The Music Banter Members' Journals Monthly Update Thread

[Key]

If you're interested in a brief review of the Judas Priest concert I went to, you can find it here: http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1511762

[Isbjørn]

I now write haiku reviews in my journal weekly. Check it out, guys.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Machine

My journal has been on a long hiatus due to responsibilities with school so I'm either going to a) make a new journal I don't have to update frequently, or b) update my Song/Album Of The Day non daily anyone have any ****s to give either way?

You should always make your journal fit in around your life, not the other way round, as I found to my cost (says the man with now six journals!) --- if a daily thing ain't working, change it. If you look at "Bitesize", it's subtitled "Trollheart's Daily Album Mini-reviews." Is it daily? No way. I found out pretty soon I could not keep that stuff up. But nobody cares: it's your journal and you may start off with high hopes and big dreams, and expectations but if they don't pan out just adjust your writing style to something that suits you. Make your "song of the day" thing a song of every other day, or song of the week maybe. Don't force yourself to write when you don't want to, because there is nothing worse than this becoming less like a hobby and more like work. I know, believe me. When the day comes (if it has not already) when you say to yourself, staring a a blank page "Oh ****. I have to write a journal entry today" then you need to take stock. It should be something you want to do, not something you feel you have to, or are obliged to do.

Yes, yes, the kettle speaks, I know...

[Trollheart]

Let there be much rejoicing! This thread returns to full status this Sunday! If you want to be included, make sure you update this week. More soon.

Spread the word!

[Isbjørn]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Let there be much rejoicing! This thread returns to full status this Sunday! If you want to be included, make sure you update this week. More soon.

Spread the word!

[Machine]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Let there be much rejoicing! This thread returns to full status this Sunday! If you want to be included, make sure you update this week. More soon.

Spread the word!

This is where the newbie in me really shows I have no idea what that means!

[Pet_Sounds]

Originally Posted by Machine

This is where the newbie in me really shows I have no idea what that means!

Look back a few pages.

[Trollheart]

Basically, I used to (and will again) go through the entries to everyone's journal and tell anyone who reads this what's going on in those journals. It's exactly what it says on the tin: an update of what's happening every week in the Members Journals section.

You'll see tomorrow.

[Trollheart]

After taking my sabbatical and returning refreshed, I ran headlong into Metal Month II, and since then have been planning to bring this back, but kept putting it off. It's a daunting task, after having been away from it for over six months now. And apologies; when I began this it was merely an attempt to keep people abreast of what was happening in the journals, and maybe direct some new readers our way who might otherwise not have been inclined to take a look. But over the last year it seems to have grown rather a lot more popular than I had anticipated or expected, to the effect that when I left for my break it seems it was really missed. So thanks for your support, and I'll try to do my best to make sure it doesn't fall off the map again.

That much said, you'll understand that I can't very well go back through half a year almost of journal entries, and while there have been a lot of new journals that have started while I was away, and most if not all of them deserve your attention, and mine, I can't really go through them all or I'll be here till Christmas 2015! So what I propose to do is this: as this always was the “weekly update”, I'll concentrate only on featuring entries that are made in journals from Monday morning to Sunday evening, but I won't be leaving the many others out.

For this one update only, I'm going to divide it into sections. Section one will be the usual weekly update: what's happening in the journals that have been updated this week only. Section two will then be journals which have been updated recently (say, in the last month or so) but just not this week. Section three will focus on the new journals that began in the interim while I was away, and I will just list them, as I have not the time to go into what each member is writing about. In this way I hope to be able to direct you towards the fresher, newer journals without having to go through every entry in them. Section four will be new journals begun by established members since I was here last. I'll also be introducing a new section from next week, a “lookback” wherein I will choose ONE journal per week and go through it as meticulously as I can, right back to where I stopped, so that by the time I've finished everyone will be all caught up and totally up to date. I'll choose the journals randomly, not in alphabetical or even update order. If you are eager to have yours included, let me know, or if for some reason you don't want me “backtracking” through it, I'll respect your wishes.

Before I begin, thanks are due to those new members who have fearlessly grasped the nettle and started their own journals, most of which are doing very well, some of which would give you the impression they have been going for much longer than they have. I won't have time in this particular update to reintroduce any of the sections I had been featuring (Post of the week, Great Journals We Miss etc) but will try to reinstate them at the earliest opportunity.

Note: for those of you coming to this for the first time (welcome!) let me just point out that I will not of course be able to detail everything you write every week, and will instead give a basic idea, an overall look at what you're concentrating on. If someone is running a theme, series or event, I will certainly mention that, and if there is something you are writing or plan to write, and want it featured, just let me know. Comments from others in your journal will not be remarked upon; this is to highlight your work, not the contributions of others. If I get something wrong, let me know: contrary to what you might hear about me or think, I am not perfect. (I am perfect.)

