For today's interview, we have my friend over at http://nevermindthearias.blogspot.com.au/ who's kindly decided to answer a few questions for me.
For those who don't know you, who are you/what do you do?
Basically, I’m a music student who lives and breathes music of every sort. It’s my life, it’s my passion and if you get me started on the subject I WILL talk you into the ground with abounding enthusiasm. I even like theory. *coughnerdymuchcough*
Haha. Don't worry, it's not just you. :P
I do enjoy writing words as well as notes though, so when I’m not buried in music I’m usually writing with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek :P
Good to hear.
So how did you get into this music reviewing thing?
Ahhh, excuse me whilst I get a little nostalgic: I still remember my first album review like it was yesterday! It was in Year 10 and I chose to critique U2’s “U2: 18 Singles”. It came back with most of my wording crossed out and deserved the pretty woeful mark it achieved.
Then, when I first started uni, I realised how little I had ventured outside of my music comfort zone (read: The Beatles, U2 and ABBA). Tired of nodding and smiling in ignorance while people talked of musicians from The Velvet Underground through to Gotye, I decided I needed to self-educate myself in the area of popular music. For a laugh, I thought it might be an idea to improve my handling of my least favourite form of writing: reviews. A whacking great dose of Christmas-holiday boredom sent me clunking through my opening post and, 14 months later, reviewing is one of my favourite ways to string words together!
Hmmm. Maybe I should try doing that with essays, then.... XD
Worst and best album so far?
Oooh, that’s tricky…I’ve discovered so many great and awful bands/musicians through my reviews that it’s so hard to pick one of each! I’d have to say the Jersey Boys soundtrack has been my best find though (and currently the only recipient of 5/5 stars!), as, not only are the Broadway arrangements fantastic, it introduced me to the epicness of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. :D Villagers’ "Becoming A Jackal", Tom Waits’ "Raindogs" and Mumford and Sons’ "Sigh No More" are also among my favourites.
Worst??? I think I’m going to give that to Michael Buble’s "Christmas". I’m sorry, but it was just too pathetic. Mind you, my Lady Gaga and Adele experiences were a bit hard on the ears…and a review of Joanna Newsom’s "Ys" is yet to come! :S
Think we can agree there. I've also heard that Christmas album, and...yeah.
Uni's back this week. Thoughts?
I hope I still have time to review albums at least once or twice a month!!!
I have a written schedule of 2-3 albums for each month of this year which I really want to stick to instead of being so sporadic with my posts…but be patient dear readers, uni is a demanding boss :P
If you can manage to keep to that schedule, I will be suitably impressed.
Any ideas on what after uni?
Yes! Music journalism is all fine and dandy (and I wouldn’t say no to any opportunities in that area!) but I’m also passionate about music education, so that’s my career plan :D
Well, you have more plans than I do. Good stuff :)
Being the incredible pianist you are, you obviously practiced each day for five hours since you were six. Yes?
Awww shucks, you’re too kind!! I hate to disillusion you (and myself…hehe), but the answer to that is no :P I’ve been playing since I was six, yes, but five hours practice a day just doesn’t happen – it’s usually about two (and then perhaps another hour on my guitar). Hence why I have time to sit around reviewing music, instead of touring internationally…
Firstly: Hang on, you actually started when you were six? OK then.... Secondly: you manage two/three hours a day? Good job, I can barely ever manage one... :P
And finally, why the name (of the blog)?
I usually intensely dislike the vast majority of contemporary popular music – ie. the hits that make it onto the Australian Recording Industry Awards (ARIA) charts here in Oz…so I replaced the “Bollocks” in The Sex Pistols’ iconic album title with “ARIAs” and named my blog as a constant reminder that I prefer retro quality over contemporary hype. That’s not to say that I don’t groove to “Pumped Up Kicks” occasionally…
Haha. Good stuff.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Song Saturday #4: In The Quiet
This was written five minutes ago, sitting at my computer, on a dark, cool, quiet night. It seemed appropriate. Chords should be up fairly soon. Probably next time I can get to the guitar without waking my little sister.
