Tumblr

Tumblr was suggested to me. It's ok I guess. I can see lots of shizzle other people are are posting, but it's just not as fun as here. It's also meant I've stopped using here to post stuff. Hmmm. I will start posting again.

Who needs AV when you can have elephants...?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9417000/9417308.stmDoing such a better job than Dave and Nick...

30 Day Song Challenge - Your Favourite Song: Transmission - Joy Division

30 Day Song Challenge - Your Favourite Song

Transmission - Joy Division

I have too many "favourite" songs for various reasons, but I have chosen Transmission as my favourite for the purpose of the challenge as it contains probably my favourite lyric/line: Touching from a distance, further all the time. Any Joy Division boff will know that Touching From a Distance  is the title of the late Ian Curtis biography, written by his wife Deborah. It is probably one of the most powerful and touching books I have ever read and gives an in depth look into the life of the Joy Division frontman by the person who knew him at his best, and worse. The book became the basis for the biopic Control.

The track was first released in 1979 and re-released in 1980 on Factory Records (Factory FAC 13). It has become an indie anthem and the beginning of the video features John Cooper Clarke performing one of his rambling poems. 

*Thing* of the day (2)... Thatcher vs Scargill - a hair raising experience.

Thatcher vs Scargill - a hair raising experience.


Just a thought really...

Actually, I'm not going to talk about the 1984 Minors' Strike or Maggy Thatcher the Milk Snatcher, or Arthur Scargill and Mrs Thatcher little difference in opinion; nope, more about their hair.

They couldn't have been any more politically further apart, but they did seem to be trending a very similar hair style during the 1980s with a bit of a ginger sweep. Perhaps they had the same hairdresser? Who knows? It's just a thought, but there was definitely something dodgy going on there. At least hair style was something they could agree on...

Scargill:... to the right.

  

Maggy:... to the left.

Wait a minute...

*Thing* of the day (1)... SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!

When you're feeling low and need a bit of cheering up and a bit of a '90s boogie: SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!

'nuff said really...

MUSIC BLOG

Right, I've started another blog on tumblr, a music themed blog though. Here's a link: http://thatmusicblogssej.tumblr.com/ so check it out, but still keep an eye on here because I'll put up general shizzle of everything :P
x

IS THE MUSIC BEGINNING TO FADE?

 IS THE MUSIC BEGINNING TO FADE?

January 2011

With HMV set to close 60 of its store over the course of this year, the British high streets are on their way to becoming void of music and entertainment out lets altogether.

To hear that an independent record shop has had to close its doors to its dedicated indie shoppers would not come as a shock to the casual music fan. The competition of high street chains with their expansive choice, two for £10 offers and up to date releases, mixed with the rocky economic climate, makes it easy to see how a small stockist can fall into problems. Surly stores such as HMV and Zavvi should have benefitted from this?  But in 2009, Zavvi (formally Virgin Megastore until sold) fell into liquidation, closing all its UK branches. Now, after 2010 Christmas profits fell by over 10% compared to previous years, HMV are closing 60 stores nationwide, including 20 of its Waterstones branches.  The high street availability of entertainment, especially music, is fading away.

Obviously, we cannot blame the disappearance of physical music solely on the state of the economy. For example: everyone’s had that experience where a new kid arrives in your class, and this kid is coolness personified, I mean totally cool, like a brilliant footballer, or has the latest designs in fashions; and suddenly, that friend of yours, who changes her Best Friend Forever more times than her socks, doesn’t want to know you anymore.  And that cool kid is called DOWNLOAD, iTunes Download. With the extensive downloading of music that has appeared, there is little need to visit your nearest record store. Fair enough, an exchange of moneys till takes place, with artists and record companies benefiting from a profit of some kind, but there is also the factor of illegal downloading, and free downloading (although often the case is these tracks are unavailable anywhere else, demos or remixes).

Ok, even I will admit I have made friends with download, occasionally purchasing the odd exclusively available track, or something for Music Tech. coursework via iTunes, but a whole album? Not when you could easily buy a cased copy of the track, with artwork, lyrics and the personal thank yous of the artist for almost the same price. The purchasing of music should be a pleasure for all senses. The artwork is there to represent the music inside, to enhance the emotions presented to us by the musician, and vice a versa. I find nothing more relaxing than lying in the garden, with the good old personal CD player, headphones on, examining and appreciating both the music and artwork. Or similarly full volume on the stereo. It’s the same with vinyl and tape. It’s touchable, lick it if you wish, smell it (one of Katy Perry’s albums apparently smells of candyfloss, now download that!); and you’re safe in the knowledge that a computer virus cannot wipe its existence from your possession. I guess it is a similar experience for book lovers. The physical album, extended play and single, to me, is such a precious object. To replace it simply with invisible digital technology is to simply just say music is only a sound bite in the air. I believe taking away its physicality is to take away the physical quality of it as a possession.

It worries me to see such a decline in the physical entertainment industry. Small, independent labels rely on the retail of HMV and the like for bulk purchase of their releases. Unlike an independent store, high street chains do not send back unsold copies. Without such stores, the independent labels would pretty much financially collapse and cease to exist in the big label, Simon Cowell drivel driven popular music industry of today. Let’s not also forget the album artists, designers, manufacturers, distributers... so much lies on the record industry, and has done since the mass marketing of the wax cylinder back in the late 1800s.

Occasionally I will purchase an album through an internet store such as Play.com and Amazon and eagerly await its arrival through my letter box. Nevertheless, a regular visit, browse and purchase in HMV is nothing less than enjoyable and a chance to discover new or old albums you have yet to add to your collection. To let that die would be a loss to music lovers, industry and artists themselves. And why? Because the physical possession of music is no longer appreciated as it once was. I do not look forward to the day when I am no longer able to wonder into the nearest music outlet, and browse through extensive collections of music, independent or mainstream, until I am content in a world where I can truly feel the music which surrounds me.

Jessica Sadler