Only listened to Pop and Album of the Year because they're mostly on Spotify. Complete list of nominees over here. Might do the rest later.

Pop:
Busby Marou - I Still Don't Believe
Music by sensitive guy aimed at indie girls? The word "indie" is even in there. It's a folk-pop song. It's pleasant, and I know lots of people who are into this kind of thing.

Cub Scouts - Do You Hear
Reminds me of an Andy Bull song. Otherwise, it's not very memorable.

Kate Miller-Heidke - I'll Change Your Mind
That key change at the end automatically makes the worst song of the lot. Sorry. Not to mention that super-heavy shiny production is really not in at the moment. They could've picked a better song from the album.

The Jungle Giants - Mr Polite
Oh, I know this song! Sure is catchy. Will probably win due to being played on the radio the most. This is how these things work, right?

Halfway through the year, yay. 

Songs I like that have a chance:

• Japandroids - The House That Heaven Built
• Grimes - Oblivion
• Beach House - Other People
• Sleigh Bells - Comeback Kid
• Catcall - Satellites 
• San Cisco - Rocket Ship

Songs I like that have no chance:

• Fiona Apple - Every Single Night
• Julia Holter - Marienbad
• Liars - The Exact Colour of Doubt
• Royal Headache - Surprise (not sure if eligible)

Songs that I may vote for because I used to like the artist and they are probably going to get in anyway:

• Regina Spektor - All The Rowboats
• Lisa Mitchell - Spiritus
• Missy Higgins - Unashamed Desire

Albums not yet released that may produce something voteworthy:

• The xx - Coexist
• Animal Collective - Centipede Hz
• Muse - The 2nd Law
• Sarah Blasko - ?
• Grizzly Bear - ?
• David Byrne + St. Vincent - Love This Giant

Should I audition for a choir?

This university is similar to my high school in several ways, the most important being: everybody is Asian, everybody does science, and the music department is kind of puny and nobody seems to care for it. There is an orchestra, but oddly enough there doesn't seem to be a choir. However, there is a music club that supposedly runs a vocal group.

Last semester, only eight people turned up for the audition (as far as I know) out of the eighty-something that signed up. My friend signed up, but couldn't make it to the audition. The club said they'd set another date, but she never heard back from them. I guess they gave up from lack of interest, because I didn't hear anything either. Friend wants to try auditioning again this semester. I'm not so sure.

It all reminded me of that debacle last year. (Long, personal story.) It almost single-handedly ruined my senior year. I don't want even the slightest possibility of putting up with that kind of thing again. Negative associations, you know?

But another part of me thinks I should try, because I might be able to replace the bad associations with better ones. After all, who the hell goes through life with a hatred of choral music? Christmas is already irritating enough for me.

This week in music: this and one prominent response. Now there's a response to that response!

I could be all, "I'm under twenty and I pay for music," but that would be as bad as "I'm a girl and I play computer games." I have nothing to contribute to this debate. Let me find something else to talk about.

Oddly enough, the majority of my acquaintances aren't torrenting music: they don't know how to do that. From what I've heard, most of their music comes from a few of their more technologically competent brothers. That, or they're using a Youtube-to-MP3 converter, which results in terrible low-res files. If I were a musician, I'd really prefer for you to be downloading V0 mp3s ripped from the CD, just so you wouldn't assume it was bad because of the shitty file quality. If you're going to pirate, do it properly, geez.


Spotify? Probably better than pirating, even if you're giving money to "evil corporations". The point is, you're showing that there's demand for an artist, making it more likely for them record and release new stuff. You're not doing that by getting stuff from "alternative sources".

I've read a bit of arguing about clapping and classical music lately. They're essentially saying that people don't like going to concerts because they're not allowed to clap between movements, or cheer at solos, etc. and that this tradition contributes to the perception that the culture around classical music is elitist. I'd never even thought of this before.

I agree that the elitism is a big deal. If you don't like someone, you're not going to try and get into something that they like. (See also: hipsters and indie rock.) In fact, I'm into contemporary classical just because the annoying classical elitists I knew didn't like it. However, not clapping isn't snobby or anything. It's common sense that you wouldn't want people to be noisy while you're trying to listen to quiet music. If you're an interested newbie, you should probably realize this.

This argument is probably happening because it's getting old to say that kids these days have no attention span. But as a young person, I seriously think that is the main reason. Who gives a crap about clapping? The issue is, people don't want to listen to something that goes for an hour. It all sounds the same to them because all of the instruments are the same. There are no lyrics to be posted on Facebook, and dynamic range isn't practical with iPods on public transport.

What will make people go to concerts? The generic answer is education, but look at Asians. That isn't working (though they are pretty great business for music teachers). I am Asian, and I can confirm that compulsory instrument lessons will not make you like music. I like the idea of free public performances. Free samples are always great. Play more than just those same snippets that everybody already knows, because that isn't going to win new fans. Okay, I just want to see things for free, can you blame me?

(For the record, my first concert was the Vienna Philharmonic playing Bruckner 4 last year. I confess that I went just so I could say that I did. There was an Asian family with a kid that fell asleep. People clapped between movements. Bloody Queenslanders.)