en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices Conservationist's Last.fm Journal http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal The Last.fm journal for Conservationist. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. Production versus Composition http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/12/5a96jd_production_versus_composition Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:00:45 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/12/5a96jd_production_versus_composition Imagine a Stryper song.

You transcribe it onto paper, then go into a major studio.

The studio head tells you that you're going to make three versions of the song:

(1) A slick modern post-rock production, with muted drums and really slow, lots of layers.

(2) A totally necro Watain worship style with lo-fi production and bizarre tunings, and drums that sound like they're down the hall.

(3) A Dimmu Borgir style symphonic black metal version, played really fast with lots of keyboards and girly squee vocals.

So... it's still the same song. The composition is the same: Same chords, same notes, same riffs in the same order.

But the production has changed, depending on your taste. Some like necro-blak kvlt. Others love the Dimmu Burger sound. And 25 out of 100 people will "like" it (on Faceplant) if it's the modern rock sound.

Which is more important, production or composition?

- Source]]> Mythos: The Myths and Tales of H.P. Lovecraft & Robert E. Howard http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/11/5a7irz_mythos%253A_the_myths_and_tales_of_h.p._lovecraft_%2526_robert_e._howard Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:55:33 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/11/5a7irz_mythos%253A_the_myths_and_tales_of_h.p._lovecraft_%2526_robert_e._howard

The new anthology publication from Numen Books: 'Mythos: The Myths and Tales of H.P. Lovecraft & Robert E. Howard'

Mythos contains the key stories which make up the mythical world established by H.P. Lovecraft, and also contains works by Robert E. Howard written in this mythological framework. Contents also include Lovecraft's essay on the the nature of the horror tale, and a new analysis written... on the nature of myth and the occult in Lovecraft's work by M Alan Kazlev. In addition to this, Mythos also contains new tales of terror written in the same vein as Lovecraft by Gwendolyn Toynton, Bernardo Sena, and Michael Kleen.

To order a copy:

  1. Numen Books
  2. Amazon
]]> Burzum "Support Your Local Einsatzkommando" shirts re-printed http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/11/5a6trd_burzum_%22support_your_local_einsatzkommando%22_shirts_re-printed Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:35:26 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/11/5a6trd_burzum_%22support_your_local_einsatzkommando%22_shirts_re-printed

The one and only, highly sought after Burzum 'Support Your Local Einsatzkommando' short sleeve shirt. This is a reprint of the original (which is no longer available); printed on an AAA brand high quality garment, shirt is black, inks are red and light grey.

This is available for PRE-ORDER ONLY.. this limited run of shirts will be MADE TO ORDER. In other words, these shirts will be available for (3) weeks online, in which at the end of the (3) weeks, the shirts will be printed and shipped. There will be an approximate number of shirts made in accordance with how many are ordered.

The PRE-ORDER is running from today (1/9/2012) till January 30th (1/30/2012). AGAIN, these shirts will be made 'PRINT TO ORDER,' no extras will be printed!

http://burzum.bigcartel.com/

For anyone who has forgotten what Varg stands for, here's a handy definition of Einsatzkommando.]]> 100% Metal Forum "Metal Hall" at the Dark Legions Archive http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/10/5a6cwb_100%2525_metal_forum_%2522metal_hall%2522_at_the_dark_legions_archive Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:59:13 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/10/5a6cwb_100%2525_metal_forum_%2522metal_hall%2522_at_the_dark_legions_archive

I just set up a group for our metal forum. This forum has been going in some form or another since 1996, although please don't make me go back to the Matt's Scripts version to retrieve old messages.

Visit the Forum itself
Visit the group for the Forum]]> Numen Books http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/02/59qyo5_numen_books Mon, 2 Jan 2012 16:38:05 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2012/01/02/59qyo5_numen_books

Numen Books takes it name from the Latin word Numen, meaning 'an influence perceptible by mind but not by senses' which is closely linked to the metaphysical concept of mana or power being inherent and derived from a point beyond that of the mundane world.

We are an independent book publisher who has been in the publishing industry for five years under the name Primordial Traditions. Following the New Zealand earthquakes in 2010-2011, we relocated to Australia and changed our name to Numen Books in order to reflect our growing range of publications.


The idea of the Primordial Tradition evolved out of the concept known as philosophia perennis, or perennial philosophy, which in itself is a development from the prisca theologia of the Middle Ages. Both the idea of the Primordial Tradition and the philosophia perennis attempt to establish common factors amongst different traditions, with the goal of producing a superior gnosis or level of wisdom than that which would have been obtained by the study of a single religion. This is remarkably similar to the mode of study used in comparative mythology and the study of the history of religions. In this sense, the term Primordial Tradition is utilized to describe a system of spiritual thought and metaphysical truths that overarches all the other religions and esoteric traditions of humanity.

The concept of the Primordial Tradition was well received by both practitioners and the academic community, and its development was actively endorsed by the International Conference of Religions in Chicago, 1893. Outside of the academic community, the idea of the Primordial Tradition received an even better reception, and was advocated by the Traditionalist school – notably Rene Guénon, Julius Evola, and Alain Daniélou. Other figures/works of note to the Primordial Tradition are: Mircea Eliade, Ananda Coomaraswamy, Carl Kerenyi, Emil Cioran, Georges Dumezil, Huston Smith, Heinrich Zimmer, Gottfried Leibniz, Aldous Huxley, Frithjof Schuon, Plato, Nicolás Gómez Dávila, Ananda Coomaraswamy - also the Vedas, Sagas, Greek and Roman Epics, mythology, folklore, and the manifestations of the ideas of traditions in the works of such authors as Friedrich Nietzsche and Karl Jung. As such it portrays an underlying universal principle in the application of religion and holds that there are common precepts that exist in the substrata of all religions. These universal truths are then reshaped by cultural and historical events to take their own distinct life and vitality. The term perennial philosophy has also been employed as a translation of the Hindu concept of Sanatana Dharma or the Eternal Tradition.