Journal entries are considered right up to Sunday 6pm Irish time, and that means posted by, not submitted obviously. If it's not approved I can't see it. If I miss something out it will be included in the following week's update. I usually try to have the update submitted before midnight Sunday, but on some occasions it may be Monday before it sees the light of publication, depending on my workload and how much there is to write about in the Journals Section.

Okay then. Everybody strapped in? Got your drinks for the trip? Anyone need the toilet? Speak up now, cos I'm not stopping later on! Right then, off we go and as ever we proceed alphabetically.

Anteater mentioned in his main journal that he was gong to be concentrating on yacht rock, and so he is. So much so in fact, that he's decided to open a new journal, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ravaganza.htmlwhere he kicks off with a look at Boz Scaggs and Herbie Hancock. Hope you're all wearing your lifejackets!

For some time now, interested spectactors have been able to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-oblivion.html and so robs my idea for my new journal, damn him! Still, it's a hell of a good read, and he got there first. This week he's looking at Daredevil, never a hero I was very impressed with (come on! He's blind, ffs!) and also taking requests, so head on down there if you want him to review a comic book for ya!

As part of Urban's planned Bowie Week, most of us are taking an album for review, and Briks, who admits he knows little of the Thin White Duke, has chosen “Hunky Dory” to paper the walls of http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html . Oh man! You have not heard “Life on Mars” before? You haven't lived man! He's rectifying that now though. See what he has to say. Reviewing albums by haiku as well (never quite got them)...

One of the new journals comes from Chula Vista, where he talks about http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-his-life.html . Reviewing Zeppelin III, Bowie's “Aladdin Sane”, Aerosmith, J Geils Band and King Crimson. Surely more to come, so get reading.

Freebase Dali updates but infrequently, but I guess that's cause he's busy making all this music. Check out the latest efforts from his band in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...stronauts.html

Two journals look at basically the albums from the year I was born (sure, there was no music before me, was there?) up to now, and the first we have is by Goofle, where in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...63-2013-a.html he's listing albums from 1992 with The Pharcyde, Alice in Chains, The Church and of course Catherine Wheel. 1993 then sees Soulvaki, Catherine Wheel again, Wu-Tang Clan and (ugh) The Auteurs, among others.

Another new journal, from a new member, comes from JosefK who tells us http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...h-reading.html. He's looking at albums by Captain Beefheart, Nico, Sly and the Family Stone and others.

A rising young star in the MB firmament, JustinJJustin is undertaking http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-endeavor.html, one of the most amazing new journals to come out while I was away, although he now wants to kind of shut up shop, but only because he has a far greater enterprise in mind! Read all about it.

Ki has another journal, in which he looks into http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...east-once.html, this week looking into his current rave, Pg.lost. Hey! How come nobody calls him a fanboy?

And as ever he reminds us http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html talking Devin, live Judas Priest and Floyd's new and last album. Yeah. Oh, and a whole month of Death Metal to come: Santa must be cast down in favour of Satan? Like the sound of that.

And his other half, LadyisLingering has her http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ic-memory.html going, where she's reviewing Bowie's “Young Americans” for Bowie Week and also TMR. I forget what TMR stands for. Oh yeah: Trout Mask Replica. How could I forget?

Machine is yet another member with a new journal, though http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...l-madness.html is kind of just getting started. Stay tuned!

Someone who's no stranger to any of us is Neapolitan, and in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...i-journal.html, he's running a review, in accordance with Bowie Week, of “Station to station”, in two parts. Also a review of “The life aquatic sessions” by Seu George: Bowie covers in Portuguese? You better believe it!

Just in before the deadline, a brand new journal from Overcast, who opens http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ff-thangs.html with music about death. And being sad. Um. Okay. German Error Message and Okay, actually, are the first two bands he looks at.

Psy-Fi just started a journal, so keep an eye on http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ts-sounds.html

while on http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...crap-heap.html Pet_Sounds has a three-part review of “Ziggy Stardust”, which seems to have impressed him. Well, it would, wouldn't it?

That other “all the albums since 1963” journal, which is I think the original, comes from Sidewinder, and in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ar-1965-a.html he's also on 1993, with albums from Tool, The Melvins, a Tribe called Quest and Nirvana to name but a few.

And then there's me. Oh yes, I've been very busy since I got back. But as I said, only updates this week count, so in my now six journals, we have this week updates in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, where we get back to the Top 100 Prog Albums as defined by Progarchives.com, with Orphaned Land and Jinetes Negros, as well as my contribution to Bowie Week, with a review of “Scary monsters”. Also beginning a new section highlighting the wealth of talent here at MB with “The Showroom”, featuring Plankton's new album “Whale”. Urban asked me to listen to Gram Parsons, so I have, and if you feel “the need for speed”, then my review of the OST to “Top Gun” in “Never mind the movie: here's the soundtrack” is for you.

