Note: The following posts were imported from my previous blogs.

Necro  #
Thursday, 16 Oct 2003 10:29PM
There are those that like Frank Herbert's original Dune series, and necrophiliacs. So awesomely harsh. (thanks Dave).

Kevin Anderson has a body of work that exists outside Dune which I've heard is pretty good. Brian Herbert has a famous dad. Together, they have conspired on a book that descends below the rankest Small Wonder fan fiction, diluting the Dune Universe down to one or two parts per million.

Is it wrong that I agree but still like reading it?


Walken History  #
Thursday, 16 Oct 2003 03:45PM
This is the newsgroup post that started it all...

who wants to start a band with me?

My friend Damien forwarded the post to me via email and we both ended up going along. Heath was there, as was a bass player Andrew and guitar playing Bruce. Not a real not happened on the day, some bad covers, I showed off "Right Again" and "Lego Woman". Heath sang "City Loop" on the piano and probably "Glory" although I don't remember.

The earliest Walken is probably before all this though. Daniel on bass, Bruce on guitar, Heath on vocals. They sang covers and made up "Glory" and a very early version of "Post Mixed Coke" of which only the verse survives.

Heath recently put a CD together of the "progression of Away" which shows from my first little "idea" demo ("Andrew's Untitled 1") to jamming of the song on drums with Bruce all the way to the latest "finished" demo. It's interesting to listen to a song create itself over 3 years, if a little ego rubbing.

I write this for myself. Feel free to ignore it as head expanding crud.


Influences and one guitar  #
Thursday, 16 Oct 2003 02:00PM
Was reading my band's new official bio to send out to pubs to get gigs and noticed the four bands we mention as influences all have only one guitar player: Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Sharp, R.E.M. and Faith No More.

Sometimes Roddy (keyboards/Faith No More) plays second guitar, in Digging the Grave and Naked In Front Of The Computer. Also, they have keyboards to "fill the gap". The Sharp used harmony and two strong singers, R.E.M. also. Red Hot Chilli Peppers have an insanely good bass player.

I'd like to think Daniel's bass melodies fill the gaps. And we tend to try to focus on Heath's singing on the simpler songs. We're experimenting and getting better at backing vocals.

We're still experimenting with 2nd guitar and keyboards etc. I believe the best will come from new songs jammed on two guitars. The existing songs have grown around the "restriction".

I've often thought bands with two guitars never leave enough room for bass lines.

Fans may be interested to know the official "give us a gig" Walken promo is three tracks with Blue Sky, Away and One Of These Days.


Patch Andrew  #
Thursday, 16 Oct 2003 01:55PM
I'm starting to think Microsoft is making these security patches up to force people to reboot their servers every couple of weeks...

What's the philosophy arguement to "love is just hormones"?


Online music sales in Canada: PureTracks  #
Thursday, 16 Oct 2003 12:41PM
Subject URL: Online music sales in Canada: PureTracks

Latest online music store, PureTracks. Uses Microsoft's DRM (192k WMA), tracks are "from" 99 cents Canadian (99 cents Canadian = around $1.09 Australian). Similar rules to Wired Records, 3 burns/transfers of tracks.

Interestly they suggest you burn your tracks to CD as a backup. Blogger Matt Goyer points out in his review of the service that you're paying a copyright levy on CDrs in Canada and thus are paying for tracks twice.

My test searches for content on sites like these are Regurgitator, Powderfinger, Faith No More, Apocalyptica. They have both Faith No More's Album Of The Year and poodafunga's Odd Number 5 for $9.99 Canadian. Fair bit cheaper than a $20 CD. Shock horror, they have Apocalyptica's Inquisition Symphony ($9.99). Thumbs up. No Regurgitator. You may buy individual tracks from all of these albums for 99 cents.

For comparison, CD albums on Amazon.ca are around CA$17.99. Album Of The Year is $16.99 but Angel Dust CD is $8.99, cheaper than the download service (if it were to offer it).

I couldn't find any direct mention of whether users outside of Canada could buy music. I assume not.