Its been a busy week, so no time for real (ie. that which has not been lazily ganked from elsewhere on the web) posts. So I'm just going to point the way back to the 90's.
Yes the 90's, when flannelet shirts weren't just for for bogans, and certainly weren't available anywhere but Target or Kmart. Shit the 90's were when bogans were still a recognisable species and not just a term of abuse levelled at anyone from the suburbs. That's right the 90's, when young folk of my ilk attended gigs in the afternoon, when we drank goon and would catch public transport away from the city to see bands of this ilk.
Tumbleweed
The Meanies
I'd just like to point out that the Meanies film clip is actually in stop-motion, but transferring the video from a VHS cassette has dulled the effect somewhat, and also point you in the direction of more 'weed film clips. Finally; if you find any of these references confusing, well you're probably not from round these parts are ya? Welcome aliens!
Also please no arguments about the tags, i know, i know...
Yup, after all that pontificating we're getting straight up ignorant. Lazy Grey from QLD is one of Australia's best MC's, this is an old track, i think of the 'Black Stump' album, which i don't have (leave a comment). Summing up one of the best part of Fridays, and again flippin beats way before the septic's catch on.
Even ignoranter (yes it's a word) is this great track from Billy Bunks, a Melburn MC. this song is really very funny and needless to say not fucken safe for work. I just discovered this today, but knew he had an album comming this year, 'cos he told me. Then i ducked.
Seriously though, check both of these clips out, great songs and truly adapting the artform to our local culture, well at least that part that reflects the passions and concerns of drunken foul-mouthed young men. Word.
Whilst usually i'm a reasonably tolerant and forgiving person I find that this easy-going demeanour slips somewhat when shopping.
For years I have wondered is this because more annoying people are more likely to inhabit shopping centres, strips and the CBD when I’m there? Is there an email that goes out each morning suggesting the best way to piss me off? Whilst it is true that more annoying people are more likely to be found in annoying places it is also true that annoying people are to found all over this place (as Lux said).
So it might not be simply that people aint no good after all, it might be 'hyperchoice'. In the west this economic era, with the cultures of mass production and consumption, has provided us with an ever increasing plethora of choice. Whilst this has advantages this hyperchoice places demands on our cognitive resources. Too much choice requires more effort to be expended on every decision. We have only limited resources to engage in voluntary behaviour and these can be reduced by the effort needed to contrast, compare and retrieve from memory the details of each desire we are attempting to fill in these overbright climate controlled temples of mammon. This eventually results in harried decisions, we might select that which only approximates our need, or we choose the obvious and we end up less happy with our final choice.
Also afflicted are ‘Maximisers’, those who habitually carefully consider all options and make informed decisions. These types, who might be thought of as well adapted to this culture, are also afflicted by the negative consequences of hyperchoice. The over abundance of options and their habitual consideration will result in less satisfaction, nothing is ever perfect and it is this that will haunt the maximiser. The product they take home will likely be somewhat less glowing in the light of all that could have been.
These examples of our cognitive capacities go some way to explaining why I can’t be bothered thinking my way through every human interaction after deciding whether or not this shirt is worth the money or which brand of floor cleaner to buy. However this is not the whole story. Less well supported empirically, but possibly making just as much sense is that the incessant focus on the self (my needs, my size, my budget, my floor) results in an inordinate self focus. When we focus on ourselves we are less likely to be able to take others perspective, the needs of others are small in comparison to the over activated awareness of self.
Here is where I might consider a prescription, some homely suggestions to minimise choice, something about a local market, growing your own or re-using etc. Maybe a cute rant about how saving psychic energy on things allows more to be available for people, but I can't be bothered, you'll work it out. Idiot. ...
Thrive on learning and mental challenges. The point of having a brain is precisely to learn and to adapt to challenging new environments. Once new neurons appear in your brain, where they stay in your brain and how long they survive depends on how you use them. "Use It or Lose It" does not mean "do crossword puzzle number 1,234,567". It means, "challenge your brain often with fundamentally new activities".
It's getting colder here in Melburn, so this Friday I'm hitting you up first with the rich warmth of Mikey Dread (R.I.P) before simply acknowledging winter with one of those film clips where you can see the band breathing steam. I suppose I could have posted "London Calling" but instead we are shipping from JA to MA.
Reggae Mikey Dread
Mikey was the first dedicated Reggae DJ on the Jamaican national broadcaster and an artist and producer in his own right, he did some great work tunin' up the Clash's reggae sound and toured with them also. This track has killer horns, if you aren't dubwise enuff for a full 6 min of roots skip to the halfway point the brass goodness. For any aspiring DJ's out there there is a great little app on his website which amuses me no end
Punk Dropkick Murphys
I have absolutely no idea what this film clip is about. Guys in peaked caps and bomber jackets seem to run away from one another in a random fashion, perhaps they're just trying to get warm? I suppose if one wanted you could listen to this song in it's incarnation in "The Departed" or as an AFL advert. Which those living outside of Australia might want to do. Still, this song's a cracker and if you don't agree you can pugg mahone.
Also over the next few weeks I will digging in the overloaded vaults to bring you some local and international musical bootlegs and deleted obscurities that I reckon deserve some wider exposure, so set your ears to stun.
Oh yeah it's Friday! We are about to get our swagger on with an awesome performance as Big L shows why he was one of the greatest rappers, funny and filthy. There is no accompanying video, all the the better to check the rhymes and the beat by Lord Finnesse. There is an MP3 of the first verse on the the web somewhere, if I find the link i'll post it later.
HipHop Big L live on the Stretch & Bobbito radio show '98
If you listend to Big L first you'reprobably now a bit cocky, it's friday arvo and you might be ready for a drink, possibly a smoke. You might even feel a little bit guilty about the lethality of that last urge, well it has it's uses. I read somewhere the singer on this one, guitarist Steve Diggle, was forced to smoke heavily to get the right raspy tone for this song. It worked, the blend of urgency and melody makes me wanna reach for a pint and a silk cut. See you at the pub. Word.
