Almost-Perfect Albums

Thanks to the internet and, specifically, widely popular sites like Rate Your Music and Sputnik, people have been under the (somewhat misguided) impression that their opinions about music actually matter a little and, thus, should let others know of what they think of album X by artist Y. I am, of course, one of these people. My RYM account is here and, frankly speaking, I quite enjoy critically evaluating what I listen to and determining where it stands under the grand scheme of things.

Where I'm going with this is that most people and websites rate albums either out of 10 in whole numbers (Pitchfork are the obvious outliers), or out of 5 possible stars with half star increments. Simply speaking, there are, generally, 10 possible numerical values one may assign an album that indicates its quality. However, the absolute highest rating, whether it be 10/10 or a full 5 stars, is always approached with caution. People seem very hesitant to give an album the highest possible rating unless it quite literally is the second coming of Jesus and whose only flaw is that nothing so beautiful will ever be recorded again (Rate Your Music is particularly guilty of this with many users having rated thousands of albums, yet I can count with my hands how many have been designated 5 stars). I don't completely support this and am somewhat more liberal with my maximum rating, but, at the same time, I completely understand their hesitation. The jump from 4.5 to 5 or 9 to 10 is pretty big mental barrier, one that I, despite claiming to be more liberal than most, will always cross with caution.

So, I guess the point of this post, other than to finally update this site a little bit, is to pay tribute to some of those albums who didn't quite make the absolute top tier, but, any anxiety about rating too many things too highly aside, probably should be at the max (at the very least, they're high 4.5's).


Animal Collective - Feels


Why it works:
First of all, Feels is probably my favourite Animal Collective album, and considering my shameless devotion to this band, that already makes it pretty special. It features both the older and 'zanier' A.C screwing around with how a song should sound as well as the newer, more pensive and, perhaps, more serious A.C. It's also the only album of theirs where an acoustic guitar features quite prominently and, rather startlingly, fits in quite well.

Why it's not perfect:
You'd be hard pressed to find an Animal Collective fan who likes every single song they've released. The whole point the group is to try new things. As such, there are a few songs on here that don't sit with me as well as others. Not to say they're terrible or even bad, just not fantastic.


Atheist - Unquestionable Presence


Why it works:
Probably one of the most technically accomplished albums released (not that that's necessarily a good thing, Dream Theater still suck for example), Unquestionable Presence is an amazing fusion of death metal with Latin and jazz drum beats and rhythms. It also features some of the best bass lines I've heard, which is always welcome as the bass is an immensely underused instrument. This wouldn't mean anything if the music weren't any decent, but, thankfully, it is. Definitely one of those albums I'm always happy to crank out as I never get tired of it.

Why it's not perfect:
The tracks are a little 'samey'. Also, I simply don't seem to find it quite as good as Loveless or some of my other 5-star masterpieces.


Glenn Branca - The Ascension


Why it works:
The Ascension summarises quite nicely what I liked about underground music from the early 80's. It's noisy and abrasive at times, but behind all this there is a very solid structure with respect to what the song is actually doing. I think a pretty big reason I like this so much is that every track has an excellent build-up and climax, it's like Glenn Branca is rewarding me for not skipping half way through.

Why it's not perfect:
It simply isn't, only by a whisker though.


Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness


Why it works:
Because 2 guys with only a little money and shitty equipment went on to make the best album since 2007. Seriously, it's amazing.

Why it's not perfect:
I still think disc 1 isn't as good as disc 2. It's also probably longer than what it needed to be.


Natural Snow Buildings - The Dance of the Moon and the Sun


Why it works:
Those who read my ramblings may remember that I mentioned this a few months back in one of my 'Album of the Week' posts. What's happened since then is that the seed this album planted has germinated and is now really starting to bud. It's just so deep and dense that I can't help but keep coming back to it, wanting to find out more, even months after I first got it. The Dance of the Moon and the Sun now sits, quite comfortably, as my most played album on Last.fm and, considering the average track length isn't exactly short (6 and a half minutes or so), that's a hell of an achievement. I wish there were a way I could sum up 2 and a half hours of intricate music in a few sentences, but my ability with words only goes so far. Instead, I'll tell you to go listen to it, if you've got the time, of course.

