Profile of a Blogger: Mike

At first glance of the “Pop Trash Addicts,” the simple layout is tastefully pink. You can see for yourself right here: Pop Trash. It isn’t one of those glaring hot pinks, right? It’s more of a soft pink that I wouldn’t mind looking at for a while--even every day for that matter. I suppose that is a good feature of a blog.

This pop music-oriented blog is very sleek. It is clear that this blog is about reviewing pop music, not an exhibition of a mastery in computer code or an excuse for a deluge of pop-up windows (as is the case with some blogs I have come across). My blog will follow suit in this category—a focus on content above all.

As this is pop music, naturally it is a hot topic for discussion. I was browsing the web for other bloggers blogging in the same vein and found Mike’s blog: “Pop Trash Addicts.” Mike is obsessed with music as I am. This blog, written in Australia, has been in existence since November 2006. Posts occur every week or so, although sometimes more frequently. The audience is clearly anyone who listens to pop music. The musical eye candy in this blog is courtesy of the imbedded movie clips (often from Youtube.com) displaying the songs being discussed and also the good supply of large album cover .jpgs throughout the posts relevant to the current musical discussion. Pop Trash focuses on casual, yet detailed pop album/single track reviews and also artist/album countdowns. In fact, On December 23rd, Beyonce Knowles was named “Pop Trash Woman of the Year.” Mike writes that Beyonce

"cleaned up at every award ceremony and revolutionized the way albums are promoted with her dual singles and 'Sasha Fierce' alter ego. The pop pioneer also somehow found the time to release a remix album and a live album as well as two brilliant duets (with Lady GaGa and Alicia Keys). Like it or not - 2009 was the year of Queen B"

You can read more about Beyonce's greatness in the full post:
Woman of The Year

Furthermore, Mike displays a clear command of sarcasm, and a witty sensibility which I appreciate very much so. For example, on Thursday, January 21, Mike thoroughly reviewed each track on MTV’s Heidi Montag’s debut “pop masterpiece:"

"Never before has one reed thin voice belted out so many unforgettable anthems about topical issues like clubbing, shopping and looking hot. Heidi's music will not only make you dance - it will widen the horizons of your mind and help put you on the path to righteousness"

You can read more from this post and get your full serving of sarcasm for the week here: Heidi Montag

This blog provides insight while inducing a giggle every now and then. I definitely recommend regularly reading this blog. While my blog will be less about full album reviews, I hope to include a similar graceful mix of wit and social/musical commentary in my own blog as Mike has done.

The sub-line of the “Pop Trash Addicts” title reads: “Oh no, you didn’t.” Well, oh yes, I did. And I will. Make of that what you will.

Pay Attention!

Hello World! Welcome to this blog, a commentary on today’s popular music through the eyes (or ears, rather) of me, trisax. Why ‘trisax’? Well, I play three saxophones: the soprano sax, alto sax, and tenor sax. I also dabble in piano. I am fluent in the jazz and pop idioms on all of my instruments. I play sax in a college big band (with a focus on modern jazz), lay down the sax/keys parts in a folk rock group (we are currently in the studio working on our next album), and have a solo project focusing on electronic/indie music. Music has always been a subject that resonated with me, and a great passion of mine since I can remember. Sometimes music relaxes me. Sometimes it inspires. Sometime it gets my blood-pumping. And often music leads me to introspection. I love compiling the soundtrack to my life by the songs I listen to and helping write it through my own compositions. Currently I am pursuing this passion with a jazz studies degree. I have been exploring both the academic and creative sides of music on a daily basis. I am also working towards a Biology degree, for what it’s worth.

I’d like to give you a taste of my musical preference. Some of my favorite jazz artists include John Coltrane, Brian Blade, Vincent Herring, Bill Evans, and Joshua Redman. I highly recommend checking out the music of all of these fine musicians. As for popular music, I enjoy listening to The Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, and Owl City. I also enjoy listening to hip-hop artists if I’m in the right mood/place such as Jay-Z, Mos Def, and Lupe Fiasco. As I previously mentioned, this is only a taste of my favorite artists. While reading this blog, you will definitely gain a more complete view of my musical taste. But this isn’t all about me--I will not be limiting my discussion of popular music to the music I like. This blog is about popular music whether or not it is popular with me or not.

I love casually listening to as well as critically listening to/dissecting pop music. For clarification purposes, by ‘popular music,’ I am referring to the ‘Top 40’ songs that grace (or plague, depending on the song) the radio. I would like to share my thoughts on the current state of the popular music scene with you via this blog. I aim to provide insight into this scene from a jazz-pop musician’s/scientist’s perspective.

Among other topics, I will discuss the evolution of popular music from the 90s to today, trends in popular song lyrics and how they reflect upon societal ideals, conformity and originality within the industry, current technology being utilized in the industry today, and the future of the industry. Furthermore, I will relate the topics discussed to the music I am involved in creating.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I am looking forward to composing it throughout the coming weeks.