Tuesday, 26th of August, 2003

We’ve certainly been asking ourselves this question for a while. As this article from the latest Adbusters magazine does admit, it’s not a good idea to throw the word “fascism” around too freely. Still, this is the best argued thesis yet that America is at least very close to being fascist.
Read it for yourself. The current Adbusters also has an article about the power of neo-conservative fundamentalist Christians in the USA. The article doesn’t seem to be available on the web unfortunately, but there was a Salon article in a similar vein a little while back. Scary.

Monday, 25th of August, 2003

Two new weblogs, both created for a purpose:
Utility Fog, for my show on FBi Radio, and
Peter Hollo’s token LiveGerbil, there so I can read acb’s private posts. I may make more use of it at some point.

Monday, 18th of August, 2003

Here it comes! On Friday the 29th of August, FBi Radio finally goes on air on 94.5 FM, live! Sydney’s airwaves will never be the same again.

I can’t wait, not only because I’ll be listening to the radio with enthusiasm again, but because I have a show! Ladies and gentlement, announcing:

Utility Fog: postfolkrocktronica, from granular pop to orchestral breakcore and beyond…

Tune in Sundays 10pm-1am, from the 31st of August. Anyone who wants to send in music that fits the bill, email me at raven (at) fourplay (dot) com (dot) au.

Wednesday, 13th of August, 2003

*gasp*
This is AWESOME. A whole site dedicated to explaining why modulating up a semitone at the end (or at the emotional climax) of a song SUCKS so much. The Truck Driver’s Gear Change Hall of Shame explains what this odious key-change is and then catalogues a whole lot of songs/artists who’ve done it. Interestingly, it doesn’t mention “Go West” by the Village People (famously covered by the Pet Shop Boys - SHAME).

Sorry for the ALL CAPS SHOUTING. Sometimes ya’ just gotta shout about it!
Also interesting that in the comments on the Breeders’ “Cannonball” (a tenuous inclusion at best) they mention that a b-side of the Cannonball EP is “Lord of the Thighs” (which is a funny name) but neglect to mention the delicious irony of its being an Aerosmith cover sung dead-pan by a female vocalist. Oh well, you can’t get everything right…