It's been a while since I updated. Well, after a term of *cough* hard work, I'm now on holiday. For a disgustingly short three weeks.
Anyway, upcoming stuff include interviews with a quite well-known punk band in Brunei and a producer/musician recently nominated for the VIMA 2010. I'm also going to see Fran & Josh battle it out in London for a place at the Base Camp Rocks. After that is the long-delayed Lost From Atlas album launch.
I've got myself a new Flip Mino HD, which means from now on gig videos will be so much clearer. In all probability, the first chance I can use it might be in the first week of the new year, since I'm struggling to find any decent gigs in London before that.
Signing out
Over and out
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Rage Factor
Is it that time again?
The Christmas charts. The inevitability of yet another X-Factor winner being auto-tuned into stardom with a hastily recorded cover of an existing popstar touted as the 'perfect Christmas single.' And that single will become number one when Christmas comes. Just as it had been, since The X-Factor came about in 2005.
But wait, what's this?
Rage Against The Machine neck and neck with Joe McElderry in the UK charts? How can this be? A 12-year old track protesting against bigotry against a Miley Cyrus cover about the tough path to fame? Fuck you, I won't believe what you tell me.
Jolly stuff
But lo, 'tis true. A Facebook group with the self-explanatory title of "Rage Against The Machine For Christmas No. 1" is attempting to take back the charts with defiant Rage. Yes, it is quite surprising to find out people are actually quite sick at Simon Cowell trying to manipulate the public's musical taste by churning out pop puppets every year with a massive popularity contest that, as shown by the presence of horrible singers Jedward (amongst many), has never concentrated on actual talent.
In fact, I quite loved Jedward because it exposed The X-Factor for what it is. A popularity contest. It showed that people with no musical talent can make it in the show. At first I thought Jedward was taking the piss of X-Factor, only joining to protest ironically by being as bad as possible and still get through to the next round. I haven't been proven wrong.
So what has Simon Cowell said about all this Killing In The Name fiasco? Well, he finds it 'stupid' and 'cynical.' He has remarked that this attempt 'robs' Joe of his deserved Number One. Wait, what? I know that Simon Cowell is quite conceited, but this just takes the cake. So let me get this straight. The twat actually is convinced that the winner of his reality show has the god-given right to get a Number One Christmas single.
Rage Against Rage Against The Machine
Whoa, Simon. Get over yourself. You are not the chartmaster. Whatever you produce isn't an automatic number one. Like usual, chart-toppers fight their way to the top. They don't 'deserve' it. "Killing In The Name" doesn't have the right either, but it is sure as hell fighting for it. Being Numero Uno is not a right, it's a privilege. And if you ask me, a privilege that's not been handed to the right people most of the time. But hey, if that's what the masses want, I'll get out the way and get back to my obscure band CDs and look at vinyls at the local record shop.
And now a large part of the masses want "Killing In The Name" for Christmas. If more want it than "The Climb," then great. I'm happy, because it shows I'm not the only one disillusioned at the state of the music industry. If Rage gets Number Two, I'll still be happy. It shows that the pop music factory cannot afford to be complacent anymore. They can't afford to be lazy and just expect a Christmas hit single. Rage Against The Machine. What an appropriate name for the campaign.
Do I have anything against the X-Factor contestants personally? Well, to be honest, no. The road to stardom is hard. And it's the likes of Simon Cowell that's manipulating the crowd, not the contestants. But I do find Simon Cowell's choice of song for the single really vomit-inducing. "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus? A song about how tough it is to make it in the music industry? I won't even get into the fact that I hate Miley Montana or whatever her name is. That's another story. But to make it seem like Joe McElderry's climb to fame as something 'epic' or 'tough' is just extremely laughable.
He went from being an unknown to a household name in 6 months in a reality TV show. That is not tough. You know what is tough? The effort put by bands who tour, rehearse, drive their own vans, set up their own equipment, give out their own flyers, sell their own merchandise, write their own songs, and sweat it out in the smallest venues in the most obscure places. Now that's tough.
Unless you're driving one of these
Joe McElderry's "Climb" is more like an escalator than a mountain compared to the bands who's got so much blood, sweat and tears invested into making the music they love.
