My New Blog

SteveG wrote: lazland wrote: Jared wrote: lazland wrote: Ale of the Week updated and some sports musings in the Beer & News Pages. Album reviews updated with Comedy of Errors from 2013, and Airs, Hogarth & Barbieri, 3rd Degree, Steve Hackett, The Minstrel’s Ghost, and Mudway from 2012. I'm intrigued, Steve. how many times on average would you say you listen to an album, before you put pen to paper, so to speak? Hi Jared. There are two answers to this question, as I can see why you might be confused or asking. When I listen to a new album, I will listen to it at least three times before making rough notes. I will then listen at least a couple more times before expanding said rough notes into a review narrative, and sometimes more. So, a minimum of five times, sometimes more. The reviews I placed on the site last night are not new reviews, they are historic ones which have only been edited to the extent that I have removed PA ratings from them, in line with my review "policy" on my new site, and corrected grammatical errors & etc. I always felt constricted by the five star review system here. One of the main purposes of my new website was, in addition to reviewing brand new music, books, booze, food, and etc. and etc., to act as a repository of my old reviews here on PA, which I regard as being my intellectual property and not those of Max. It takes quite a bit of work to transpose my old reviews, edit them where I feel it necessary, and finally to upload them to my site with videos and necessary comments. There are also a couple I will not post, because the main protagonist has passed away and my review was not altogether fully positive. Therefore, the rush of historic reviews uploaded last night were just that - historic reviews. I will, as soon as I have finished that particular sub-project, which will take a few weeks yet, start placing on the site brand new reviews of stuff I either missed, or simply did not review at the time, and I will differentiate between these and historic ones. This is fascinating to me. I don't take any notes but listen to a new album at least 3 times before writing a review. The good or bad that sticks in my head about said album is what I consider to be the most important points for the review, and my memory is pretty sharp. I just hope that I don't get Alzheimer's.

Jared wrote: lazland wrote: Ale of the Week updated and some sports musings in the Beer & News Pages. Album reviews updated with Comedy of Errors from 2013, and Airs, Hogarth & Barbieri, 3rd Degree, Steve Hackett, The Minstrel’s Ghost, and Mudway from 2012. I'm intrigued, Steve. how many times on average would you say you listen to an album, before you put pen to paper, so to speak?

lazland wrote: Jared wrote: lazland wrote: Reviews of new albums by Pure Reason Revolution and Talisk (a Scottish modern folk band) added to Album Reviews of 2022. Now, you have piqued my interest...  It may not be today (working long hours this Bank Hol weekend) but I'll certainly head over there for a read...   I think you will enjoy both the album and the review.

Once again, a very enjoyable review Steve. I must pick this up at some stage, along with the 2CD reissue of their debut. I have to confess that by 'Hammer & Anvil', they had lost me a bit, but mercifully they seem to have been reborn and returned to the complexity of their roots.

Jared wrote: lazland wrote: Reviews of new albums by Pure Reason Revolution and Talisk (a Scottish modern folk band) added to Album Reviews of 2022. Now, you have piqued my interest...  It may not be today (working long hours this Bank Hol weekend) but I'll certainly head over there for a read...

Reviews of new albums by Pure Reason Revolution and Talisk (a Scottish modern folk band) added to Album Reviews of 2022.

lazland wrote: nick_h_nz wrote: And while you’re reading All In It Together, you could listen to We’re All In This Together. 😜 https://itofficial.bandcamp.com/album/were-all-in-this-together  Fantastic! Review will come, I promise!

Oh, a wise guy, huh? Yuk, yuk, yuk.

lazland wrote: SteveG wrote: Steve, I just ordered "Stop Bloody Bossing Me About" by Letts. I know that this is geared to the English public, but I'm sure there's enough crossover into the American cancel culture to make it worth it, and Letts should be a good read, no matter if there isn't. Hi Steve. I think you in particular will take a great deal of pleasure from it. Next review, when I finish, by the way, will be All In It Together, a really interesting, and funny, history of 21st century (mainly) British political and social history. There are some gems in that, and you will appreciate much of it.

Thanks for the info, Steve. Sounds like another read that's right up my alley!

Edited by SteveG - May 31 2022 at 11:48

Steve, I just ordered "Stop Bloody Bossing Me About" by Letts. I know that this is geared to the English public, but I'm sure there's enough crossover into the American cancel culture to make it worth it, and Letts should be a good read, no matter if there isn't.

Edited by SteveG - May 31 2022 at 08:01

Steve, it's becoming a really great blog, very well done! You've put a tremendous amount of work into this and it's really beginning to show. You're a great interviewer, who has elicited some revealing answers and comments. A few weeks ago, I enjoyed the Three Colours Dark interview and this evening, I have gone back to read the Panic Room one. I have just noticed the mention of Mermaid Kiss, which brought to mind a gig in Lydney I attended back in 2008 when MK supported Panic Room when they released Visionary Position. I remember the band were from the small town in Herefordshire I was living at the time and rehearsed in a large shed behind a field of Llamas!