In The Quiet
V1:
Sound escaping
Heat is fading
Light is leaving
Here
Chorus: (x2)
Come join me
In the quiet
Come join me
Here
V2:
Noise is failing
Warmth is bailing
Light is paling
Here
Chorus
Instrumental
Chorus x2
In The Quiet
V1:
Sound escaping
Heat is fading
Light is leaving
Here
Chorus: (x2)
Come join me
In the quiet
Come join me
Here
V2:
Noise is failing
Warmth is bailing
Light is paling
Here
Chorus
Instrumental
Chorus x2
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Mass Effect 3 [Demo]
I'm a bit of a fan of the Mass Effect series. It's got some solid action happening, with good shooting and stuff; but it's also got a great RPG line, divergent storyline and everything. And so far, I've liked all of it, and it's been really good. So, of course, I've really been looking forward to Mass Effect 3, already pre-ordered the deluxe edition....yeah. So just a bit of bias here.
The demo came out a few days back. And, for the first time, multiplayer! In Mass Effect! And it's....good. I'm quite impressed with it, really. It's quite enjoyable, and I'm really liking it. Not getting bored with it at all as yet, though it'll probably happen eventually. But good so far. And it's the sort of one that you don't need to be able to communicate with the other people for, so it's not super annoying when you don't have VOIP working. But it's still definitely fairly challenging, with three different difficulties and two maps you can work with.
As well as that, you have the single player. It doesn't show you a lot, of course, but what it does show I'm liking. They've improved the powers and upgrading system a bit, changed how you move with cover, and the weapon customisation has been improved as well. And the story is looking good as well.
There is one thing I'm annoyed by, however.
Ashley Williams.
She's the "love interest" of the human variety in Mass Effect (1) if you're male Shepard. If she stays alive, you see her again in Mass Effect 2. In Mass Effect 3...it looks like she's had a complete makeover. Way too much lipstick, plus hair colouring, plus a girly suit. Ashley was not like that in either of the previous ones. And, for me at least, that's a bit of a disappointment. But then, I always find it annoying when characters are redesigned in-between versions of a game. But it just seems like they've...changed her. Which just feels wrong.
Apart from that, however, a muchly enjoyable game. Looking forward to the full version.
The demo came out a few days back. And, for the first time, multiplayer! In Mass Effect! And it's....good. I'm quite impressed with it, really. It's quite enjoyable, and I'm really liking it. Not getting bored with it at all as yet, though it'll probably happen eventually. But good so far. And it's the sort of one that you don't need to be able to communicate with the other people for, so it's not super annoying when you don't have VOIP working. But it's still definitely fairly challenging, with three different difficulties and two maps you can work with.
As well as that, you have the single player. It doesn't show you a lot, of course, but what it does show I'm liking. They've improved the powers and upgrading system a bit, changed how you move with cover, and the weapon customisation has been improved as well. And the story is looking good as well.
There is one thing I'm annoyed by, however.
Ashley Williams.
She's the "love interest" of the human variety in Mass Effect (1) if you're male Shepard. If she stays alive, you see her again in Mass Effect 2. In Mass Effect 3...it looks like she's had a complete makeover. Way too much lipstick, plus hair colouring, plus a girly suit. Ashley was not like that in either of the previous ones. And, for me at least, that's a bit of a disappointment. But then, I always find it annoying when characters are redesigned in-between versions of a game. But it just seems like they've...changed her. Which just feels wrong.
Apart from that, however, a muchly enjoyable game. Looking forward to the full version.
Monday, 20 February 2012
Interview #3: Kurt Routley
And we're back again for more interviewing goodness. This time, a friend of mine from Canada, that I met while on the Outreach Mission in Thailand.
For those who don't know you, who are you/what do you do?
I am Kurt Routley. I'm a 4th year Mathematics and Computing Science student at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, Canada.
What's it like, living in Canada? And have you ever been snowed in?
Living in Canada is... normal, I guess? Nothing really to complain about. Other than there's never any GameSpot competitions including Canada (US only) and a Double Stacker from Burger King is like $1-$2 in the US, and $4 up in Canada T_T;; I've never been snowed in. We usually just put snow tires on our vehicles if it gets bad. Otherwise, we can usually walk wherever we need to.
