Oh shit, another one?

In my effort to do anything that isn't my Hungarian Politics paper, I am updating again! Also, I am feeling in the writey mood, and this helps me write regularly.
So, here's a quick question - how do blogs become popular? I suppose they don't become popular by whining about their personal life and stuff, so maybe I should alter my blog to target a wider audience? But then, how would people ever find my blog? I don't even have the foggiest idea how people read this blog. Is there a way for me to get some kind of...visitor counter?

So, maybe I should start some kind of super pretentious music blog. Those are popular, right?
It would be like whenever I write for Chimes because I usually just use those articles as a vehicle to make snide remarks about indie kids. And apparently, I developed quite a reputation for myself in indie-circles at Calvin. Several of the indie-hipsters are on this trip, and one of them confided in me that they were all a bit curious as to how meeting me would be, because I was always super angry and bitchy in my articles and trashed the music they liked. And apparenty I am super militant/aggressive in class. Also, they saw me at a party this summer. I was leaving, and they saw me crash into a tree. And then fall into the road. And mostly just make an ass out of myself.
But much as I am not into the vast majority of indie music and the hipster lifestyle doesn't really appeal to me, the people are still super nice. Music isn't as defining a lifestyle choice as some people make it out to be. So, hooray for that?

And speaking about music, I know that Ska is dead and that the vast majority of ska bands were terrible/won't stand the test of time (or even the test of a decade or so), but goddammit, I think Less Than Jake is still one of the best bands out there. Sure, they are more punk than ska, but the point is still valid.

One final thing, here is a link to my last.fm site, so that you can see what I've been listening to. I think Last.fm is pretty much the coolest idea in the world because it lets me see what stuff I've been into recently and what my most listened to bands are. So, everyone should get a Last.fm, and then you can friend me!

http://www.last.fm/user/Avalost

A few notes on my Last.fm - I am currently waiting for Porcupine Tree to overtake Placebo for 2nd place (I don't think Kill Hannah will be dethroned anytime soon). I'm happy that Cult of Luna has made such a good showing since typically their songs are a lot longer than other bands'. Innerpartysystem is sitting at #12, but I only got their cd a day before I came to Hungary, so it is pretty amazing that they shot up in the charts so fast, especially since their cd only has 6 tracks on.. Finally, Rapture (the metal band, not that other band called The Rapture) is sitting pretty at #13, but that is a testament to how fantastic they are because for the longest time, I only had 1 of their cds.

I am a god

Okay, that title might be a bit too much, but I found out today that my reputation precedes me! Apparently, several people on the Hungary semester were familiar with my Chimes articles and were a bit...apprehensive about meeting me in person, thinking that I would tear there musical opinions apart and be a real jerk because they like "indie" music.
But, in the words on one of them, "You are actually just a crazy motherfucker, and I like that."

But let me go on the record, I still think 90% of "indie" music is shit. Pitchfork Media is a joke. And "indie" kids in general make me smirk.

And when I use the term "indie" I mean it more in the "Canadian" sense of the word (think bands like - Metric, Stars, Arcade Fire, etc...) not in the "European" term of the word (ie - Kent, Ljungblut, Amber Smith, etc...).

So, while I am not saying that all the bands I love are especially talented or original (much as Kill Hannah is my favourite band...they really are kind of generic), I do think that I listen to music that takes a lot of talent and originality than "indie" bands (who seem to love utilizing shitty sounding guitars, off-key vocals, and inane lyrics).

Examples of talented music
- Opeth (a little tired on ideas as of their most recent releases, but lightyears ahead of most any band)
- Cult of Luna (anyone who tries to tag them as a "Neurosis" rip-off (*coughPitchforkmediacough*) are sorely mistaken)
- Porcupine Tree (again, less original than before, but phenomenally produced/consistent)
- Emile Autumn (far beyond her "gothic" label, this violin virtuoso's work is fabulous)
- Moonsorrow (it is as if someone bottled the word "epic" and then made this band)