Haven't been neglecting http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html either, with more Babylon 5, an introduction for my Family Guy v American Dad feature, and more from “The very worst of The Twilight Zone”. Finally for this week, my own newest journal, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-2000-ad.html features the prequel to the first Dredd mini-epic as well as the first two Strontium Dog episodes. Much more to come!

WhateverDude just started a journal. Review of “Heroes” and also Fidlar feature, Neighborhood Brats all to be found in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...e-radness.html

Looking for Reviews of Pantera's “Cowboys from Hell” and “Vulgar display of power”, as well as Burzum and The Grateful Dead? You'll find them all, and more, in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...s-journal.html. Oh, and props for getting into Genesis via Trick of the Tail, almost the same way I did.

While I've been away Unknown Soldier has of course been happily and busily http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html and is now up to 1983, where he's and looking at Manila Road and Manowar (I'm sure it's just coincidence) heading towards the top spot. Who will it be?

Appropriately, taking us out on this section, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-sound.html sees Zero go metal on metal with “classic” metal lyrics.

Bubbling under: journals (new and old) which have been updated in the last 2-3 weeks, just not this week.

Big Ears will no longer be http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...s-journal.html as he has sadly decided not only to close his journal, but to leave MB altogether. Always got the feeling he was never that comfortable here, though it was not from lack of people trying to make him feel at home. Very sad to see him go. Wish him all the best.

In http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...l-journey.html Black Francis reviews Bowie's “Reality”

while in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...er-places.html another newish journal, Contrived Nihilism is looking at Tom Petty, BOC and others.
And not happy with doing all that, he's become another who has more than one journal. In his new one he's undertaking http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...dont-like.html and looking for recs, so give him a shout.

Forever http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...wnapilago.html Frownland is paying tribute to the one and only John Cale

and Janszoon has been looking back, to another http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ime-place.html in the wake of Metal Month II, checking out the NWOBHM artistes he is not that familiar with, like Tank, Saxon and the Tygers of Pan-Tang.

Machine already has two journals, but http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-song-day.html seems to be somewhat on hiatus. Hopefully soon to return...

Neapolitan has of course his other journal, where he explores http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...dern-rock.html with recent entries including Plastic Girl in Closet, U2 and French Films.

In http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ous-forms.html Pet_Sounds looks at The Byrds. No, he's not standing on a corner perving on girls! The band, man! The band!

Plankton, whose recent album got a review in my own journal this week, gives us http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...listening.html with Convoy, and also displaying some of his considerable prowess with graphic design. Is there no end to this man's talents?

One of the best journals to hit this section in a long time, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...who-thing.html has features on the 12th and 10th Doctors, plus a quiz for you.
He also features mucho Bond in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-stuff.html

Finally, another to feature in the Showroom soon, YorkeDaddy writes about http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-personal.html and talks at length about Nujabes.

NEW JOURNALS from NEW MEMBERS
This is simply a list of journals begun by members who were not here when I took my break. Most have been featured in either of the two sections above. Those that have not will be, in due course, as they're updated. (Note: some of you may look at this list and say I'm not a new member or indeed an old member, but it's just from my point of view, whether or not you were here before my break, or whether I remember you being here. There's no intent to belittle anyone, this is purely for reasons of ranking and sorting, nothing else. So if I got it wrong, don't take it to heart.)

Chula Vista http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-his-life.html
Contrived Nihilism http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...dont-like.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...er-places.html
Josef K http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...h-reading.html
JustinJJustin http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-endeavor.html
Machine http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-song-day.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...l-madness.html
Overcast http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ff-thangs.html
Pet_Sounds http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ous-forms.html
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...crap-heap.html


NEW JOURNALS from OLD MEMBERS
And our stalwarts and veterans have not been idle either. Some new journals begun by people who either already have one or more, or who have not had, up to now, a journal.

Anteater http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ravaganza.html
The Batlord http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-oblivion.html
The Batlord and Trollheart http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-slapfest.html
Ki http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...east-once.html
Neapolitan http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...dern-rock.html
Psy-Fi http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ts-sounds.html
Trollheart http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-2000-ad.html
WhateverDude http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...e-radness.html
Wpnfire http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...s-journal.html

Finally, for now, I'd like to introduce the idea of a Classic Journal. This will be one journal which I will select each week and go into in-depth. I'm not saying I'll go through it entry-by-entry or anything, but I will do my best to give an overall flavour of it, and note any important entries, or ones that stand out to me. Kicking off next week with “Pounding Decibels”.

So that's it for this week, the first week of the return of the Members Journals Weekly Update. Sorry it took so long and thanks to all who kept on writing while I was away --- would have been a pretty short update otherwise! Next week I'll start introducing more sections, such as “Great Journals We Miss”, “Young Guns and Old Hands” and of course the return of my “Post of the Week”. Till then, keep writing, keep dreaming, but keep your hands off my stuff!
Toodles!

[Pet_Sounds]

I forgot how much I missed this thread. Thanks for getting back to it, Trollheart.