Why it's not perfect:
Umm....it's very long? Fuck it, I'm bumping this up to a 5.

Kayo Dot - Choirs of the Eye

There are only two albums that I feel are truly representative of the term 'neo-classical'. One is Kashiwa Daisuke's 'Program Music 1' and the other is this (although 'Palmless Prayer/Mass Murder Refrain' by Mono & World's End Girlfriend comes close); what's interesting about this pairing is that this label is pretty much the only thing these two albums have in common. Let me elaborate on this a little, I think for an album to be modern classical, it involves having both meticulously composed structures, key signatures and changes, all that you'd find in the works of Debussy or Haydn, but done using modern instruments/techniques and what not. It's this last criteria that most people seem to forget and are all too quick to label something as neo-classical just because it's got some violins and was made in the last 20 years. Program Music 1 earns its neo-classical tag by fusing classical composition with electronic and computer based music, Choirs of the Eye does it with metal.

If I were to describe this album in one word, it would probably be dense. Despite running for over an hour, there's so much happening in this album that it never drags. Not just across the album, but each track you'll find the mood shift multiple times, anything from ambience to classical guitar to flute sections to full-blown metal. However, unlike schizophrenic bands like UneXpect, these changes never feel out of place or gimmicky. The key to this is probably that the album has only 5 tracks, meaning there's plenty of time for any stylistic change to take place within the context of both the song and the album.

One thing I particularly like about this album is that I'm always discovering something new in it. There's just so many layers that, upon every listen, you'll discover a horn part or a strings section or bass line that you've never noticed before. It not only adds to the musical sonic-scape, but helps keep the album fresh. I've listened to Choirs of the Eye probably about 11 times in the last 5 or so days and I am by no means tired of it yet; if anything, the more I listen to it, the more I like it. If I were to criticise it (and this is a minor grievance only), the vocals in some sections just don't seem quite as strong as the instruments, but they still do the job perfectly fine.

This albums comes with the disclaimer that it definitely does not fall under the 'easy listening' category. You can't turn on Kayo Dot and just chill out; it's an album best experienced with good headphones and with an alert and open mind. Even then, I probably wouldn't recommend this to someone who hasn't had some experience listening to progressive rock or metal. If you're new to the genre, maybe try some Tool or, God forbid, Opeth first and see how you like them before diving into this. Challenging but, ultimately, rewarding sums up this album nicely.

My initial plan for this review was to slowly go through each track and attempt to describe the awesomeness that unfolds. But I think it would be better for someone to discover this for themselves. Toby Driver has has created the first real modern-classical masterpiece of the 21st Century and has set the standard for avant-garde metal, of which no album has yet equalled. This. Album. Is. Fucking. Amazing.

Yndi Halda - Enjoy Eternal Bliss

I'm going to try and get a post done here and Green Gravy tonight to make up for my lack of updating recently, even if that means copying Scott by updating via pseudo album reviews/plugs. But the only thing more annoying than blogs that don't update are those that continually apologise for not updating so let's get into this.

Yndi Halda are a relatively new post-rock band from England, a place that's, at least to my knowledge, been pretty scarce in churning out good post rock bands, instead letting North America and Japan dominate the scene. This was my first exposure to the group; unsurprising as this is they're only full length released thus far. I've heard their sound described as Explosions You! Black Sky, which intrigued me as, even though I'm extremely apathetic to any Explosions in the Sky, Godspeed still remain one of my favourite groups.

