Nerina Pallot - Idaho

Intelligence² Debate

The RH Factor are amazing

I don't really know what else to say.

It's been a while.

I'd completely forgotten about this blog (easy to do) so I figured I'd make up for it with a very long update (which no one is going to read).

Right now I'm back at Berklee, five or so weeks into my third semester. Finally getting into my majors right now. In particular I'm stocked up on production/engineering classes, which so far involves a lot of listening and a lot of maths. Also conducting class gives me the opportunity to display my wonderful Harry Potter impression. Unfortunately shouting 'expelliarmus' at the conclusion of Beethoven's 7th didn't go down too well with my professor.

When I was younger I didn't use to read books (I was too busy playing my N64 and building badass lego spaceships) but recently it's become far and away my favourite hobby (music no longer counts as a hobby since it's what I do...). I never even read Harry Potter back in the day (I know, right) although I've now read the last one after seeing all the other movies. The advantage of my late interest is that I get to read a load of awesome stuff for the first time. Favourites so far include Orwell's 1984, which I shouldn't have to explain, Joseph Heller's Catch-22 which is one of the funniest things I've read, and also I absolutely loved Richard Dawkin's The Blind Watchmaker (I also read The Selfish Gene but I didn't think it was as good). Right now I'm onto Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose which is incredible so far. I still have a lot of catching up to do.

As for other stuff, I went to my first ever NBA game the other night. Celtics vs Nicks. No surprise we dicked all over them. It's the only American sport I care for and it was pretty awesome live, although the insane amount of advertising/music at a sports event is something my English mind struggles to comprehend. The cheerleaders, on the other hand, are a feature I feel is missing from sports back home. Let's just say they were nice.

Last night I went to Symphony Hall for my first BSO concert of the season. It was Stravinsky's Scherzo Fantastique, Rachmaninoff's The Isle of the Dead, and then, one of my favourite pieces of music, Shostakovich's 10th. If you haven't heard it before, then make sure to find a recording somewhere because it will bkow you away. Planning on going back on Saturday night for another concert (all these shows are free because of the $5 college card I have for the BSO - ridiculous bargain).

Off course, I couldn't make a post without some videos. First off, here's the new John Mayer single (new album Battles Studies comes out on my birthday):



And now for some comedy:

Hurt

Boston in a nutshell...

Don't forget to add in several thousand marijuana-enthusiastic college students. Hard not to love this town.

Something worth watching

While the major labels are currently breaking down and their artists are suffering the consequences, several bands have embraced the new direction of music distribution. A somewhat more liberal approach to music circulation has been proving to be very successful, and Nine Inch Nails are very much at the forefront of this. Trent Reznor, aside from being an awesome musician and a very intelligent guy, has proved with his continued success that he really knows what he's talking about when it comes to the marketing of music and what the future holds for the business, as well as how artists now have the tools to market themselves and formulate their own success. Regardless of whether or not you're a NIN fan, this interview is certainly worth your time.

When bands change direction

It's a rare occurrence for a band to change it's musical direction, and an even rarer occurrence for the band to maintain their popularity after doing so. However, that's not to say it hasn't been done. Genesis went from intelligent and artsy prog rock to writing catchy pop songs. The Goo Goo Dolls went in a similar direction after their early years as a (great) punk band. John Mayer escaped his acoustic singer/songwriter image when he ventured more towards the blues/soul side of things. However, two artists in recent years have really pulled this off to an incredible extent, and the extremity of the change has never been seen before.

Focus - Hocus Pocus

Amon Tobin

Spent a decent amount of time at AmonTobin.com today. Aside from the awesome interactive field, there's a lot of free live shows and mixes in the store. Some of them are mind-blowing (the Hendrix one in particular slayed me). You'd be a fool not to check them out.

Best Amazon review ever?

You're about to learn some GRILL SKILLS

I do love the 80s.

Simply Amazing

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Happy New Year

Looking back over the past year, I've realised just how much my life changed in 2008. The transition from school to uni is an obvious one, and that came hand in hand with moving across the Atlantic to Boston. In short, I began a completely new life in a completely new place, and made completely new friends. Of course it was overwhelming, and the thought of leaving everything I new behind was terrifying at first, but I now find myself dying to go back there. Being home for the last couple of weeks has been pleasant, but unsettling. It's been amazing seeing all my old friends, and that was the most important part of this trip, but the longer I stay here the more I realise that Boston, and Berklee, is when I belong.

This year is set to be a very exciting one. Barack Obama is finally taking over the presidency later this month, the effects of which will be seen globally. This is also a crucial year in the development of the music industry. 2008 was an incredibly bumpy year for record labels, and this year is when the system will have to change. 2009 is also set to be a great year for music, with artists like Muse, John Mayer, Mute Math and Scott Matthews all set to release new albums.

I don't necessarily see the new year as a fresh start for me, because I had that fresh start in September. I need to continue with the progress that I've made over the past few months, both personally and musically. My real focus right now is writing music. Being back home has meant I've been reunited with my recording equipment, so I'm going to record and put up some music. I'll put things up as they're done, so watch this space.

Hiromi

Why Kiss are the greatest band of all time...

An eventful couple of weeks

I'll begin with the obvious. Come next year, the most powerful nation in the world (for the time being at least) is to be taken over by this man:

The past eight years have been plagued with Americans (along with plenty of non-Americans) hating their country and the people who lead it. George Bush Jr's moronic actions over the course of his presidency have resulted in a countless number of deaths and suffering, as well as an ever-strengthening hatred towards the West. So what difference can one man really make? This little story might give a hint. Last night, about an hour or so after Mr Obama's victory was announced, an overwhelmingly large crowd of people, ranging from the young to the elderly, of all races and genders, marched up and down the streets of Boston for hours singing and shouting in praise of the new President, overjoyed that things were finally going to change, and they could once again be proud of their own country. Granted that technically Barack Obama is just another politician with another set of policies, but he stands for much more than that. He's a symbol of hope, and at the moment he's the only chance America has to change it's image and sort itself out. Whether he manages this over the next few years can only be proven in time, but for now the enthusiasm he has inspired amongst countless Americans is already having a huge effect.

The election of America's first black president coincides with the state of California voting against gay marriage with a 52% majority. The success of Proposition 8 will rewrite the constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It is surprising in California of all states, which many would consider very liberal. The proposition is supported by blacks, evangelical Christians, Mormons and orthodox Jews. It's interesting how a common prejudice against one group can unite others. One strong supporter was quoted as saying that gay marriage and encouraged tolerance in schools are little more than "a recruiting process for homosexual behaviour". Such people should do themselves a favour and go back to school instead of getting involved in matters which have absolutely no effect on them.

Maybe not quite as important, depending on where you're from, a week or so ago two of the funniest men in Britain were suspended from the BBC.

You might already know, they were suspended for this. Admittedly the joke, while being very funny to begin with, was taken slightly too far by the third phone call, but at worst it was a bad joke. It certainly did not warrant the huge overreaction from the BBC, nor did it deserve the huge media frenzy that has ensued. I have no doubt that the majority of the people calling for the two to be fired are basing their anger on what they've read in the Daily Mail, and probably haven't heard the whole broadcast. Even Andrew Sachs himself didn't seem particularly phased by the events. The ridiculous media exaggeration is severely effecting the careers of two well-loved entertainers, which unfortunately is a common occurrence. The media is, for a huge number of people, the primary source of information, and along with that power of influence comes a large responsibility. Maybe one day they'll actually respect that, but don't hold your breath.

She Has a Boyfriend

BITCH

The roommate from hell

Just when you thought I was running out of YouTube videos...

Frankie Boyle: Funniest comedian today?