Our publications are expanding and now include supernatural/horror fiction, as well as the areas in which we already boast an existing reputation.

http://www.numenbooks.com.au/]]> Digipaks are douchebag http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/29/59jr8p_digipaks_are_douchebag Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:26:46 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/29/59jr8p_digipaks_are_douchebag Record labels love these because they're (a) cheap but (b) "unusual" so they often charge more for them. I hate them. Here's why:

1.

They're fragile. Cardboard, against the ravages of time? When the paint flecks of quickly? Where a CD book can be properly cared for and last a long time, digipaks flake out quickly. I guess the labels hope you'll just go buy another one.

2.

They don't protect the CD.

A plastic case is interchangeable with any of a million replacement plastic cases. If the CD takes a hit, the case breaks and protects the book and CD. If a digipak takes a hit, the CD breaks or is scratched. I guess the labels hope you'll just buy another one.

3.

The CD tray disintegrates.

In theory, a digipak is "green" because it uses plastic, but most of them still use plastic trays in the middle. These are glued down with imitation Elmer's glue that flakes out and the tray pops free, possibly leading to the CD getting ruined and also the digipak getting torn or losing its surface print. Again, they just want you to buy a new one.

4.

The cover art sucks.

Most cover art is designed for the square format of a CD or LP. If a digipak is involved, some editing will occur. Either they add fru-fru around the edges, or expand and trim to fit. The result is weird art that doesn't reflect the artists' intent.

5.

The booklet sucks.

In a digipak, either the digipak is the booklet or the booklet tucks into a little cardboard pocket on the digipak. If the former, you now have two to four cardboard sides that rapidly degrade. If the latter, the book always falls out.

6.

Premium prices.

The cretins at record labels are hoping to fool us all. Even though any person with more sense than a weevil knows that digipaks blow ass, the labels want to sell them at a premium price. "Digipak CD," they say, as if showing us a luxury car, when really they're handing us a turd with a hood ornament.

7.

The inevitable jewel case issue.

After the bloated label finally pukes out the album, they wait another 8 months and then release a jewel pack version for the diehards. In the meantime, you're not supposed to just download the MP3s. This way, you get to buy each album twice: a disposable digipak, and then the jewel case so you can actually enjoy the album like a sane person.

8.

False "green."

If you corner some label suit and start threatening their safety over the annoyance of digipaks, they will return fire by saying how "green" the digipak is. It's not. Cardboard CD cases that fall apart after a year are not green. Buying up ten acres of forest and keeping it from being developed is green. I'm all for saving the world like the next guy, but let's be practical about it instead of offering up this fake "green" product that doesn't work as well as the (recycleable) jewel cases.

Sorry to go on for so long about this. I hate digipaks. D-paks, short for d-bags. They're horrible. Please share this turgid rant with any label or distro personnel you know.]]> Re-issues are douchebag http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/29/59jr01_re-issues_are_douchebag Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:16:29 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/29/59jr01_re-issues_are_douchebag Why re-issues are douchebag:

1.


As usual, the damned bonus live tracks to fuck up the reissue!!
I hate it!!!!


Nothing like hearing an album and then getting subjected to the SAME tracks in demo or live format, e.g. crappier and redundant.

It's better to just put out a 2CD set of complete demos & live so that it forms a unique listening experience.

2.

"Re-mastering" that consists of loading it into Pro-Tools and wringing it louder with compression.

3.

Apologetic liner notes and goofy pictures which totally ruin the mood. Save these for books like Murder in the Front Row or Glorious Times.

4.

I'm no communist, but it seems to me that after the label has made its profit on the first run, the artist should get a bigger cut and the price should go down. Oddly it seems like the converse is true.

From:
http://nwnprod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27211]]> Death metal band saves cats from life on the street http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/29/59jbkr_death_metal_band_saves_cats_from_life_on_the_street Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:54:02 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/29/59jbkr_death_metal_band_saves_cats_from_life_on_the_street

Donald Tardy of death metal band Obituary and his wife, Heather, spend their spare time and most of their "spare" money picking up stray cats off the street and taking care of them. Their charity, the Metal Meowlisha, cares for 20 colonies of feral cats 365 days a year.

Read the full story here, "Death metal band saves cats from life on the street"]]> The return of True Metal http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/27/59gm9b_the_return_of_true_metal Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:38:08 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/27/59gm9b_the_return_of_true_metal

The "metal" that is basically indie rock and punk flavored with metal stylings is fading out. What's replacing it is music that stays true to the spirit of metal.


It's not so much that true metal is a genre, but a label that bands are applying to their music to say that they are not part of the newer hybrid genre, and that they want to return to the spirit that produced the great music of the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. The spirit is what allows bands to create music that carries the power of older metal, say fans, and many fans suggest that the newer music has lost that spirit because it's going in another direction. Whatever the case, the true metal movement is suggesting that metal isn't just a bunch of techniques and tropes, but a gestalt that ties them all together and communicates some kind of union with power and transcendence of the human condition, while more recent metal hybrids have been all about celebrating that human condition.


Complete with media mentions and clearer definitions, which I won't quote here.

Read the full article at Examiner.com.]]> Best True Metal of 2011 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/24/59buq6_best_true_metal_of_2011 Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:58:18 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Conservationist/journal/2011/12/24/59buq6_best_true_metal_of_2011

There are plenty of "Best Metal of 2011" lists floating around out there, but almost none of them take the true metal perspective. True metal is that idea that metal has a particular spirit and way of writing songs, and that just adding distortion and power chords does not make metal out of otherwise ordinary music.

]]>