...You actually still have Burger King over there? o_0 I have't seen one of those in ages...
Having been to at least a couple of countries (I already know your favourite, so I won't ask that ;) ), what do you think is the biggest difference between reading and hearing about a place, and actually being there?
Biggest difference between reading/hearing about a place and actually being there depends on the cost of the flight ;) But in all seriousness, being there is so much better because you get to experience everything for yourself, meet new people, and find out about things you may have not known before.
True dat.
Geek/nerd. What's the difference (if there is one), and do you identify yourself as either?
Geeks: Science/technology oriented and actually understand those areas. When they talk about those areas, they actually know what they're talking about, but they don't flaunt it in front of people.
Nerds: Science/technology oriented but don't know what they're talking about, and are generally obnoxious with their "knowledge".
And I like to think I transcend those labels, due to negative connotations of both and because in the end it doesn't really matter :)
Amen to that, brother.
You're coming (or have come to, I can't keep up :P ) to the end of your degree. Is your future looking any clearer, or still decidedly murky?
Just about done my degree, planning on getting a co-op job over the Summer semester (that's May-August over here) and then doing 3 more courses in the Fall semester (September-December). (Aside: Autumn is a much more bodacious word than Fall) [Agreed.] Still not entirely sure what I'm going to end up doing after graduation. Since the 5th grade/grade 5/year 5 I was wanting to get into video game development, so hopefully there's still a chance for that somewhere, be it with big name brands (e.g. EA, THQ, etc) or starting up an indie development group. If I can't get a job after getting my bachelor's degree, I might consider going for a master's degree in some computing science field, since the math grad topics don't really interest me.
Well, you've got more of an idea than I have. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be the C418 to your Notch XD
What was one thing you learnt about Australia while you were here that you never would have guessed?
One thing I learned in Australia: drop bears. Be afraid. Very afraid.
We taught him well. ;)
And, finally, RED team or BLU team?
And red team vs blue team, I was technically on both, wasn't I? But I think I was a spy for the red team, so GO RED TEAM! (Ironically, I was the spy for the BLU team.) I should totally skype into the next battle or something XD
I'm sure we could arrange something ;)
Also, I'm working on an internet radio website. Ideally, I'd like it up by the end of the summer. If it goes up then, be sure to upload your songs :)
Most definitely. :)
For those who don't know you, who are you/what do you do?
I am Kurt Routley. I'm a 4th year Mathematics and Computing Science student at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC, Canada.
What's it like, living in Canada? And have you ever been snowed in?
Living in Canada is... normal, I guess? Nothing really to complain about. Other than there's never any GameSpot competitions including Canada (US only) and a Double Stacker from Burger King is like $1-$2 in the US, and $4 up in Canada T_T;; I've never been snowed in. We usually just put snow tires on our vehicles if it gets bad. Otherwise, we can usually walk wherever we need to.
...You actually still have Burger King over there? o_0 I have't seen one of those in ages...
Having been to at least a couple of countries (I already know your favourite, so I won't ask that ;) ), what do you think is the biggest difference between reading and hearing about a place, and actually being there?
Biggest difference between reading/hearing about a place and actually being there depends on the cost of the flight ;) But in all seriousness, being there is so much better because you get to experience everything for yourself, meet new people, and find out about things you may have not known before.
True dat.
Geek/nerd. What's the difference (if there is one), and do you identify yourself as either?
Geeks: Science/technology oriented and actually understand those areas. When they talk about those areas, they actually know what they're talking about, but they don't flaunt it in front of people.
Nerds: Science/technology oriented but don't know what they're talking about, and are generally obnoxious with their "knowledge".
And I like to think I transcend those labels, due to negative connotations of both and because in the end it doesn't really matter :)
Amen to that, brother.
You're coming (or have come to, I can't keep up :P ) to the end of your degree. Is your future looking any clearer, or still decidedly murky?
