So I still dont really know what im blogging about. At present I am trying to learn how to use Adobe photoshop/Prem Pro/a few other programmes I havent got my head around, and its proving to be a difficult process.
It shouldnt be.
It should be straight forward and I should be able to pick it up quite quickly. The problem is my laptop has certain floors that prevent me from working at my desired pace. The main problema being its slow, old and shit. Its got a severe case of the "G-Nev".
Its so slow that as I type this I cant actually see what Im typing, it takes about 2 mins for the screen to catch up with my fingers. So I could do this................
rengjoerignioerhjgiuoerhiuiuoerhfurehwohiofsjlkjfioerwjfioj4eiojfirwhjfiojdwiojiodfjvioferio
....And in about 2 mins or so, I will see this pop up. Its not a writing technique often used by writers or journalists but its my technique and im proud to of stumbled accross it. Its kind of like going to the toilet in the knowledge there is only 1 sheet of toilet paper left. You go anyway and hope that when your done you wont need to tidy up to much. The beauty of it is I can write things like this, comparing writing a blog to goin for a dump with not enough toilet paper, and because I cant see what ive written it wont get deleted. I will go back and read this before i post and probably think "why did I write that? oh, I know, I couldnt see what I was writing".
Jesus Christ, utter drivel. You still with me? ok.
Its been a slow day, as you can probably tell.
Anyway, because I am still waiting for Prem pro to load a 20 second video (its taken half an hour so far, i think its given up. Pathetic.) I thought I would write a few lines about a band ive been listening to recently.
Ive already posted a music video or 2, and also quoted a certain mr Newcombe at the start of this blog (the name of the blog is also an Anton quote. I dont think there is anything actually origional on here so far, all just robbed from his mind. What can I say, im scouse.)
So I guess there is already a music theme to this which i'll stick with for now.
Back to this band I was going to talk about....actually before i go on let me just say that if you are reading this and your thinking to yourself, "erm, who is Anton? and who is Mr Newcombe? and....what the fuck is this messy piece of offal im reading?" just bare with me, I only got a C in English. But I did get a B in art...soooooooo. Oh, and Anton Newcombe is this guy.
Theres my message! waste of time.
Right, band. Galaxy 500. Ive been listening to them quite alot recently.
Its actually spelt Galaxie 500. My mistake. Wikipedia says that galaxie 500 were an American band that formed in '87 amd split in '91 after releasing 3 albums.
This is all true. Well done wikipedia you clever bastard.
Now I used to think that the 1980's were a disgrace when it came to music. All I used to think was bad hair, bad power ballads, fuckin.....Phil Collins......and...........shit.
Oh how naive of me.
Of course the 80's was full of all that, and then some, but benneath the surface there is some truly amazzing music.You just have to find it. It is there. Like god......oh no wait.
Galazie 500 are probably best described as "dreamy pop mixed with psychodelic shoegaze sprinkled with, erm, drugs". All my own words. I will be writing for NME in no time.
The sound that the band produces is quite dense when you consider theyre just a 3 piece (1 quitar, 1 bass, drums). I guess this was a deliberate ploy when producing the album because from watching a few videos of them live on youtube, they sound far more thinned out when performing live. Thats not to say loads of work has been done in the studio - that would be doing the band a diservice. Its not like they had pro tools or anything back then. Im not comparing Galazie 500 to Girls Aloud.
What I actually like most about Galaxie 500 is they sound like a band you could imagine playing in. The simple lay out of the guitar/bass/drums gives them a garage band feel.
When i listen to songs like "ceremony" I can imagine playing that live. When Dean Wareham sings "forrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeevvvveeeeeeeeeeeer" I beleive that its me singing. Thats me on the stage grooving to this. I recon Dean would be the first to admit his vocals arent exactly pitch perfect, but its that slightly off beat, out of tune singing that gives galaxie there sound. Set against the backdrop of glistening feedback and spine tingling melody, his voice actually soars. Think the Stone Roses - Ian Brown basically cant sing but on songs like Waterfall and I Wanna Be Adored your not thinking "hmmm, hes not hit that high F has he, the fuckin fake".
Apparantly the American press sighted the vocals as a weakness in the band and they were written off. You have to wonder sometimes. An underground band that records "dreamy pop mixed with psychodelic shoegaze sprinkled with, erm, drugs" is hardly going to appeal to everyone, so why write about them and focus on what you consider a weakness.
Kylie Minogue, for the record, aint got a brilliant voice has she. She didnt back then and she doesnt now but when do you hear anyone say that about her? Please tell me, I would like to read it, but usually people write about her image, the production of the songs, if there are hits on the album......whatever. Her vocals and overall musical talent arent scrutinised over the same way they are with particular bands.
What im trying to say is that basically, that was a dick move by the American press.
I think the UK press were a bit kinder to Galaxie, but not kind enough to ever gain the band any real acclaim and they have remained somewhat of a hidden gem.
Go here - listen to Ceremony.
Then listen to the album in full.
You might like it iiiiiiiiiiif (and heres where i do my own amazon thing) you like Spacemen 3, My Bloody valentine, early Verve, Velvet Underground.
I think this band have had quite a big influence on current west coast american bands such as BJM and The Warlocks. You can really here it in songs like Stone Hearts.
So even though the press didnt like them, even if they didnt own there own set of drums and basically winged it they still made there mark. And thats more inspirational than listening to this.
Fuckin singing.
Right, Prem Pro might work now. Time to make my mark.
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