Boomslang

I spent just about every waking hour of this past weekend working on the biggest story I have been a part of since joining the Kernel staff last year. I have been incredibly busy this week, but wish I could have postedabout the even closer to when it happened. I could re-tell the story here, but I will just post my column, one with a stylistic edge to it that I hadn't tried before.

My column on Lecington's Boomslang music festival.

To see the full Double Truck and actual page, click here and turn to page 5

Amping it up

As the school year progresses and the Kentucky Kernel is back in full swing, I am finally starting to see the resources I have at my fingertips as an editor for the paper. I've decided to make it my goal to amp up the content in our Features section. Last year we refocused our mission to stay focused on local bands due to the regurgitation of national news. While I agree with this goal, I believe I've come up with a solution that would allow us to continue incorporating national acts. The answer: grow a pair and start pursuing the national acts. I've already begun my work to try and bridge the gap. We've interviewed Tucker Maxx about his upcoming movie, "I Hope they Serve Beer in Hell." Just yesterday I confirmed an interview with Sister Hazel. I have interviews with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Breaking Benjamin, Train and Three Days Grace in the works, all regarding their forthcoming albums. I hope these larger pursuits greatly adds to the Kernel's content, and I do believe that it will. I'll be interested to see how things develop.

Most important post (to me at least) I've done in a long time

As an editor for UK's independent student run paper, I find myself extremely short on personal time this semester. But I like it. I feel like I'm contributing to something bigger than myself, something worth while. The paper has won the Pacemaker Award for excellence in college newspapers multiple times in the past few years and I look to become a part of the tradition. However the changing landscape of journalism is beginning to show me that blogs are beginning to gain immense amounts of power due to their ability to unleash information directly to the reader without censorship. This is a great ability, however it comes with its disadvantages, particularly the fact that no one is verifying whether or not the information they contain is true. It is this lone fact that leads me to hope there will always be a place for the written word; a place for journalists to maintain their positions as "Guardians of Truth" and deliver information without bias. I realize that party divisions have led multiple outlets to lean one way or another, but this isn't necessarily terrible so long as the two keep one another in check. The most important thing is that when it comes down to raw information, speed is nice, but accuracy is essential.

The Kernel may not be the New York Times, but these are the qualities we hope to embrace. Being a part of a college daily paper has been a trying experience, but I feel it is starting to show me the true meaning of journalism. I'm learning what is newsworthy, what readers want to know, and what makes a paper function on a daily basis.

Newspapers aren't dying, they're merely changing. Embracing multimedia is essential at this day in age. Video, slideshows, pictures, audio. They all are just as important as the story itself. Online should supplement news, not replace it. That is exactly what the Kentucky Kernel looks to do. We strive to have multimedia for at least one story per day, if not more. We look to share as much information as possible in an effort to compete with the local paper. And we do. The Kernel recieves advertising daily, and we are lucky enough to have people compete for space in our paper. Averaging in at 8 pages a day, we are a force to be reckoned with on campus, a fact that people have personally acknowledged and thanked me for. The Kernel played a key role in keeping the library open 24 hours a day, when it wanted to close at midnight every night. The Kernel played an enormous role in encouraging UK to lessen its carbon footprint. The Kernel called out President Lee Todd when he asked teachers to be team players and live with their bonuses when the school was under the pressure of enormous budget cuts, and he turned around and accepted his $500,000 bonus. No task is too big to take on for this publication, and that is something I am proud of.

I'm involved with the entertainment side of the Kernel, not that I don't contribute ideas to news (I in fact gave them the idea to run a story about UK citing mopeds who park on campus, which is now giving the UK security a lot of pressure due to the response the article recieved) but my heart lies in writing about the arts. As the Assistant Features Editor, training to be Features Editor this winter, we have organized interviews with multiple national personalities. Via twitter, I got one of our writers an interview with Tucker Maxx. I have personally interviewed Zoey Deschanel, Vampire Weekend, All Time Low, the founder of the MTV Woody awards and many more. These are all experiences that have been completely mind blowing for me. I am doing what I set out to do (albeit not exactly at the caliber I'd like but I'm trying).

My internship with CityBeat taught me so many things I didn't know, but my thirst for knowledge on the topic is insatiable. I have been offered an internship for NBC this summer in New York City, and I think I'll take it, unless I get the coveted internship at the place I set out to work for in the first place: Rolling Stone Magazine. My inspiration, Cameron Crowe, began his career there and what better place to start than at the premier music magazine in the country (No I wasn't inspired by Almost Famous. I did love the movie though). People can spew their displeasure at its tendency to mainstream, but I could care less. I like what the magazine has stood for, and I hope I always will.

