So here we are, the final round-up of journal entries before Christmas. And there's been some activity, I can tell you. Surprising really, as I've fallen short in my own efforts, what with Christmas shopping, putting up the tree and unsuccessfully trying to put up a shelf and nearly electrocuting myself, narrowly missing drilling through some live wires in the wall. Ah, the Yuletide season!
We'll have one more update before the year ends, but whether there'll be much to write about I don't know, as people will be quite rightly concentrating on enjoying their Christmas --- unless they're lonely, crabby old Scrooges like me, that is! But we'll see. Right now here's what's been happening while you were all rushing from shop to shop, looking for parking and cursing the festive season.
The mighty
Batlord continues his odyssey to the Land of the Poseurs in
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...t-schemes.html --- you don't have to be stoned to read his stuff, but I'm sure it helps! Expecting big things from ya in 2013, Yer Lordship! A real rising star in the world of music journals.
Seldom seen here due to her heavy workload, both here and in the real world, there's an unexpected update from
Burning Down, in her journal
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sic-major.html where she talks about what some of the music she loves means to her, and how it reflects her mood, personality or the circumstances of the time. She's promised more updates soon, so we wait and hope.
Delighted to see a new update to
Janszoon's
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sible-man.html where among other things he's discussing the album "Broken love letter" by K-theI???" Great writing as always, and even if you're not into the music you'll definitely enjoy the prose.
Ki has updated
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...er-things.html with an article about his favourite guitar players, among them Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
I don't know whether he's keeping the name, or if it's just for Christmas, but
Mankycaant is now known as
Merrycant, at least for now, and in his journal
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...er-abroad.html he's looking at his top albums of 2011 (no, not 2012) and in his latest entry it's A$AP Rocky's "LIve.Love.A$Ap" that's getting his special treatment.
Afraid that thanks to those pesky Mayans he'd die (with us all) without talking about his favourite albums (a fate worse than death, surely, not to achieve such an ambition?)
Surell is updating his journal
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nnections.html with a review of his top album, Frank Ocean's "Channel Orange". Insightful stuff, I must say, and good to see him posting again. Also good that he's still alive. As am I. And you. Up yours, ancient civiilsations! Yeah!
Which invective brings us to me. Now, my "Bitesize" journal has been put on hiatus until after Christmas, while I try to plough through the last of my 2012 album reviews. So don't go there. It's boring. What do you mean, what's new?
Anyway, in my current journal
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html the last of the "25 worst Christmas albums" are tumbling out like rotten Brussel Sprouts from the Christmas stocking of someone who's been very bad indeed, while there are also reviews of the new albums by Neal Morse, Europe and Witch Mountain. I've also managed to shoehorn in a very season-appropriate entry for "Rockaria!" in the shape of the soundtrack to "Jesus Christ Superstar". All this, and Christmas shopping too! Man, I'm tired!
Also tired no doubt is
Unknown Soldier, who despite the season has another "double header" in his
http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...y-history.html, this one featuring Mott the Hoople. Don't know what I'm talking about? Head that way, my child, and all shall be revealed.
And that, my friends, is it. I'd advise all journal writers to hang up their laptops now and relax: Christmas is here and it's a time to spend with family and friends, not staring blankly into a screen and trying to impress people you've never met. Hey, I've been doing that for long enough! Your journals will still be there after Christmas, but who knows what the future holds, so enjoy it, make the most of it, and have a great time.
This is Trollheart, signing off until next week, when I'll have the final update of 2012.
A very Happy Christmas to you all!
Toodles!