The Music Banter Members' Journals Monthly Update Thread

[Trollheart]

A relatively quiet week in Journal Land this week, with some regulars as ever keeping the ship afloat, some missing, and a new journal starting up too. Let's check out what's been happening.

The Batlord is up first, where as we http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-oblivion.html, he's talking about Hawkeye and crowing about the comics he got for free on Free Comic Book Day

while Black Francis is still checking into those http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ms-nes-ps.html with Twisted Metal 2 (makes me wish I had a PS and the time to play it!), Town and Country Surf Designs: Wood and Water Rage (doesn't make me wish I had an NES) and musicwise, in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...l-journey.html he's checking out some cool guitar tracks that inspired him to take up the axe.

Joenorwood77's http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...band-week.html continues with his top five from The Ting Tings

while http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...de-sparks.html goes all Japanese with Kimono my house

and if you want to read Pet_Sounds' first ever journal, he's dropped it on http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...crap-heap.html for you to enjoy, or laugh at, depending on your disposition towards him and your general politeness, or lack thereof.

There's a new journal in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...attention.html, where our newest author is looking at Sunny Murray and The Velvet Underground

Soulflower is waxing lyrical about Price and wishing Stevie Wonder a happy birthday in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...dness-art.html

while over at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html things have been a little slow. There's a review of Vangelis's Apocalypse des animaux there now, as well as another of the “Albums that changed my life”, while Father Ted gets his start at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html. A review of a great album from British Sea Power in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...i-reviews.html and there's an introduction for Nemesis the Warlock in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-2000-ad.html.

With 1984 now in the can, there's just time for Unknown Soldier to put Yngwie's Rising Force “Down on the slab” in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html before he crashes into 1985, and with Anteater he's looking at Kingdom of desire as the latest album in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...78-2015-a.html.

Finally, Urban is wondering how the hell he missed out on a new version of “Sonic attack” by Hawkwind and .... Brian Blessed? Read all about it in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sed-ideas.html

And that's it for this week. Next week, more. Maybe.
Toodles!

[Black Francis]

This reminds me, i should really start calling my guitar my axe, it's such a cool term.

[Trollheart]

And already we're into the last update for May. Isn't time just flying?

First off this week we have the return of an old friend, as Antonio updates http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ng-ground.html for the first time in a year, with a review of You're dead! by Flying Lotus and a little inside information on what he's been up to all this time...

... and Aux-in has been setting up a Review Randomiser in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...continuum.html which this week yields, among others, ASTR, Foxy as Fox and Mercer ...

... while we all know what Batty has been up to! Oh yeah, and reading comics. http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-oblivion.html and see him investigate the world of Ultimates by Mark Millar.

Persona 2, Streetfighter 2 and Mortal Kombat 2 ... and 1. See a pattern here? Then head over to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ms-nes-ps.html where Black Francis will satisfy the inner game nerd in you and perhaps bring back fond memories of your childhood. If you had one. Unlike me.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...63-2013-a.html is up to 2008 and he's looking at The Bird and The Bee, Tigerstyle, Flying Lotus and Boduf Songs among others. Soon be caught up! Whatcha gonna do then Goofle?

Plans are still well in hand for the wedding of the century, but innerspaceboy also has to to kick off The Retrobox Project. What's that? Step this way... http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnerspace.html

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...band-week.html continues as joenorwood77 looks into Avenged Sevenfold

and Oriphiel has chapter eleven in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...rgy-story.html

Plainview is getting ito the Velvet Underground in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...attention.html

and there's a new entry in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...o-reviews.html as he looks at Brandon Flowers' new release. It's unscripted by the way, so be kind to him.

Not that much in my journals this week. There's an interesting observation on Gary Numan in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html while http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html has another “Surprising and Unexpected Moment in Movie History”, but yeah, that's about it. I know. Been busy with my “Love or Hate” thread...

No new entries in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html this week, as Unknown Soldier tells us he has yet to listen to all the albums he needs to for 1985. In the meantime, he promises some more 1984 albums to fill out the time. Sounds interesting. Meanwhile the boys are up to Tambu in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...78-2015-a.html.


No prizes for guessing who's being welcomed back after a year in the wilderness! With a “Victory Screech!” Antonio rejoins us for what we hope will not be just a fleeting visit. Good to have you back man!

Once I saw this post in “Pounding Decibels” there was no doubt at all that it was going to be my

Proof from Plankton that you can change a top forty mindset, one person at a time. Rock on!

Originally Posted by Plankton

I remember blazing with a GF back in the 80's and I put Rising Force on. We sat in my car and listened to the whole thing in my driveway. After it was over, I put her station back on the radio, which was a top 40 thing. Here's how the conversation went:

GF: "You're an *******"
Me: "Why? What'd I do?"
GF: "That guitar player"
Me: "Was it that bad?"
GF: "No."
Me: "Well, whats wrong then?"
GF: "You ruined all my music"
Me: "I did what?"
GF: "I can't listen to this anymore, it sounds like crap"
Me: "Good"

I gave her the cassette tape and went and bought another one.

Been a whole lot of talking and exchanging misty-eyed memories in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ms-nes-ps.html, so Black Francis wins another award this week, for having the busiest and liveliest journal. Well done! Now how do I use this emulator again??