I'd say the description given was pretty justified, there's a great balance between orchestral and string parts with guitar based post rock; hell, there's even some vocals every now and again, which is getting exceedingly rare in post rock. To put it simply, it's a good listen and your ears will certainly be at least enjoying temporary bliss (sorry). That said, I find myself somewhat conflicted with respect to how much I like this album. When I listen to it, I enjoy it a lot, it's a very well constructed album with some lovely moments and is a great example of neo-classical post rock. So what am I complaining about you ask? Well, I guess the whole thing is just too...predictable. Truly great post rock albums like Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven continually surprise me with respect to what's coming next (the climax of Sleep is nothing short of astounding). Program Music 1 did the same, it was innovative and fresh. These days it's becoming disturbingly easy to record some guitar melodies, a few violins and churn them through the giant 'post rock machine' and create pretty listenable albums and I can't help but feel that Enjoy Eternal Bliss falls into this territory.

But I'm being quite harsh, yes Enjoy Eternal Bliss is somewhat predictable and a little formulaic, but certainly no more so than Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, Russian Circles and Sigur Ros (yes, I went there, bite me). Frankly, I probably enjoyed it more than any of the albums I have by the aforementioned acts. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is if you're looking for a very solid post rock album, look no further. If, however, you're looking for the second coming of GY!BE, then you may be better off going back into your lonely shell and keep scouring eBay for All Lights Fucked on the Hairy Amp Drooling.

Varg Is A Cool Guy...

He kills band mates and doesn't afraid of anything.

Top 50 Albums of the Decade - With Regrets

No, I will not drop the subject.

Anyway, below is a list of albums that, given only a slight change of mood when compiling my top 50 list, could have ended up on the countdown. As a result, I feel compelled to at least mention them and, as such, implore you to check them out if interested.

Mastodon - Blood Mountain

Gojira - From Mars to Sirius

Daft Punk - Alive 2007

A Silver Mt Zion - Horses in the Sky

Deerhunter - Microcastle

Hauschka - Ferndorf

Melt-Banana - Bambi's Dilemma

Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero

Tool - Lateralus

Okay, I'll stop now; I promise.

Top 50 Albums of the Decade - Part 3 (15-1)

Let's do this thing.

15. Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

To quote tolkkii from HolyFuckingShit40000:

"It's one of my favourite albums, but honestly it sounds like the following events occurred.
Hey man, let's jam!
Ok, let's play some Black Sabbath, some Master of Reality stuff.
Sure bro, let me roll a fattie first.
*smokes*
What were we going to do with these instruments?
Fuck, I don't know.
*Jams*
Duuuuuude"

14. Cult of Luna - Salvation

This and Isis' Oceanic are the two benchmarks which all post metal should strive to. A stunning album from beginning to end.

13. Converge - Jane Doe

Behold, metalcore done well. 12 punches in the face delivered with intensity levels rarely seen in music. Might take a while to digest, but it's worth it and then some. Just thinking about the sheer awesome of 'Concubine' and 'Homewrecker' is making me a little giddy.

12. Have A Nice Life - Deathconsciousness

Recorded over 5 years, spanning 2 discs, containing an accompanying 70-page booklet and going so far as to have individually painted discs, Deathconsciousness is clearly an album close to the heart of its two creators. And why wouldn't it be? Spanning multiple genres and moods, Deathconsciousness is a masterful achievement and, arguably, the best concept album of the decade.

11. Church of Misery - Houses of the Unholy

I've discussed both this band and album at length previously so all I'll say is fuck yes.

10. Melt-Banana - Cell Scape

9. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion

Embarrassingly gushed over here. Still the best album of 2009 (bite me, Scott).

8. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

Just edging out its follower, Strawberry Jam epitomises what I like about Animal Collective. It's light and fun, but with some fascinating musical ideas to help give it some substance. Besides how can you resist an album with both 'For Reverend Green' and 'Fireworks'.

7. Mouse on the Keys - Sezession

Shamelessly fanboyed over here. Probably my best relatively unknown discovery of the last 12 months.

6. Boris - Flood

Ah, Boris...If I didn't give myself the 2 album restriction then this list would probably have at least 5 releases by this band (you see that I've already crammed 2 of their collaborations in here). Consisting of a single 70 minute track, Flood is like being slowly crushed by the ocean...but somehow in a good way.

