I don’t know about you, but I know a lot of talented people online. I’m still waiting for their creative awesomeness to rub off on me, but it’s yet to happen. While I wait for that, I thought I’d share some ways I think we can all help those indie musicians around us while also helping ourselves. Hopefully this mostly helps others, because giving is better than receiving—unless it’s a headache. Whoever is giving me those, please stop.
… Ways to help your favourite indie musicians
Last year, I challenged myself to a monthly video blog post that focused on a new guitar riff that I created in that month. It was a lot more effort than I realised—writing, recording and replicating for video takes time. But it was a challenge that I’m going to say I completed successfully.
2019 needs a new challenge. It needs to be something different and I am looking for a challenge of a different type. Luckily, I worked out that there are 26 letters in the alphabet and 26 fortnights in a year. So the challenge begins.
… Alphabet playlist of metal—the ‘A’ fortnight
I had a quick look at a list of all the major metal albums released in 2018 today. It reminded me of the music I discovered and loved this year while also letting me know how much I missed. I haven’t been as dedicated as I have been to my love of music this year. Hopefully this post will do two things. One; let anybody who is reading know the music that I loved this year. Two; remind me how much I love music so that 2019 can have an improved focus on what is important.
… My 10 favourite musical releases from 2018
I recently had a need to park my car at the local airport. It happens a few times each year for work and for pleasure. Most of the time I use the airport’s valet parking service. It’s easier than remembering where I left my car. Yes, I’m that lazy. But after the parking situation I experienced last week, I won’t be back. Ever.
What’s that got to do with streamed music and its superiority over physical media like CDs? Good question. Here’s my better answer.
… Streamed music—how valet parking made me see its true value
Have you ever heard a popular song and thought “I don’t mind that at all! Pity it isn’t heavy metal.” I’ve had that thought plenty of times over the years. Oh, I should point out that I only hear pop songs through friends and family.
Street cred retained.
Luckily for us all, there are plenty of rock and/or metal bands who have re-recorded some of the most popular pop songs (pop pop songs?!) and I thought I’d share some of my favourites with you. Enjoy! … My top 10 metal versions of pop songs
Today is Father’s Day in Australia. I was lucky and received an iTunes voucher as part of my present from my ‘grateful for their lives’ children. I had decided a few days ago that if I received an iTunes gift card I would do a couple of things with it. Firstly I would use it to create some new plectrums using my PickMaster plectrum maker. Secondly, I would use the credit from the gift card to buy music from some of the bands/acts I’d discovered through the Twitter network.
I decided to do the second item first as to do otherwise meant cutting up my card before grabbing the redeem code from the back. Plan ahead! … My Twitter inspired Father’s Day iTunes wishlist
I currently have two teenage children. Therefore I get to listen to my fair share of currently popular music. Recently this has led me to believe that the music from my teenage years was far superior to the music of today. To prove my point I decided to post links on Twitter to 40 video clips from my teenage years (1983-1989).
When I put the clips together I did have a few moments of doubt. Especially when I focused on the quality of the video clips over the quality of the music. Was the music I listened to in the 80s superior to the music of today? Was music just better in the 80s? Generally … No. But I listen to heavy metal. And heavy metal has always been better than everything else. … 40 metal video clips from the 80s