Just about done my degree, planning on getting a co-op job over the Summer semester (that's May-August over here) and then doing 3 more courses in the Fall semester (September-December). (Aside: Autumn is a much more bodacious word than Fall) [Agreed.] Still not entirely sure what I'm going to end up doing after graduation. Since the 5th grade/grade 5/year 5 I was wanting to get into video game development, so hopefully there's still a chance for that somewhere, be it with big name brands (e.g. EA, THQ, etc) or starting up an indie development group. If I can't get a job after getting my bachelor's degree, I might consider going for a master's degree in some computing science field, since the math grad topics don't really interest me.
Well, you've got more of an idea than I have. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be the C418 to your Notch XD
What was one thing you learnt about Australia while you were here that you never would have guessed?
One thing I learned in Australia: drop bears. Be afraid. Very afraid.
We taught him well. ;)
And, finally, RED team or BLU team?
And red team vs blue team, I was technically on both, wasn't I? But I think I was a spy for the red team, so GO RED TEAM! (Ironically, I was the spy for the BLU team.) I should totally skype into the next battle or something XD
I'm sure we could arrange something ;)
Also, I'm working on an internet radio website. Ideally, I'd like it up by the end of the summer. If it goes up then, be sure to upload your songs :)
Most definitely. :)
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Song Saturday #3: Buster
Wrote this one up a couple of minutes ago. Got the idea from randomly hearing something about a crash-test dummy in a song at some point today, my mind immediately jumping to Buster (from Mythbusters, though he's not around so much anymore) and deciding to do a bit of a song on that. So yeah, that's what I've done.
Buster
V1:
Throw me off a building, drop me into the sea
Run me under a train, you can’t hurt me
Blow me up, set me on the trip of no return
If you want to get rid of me, then you’re gonna have to burn me
Chorus:
Cause I was built to be broken, crafted to be crashed
Put together to be pulverised, synthesised to be smashed
It’s what I was made for, the only reason I’m here
Not good for any more, let me make that clear
Well I’m busted
V2:
You can throw at me whatever you like, I’ll come out the other side
I may be a bit bruised, but I’m always alive
I rise up from the ashes, rebuilt again
And you know - I’m not your average man
Chorus x2
Buster
V1:
Throw me off a building, drop me into the sea
Run me under a train, you can’t hurt me
Blow me up, set me on the trip of no return
If you want to get rid of me, then you’re gonna have to burn me
Chorus:
Cause I was built to be broken, crafted to be crashed
Put together to be pulverised, synthesised to be smashed
It’s what I was made for, the only reason I’m here
Not good for any more, let me make that clear
Well I’m busted
V2:
You can throw at me whatever you like, I’ll come out the other side
I may be a bit bruised, but I’m always alive
I rise up from the ashes, rebuilt again
And you know - I’m not your average man
Chorus x2
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Ad-Vantage Point
I have to say first off - I love a story. I've probably said it before, but I always love a story. As such, chances are, if a movie's told like a story, I'm probably going to like it. So yes, you could probably say I'm biased.
Vantage Point is one of these types of movies. It tells a story - but, as the title suggests, from half a dozen different perspectives. It's part action, part adventure, but all story. And part of the idea of it is that each time you get a different story, it shows you a little more. It twists it a bit, surprises you a little.
The basic story centres around a forum of international leaders in Spain, focussing on the US (of course :P). But something goes wrong. The president is shot, and there are some explosions, and the whole area turns to chaos. The rest of the movie details the elaboration, reveal and story of how it happened, who did it, etc etc.
One thing I actually think is a nice twist at the end; it ends up being finished because of the littlest thing. The littlest thing.
Certainly worth a look, particularly if you're a story person like me.
~ ~ ~
As an aside, I'm quite sick at the moment. I've been vomiting a bit, and think I have a temperature. Hopefully I get better soon, but any prayer would be much appreciated.
Vantage Point is one of these types of movies. It tells a story - but, as the title suggests, from half a dozen different perspectives. It's part action, part adventure, but all story. And part of the idea of it is that each time you get a different story, it shows you a little more. It twists it a bit, surprises you a little.