5. Kashiwa Daisuke - Program Music 1

After I made a Japanese music post at Green Gravy, this was recommended to me by, again, Alex from Whatever Takes Your Fancy. This was, probably, the best album recommendation that I've ever received. Think of the electronic-influenced post-rock of World's End Girlfriend, then imagine it...better. Quite easily the best electronic album I've heard from this decade, if not ever.

4. Isis - Oceanic

The album that got me into sludge/post-metal and, really, metal in general. Crushingly heavy in parts, gorgeous in others, Oceanic is a masterpiece.

3. Radiohead - KidA

The musical shift from The Bends to OK Computer was matched if not surpassed when KidA was released. This caused quite the initial backlash but, as people actually started listening to Radiohead's new sound, they found that they were just as good as ever. I won't say too much more as KidA has been topping pretty much every best of list, but listen to the first 5 seconds of 'Everything in its Right Place' and you know that this is something special.

2. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven

The theme of Godpeed's F♯A♯∞ was, quite easily, the apocalypse, and it was awesome. The band's next full follow up, Lift Your Skinny Fists etc etc, didn't really seem to posses any central idea or premise. Instead, what Skinny Fists does is show the full spectrum of...existence, both the good and the bad. And it is through this simple idea that Godspeed are able to tell us more than they had previously. This would all mean nothing if the music wasn't there to back it up, but the nine-piece are in full form, from their trademark crescendos to, for the first time, drone and rock(ish) styles. In my opinion, the pinnacle of post-rock.

1. Boris - Boris at Last: -Feedbacker-

I wish I could describe how incredible this is and why it's the best album of the last 10 years, if not of all time, but words seem to lose me whenever I think about this album. This review does a better job than I could, but words can only get you so far. Listen to this album. Now.

Like I said at the start, I'm sure there are other albums released this decade, I haven't yet heard, that I'll like just as much if not more than those listed here. But that doesn't stop this list from being, in my opinion, fantastic releases and all highly recommended. Also, I'm quite willing to upload any album on this list at request so shout out if interested

Top 50 Albums of the Decade - Part 2 (30-16)

Let's jump straight back in and continue the countdown (hopefully blogger won't screw around with text sizes this time).

30. A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step

29. Mouse on the Keys - An Anxious Object

28. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Yanqui U.X.O

Despite being Godspeed's worst release, Yanqui is still a powerful and moving album. 'Rocket Fall on Rocket Falls' in particular is a gorgeous track. For a band to be able to express just how pissed off they are without using any vocals whatsoever is quite an extraordinary feat.

27. Isis - Celestial

Deconstucting. Fucking. Towers. That is all.

26. Foetus - Flow

Despite a few 'dud' tracks, when J.G Thirwell gets it right, it's nothing short of spectacular.

25. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

24. Between the Buried and Me - Colors

Quite simply, an amazing achievement of progressive metal. It all seemed a little too sporadic and inconsistent at first, but slowly it all started to make sense and become one of the few not only listen-able, but good metalcore releases ever.

23. Boris with Merzbow - Rock Dream

Reviewed here though it's grown on me a lot since then.

22. World's End Girlfriend - Dream's End Come True

21. Radiohead - Amnesiac

Kid B you say? Bah, I say. This is a perfect complement to their 2000 masterpiece, though can stand perfectly fine on its own. Pyramid Song, Like Spinning Plates, Life in a Glasshouse, astounding.

20. The Antlers - Hospice

I don't think an album has ever made me cry as much as this one. Listening to the whole thing with lyrics handy is absolutely crushing.

19. Sunn O))) & Boris - Altar

As you probably know, I'm very much a fan of drone music. Well, this is the album that started it all. Retaining the distinctive sound of both bands, but still sounding completely unlike either have released (I've once heard it described as a bastard love child of the two bands that was beaten regularly during childhood), any lover of drone-doom can't not have this in their collection.

18. Earthless - Rhythms From A Cosmic Sky

17. Neurosis - The Eye of Every Storm

Taking a 'less is more' approach, Neurosis deliver their best album yet.

16. The Ocean - Precambrian

I detest this adjective, but this album is truly deserving of the word epic. Two discs of pure joy.

