Rant in G major

Yes! It is I! I feel like I should post a new blog without any specific category after that last one I did which turned out so well. I feel like that but that's not what I'm gonna do. I want to share with you my thoughts on what matters most to me personally and how it effects life. It's not love or karma or food. It's entertainment.
I doubt any of my friends who happen to be reading this are even in the least bit suprised by that. I do talk about it alot but hell it's an interesting topic, more so than politics, which A: I only marginally understand B: is boring and C: makes me angry. That's also why I don't watch the news on TV, I listen to it on radio 4, much better, mostly because the presenters are so very odd. The other big hitter in terms of conversation is philosophy, that doesn't even remotely concern current events but if you're not high what's the point? Being high is the only way to make it interesting. Current events are alright to discuss in themselves but getting pissed off and arguing will only gratify you so much before you're willing to tear out every womb on the planet just so you can't be told abortion is wrong any more.
The final big conversation staple is bitching. I don't like bitching and I never have. Sure there are people I really don't like or go through phases of disliking but I've always thought my groans about them were better off staying inside my head. Every now and again I will loose it, find someone I trust (Liam normally) and vent like nuclear power plant cooling tower. This is only when someone I care about is irritating me and I want to spare their feelings. If it's someone I genuinly hate then talking about them behind their back is ultimately pointless. If you really feel strongly about something they're doing then just fucking tell them.
In terms of stuff to yak about over lunch or on the train that only leaves the freak topics and entertainment. Entertainment is the best one because it is universally relatable (for the most part, there are some weirdos I've met who seemingly watch no movies or TV and listen to no music at all) and everyone has their own opinion. It's a great ice breaker as well. Entertainment may seem trivial but it really matters in life. It signifies uniqueness and it's universally accessible. It's what makes us who we are to some extent. No two opinions are exactly the same. Furthermore it gerts amazing levels on enthusiasm within people, you'll find that many people harbour very passionate views about particular films and artists. I remember being friends with this seemingly emotionless guy a few years back, was sat there talking to him about whatever, brought up the film Gladiator and I was instantly overwhelmed with appreciation, words like 'beautiful' 'astounding' and 'fucking A'.
I suppose at this point I may as well express my own likings in entertainment and how they originated. Musically I used to be utterly stupid. Watered down rock it was called and it sucked, I mean really sucked, poorly written, whiny and repetitive, I'm not naming any names. Then I saw the light. I was already well aware of R.E.M. and represented myself as a fan but I wasn't properly, one day I started listening to an album called Automatic for the People. I'd never heard anything so good. I starting picking it apart, looking at it in layers, seeing all the thought, imagination, effort and energy. That is what I did with music from then on. It brought me to funk, no wave, punk, electronica, all these genres I had previously dismissed in favour of american teen rock for angst ridden 14 year olds who write depressing things as their msn names, it can't be helped I suppose but still.
Bands that have stuck with me are things such as Nine Inch Nails, yes I know Trent Reznor is a tyrant but he's a tyrant that works extrodinarily hard to create excellent music, bleak in places but both lyrically and musically ingenious. Then there's Beck, he's a scientologist which is annoying but he's a great writer and his wonderfuly random techno poetry is inspirationally good. Beyond that I delved into the realms of No Wave, Joy Division, the only way to listen to them is when you're on your own really but they were great. Sonic Youth as well, endlessly entertaining, difficult to get into at first but after a while you begin to understand their genius. Radiohead, utterly beautiful, well written, well produced, the pinacle of alternative. Then there's the jazz bound genius of the late Joe Zawinul and his Weather Report, just brilliant composition, endlessly enjoyable. In terms of Solo artists there's Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin and a large chunk of techno artists, the most promanent of which is Amon Tobin. Tobin is an incredible man, he has a great ear for rhythm and beauty.
All these bands have grown on me over time and new editions take time to make their mark (Faith No More, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Squarepusher are getting there). I've spent a long time going on about that now so I won't get into film because I'd be here all day. Anyone can express love for music the way I just did, it reaches people in a way nothing else can and it can tell you who they are. It is an actual truth that a great many short tempered people will listen to metal and mellow people do tend to like chillout. What bothers me is sheep, eventually everybody finds their own opinion but buying shit like Now 56 and following the hype crowd will get you nowhere as I found out. Much better to explore, discover new sounds, look through your dad's vinyl collection. It works for film too, if you just go back in time a little, dig a little beneath the surface, you become that little bit more interesting as a human being.