Signing out
Over and out
----------------
Now playing: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
via FoxyTunes
The Christmas charts. The inevitability of yet another X-Factor winner being auto-tuned into stardom with a hastily recorded cover of an existing popstar touted as the 'perfect Christmas single.' And that single will become number one when Christmas comes. Just as it had been, since The X-Factor came about in 2005.
But wait, what's this?
Rage Against The Machine neck and neck with Joe McElderry in the UK charts? How can this be? A 12-year old track protesting against bigotry against a Miley Cyrus cover about the tough path to fame? Fuck you, I won't believe what you tell me.
Jolly stuffBut lo, 'tis true. A Facebook group with the self-explanatory title of "Rage Against The Machine For Christmas No. 1" is attempting to take back the charts with defiant Rage. Yes, it is quite surprising to find out people are actually quite sick at Simon Cowell trying to manipulate the public's musical taste by churning out pop puppets every year with a massive popularity contest that, as shown by the presence of horrible singers Jedward (amongst many), has never concentrated on actual talent.
In fact, I quite loved Jedward because it exposed The X-Factor for what it is. A popularity contest. It showed that people with no musical talent can make it in the show. At first I thought Jedward was taking the piss of X-Factor, only joining to protest ironically by being as bad as possible and still get through to the next round. I haven't been proven wrong.
So what has Simon Cowell said about all this Killing In The Name fiasco? Well, he finds it 'stupid' and 'cynical.' He has remarked that this attempt 'robs' Joe of his deserved Number One. Wait, what? I know that Simon Cowell is quite conceited, but this just takes the cake. So let me get this straight. The twat actually is convinced that the winner of his reality show has the god-given right to get a Number One Christmas single.
Rage Against Rage Against The MachineWhoa, Simon. Get over yourself. You are not the chartmaster. Whatever you produce isn't an automatic number one. Like usual, chart-toppers fight their way to the top. They don't 'deserve' it. "Killing In The Name" doesn't have the right either, but it is sure as hell fighting for it. Being Numero Uno is not a right, it's a privilege. And if you ask me, a privilege that's not been handed to the right people most of the time. But hey, if that's what the masses want, I'll get out the way and get back to my obscure band CDs and look at vinyls at the local record shop.
And now a large part of the masses want "Killing In The Name" for Christmas. If more want it than "The Climb," then great. I'm happy, because it shows I'm not the only one disillusioned at the state of the music industry. If Rage gets Number Two, I'll still be happy. It shows that the pop music factory cannot afford to be complacent anymore. They can't afford to be lazy and just expect a Christmas hit single. Rage Against The Machine. What an appropriate name for the campaign.
Do I have anything against the X-Factor contestants personally? Well, to be honest, no. The road to stardom is hard. And it's the likes of Simon Cowell that's manipulating the crowd, not the contestants. But I do find Simon Cowell's choice of song for the single really vomit-inducing. "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus? A song about how tough it is to make it in the music industry? I won't even get into the fact that I hate Miley Montana or whatever her name is. That's another story. But to make it seem like Joe McElderry's climb to fame as something 'epic' or 'tough' is just extremely laughable.
He went from being an unknown to a household name in 6 months in a reality TV show. That is not tough. You know what is tough? The effort put by bands who tour, rehearse, drive their own vans, set up their own equipment, give out their own flyers, sell their own merchandise, write their own songs, and sweat it out in the smallest venues in the most obscure places. Now that's tough.
Unless you're driving one of theseJoe McElderry's "Climb" is more like an escalator than a mountain compared to the bands who's got so much blood, sweat and tears invested into making the music they love.
Signing out
Over and out
----------------
Now playing: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
via FoxyTunes
Sunday, December 13, 2009
It's All Clearer Now
After today, when I record gigs, it should be much, much clearer, with better sound quality.
That's because Pill got me a Flip Mino HD for my belated birthday. Woohoo.
Here's a sample. Don't forget to watch it in HD.
It'll also be great for exploring Paris. And a lot of other stuff.
Signing out
Over and out
That's because Pill got me a Flip Mino HD for my belated birthday. Woohoo.
Here's a sample. Don't forget to watch it in HD.
It'll also be great for exploring Paris. And a lot of other stuff.
Signing out
Over and out
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tumbling Down
I made myself a Tumblr blog (if that's how you call it).