Final instalment (15-1) will be posted whenever I get the time so hopefully some time over the next few days. What will be #1 (though if you know my music tastes even a little, you probably already know the answer to this question)?

Top 50 Albums of the Decade - Part 1 (50-31)

Over the next few days, I'll be counting down what I feel are the fifty best albums that I've listened to from the 2000-2009 period. I'm sure there's plenty of stuff that I've yet to experience that's awesome, but I guess you need to have a cut-off at some point.

Note that I've only allowed 2 albums per artist/band in this list, though collaborations are considered separate. Also to save giant posts, I'll only be making additional comments about albums if I feel like it. But enough introductions, part 1 is 50-31

50. Set Fire to Flames - Sings Reigns Rebuilder

49. Kayo Dot - Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue

48. a-fei - Nymphéas

47. sgt. - Stylus Fantasticus

Thanks to Whatever Takes Your Fancy for turning me on to this one.

46. Khanate - Clean Hands Go Foul

This album is, quite easily, the heaviest album I've listened to. Not due to that it's really fast or really loud, it's neither of those things. What Khanate does is play doom metal stripped back to a snail's pace, but with the most agonising vocals I've ever heard. The result is a sound so emotionally heavy, listening to it is quite physically draining. Definitely a unique experience.

45. Sunn O))) - Black One

44. Ben Frost - By The Throat

43. Wolves in the Throne Room - Two Hunters

42. Neurosis - Given to the Rising

41. Death From Above 1979 - You're A Woman, I'm A Machine

I can't stress just how...fun this album is. Death From Above 1979 have no pretensions of grandeur or significance, they're just here to rock, which they do well. Very well.

40. Lightning Bolt - Wonderful Rainbow

My concert review should already tell you that I think these guys are pretty awesome.

39. Massive Attack - 100th Window

Release the new album already!

38. Om - God is Good

37 - Thom Yorke - The Eraser

36. mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind

Despite my occasional criticisms of this album, I can't deny it's brilliance.

35. Venetian Snares - Songs About My Cats

lol, breakcore.

34. Sunn O))) - La Mort Noir En Esch Alzette

33. mono - You Are There

Gorgeous.

32. At The Drive In - Relationship of Command

There's a reason there aren't many post-hardcore bands these days. There's no point now that Relationship of Command has come and gone.

31. Mastodon - Crack the Skye

Great album by a great band.

Stay tuned for tomorrow post where I count down 30-16.

One Year Anniversary

Albums That Should Be Listened To Discreetly If In A Public Place With An Mp3 Player That Displays Album Art

Title Just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?..

Anyway, for those of us too cheap to drive to our place of work or education and, as such, exploit public transportation, you'd know that your Mp3 player can be your saviour from such perils as loud school kids or having to actually converse with passengers. However, one must show a little diligence when deciding to break out their iPod, not because it's antisocial or damaging to your ears, but because some of us posses albums with covers not really designed for a public place. To help tackle this gripping social issue, I've developed a handy lists of albums which, if you are going to listen to, do so with your music player's screen in a position away from the young or the elderly's eyes.

Big Black - Songs About Fucking

Pretty self-explanatory, Songs About Fucking is about as subtle as its album cover. What if a small child were to stumble upon it, how will you explain your way out of this one? Let's leave the sex talk to the parents.

Naked City - Entire Catalogue

Jesus Christ, look at this shit! As if Naked City weren't strange enough without pictures of bondage and uber-violence to accompany it. What would Great-Aunt Gladys say if she saw you listening to this morally bankrupt filth!

Mayhem - Dawn of the Black Hearts

Well, I suppose their lead singer's name was Dead, I just didn't think they meant it so literally...

Marilyn Manson - Mechanical Animals

Good god it's a naked woman! No, wait, it's a naked man!...huh...actually I'm not too sure what it is, all I know it has the capacity to mentally scar young children for years to come...

Electric Wizard - Dopethrone

For shame Electric Wizard. Surely you wish to be positive role models to little Johnny No-Drugs? Why then would you release an album containing none other than Satan himself smoking a bong? Won't somebody please think of the children?!?

