blood for Blood and moving on to Gallows. It’s all comin’ at ya, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ta-coffin.html so don’t miss it!

And now, as promised, a return to


There could only be one. He doesn’t post that often, but with gems like this it’s more than worth the wait. One of the best posts I’ve ever read, full stop. Or period, as you Yanks would have it…

Originally Posted by Surell

Though it isn't talking about music, I think it fits with the idea of the journal, and it's interesting to me and something I wrote. It's a draft I just wrote for most of today, I hope it's not too bad. It was for a class where we analyze films based on a theme, here obsession, usually along with a great work of fiction (obsession had Heart of Darkness but it doesn't come up here because I suck).

When you watch the Oscars, one can tell right away the dedication it takes to be a filmmaker with the regard of an artist by the fact that the categories branch not into genre, but technical departments. Films are comprised of various components manned by countless workers, to whom a great director has to have great interest devoted. For a true visionary, every project is a concise statement: You see it in Francis Ford Coppola, who in his finest cinema explores the alienation of man from his environment and even himself; or with Martin Scorcese, in his quest to pose human reality at its most naked to the audience; or in Paul Thomas Anderson’s portrayal of families as the form, disintegrate, and reform themselves to evolve; even Christopher Nolan, a grandiose magician of the screen, with his truly metaphysical conceits, pushes the audience to question their understand of the reality of his films, how that pertains to them, and then how they have to question their own realities; and then in a more subversive light, there is David Lynch, narrating the most repressed, unexplored impressions of American culture with an eerie innocence like that of 1950s America. But the almost inarguable apex of filmmaking, a man leaping from idea to idea, synthesizing the most disparate elements of storytelling, boiling his communications down to the most essential symbols, and still maintaining one of the most distinct, inimitable styles in the field, is Stanley Kubrick.

From the midcentury, a renaissance in filmmaking, until the turn of the millennium, Kubrick consistently release jaw-dropping, paradigm shifting films, influencing contemporaries and successors alike. He was a man of genius IQ, an obsessive chess player, and likewise an obsessive artist. His films are so deeply contemplated, so painstakingly developed, that it has left some with the conclusion that his films have no mistakes, no room for any shot containing misinformation or error. And this may especially pertain to symbolism, since among his many great qualities, the most distinct might be his cinematography, the composition of his shots and how they’re captured by the camera. This is so prominent, in fact, that for his longtime misunderstood horror The Shining, a movie has been dedicated to the many theories of fans on what Kubrick’s intent was for making the film, called Room 237.

(Sorry: max character count kicked in so I had to truncate the entry. But you can read the full thing --- and you should --- in Surell's journal)

So that’s it for the next-to-last update before Christmas. Hope you’re all busily tracking down the elements of my Christmas message in my journals --- what? Not one of you? I don’t know: I go out of my way to do something fun, spend all this time, writing things backwards mutter mutter don’t know why I bother…

Anyway, stay tuned to The Couch Potato for the upcoming “Battle of the Classic Christs”, as already signposted. That’s due sometime next week. And watch out for that Monty Burns fellow! I swear, he’s the very devil! (Burns: “What? Who told you that? That’s supposed to be a sec---”)

Till next week,
Toodles!

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Unknown Soldier is of course doing the biz as ever, with reviews of albums by Kiss and some that failed to make the cut in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html. Wonder if he’ll charge into 1980 now or wait till after the festivities?

I'm assuming he's going to take a slight break to rethink his system like he was planning. I'm looking forward to it actually. He's done such an amazing job so far that I think he's gonna knock a "change in direction" out of the park. And if he's looking for any input he can feel free to PM me for any suggestions.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by The Batlord

I'm assuming he's going to take a slight break to rethink his system like he was planning. I'm looking forward to it actually. He's done such an amazing job so far that I think he's gonna knock a "change in direction" out of the park. And if he's looking for any input he can feel free to PM me for any suggestions.

I'll certainly be poking you for info on extreme stuff in the 1980s that may have slipped under my radar.