The basic story centres around a forum of international leaders in Spain, focussing on the US (of course :P). But something goes wrong. The president is shot, and there are some explosions, and the whole area turns to chaos. The rest of the movie details the elaboration, reveal and story of how it happened, who did it, etc etc.
One thing I actually think is a nice twist at the end; it ends up being finished because of the littlest thing. The littlest thing.
Certainly worth a look, particularly if you're a story person like me.
~ ~ ~
As an aside, I'm quite sick at the moment. I've been vomiting a bit, and think I have a temperature. Hopefully I get better soon, but any prayer would be much appreciated.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Little encouragements + Annoyed.
I've mentioned a few times before that I'm not entirely happy with where I'm at with...most things. But it's nice to know that I'm on the right track with at least some.
I had a random person say, "You're doing good," to me today. That's the sort of little encouragement that keeps me going the extra mile.
~ ~ ~
On another note, I mentioned a while ago that I got into the televised part of Australia's Got Talent. I still have no idea what day I'm on, and it's just over two weeks away. As well as that, tickets are sold out for every audition except one. It's just....ridiculous. I rang last Monday and they said they'd be getting back to me that week, and I'd be getting heaps of calls about props, background, stuff, stuff, stuff...nothing. Not a peep.
So I'm a bit annoyed. Because I haven't told people about it, because I've wanted to give them a date and time, so they could come and watch. Now, of course, they can't. Unless I manage to get that one spot, which is what I'm hoping. Yeah.
But still, quite annoying.
I had a random person say, "You're doing good," to me today. That's the sort of little encouragement that keeps me going the extra mile.
~ ~ ~
On another note, I mentioned a while ago that I got into the televised part of Australia's Got Talent. I still have no idea what day I'm on, and it's just over two weeks away. As well as that, tickets are sold out for every audition except one. It's just....ridiculous. I rang last Monday and they said they'd be getting back to me that week, and I'd be getting heaps of calls about props, background, stuff, stuff, stuff...nothing. Not a peep.
So I'm a bit annoyed. Because I haven't told people about it, because I've wanted to give them a date and time, so they could come and watch. Now, of course, they can't. Unless I manage to get that one spot, which is what I'm hoping. Yeah.
But still, quite annoying.
Monday, 13 February 2012
Advancing forward...
This weekend, there was no Song Saturday, I'm sorry. And there probably won't be an interview today, either. I'm just so organised....
But I've been away this weekend at an 'advance' for CBM (Campus Bible Ministries). The idea is that retreat sounds too negative, so instead it's an advance. Basically it was for the few guys that Rob (the leader) thought would work as part of the student leadership team for CBM this year. Planning the sort of things that CBM would be doing this year.
And it was really good. We got a lot done, and I think this year is going to turn out really well. And maybe I'll have a go at leading a couple of things. Should be good. :)
But I've been away this weekend at an 'advance' for CBM (Campus Bible Ministries). The idea is that retreat sounds too negative, so instead it's an advance. Basically it was for the few guys that Rob (the leader) thought would work as part of the student leadership team for CBM this year. Planning the sort of things that CBM would be doing this year.
And it was really good. We got a lot done, and I think this year is going to turn out really well. And maybe I'll have a go at leading a couple of things. Should be good. :)
Thursday, 9 February 2012
The End at the Beginning
If I say the name Split Enz, you probably think about the song Six Months In A Leaky Boat, and a bunch of New Zealanders in a band. So if you then got their album entitled The Beginning of the Enz and had a listen, you might get a bit confused. And not without reason.
The album features some more folk music sort of sounds, including instruments like flute and violin, and a particularly folk-sounding vocal to go with it. Which isn't exactly what you'd expect if you're used to Six Months In A Leaky Boat. It can certainly take a few listens to get used to it, and you may not recognise it as the Split Enz that you know. But after you've played it through a few time...it does grow on you a little. It's certainly different, but I don't think it's straight for the scrap pile with this one. Maybe a bit of hesitation with it, but I think it's a decent album.
Certainly nothing I'd call exceptional, maybe not worth buying (though we got it for $5 at some second-hand shop or something like that), but not too bad.