Have A Nice Life - Deathconciousness

Now, we all feel a little down after having sat through Have A Nice Life's 85 minute album (it just keeps going), but surely there must be a better solution?

Moderat - Moderat

Foolish woman, punching yourself in the face. Don't you know you're encouraging self loathing in children or, worse, telling them it's okay to hit women? Combining this with your seeming belief that 'Sick With It' is a good song, I'm beginning to question your judgement entirely...

Skinny Puppy - Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse

Ladies and gentlemen, we have nipple.

Sunn O))) - Black One

Waah! Holy crap; just look at this thing! This cover gives me the creeps and I'm an adult, think of what it will do to little Billy Innocent-Mind, the poor thing will be damaged beyond repair!

The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

You know how impressionable kids can be, they may well see this and think it's okay for them to start battling giant robots without the two week correspondence course that is required under section 4.27 of the vigilante rule book. Then what? Anarchy, that's what.

Panda Bear - Person Pitch

Oh, looks innocent enough, but let's now skip forward five minutes...

The tiger's gone and torn everyone else to shreds! Surely Noah Taylor should have predicted a bloodbath when setting up this whimsical scene, but once again a a musician hasn't thought everything through. Thanks a lot Panda Bear; jerk.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion

I'm onto you Animal Collective, or should I say Lawyer Collective! You release an album like this, hoping for us to listen to it while sitting next to someone with epilepsy. Then what? Bam! Seizure. And who's going to lead the class action suit against me and my fruity album cover displaying ways? Why, none other than its creators! Don't think your little plan has slipped by me you electronic-indie fucks.

So, dear reader, head this warning and think twice before playing your potentially crippling filth. I always preferred the older iPods anyway...

The Greatest Page on the Internet?

I think I found it.


EDIT: No, this is it:
http://santiagohc.11.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?p=242575&sid=75c7b543cb764dd8b97f40f39fb1eaec

Stream of Consciousness

Okay, I've found myself to be incredibly bored and feel that posting here might be some sort of remedy to fix the problem. Unfortunately, I don't really know what I want to write about - just so long as it burns some time. Hence, what I want to try is to just start writing something and see where it takes me; some may call this a writing excercise of some sort but it's really just a flimsy excuse for incoherency and poor grammar.

One thing that I thought I might be able to do is listen to some music of some sort and write down my opinions as it plays, but I haven't really got anything that new apart from Times of Grace by Neurosis (which is probably too long to make such a post about). Right now I'm listening to Start/Whispers by Trent Reznor, a song off the original Quake soundtrack. I don't actually have (or intend to own) Quake, but am a decent fan of T Rez's work. This particular track, like the whole soundtrack really, is, I guess, a sort of drone/industrial/minimal sounding piece. Obviously the music can't take centre stage in an FPS so it needs to be subtle, but I think it still manages to keep a foreboding and tense atmosphere. At the very least, if you're interested in listening to some industrial and don't want to bother with the 'wah-wah' of NIN, it's not a bad CD really. Well, that's all I really wanted to say about it but it's still got 1-2 minutes left (it's 8 minutes long) so I'm left with a new topic to find in the meantime.

I guess something I can do, while we're on the subject of Quake, is talk about the FPS genre and, more precisely, my lack of satisfaction with it. We live in a society where the vast majority of the top selling games are shooters and I can't help but wonder why. The story's are nearly always pathetic, with every game saying the same thing but with a slightly different looking muscular, grizzled, brown haired American guy. The same can be said for the gameplay, with shooter after shooter just trying to stick to the 'Halo format' or, as I like to call it, the 'meh format' with 5 or so different guns total, regenerative health and stupid AI. I'm not expecting a revolution for every game that gets released, but I'd really wish that developers would at least try to differentiate themselves with the hundreds of other titles sitting next to it. But no, that won't happen as any game that tries something new will mean poor sales, with so much as a use of the phrase "why am I killing these enemies" enough to cause most players to enter a state of psychotic remission (I'm not sure if that actually makes sense, but it sounds cool).