[Trollheart]

Ah-hoy-hoy --- OH NO YOU DON'T! You already invaded my journals, doing your best to Scrooge up Christmas! You ain't getting back in here! SLAM!

Why how dare you! I'll have you know I'm very well-connected in this city! You'll never work in the music business again, you talentless hack! You've just made a very powerful enemy, my friend...

Phew! That was close! Well, welcome to the last update before Christmas. It's turning damn cold out there --- well it is if you're in Ireland --- so let's look at the journals and see what our writers have been preparing for us in the leadup to the big day, shall we?

LIGHT BULBS! LIGHT BULBS! GET YOUR LIGHT BULBS! HALF PRICE TODAY ONLY!

Hmm, I could do with some light bu --- what a minute! BURNS! I thought it was you! Get off my property before I have you arrested.

Oh, you can try my friend, but I have half the doughnut-eating, coffee-swilling hippos they can police in this city in my back pocket, and quite a few judges too --- BEEDLE-BEEDLE! BEEDLE-BEEDLE! Ah, hoy-hoy? Yes this is Charles Montgomery Burns. What? Allegations of impropriety? Bribing a federal judge? What are you talking about man? All I did was ask if he had ever been to Aspen, and since I had a lodge there --- what? Yes I was under investigation for corporate corruption at the time but ... what? You can't? You do? I am? Er, excuse me just one moment ... SMITHERS!!!

Right, that's the end of him, though no doubt he'll be back, so let's get on with this while he's, ah, helping the police with their enquiries...

Anteater is bowing out for Christmas while he concentrates on his “25 best albums of the year” thread, check it out. http://www.musicbanter.com/album-rev...ms-2013-a.html But in the meantime if you want to send him an album --- or movie --- to review he'll give it a go and no doubt post it next year in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-dollars.html. Happy Christmas, Ant!

Before Briks closes down http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html for Christmas (presumably) he's taking a look at the music of Danzig, with some interesting conclusions.

All that doom metal has been weighing Engine down recently, so he's taking a break from http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...avy-music.html for a while, but before he does he's throwing out music from Thergotron and Funeral Mourning at us, and if that misses there's some Cannibal Corpse to follow!

There's something “Brand New” in Butthead's http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...therapy-s.html journal, so check it out.

OMG ! OMG! OMG!!! Janszoon is back! And it's been worth waiting for! Check out the first entry in months as he gets back to chronicling http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sible-man.html with music from Rocket from the Crypt. No, go do it now! Don't wait to read the rest of the upd --- ah, I mean, go right after you've finished the update! But right after, like, not ”I'll just have this sandwich”! Fuck the sandwich!* And forget about meeting your SO to see the premiere of that new movie. THIS is IMPORTANT!


* = Not literally, of course. That would be just wrong on so many levels, to say nothing of unhygienic!

“The Twelve Days of Alternative” goes into overdrive this week as Powerstars brings us music from Muse, Jellyfish, RHCP, Pearl Jam and more!

And so we're back to me. Has anyone --- anyone? -- bothered collecting and assembling my Christmas Message? No? Not one. Thought not. Oh well: more albums for me. If you do intend entering just PM me with the full message as has been coded into my journals over the last three weeks and you could win five albums of your choice. Who am I kidding? Nobody's going to do that! Still, it was fun doing it. As for the actual content of my journals? Well not surprisingly, Christmas themes abound, but they don't completely take over either of the only two journals I'm concentrating on as the big day looms. In http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html you're still being exorted to “Have yourself a Metal little Christmas”, with King Diamond putting in an appearance, and Mr Burns is trying to wreck your Christmas cheer by slagging off Wizzard's Xmas classic. There's also a review of albums by Eric Clapton and Threshold, and a new section, “A return to Childhood”.

