badlybent.ca

By Stevie Z

    Fans of my podcast, The Sieve! (okay, FAN of my podcast) may have noticed that I haven’t put out any shows for quite some time now.

    I actually DID manage to get a show recorded in between computer crashes,  file corruptions, etc. and it has remained, on my external hard drive,  1/2 edited for about 2 months now.  In it, I go into some (but not too much, I hope) detail about my life for the past six months, the prepping and listing of our house and subsequent fun, fun, fun.  I can’t remember if I go into much detail about the recording/computer woes I’ve been dealing with, but they have been substantial.

    I’ve been trying desperately to put together a little ’studio’ worth of recording equipment since I was 14 years old.  Nothing amazingly fantastic, you understand, just enough to be able to get down on tape (originally) or now on MP3, the thoughts and ideas I have careening around in my skull.  Since that time I’ve tried to put together both the equipment and the space to do such.  And since I was 14, I’ve failed.  Oh, I’ve gotten closer and closer, and I’m getting there, but I’m still not there.  The only real thing standing in my way right now, is a stable, decent recording platform (IE computer)

   I’ve got the software, I’ve got the instruments, mics, etc.  I’m just missing one small, but critical, piece of the puzzle.  Okay, I could use some extra ‘talent’ too, but there’s not much I can do about that……

    Since I spend my days making money as a Lubricant Distribution Technician, the whole “recording thing” (music and podcasting) falls distinctly into the ‘hobby’ field.  I looked up the definition of the word ‘hobby’ and among other things, dictionary.com defines a ‘hobby’ as “an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation”.

    Since, every time I try to record/edit/tweak anything, I end up swearing and cursing (and now recently: kicking) my computer, I would have to say that it has moved well beyond the realm of hobby, and into ‘albatross’.

    So what?

    Well, I believe that I’m on the brink of finally putting that last piece into place.  If all goes according to plan (it won’t but at least there IS a plan) then I should have an Apple Mac to record with within the next few weeks, or within the next month.  And then, look forward to my next podcast piece wherein I take my Windows Vista POS PC into the backyard and turn it into tiny pieces of nothing with my sledgehammer.  Then maybe I’ll drop the pieces off in front of the door of the Microsoft HQ in Toronto.  Hmm, I smell a video podcast……

    Anyhoo, thanks for being patient, everyone.  Or at least, those of you who have been patient.   Those of you who have lost patience and moved on, well, then I guess you won’t be reading this, but I apologize to you was well anyways.  I also apologize to my liver, who has also borne the brunt of my aggravation……

    Stevie Z

 PS - Yes, I understand that, in the grand scheme of the world, not having a good computer is pretty trite and unimportant.  I have a home, I have a job, I have food and clothing, and am whining about something that is considered by most a luxury.

By Stevie Z

I was hurtling down the 401 Highway this afternoon listening to my MP3 player.  Janis Joplin came on doing one of her best tunes: Mercedes Benz

It occurred to me that she wouldn’t have had a chance in hell to make it in the world today, in mainstream music.  Not even close.  She wasn’t blonde, she didn’t really dance, and didn’t have large breasts.  If someone like her (and I mean someone like her, not one of the cheap imitations running rampant today) showed up at an American Idol audition, she’d be driven off the set by Simon Cowell and his band of mule holes in seconds.

First, they’d mock her appearance.

Then, as soon as she spoke and they heard her voice, they make assinine comments about that too.

Finally, as soon as she started to belt out a tune (take the aforementioned Mercedes Benz for example) and poured her heart, soul and guts into it, she would have been met with derision.   None of what they do is about music or artistry, it’s all about making money, which is why it’s evil and needs to be kicked in the lovelies.

I’m using Ms. Joplin as an example, but seriously…..how many of the artists that we consider ground breaking and truly distinctive could even get a foot in the door in today’s “American/Canadian/Insert Country Here Idol” climate?  Bob Dylan? Bruce Spingsteen?  Willie Nelson?  John Hiatt?

The music ‘industry’ is dying day by day, and they can’t figure out why.  One of the myriad problems is that they’re not looking for the next talent to come along and change music, they’re looking for the next in a line of things we already have.  They’re looking for the next Britney Spears, or the next BackStreet Boys, or the next Justin Timberlake, or Pussycat Dolls.

And here’s the problem with that, jerkasses:

The demographic of the people that you’re trying to peddle this crap to is the same demographic that has no problem downloading music for free.   Par example - I buy every John Hiatt, Mark Knopfler, Bruce Springsteen, Fred Eaglesmith album that comes out.  Buy.  The CD.  I want a copy to put on my shelf.  Heck, I’d buy the albums and hang em on my wall if that were an option.  Let’s say by some miracle or fluke that Britney Spears ever did release a song that I enjoyed.  Would I buy it?  Most likely I’d just download it.  Or, I’d buy that one song on iTunes.  Of course, it’s a moo point because if Spears ever actually did perform something that I liked to listen too, I’d check the rearveiew mirror for locusts and horsemen because it would surely be one of the signs of the End Times, and pestilence sure probably wouldn’t be far behind.   I think that I maybe have purchased more CD’s in the last 6 months, come to think of it, then I have in the last couple of years.  Of course, several of those were from ‘indie’ artists who didn’t even have stuff in wide distribution.  Maybe that says everything about the music industry and where they still insist in heading.  Maybe it only says more about me.

All I know is, if Janis Joplin played in Kitchener this weekend, I’d buy her CD at the venue.   And get her to sign it.  And ask for a little kiss.   Come to think of it, I’d buy two copies of her Cd.  One for me, and one to show Mr. Cowell what an artist is.  He obviously has no idea.  And I’d probably ask for another kiss.  From Janis, not Simon…..

Stevie Z