So if you ever wonder what I think when I'm not writing about music on this blog, go on to Tumblr. But I really doubt any of you are interested. As it is, I don't have that many readers here anyway.
But again, just like this blog, my Tumblr is just a place for me to write about the things I love. And if other people happen to like it, then that's a bonus.
Signing out
Over and out
----------------
Now playing: Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life
via FoxyTunes
So if you ever wonder what I think when I'm not writing about music on this blog, go on to Tumblr. But I really doubt any of you are interested. As it is, I don't have that many readers here anyway.
But again, just like this blog, my Tumblr is just a place for me to write about the things I love. And if other people happen to like it, then that's a bonus.
Signing out
Over and out
----------------
Now playing: Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life
via FoxyTunes
Top Ten Songs of 2009: List
I promised I'd write up about the top ten albums list I wrote the last time I was here, but that can wait. Here's another list. Now it's for songs. It's the top 10 songs in my opinion, of 2009, so don't get uptight because I didn't put in Lady Gaga or Kings of Leon. This list is mine. If you don't like it, make your own. And tell me about it. Honestly, I'd like to hear all about it. No sarcasm there.
10) The Joy Formidable - Greyhound In The Slips
9) The Lonely Island - I'm On A Boat (Feat. T-Pain)
8) Two Door Cinema Club - I Can Talk
7) Blakfish - Ringo Starr - 2nd Best Drummer In The Beatles
6) The xx - Crystalised
5) Tubelord - Propeller
4) Johnny Foreigner - Criminals
3) Animal Collective - My Girls
2) Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This
Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This on MUZU
1) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
Signing out
Over and out
----------------
Now playing: Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Zero"
via FoxyTunes
10) The Joy Formidable - Greyhound In The Slips
9) The Lonely Island - I'm On A Boat (Feat. T-Pain)
8) Two Door Cinema Club - I Can Talk
7) Blakfish - Ringo Starr - 2nd Best Drummer In The Beatles
6) The xx - Crystalised
5) Tubelord - Propeller
4) Johnny Foreigner - Criminals
3) Animal Collective - My Girls
2) Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This
Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This on MUZU
1) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Zero
Signing out
Over and out
----------------
Now playing: Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Zero"
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Top 10 Albums of 2009: A List
I'll update properly soon. Here's a list of my top ten albums of 2009. I'll write up about it when I have time.
3) Tubelord - Our First American Friends
"Propeller"
2) The xx - xx
"Crystalized"
1) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
"Heads Will Roll"
I guess the inclusion of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The xx might be obvious, or even Gallows. Your top ten might be different. I'll talk more in detail next time about my choices. Here are some notable mentions:
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Beirut - Holland / March Of The Zapotec
Red Light Company - Fine Fascination
Asobi Seksu - Hush
Sam Isaac - Bears
Crazy Arm - Born To Ruin
Handsome Furs - Face Control
Enter Shikari - Common Dreads
Antony & The Johnsons - The Crying Light
Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
Loney, Dear - Dear John
Signing out
Over and out
10) Emmy The Great - First Love
"First Love"
"First Love"
8) Animal Collective - Merriweather Post-Pavillion
"My Girls"
"My Girls"
7) Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
"Daniel"
"Daniel"
6) Dananananaykroyd - Hey Everyone
"Some Dresses"
"Some Dresses"
5) Blakfish - Champions
"Ringo Starr - The 2nd Best Drummer In The Beatles"
No video
"Ringo Starr - The 2nd Best Drummer In The Beatles"
No video
4) Gallows - Grey Britain
"I Dread The Night"
"I Dread The Night"
3) Tubelord - Our First American Friends
"Propeller"
2) The xx - xx
"Crystalized"
1) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
"Heads Will Roll"
I guess the inclusion of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The xx might be obvious, or even Gallows. Your top ten might be different. I'll talk more in detail next time about my choices. Here are some notable mentions:
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Beirut - Holland / March Of The Zapotec
Red Light Company - Fine Fascination
Asobi Seksu - Hush
Sam Isaac - Bears
Crazy Arm - Born To Ruin
Handsome Furs - Face Control
Enter Shikari - Common Dreads
Antony & The Johnsons - The Crying Light
Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
Loney, Dear - Dear John
Signing out
Over and out
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
