It's been a while ...

... so long in fact, that I thought the LJ blog was the current one? Oopsie.

Anyways, another thing written that I don't want to lose, so I have to post it here. I suppose after writing I now have a sense of what I wanted to say ... something mixed up between having wanted to be a music journalist, but now realising it's not as special, privileged or creative as actually being a musician, and the beauty and badness inherent in that statement. Especially seeing as I want to write about art now, but I'll be up against exactly the same argument. Perhaps being a curator is the ultimate step between the two? Who knows...

Brighton Concorde 2 review in The Independent

As much as I love Simon Price - he's never swayed from his constant desire to bring exciting new "pop" movements to the masses - I really do feel that he is the one missing out when reading his critique of The Horrors' Brighton show. More to say shortly, but here's the article ...

The Independent

OK, here goes ...

I too love a band that have a sense of style as well as musicality. Even more so, I love individuals that have an ethos or manifesto of types to sum up their passions and desires. But most of all, I love it when people evolve and transcend all these things to become something more organic and "real"; a truer depiction of a whole. Such things take time though, and when an artist adapts and incorporates their varied experiences and influences as collected over the course of touring, promotion or everyday life, their art will invariably change.

I think it's probably easier for a journalist, for Price, to assume that he is staying true to his manifesto and beliefs, yet all the while denying artists are staying true to theirs. After all, his "look" hasn't changed in all the years he's been writing, as far as I know? Price's work will always be the same though; his writing can be affecting, but it will never transcend being a bunch of words that serve perhaps only to inspire someone to pick up an old record, read a great novel or check out an incredible director. His words are important, don't get me wrong, they're just not as important as the art he is critiquing. His perceptions are incisive, but probably not life-changing. Not that Price has ever claimed they should be, just that in critiquing something that can change lives, by writing about art, his words assume a powerful position, which can sometimes be misconstrued as more-than-just opinion.

But then, I suppose all I'm saying is that I disagree with Price's opinion, really? I think the fact that The Horrors have evolved - and from what they've publicly said, it's been a very natural evolution for them - is a great thing for music and those who believe in the power of music to inspire and touch and affect people's lives. And that their visual transformation is a natural part of that progression, and not a loss at all. That their performance has changed, it apparently (for I haven't seen the band play live at any point of their career thus far) has no less impact upon the people witnessing the spectacle than before. Yes, it's different, and the affect may have moved more from the visual to the sonic, but isn't that the point of music, to inspire and affect more so aurally than visually?

Just my two bobs worth, however, and welcome all such comment ...

Where was i?

Oh that's right, I was going to write about some articles I've read today. However, I am going to dash off to check flights east for during my study break ... back shortly! $449 for 11th through to 22nd in Melbs. Or Perth ->Melbs -> Canberra -> Perth for $642. Maybe I should wait until I get back from this next trip before I plan my one afterwards, otherwise I'm being a little M&D about it! Plus, I don't really know what I would be going for as the band will be away, other than to visit peeps, so again, probably slightly immature? Impromptu? Improved? Geez, I hate it when my brain does this ... it's on the tip of my tongue. I still can't think of the word, but I'm sure a) you know what I mean and b) it will come to me at some ill-advised point whilst typing the next lot of nonsense.

OK, I've realised I've expended all my literaryness already this evening and I shan't be pondering on those articles. Best laid plans blah blah blah. So instead, here's the links again, you go read them and tell me what you think...

IMF finally knocks on Uncle Sam's door - here's hoping the American financial system gets its vastly overdue comeuppance. This article deserves an award, the writing is excellent, should be how ALL investigative reports are written.

Confidence plummets as Europe catches America's cold - very interesting investigation as to how the US downturn is affecting not only the UK but Europe as well. I wasn't very familiar with the economic situation in most EU countries, this article includes a brief history. I had no idea home ownership in Germany was so low, to be honest, that's probably a good thing, I think?

The apparent backlash against feminism - despite its somewhat rosy tone at the end, this article is a mostly astonishing account of just how many obstacles there are for equality between the genders. The point it makes about how society seems to be celebrating pregnancy as the rightful duty of a woman is gruesomely true. I can't say I agree with the end sentiment, it tricked me into forgetting everything I had previously read in the article. Prepare to be cross, especially you Jen if you read it.

Time for resting I think?