I’ve got the Logies on here and I’m working, so not really watching it, however I’ll take time out to make some observations:

1. It’s shit.

2. Bindi Irwin ‘best new talent’?!? She’s about as new as the Internets.

3. Is that Mister G character singing about young girls dying from drug overdoses really that funny? The same two-bit celebs in the audience giggling at it will probably sneak into the lavs during the ad break, to dole out and snort up the booger-sugar.

4. There was a flashback to a previous Logies where apparently a snake bit Tim Webster on the left testicle. For once I was sorry to have missed something on the Logies.

5. Sam Newman was mentioned at one point and was heartily ‘boo-ed’. He’s currently as popular as tinea, though there are probably still women idiot enough to sleep with him.

6. The spike-haired twerp from Getaway made an error of fact when he suggested that Westlife would be looking for “hot chicks”. Westlife’s lead singer suggested he’d actually be looking for “hot men”. The spike-haired twerp from Getaway had better watch his back.

7. It’s still shit.

Overheard in a Gmail chat between The Editor and Keri this afternoon.

Keri: Last night [John Surname] was telling me that Monty Python had “little cultural impact”

The Editor: He is totally fucking dropped as my friend

Keri: I nearly had a stroke
Then he went on to tell me that the Simpsons was the finest comedy ever made and had a major cultural impact whilst MP didn’t
And that it was all filler

The Editor: He is retarded in the head

Keri: That’s an insult to retards.

The Editor: I’m so blogging this conversation

Discuss.

Frenzal Rhomb guitarist Lindsay McDougall has been shafted by the Australian music industry association, who told him it was recording his interview for one reason and then used it for another. Here’s McDougall on the industry’s lame attempt to shame kids into not downloading music by suggesting that they’re ripping off artists rather than actually cutting into the bloated profits of the record companies who rip off artists.

I think it’s bullshit, I think it’s record companies crying poor and I don’t agree with it… you don’t make money from the record, the record companies make the money from the record. If they can’t make money these days because they haven’t come onside with the way the world is going, it’s their own problem.

Pwned.

And here’s “artist” and “musician” Anthony Callea’s manager throwing his support behind the campaign to stop something that will never, ever have any impact on Callea’s sale(s).

This video is a unique view on the changing nature of our industry. It’s tremendous to see artists given the opportunity to provide a balanced first hand account of the music business as they see it.

The Editor, John Surname, Ant Rogenous, Jeremy Sear, The Happy Revolutionary and Craig discuss:

* Sin tax
* Whingeing musicians
* Chair sniffing
* Wilson Tuckey vs. Bill Heffernan in the GrodsThink naked cagefight

** Because of the pernicious lack of Brendan Nelson bashing in this episode use only the “Play in popup” link or the “Download” link. **

 

 GrodsThink 14 (29 April 2008) [32:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Subscribe:   

Kevin’s weekend-long suggestion box seems to have brought the reform-for-its-own-sake boffins out of the closet: there’s been talk of changing everything, from the Constitution to the flag. Now some are talking about scrapping Advance Australia Fair as the national anthem, even though we’ve only had it officially for a tick over 30 years.

Like many blasé Aussies I’m indifferent to the anthem - I’m not passionately stirred by it but nor do I loathe it. It seems to stack up well against most other national songs. I’ve certainly appreciated it more since Julie Anthony’s stirring rendition of at the Sydney Olympics (viewable on the You Tubes). Changing it would open up one of those ridiculous hornets’ nests: where talkback radio is flooded with blue-rinsers and Valium-happy housewifes; where RSLs buzz and thrum like someone has put Viagra in the cheap beer; where everyone wants a say on something about which they ultimately don’t give a shit. We’ve got enough to do and can do without all of that, thanks. 

What the hell do these change-monsters want to have as our anthem anyway? Grodsophiles may have better suggestions but some could be:

• The Seekers’ I Am Australian?
• Men at Work’s Down Under?
• Keri’s favourite Chizzle tune, Khe Sahn?
• Hot Chili Woman by Noiseworks?
• Something from Chuck A. Spear’s Pernicious Minds setlist?

This was GrodsCorp’s most contentious poll ever with about 200 comments generated over two threads arguing about The Beatles‘ music and their legacy. But stats is stats and GrodsReaders have overwhelmingly declared that The Beatles are hot.

Click on the cover for the music.

Welcome to Flavour Country.

It’s a big country.

And don’t forget to visit 100% accurate http://www.iainhall.com.

