Reason To Fake; My Reading Festival post

Again, the title has nothing whatsoever to do with the post. Its a song by Ten After Two, pretty sure ive promoted them enough times on here but lets do it again anyway; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afx0XCJ3SAk&feature=relmfu

Well, the reading festival line up was released yesterday (well, when you read this it might not have been yesterday, but it is right now while im writing it) and theres been plenty of comments either way about it. A lot of people are disappointed, but i think its not too bad. Ive crudely painted all over the poster to illustrate my feelings.

My feelings in a nutshell (emphasised in some places for comic affect)

In all seriousness, i think its not too shabby. The heavy mainstage day is creeping back, which im pleased with (if you read my blog, youll know roughly my music tastes) and theres more than enough bands i like to make it worth my money right now. And theres still lock up to be announced, which in 09 i spent most of my time at, and festival republic normally has a couple good bands i want to watch. Hopefully dance tent will have someone i want to watch as well. So really for me its not at all a band line up.

My top 3 that im looking forward to at the moment, ascending order, starts with Architects. Some tasty metal, although the newest albums a little easier on the ears it still should be hectic live, and ide expect them to pull a decent crowd. The its BMTH. Im not as big a fan of the new album as Suicide Season, but its still good, and lets face it theyre going to be brutal live. Then, top of the list is easily Death From Above 1979. They are such an amazingly unique band, when i discovered them i was so disappointed they had broken up, but now a reunion and theyre supposed to be something special live, so im pretty excited. I didnt include bands ive already seen, otherwise Enter Shikari and Rise Against would be there instead of BMTH and Architects.

I don't really understand most of the criticism. Most people i know who genuinely appreciate the genres reading festival tends to, have at the very least found the line up acceptable, most finding it good. Its not as good as previous years (in most peoples opinion) no, but some years are bound to be better than others. What winds me up is people who whine because its not as mainstream as they were expecting. I understand people might expect a range of different genres, which reading provides every year (including this year, quite obviously) but because its not as mainstream as they were expecting they dub it as 'shit'. First and foremost, reading is a rock festival. They say so themselves. You can't grab a ticket every year if your expecting to see artists like Dizzie Rascal playing regularly. Its been getting more and more mainstream throughout the years, it just now seems to be swinging back the other way. If you really don't like it, don't go. And before anyone gets on my back, i'm not criticising anyone for thinking its shit, its their opinion, i'm simply pointing out people shouldnt expect mainstream, and shouldnt criticise the fact heavier bands get booked.

Anyway, some bands ide like to see for lock up and festival republic. For lock up ide like to see Set Your Goals, they were so good 09 and have a new album out in spring. Four Year Strong, haven't ever been (to my knowledge) and the new album is pretty good. Blackhole, a heavier, better gallows (with gallows vocalist and guitarists younger brother being the front man) [SCRATCH THEM just found out they broke up. Damn, they were good as well.] The Ghost of a Thousand, seen them twice and theyre easily one of the best live bands ive seen, so good 09. Your Demise, solid hardcore punk and the lead singer knows how to mix some dubstep too. If I Die Today, theyre album is so good, really edgy stuff. Bayside, im not sure if theyd fit the demographic, but ide love to see them again. Thats about all i can think of right now, ill probably think of more later. As for festival republic, ide like to see a few post-hardcore bands, maybe: Escape the fate; Memphis May Fire; Pierce the Veil; Chiodos, to name a few ide like.

Just realised this turned into a festival post. Oh well, shit happens. Ill add it into the name.

Cheers for reading guys, if i offended anyone in particular, go man up. Only joking, sorry if i did.

AJ 

I never know what to call these

I always struggle with what i should call my blog posts. Usually i talk about a bucket load of different things within them, so i cant really title them based on what theyre about. Might just start using lyrics or song titles. 

Anyways ive fallen behind on the 30 day song challenge, so time to catch up.

Your least favorite song. It was hard to choose this, because obviously if you dont like a song your not going to listen to it, so i couldnt really think of any. I decided to pick a couple from my favorite albums, that have been let down by one or two songs.

Rise Against - Roadside : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdKaKpLtt3Y

The Sufferer and the Witness is probably my second favorite punk album of all time, but this song is really poor. The melody is really odd, it just doesnt sound quite right, the song trundles along, never picking up and never going anywhere, and it honestly sounds like the token softer song because they felt they had to put one on the record.

Enter Shikari - No Sleep Tonight : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehzmr79ZCoE

I dont think i need to say anything about this. Really, really, really poor attempt at writing a mainstream song.

A song that makes me happy. I can only really think of one, i tend to find songs more uplifting rather than happy

Set Your Goals - Summer Jam : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcvHZBTiG5k

A song that talks about summer, being on tour, and having fun with friends. Who wouldnt find this happy? Always makes me think of reading festival, which always makes me look forward to summer.

A sad song. 

Never Shout Never! - Losing It : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T351xhw0m1o

Enough said.

A song that reminds me of someone. I associate plenty of songs with plenty of people, but this song definitely does it the most.

Miserable At Best - Mayday Parade : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqM3Dr7agjY

I think this is the last one, a song that reminds me of somewhere. Well, Summer Jam reminds me of Reading Festival but ive already put that for something else, so after that its this one.

Counting Crows - Accidentally In Love : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUypt2nvorM&feature=fvwrel

My dad bought the shrek 2 soundtrack when we were on holiday in Florida, and this was the families favorite track. Therefore we played it over and over, and now everytime i listen to it i get a massive wave of nostalgia remembering all my past holidays, and a pining to be back in Florida. I cant listen because of it. 

Okay i cant be bothered right now, but i did have a couple things to talk about, ill definitely write again tomorrow. If i have time. Bleh this blogs been a bit neglected recently, im going to have to make a point of writing more regularly.