But as ever what characterises Christmas more than anything is television, and over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html we're getting close to winding up the 25 worst Christmas films ever, spending more time on the Couch with that guy Trollheart, and finally pitchnig the two huge Biblical movies of the sixties against each other as “The Battle of the Classic Christs” sees “King of Kings” take on “The Greatest Story Ever Told”. Who will triumph? As if that wasn't enough I've also managed to cram in more Red Dwarf and Onedin Line. Honestly: I'm doing more stocking-stuffing than Santa over there!

As for Unknown Soldier, he's doing a little stocking-stuffing of his own in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html, with albums from UFO and Triumph

Leaving us with William the Bloody to close us out for Christmas, as he leaps http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ta-coffin.html once again (yeah I know I make the same reference every week, but what else can you do with a title like that?) with more Gallows and moving on to The Smiths.

Just time then to squeeze in

and though his journal is relatively new, I think I have to give it to William this week for this fine but short specimen:

Originally Posted by William_the_Bloody

Final Thoughts:

In my old hardcore countdown thread I think I once mentioned that British punk was cursed, as it appears that every leading band in the scene implodes in one fashion or another. Be it the Sex Pistols, Discharge or Gallows. Consequently Gallows is one of those bands that only comes around once in a blue moon, as none of their peers in the British hardcore revival have been able to put out an album that comes close to rivaling Grey Britain, this includes metalcore acts like Bring Me the Horizon. I can therefore see why people are upset with the bands decision to go with a North American singer, that being said, those who are holding out for the Carter brothers to return, will be waiting a long time, as they have both stated they have no desire to return to hardcore. Quite simply put, the moment has passed. The remaining members in Gallows however, are still the guys behind the musicianship of Grey Britain, so don't write them off yet, and as for the Carter brothers...f#ck em!!! lol , just kidding I look forward to hearing stuff from their new bands.

Anyhow time for a different direction, next up The Smiths.

Page 1 Sisters of Mercy
Page 2 Blood for Blood
Page 3 Gallows

And so we come to the end of the update. Time to head off and root out that Christmas tree from the pile of junk in the spare room and make some sort of an attempt at straightening out its branches so I can put it up.

Thanks to all who have contributed to, and read, this thread, and we'll be back on Sunday with the final update of the year. Until then, enjoy the festivities, and if you're drinking, make sure you don't drive --- very hard to hold the glass still with your hands on the wheel! Seriously, don't even think about it. Christmas is not supposed to be a time for tragedies, for you or others. Have a great Christmas, eat plenty, drink responsibly, buy decent presents and hopefully get some, and above all, be kind to one another: it's the season of goodwill, you shower of bastards!

Happy Christmas, one and all!
Nollaig Shona if you're in Ireland
Joyeux Noel if you're French (or Canadian)
Feliz Navidad to our Spanish friends
and if you don't believe, or don't celebrate Christmas, well, nothing then. Have an ordinary day.

I'll be back next Sunday, with a special extended edition for the final update of 2013, when I'll be looking at the high points of everyone's journal this year, checking out the newest additions and also awarding my own special versions of the Music Banter Awards. This is all assuming I don't eat too much turkey and have to be rushed to hospital to have my stomach pumped!

Till then,
Toodles!

[Anteater]

Beautiful update as always my friend. A Happy Xmas to you too!

[Engine]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

All that doom metal has been weighing Engine down recently, so he's taking a break from http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...avy-music.html for a while, but before he does he's throwing out music from Thergotron and Funeral Mourning at us, and if that misses there's some Cannibal Corpse to follow!

You misread a bit, sir. I'll never be done with the heavy music, I've just had enough Doom Metal for now.
And that's Cannabis Corpse.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Engine

You misread a bit, sir. I'll never be done with the heavy music, I've just had enough Doom Metal for now.
And that's Cannabis Corpse.

Yeah I know. It's something of a wordplay with your journal title and the relaxation picture. I know you're not stopping reviewing/enjoying heavy music, but it fit in so well with the journal name, y'see?

As for the slipup on the band name, what can I say but "woops!" Thanks for pointing that out before His Batship got on my case! Happy Christmas t'ya!