A debate (of sorts, because yelling “YOU’RE SHIT!” at each other isn’t a debate) has been raging in another comment thread about The Beatles. It all started when the work of Lennon/McCartney was unfavourably compared to the work of Silverchair’s Daniel Johns. So let’s set the record straight.

Poll closes COB Wednesday.

UPDATE (4.45pm): Bron has pointed out in comments that she’d like to vote ‘hot’ and ‘not’ based on old stuff/new stuff thinking. I’ve added this option to the poll for others who are facing the same conundrum.

Teachers love to think that their students think they’re cool. Students love to laugh at the way that their teachers think they’re cool even though they’re desperately not.

I’m usually no different, but recently I achieved true “cool” status.

We were at the Game On exhibition at Melbourne’s ACMI for an excursion last week and were wandering the public gallery after our educational session. The exhibition contains hundreds of computer games spanning the time between Pong and the Nintendo Wii. A group of my kids were playing Guitar Hero and failing miserably. They were on the easy level and could barely bash a right note; the game kept on stopping mid-song and accusing them of failure. Noting an opportunity I purposefully strode up, snatched the guitar, set the game to the hard level, and BLEW THEM AWAY with 95% accuracy. The kids just stood there, mouths agape, in absolute awe of my Guitar Hero skillz. One of them finally breathed, “how did you do that, Ed?”

Just in case you’re wondering, it is hard to be as cool as me.

Despite that fact that GrodsCorp has Australia’s most popular podcast that starts with ‘G’ and has nine letters in its name I’m not a regular podcast consumer — but I want that to change. Can anybody suggest podcasts (preferably Australian, although international is fine) that are worth listening to? I’m after stuff that’s funny and not commercial.

In this episode The Editor, John Surname, Prophet, Jeremy Sear and Craig discuss the following:

* Kardboard Kevin
* MX
* Bike riding
* Tennis grunting
* Immature international cricketers
* World Cup 2018
* Melbourne F1 Grand Prix
* The Oscars
* Much, much more

** For some reason Episode 4 seems to play when you click “play now” instead of Episode 5. I’m looking into this error — probably something to do with the cache. For now, click on “play in popup” to make sure you hear the latest episode **

 GrodsCast RSS feed

 

 GrodsCast 5 [31:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

There you have it — the only thing anyone in their right mind could possibly find amusing about Rove, and I’ve blown it.

On the plus side, I may have just saved you $44.90.

Anyone who pays money to see Rove McManus do stand-up at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival — presumably because they feel they don’t already see enough of him — wouldn’t know funny if it tickled them with an Ossie Ostrich arse-feather jammed into the business end of a Fleshlight.

There, I said it.

Opposition “leader”, Brendan Nelson, has given a long and sick-inducing interview to The Age about his love for motorcycles and guitars. He gives us a hint about his musical taste (or lack thereof).

“I like all kinds of music (except) rap or hip-hop,” Nelson says. “I’ve been working through Rolling Stones covers, Pink Floyd, I’m a Slim Dusty tragic … At the moment I’m learning (Bon Jovi’s) It’s My Life.”

So over to you, GrodsReaders. When Nelson has finished learning the shitty chords to shitty Bon Jovi’s shitty It’s My Life what should he learn next?

I’ve taken to singing to my 12-week-old son this past month, and it’s led to a realisation all adults have sooner or later: the youth of today have musical taste up their arse.

Here are the last three songs I sang him:

1. Beyond the sea by Bobby Darin

Reaction: Apathy

2. Good day sunshine by The Beatles

Reaction: Indifference

3. I’ve been thinking about you by London Beat

Reaction: LOST HIS FUCKING MIND

Shi-pow-pow.

Due to a terrible clash of events I have no option but to sell my ticket to Daft Punk at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Thursday night (13 December). So at the risk of turning this site into GrodsBay I’m putting the call out for interested buyers. Awesome seat in row J which is ten rows from the stage in the front stalls. No price markup, just cost: $129. Awesome value for money if you consider the lineup:

NEVER EVER LAND is a utopian dreamland: a one day live show and party from tomorrow that features magical music from a seemingly faraway place, conveniently packaged and delivered to you at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl to kick start the summer.

Accompanying the seminal daft robots is a line up that has been hand picked from around the world including:
* The Presets
* SebastiAn and Kavinsky
* Muscles
* The Bang Gang Deejays

And check out the Daft Punk pyramid-of-death.

Interested? Email me at grodscorp (at) grods (dot) com.