So that's the last update for May. Just imagine, next week we'll be halfway through the year! Only two hundred and fifteen shopping days left to ... okay okay! I'm going! Sheesh!

Till next week,
Toodles!

[Trollheart]

There's been a pall hanging over Music Banter this week, and we all know why. As a result of the tension/depression/bewilderment/insert emotion here over Urban's departure, not too much has been happening in the Journals Section this week. Even I haven't managed a single entry, though in fairness that's more down to the amount of preparatory writing I'm doing, as well as getting ready for Metal Month III (only five months left to go!) as well as my running of the “Love or Hate?” thread. But let's see who has struggled into the office to try to keep the place running this week.

As the most recent entry in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...78-2015-a.html is his, I'm going to give this to Anteater, as he looks into Mindfields. In fairness of course, his partner in journalism is there with him, but as he also has entries in his own journal this week and Ant doesn't, and as it was he who posted the entries, we'll look on this as one of his. Unknown Soldier fans, don't worry: he's coming up later.

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-oblivion.html and talks at length about Spawn, also Image Comics

while Black Francis links themes with him, if unintentionally, as there's “X-men: Children of the storm” as well as "Killer Instinct" in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ms-nes-ps.html

and there are two more http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...stronauts.html, courtesy of Freebase Dali and his bandmate.

Six more years left to go in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...63-2015-a.html as this week he's at 2009, where we have Mouse on the Keys, Doom and MiRthkon among his favourites.

Innerspaceboy has certainly been busy, with entries on Manuel Gottsching, an article about the Cloud and Steve Albini's keynote address all to be found in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnerspace.html

while Isbjorn is getting all political down in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...seur-cave.html and talking about Bernie Sanders. Who? He a relative of the Colonel?

Ki just missed the deadline last week, but he wants to advise everyone that “Star Trek Video Game Month” is only around the corner. Tomorrow, in fact. Where? Where else but in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...is-arcade.html

Machine is promoting his new album in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-its-dumb.html

Unknown Soldier (see, I told you ladies: just have patience!) has the self-titled from Batlord's faves, Bathory in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html

and Violet is working on two new-ish journals. Having retired “The Devil's Dancefloor” he's going back to his original one, http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-endeavor.html where he's building a list of 2015 albums to begin reviewing from June 1. He's also emulating Batty with http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-endeavor.html wherein he's beginning his journey through the wonderful world of comic books with “Ultimate Spiderman”, no doubt with some assistance from the Battish one. We wish him well in his endeavours (sorry).

While I don't wish to be facetious, there wasn't a whole lot to choose from this week but I did manage to pick out one for my

and it's from the guy who really put a lot into his journal this week, innerspaceboy. To be honest, thre were three posts of his I could have chosen, but this one struck a chord.

Originally Posted by innerspaceboy

Steve Albini may not be an expert at public speaking. But he IS a 40-year veteran of the music industry - working as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, audio engineer and music journalist for most of his life. He lived and worked through the age of commercial rock radio and payola, through the birth of MTV, and through the most formative years of filesharing and torrenting right up to the present day.

Albini has worked on an estimated 1500 albums, which certainly qualifies him to speak on the state of the changing music industry.

Below is his Keynote Address at Face The Music in 2014. The first 30 minutes comprise his essential arguments - exposing the self-perpetuating system of major labels, commercial radio, and the convoluted laundry list of associated professionals who were all guaranteed to profit from a band's record, usually leaving the band with nothing.

He demonstrates that the old system was in place to serve everyone EXCEPT the band and its fans - the two inconsequential and often ignored parties of the music industry.

Albini then outlines how the internet and improved recording technologies rendered the old system obsolete and empowered artists. The web and filesharing gave bands, for the first time, a direct and personal relationship with their listeners and exponentially increased the reach of their music.

In closing, Albini describes the resulting listening culture as discerning and passionate, with the ability to pursue their own niche musical fetishism, and that these listeners find a way to reward the artists they love in return.

The old industry giants loudly proclaim that the new system is "broken" and a "crisis" that must be remedied. But in reality, the bands and their listeners are better off now than ever before.

This address shattered my shame about filesharing, and restored my faith in music.

So that's it for the last update for May, and the first of the post-Urban era, as it were. Wherever you are man, know you're missed and we hope to cross paths with you again some day. Most importantly, hope you're comfortable and happy in your decision, and are enjoying a well-earned break, however long it may last.

Till next week,
Toodles!

[Key]

It's Star Wars video game month, not Star Trek.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Ki

It's Star Wars video game month, not Star Trek.

Ah crap! I knew that; freudian slip man. Sorry I can't change it. Maybe one of our friendly mods would do me a favour?

[Key]

Oh well. We'll just have a bunch of confused individuals. :P Perhaps I can somehow slip some Star Trek into it, although my knowledge of Star Trek video games is very slim / close to none / pretty non-existent.

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Ki

Oh well. We'll just have a bunch of confused individuals. :P Perhaps I can somehow slip some Star Trek into it, although my knowledge of Star Trek video games is very slim / close to none / pretty non-existent.

Star Trek: Armada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Black Francis]

What? Urban left MB?? when did this happen and why??

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by Black Francis

What? Urban left MB?? when did this happen and why??

Allegedly. They always come back.

http://www.musicbanter.com/announcem...d-already.html