For the record, Charlotte by Slint was being played whilst the above paragraph was being written - good song.

But, I am being harsh here, after all I have gotten enjoyment out of playing shooters. More than once have I engaged in a LAN game of Counter Strike and had a good time doing so. But that's Valve, a company whom I have nothing but the upmost respect for despite my general opinion of shooting games. Shine on you crazy diamond.

Hmm, it seems that I've failed to come so some sort of point with the above two or so paragraphs of waffle. All I guess I want to say is that it would be nice to see something other than FPS on the shelves of EB, especially in the next gen section. Just because you have a new console doesn't mean you have to make the game look as realistic as possible (which is why, I think, a lot of developers are making shooters for the PS3 and 360), perhaps use the new technology to create a new gameplay mechanic of some sort or perhaps a new gaming experience altogether. But, if you are to make a shooter, how about at least having a sense of humour? Remember Duke Nukem? Good shooters can also be funny and it will allow you to be a little different without having to scare off your target market.

Music listened to while writing the above: Away by Neurosis, currently listening to The Eraser by Thom Yorke - also good songs.

Well that chewed up a few paragraphs, more than I was expecting to write, though probably not very understandable. Oh well, it's not as if people read this blog anyway...Anyway, is it worth starting a new topic or just finishing the entry here? I got a haircut today. I don't know why I wrote that but it suddenly popped into my head; either way it's staying there now. I guess it's a big event as I only get it cut every 8 or so months (I'm a pretty tight sometimes). I'm fairly pleased with the result, though I think it looked better last I got it cut. Maybe I'll post a picture if people are interested.

By the way, Lost Woods from the Zelda OoT OST just played, which, coincidentally, is my ringtone.

Once again I've found myself without a topic to write about. Currently listening to Human After All by Daft Punk, a confusingly good song. I call it confusingly good as it is, really, an extremely simple song, but very enjoyable nonetheless. Though I suppose if people (not me, mind you) can get joy out of Achy Breaky Heart, a song with only 2 (maybe 3) chords in it, maybe simplicity can be a good thing.

Aha, topic. Achy Breaky Heart was written by Billy Ray Cyrus, father of Miley Cyrus. Today I read that Miley Cyrus has said something along the lines of that she intends to 'bring Radiohead down' after they snubbed her at the Grammys. I find this quite hilarious both due to Miley being snubbed and that she thinks she has the power to bring down Radiohead, one of my favourite bands. Disney may be big, honey, but the Jonas Brothers and the like are still being outsold by a hell of a lot of bands, of which Radiohead would be one. Long story short, shutup and dream on.

Well, I think that's definitely enough now. No attempts will be made to proofread this or correct it as I think that's missing the point and, to be honest, I don't really want to read the probably train wreck that is the above chain of thought. If you've made it this far, well done and have a cookie.

Listening to: Shevanel Cut a Flip by Between the Buried and Me

3x3

I made this out of a fit of boredom today and figured I may as well post it somewhere. I imagine it's fairly self explanatory, but it's a 3x3 grid of what I consider to be my favourite albums at the moment and, of course, will change as time goes on. I've limited myself to one album per artist/band to keep things diverse.

In any case, it's a good way to burn 20 or so minutes.

EDIT: For some reason you can't see this entry when you click on the title, if you've had any thing like this happen before, your advice would be helpful.

EDIT 2: Okay, editing it somehow fixed the problem.

Introductionin'

Why, hello.

I'll be honest with you. The major reason this blog exists is just so that I could get a blogger profile and comment on other people's blogs. But, I guess, lightning may strike and I'll suddenly be compelled to actually submit something myself. Chances are any submission I make will have something to do with either music, gaming or movies or a combination of the aforementioned categories. We'll see how things go anyway.

Oh yes, a little bit about myself; I'm 19, live in Adelaide, am studing Science (majoring in maths) at Flinders Uni and have a fairly crappy job. Feel free to check out my Last.fm page for more pointless voyeurism.

That's all I'll say for now, hopefully this place won't simply keep over and die. I wouldn't create any strong attachments though...