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Answers
I did say I'd put up any answers to those questions I asked as part of that survey thing that I got via FB if I didn't get a response for my interview, but I did. So I'm putting them up now instead.
To refresh your memory:
1. Colours; eye, hair, favourite, disgusting.
2. People - are they hopeless, or hopeful? (And why would be nice.)
3. Are there any coincidences, really?
4. Apples - better red, green, yellow, baked, stewed, juice, sauce, candied?
5. Is anything set in stone? (That is, figuratively speaking.)
6. Does infinity exist in reality?
7. Rain - hate it, love it, dance in it, sing in it, laugh at it, roll around in it, or avoid it at all costs?
8. Is there a point to life - and if there isn't, why is there life?
9. Is morality make-believe?
10. Day - Mon, Tues, Wednes, Thurs, Fri, Satur, Sun?
11. What is world peace?
Answers I got:
"world peace is when all the nuclear bombs have gone off and we are all ash :)"
"Eyes: blue
Hair; not enough
People: predominantly dumb as a box of hammers
Apples: green and crispy
Rain: love it, even as a truck driver, love driving thru really big puddles "
People: I think there are enough good, intelligent people to get shit done if we could all just get off our arses long enough.
Coincidences?: No. There's only causality.
Apples: I'm just not a fan in general, as odd as that may sound.
Anything Set in Stone?: Yes, probably, whether or not we've correctly identified anything that is is another question. Although I'm pretty confident that if a human doesn't breathe for long enough they will die.
Does infinity exist in reality?: Too soon to say. Probably not. The universe probably stops expanding at some point, and probably has a finite "resolution" (a smallest size anything - including a gap - can be) although that's all highly theoretical. Time might have always been and may always be. But yeah, I guess we don't really know.
Rain: I like it.
Point to Life: I've been feeling pretty nihilistic lately, so I'm going with "Feed, Mate, Die". Catch me on a good day and and I might have a different answer though. There is no reason life itself exists - it's a complex collection of chemicals and the processes they undergo, and something that just so happens to occur in nature, if the conditions are right.
Day: Friday.
World Peace: Boring but thankfully improbable."
To refresh your memory:
1. Colours; eye, hair, favourite, disgusting.
2. People - are they hopeless, or hopeful? (And why would be nice.)
3. Are there any coincidences, really?
4. Apples - better red, green, yellow, baked, stewed, juice, sauce, candied?
5. Is anything set in stone? (That is, figuratively speaking.)
6. Does infinity exist in reality?
7. Rain - hate it, love it, dance in it, sing in it, laugh at it, roll around in it, or avoid it at all costs?
8. Is there a point to life - and if there isn't, why is there life?
9. Is morality make-believe?
10. Day - Mon, Tues, Wednes, Thurs, Fri, Satur, Sun?
11. What is world peace?
Answers I got:
"world peace is when all the nuclear bombs have gone off and we are all ash :)"
"Eyes: blue
Hair; not enough
People: predominantly dumb as a box of hammers
Apples: green and crispy
Rain: love it, even as a truck driver, love driving thru really big puddles "
"Colours: I sure wish games used more vibrant ones.
People: I think there are enough good, intelligent people to get shit done if we could all just get off our arses long enough.
Coincidences?: No. There's only causality.
Apples: I'm just not a fan in general, as odd as that may sound.
Anything Set in Stone?: Yes, probably, whether or not we've correctly identified anything that is is another question. Although I'm pretty confident that if a human doesn't breathe for long enough they will die.
Does infinity exist in reality?: Too soon to say. Probably not. The universe probably stops expanding at some point, and probably has a finite "resolution" (a smallest size anything - including a gap - can be) although that's all highly theoretical. Time might have always been and may always be. But yeah, I guess we don't really know.
Rain: I like it.
Point to Life: I've been feeling pretty nihilistic lately, so I'm going with "Feed, Mate, Die". Catch me on a good day and and I might have a different answer though. There is no reason life itself exists - it's a complex collection of chemicals and the processes they undergo, and something that just so happens to occur in nature, if the conditions are right.
Day: Friday.
World Peace: Boring but thankfully improbable."
Bit of variety there.
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