Thanks for reading guys, follow me on twitter if you dont already.

Peace, AJ

Music again; 30 day song challenge

I cant think of anything to write about, so to start myself off imma write about music. 


Ive decided to do that 30 song challenge on facebook, seems like a fun idea. Although the first song, supposed to be my favorite song, stumped me. I actually dont know my favorite song of all time, so i decided to do my song of the moment. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmUcQM0jmqQ 


Too Little, Too Late - A Skylit Drive


That song makes my hairs stand on end. A combination of the lyrics and the epic feel of that opening really get me, and i love the subtle synths, such a good melody, if anything they should be a little louder.


I cant stick to one song, too many good songs out there, so im going to do 2 or 3 for each day. Just to keep things fun and interesting.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iImrkunXTq8

Danger: Wildman - The Devil Wears Prada


I dislike religious bands intensely, but i absolutely adore this song. The screaming is so insane, the cleans are good if a bit auto tuned, and the use of the orchestral strings is brilliant. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t0ysBeGIhc

Plot To Bomb The Panhandle - A Day To Remember


I havent really given these guys a proper listen in a while, probably my favorite band of all time. I really do love this song, its got a real drive that makes you want to get up and mosh. The vocals are brilliant all round, the cleans are a little soft sounding compared to their later efforts, but in my opinion the production on the screams is far better on this album, giving the songs a much harder edge.


I can't think of anything else to listen to, probably because im too tired. I really need to start trying to get to sleep earlier, but i always seem to get distracted. I tell myself every single day that ill be in bed by ten, but that turns into quarter past eleven at best. Oh well. Im not helping right now, am I?


Thanks for reading, ill try blog something a bit more meaningful tomorrow. Hopefuly the 30 day song challenge will give me a prompt. 


Follow me on twitter if you ain't already, cheers.


AJ 

Been a while

I havent blogged in like a week, for a couple reasons, i was away with my girlfriend for a few days with no internet and back at school after half term so i havent had the time, so i thought it was time to do one. Gotta keep the world (the 70 or so people that read this) informed. 

Decided i have a fair bit to talk about so ill do it in sections, skip through to whatever takes your fancy, or skip past anything that doesnt.

1 - Holiday

2 - Back to school

3 - More music

1 - I had been looking forward to this for an absolute age. It was my first ever holiday with my girlfriend, so it was a special thing for us. The weather was pretty bad the whole weekend, but i had   a really great time, and me and Lily (my girlfriend) didnt have any fall outs or anything, so yeah all in all a good holiday. 

First day we got there about 2, and went out for lunch before going to the villa. The villa itself was pretty nice, it had a tv so we could watch dvds when we werent out. Okay im not feeling the dairy format, so ill just tell you the parts that i particularly enjoyed. The pool (centre parcs called in the very imaginatively named 'subtropical swimming paradise) was pretty awesome, they had a wave pool which is always good, a bunch of slides, and a really awesome set of rapids. Not the kind of rapids youve probably seen in pools before, where its a little dribble of current gently drifting you around in a circle, it was actually really fast. There was this one straight bit where you could go like a decent running sort of pace. Which is quick going headfirst in water. Paintball was good, but thats pretty self explanatory. Adrenaline high ropes (another brilliant centre parcs name) was also good. First off we did a Jacobs Ladder [http://www.elitetraining.co.uk/images/TeamAdventure_Files/Sussex/Jacobs%20Ladder%200355.jpg] which is that sort of thing. Me and Lily were teamed up with this little kid. The only reason he got to the top is because ide climb up first, then pull him up, bless him. Then we did this thing where we climbed up ontop of a platform atop a big pole with three other people (the platform was no more than a metre across, probably less) and balance up there, then do 'bum wars' where you had to knock the other two off with your bum. We were paired up with this old guy for this, so me and Lily teamed up to knock him off. Then, i knocked Lily off. Which was a bit mean, but they always say nice guys finish last (im joking by the way, i didnt care about winning. Much.). Eating out was also good, got to have a couple nice chats with Lily's parents, which doesnt really happen often. We also did bowling and table tennis, im sure you dont need me to explain whats involved there. If ive missed anything out i think of later, ill probably edit this. 

2 - School is such a drag. I hate getting up in the morning so much i cant describe it. My family and Lily can both testify that im really not a morning person, it doesnt really help that i go to bed late, but theres just not enough time in the day to do everything i want to do. Ide rather lose an hours sleep so i can relax watching tv or playing world of warcraft than miss out, and end up spending my whole day sleeping, eating, or being at school. Also GCSE's are only 10 weeks away. I cant believe theyre so close now, it feels a bit weird. I quite want to get them over with to be honest, im pretty hopeful ill do well with some revision and night before cramming. 

3 - A couple music related things i want to talk about. A Skylit Drives album Identity on Fire has grown on me, i was a bit harsh about it. Ide recommend it to be honest, its very melodic and easy on the ears for people not that into screaming and heavy breakdowns, so check out a couple songs on youtube or whatever. Im surprised i didnt think to write about Memphis May Fire's ep Between The Lies earlier. Its bloody fantastic. For those of you who have heard the previous ep and album, its heavier, more in your face, and the screams are vastly improved, but it still retains that southern swagger and the catchy hooks which made the first album very listenable. Far more chugging metal guitars, more breakdowns, but so riffy and with plenty of impressive guitar work to make it stand out from the crowd. I really would recommend that ep.

Action/Adventure for the stand out track.

I was going to write about world of warcraft as well, but i dont really feel like it right now. I probably will at a later date though (dont say you werent warned)

Thanks for reading guys, follow me on twitter if you would, and any feedbacks welcome.

Let me know if the new fonts any easier to read by the way.

Much love, AJ