I'm sure most of you have given up on this extensive post by now, but you haven't, thank you for giving a shit. This means a lot to me. I didn't know what I wanted to do until months before heading to college, but once it hit me, there was no turning back. I want to be a music journalist, and I'm proud of the strides I've taken so far. The support of the people around me has meant a lot, and its something I wont soon forget. There are others that I wish would be more supportive, but I'm not giving up on trying to change their minds. Sure I'd like to hear more from some of the closest people to me, and maybe soon enough I will. Hopefully my writing will win them over. Some discourage me because of the money, but it isn't about that. My response has always been the same "I'd rather make $50,000 doing something I love than make $500,000 doing something I hate." I'd be lucky to make $50,000, but that isn't the point. This is my passion, and if it means living in a box, so be it. All I need is my pen and my paper.


For those interested go to The Kentucky Kernel Website

Some of my work so far this semester:

One regarding the re-opening of a bar in Lexington

A review of a good Cincinnati-based band called Elmwood

One covering the "Bak 2 Skool Bash"

A review of Skillet's Awake

First article for CityBeat

As I mentioned earlier on, I was fortunate enough to land an internship with CityBeat this summer. I have been writing a few articles for their "ToDo" section and this past week was given the opportunity to write my first full length story.

Click here to read my column on HBO's Hard Knocks

Who said a post has to be about something?

I've come to the realization that I need to write more. Not literally write posts more frequently, but rather put more of me into them. Yeah, its cool to compile current events and web gems and share them with readers, but what's the point of simply regurgitating information? I want to inject a little more "me" whenever possible. I want the injection of "me" into writing to be my career, so if that isn't reason enough I'm not sure what is.

So I'd like to start using this forum to keep my skills sharp. Not that I'm suggesting my writing is or ever has been sharp, but I guess I'm just saying I don't want it to worsen.

I envy writers who have such a strong voice that their audience can blindly read a sentence of their work and instantly know who the author was. Chuck Klosterman's Twitter is the perfect example. I was reading it earlier this week and the post simply said: "Kobe is like Yngwie Malmsteen; yeah he's good but I don't have to like him." For one, it mentions both music and basketball; two things of which Klosterman is known to be a fan. Secondly, the analogy and humor is so characteristically him. Sure, if you were simply handed a note with that phrase on it, you may not be 100% sure who the author may have been, but if you are at all familiar with him or his work it'd be hard not to notice the similarities. I digress.

This feels good; theraputic almost. I don't have any deep thoughts to share, or experiences to mention, or YouTube clips of post-anesthetized 5 year olds to introduce. Maybe its just the cacophony of keystrokes or the simple fact I'm writing that has me so relaxed right now. This post is trivial, but its working. This is what I have been missing.

CityBeat

So after my last 10 posts pertaining to UK Basketball, I decided its time to get back to normal here on The Ktulu and fortunately there is plenty of reason to update.

I was fortunate enough to land one of eight internships at CityBeat and after 2 full days of work it has been a great experience. The daily routine can be a tad mind numbing at times, doing things like entering the dining guide information onto the web site or fact checking numbers and dates for venues.

As the semester goes on each intern will be given the opportunity to write a full feature and increasingly dedicate more and more time to the "To Do" section.

I love the atmosphere, I love what the magazine stands for, and I love how its done. I am glad to be a part of it.

FM Static Dear Diary

If you haven't heard of them, it's about time. I'll be the first to admit they are nothing ground breaking, but if you want your CD of feel-good, up-beat summer anthems, here it is.

My review for the Kentucky Kernel:

FM Static-"Dear Diary" Review

By Matt Murray

Tooth & Nail Records is becoming a haven for underappreciated bands, and the release of FM Static’s “Dear Diary” only confirms the argument.

FM Static, side project of Thousand Foot Krutch’s Trevor McNevan and Steve Augustine, has been redefining the pop/rock genre since 2003.

Gone are the nasally vocals that pervade many of today’s pop-rock groups. McNevan’s voice has a thick, rich quality that gives FM Static’s poppy refrains a full sound. Aside from his vocal range, his writing helps to set FM Static apart from its peers as well. McNevan walks a very fine line, finding a way to expresses a complete spectrum of emotions without ever letting FM Static lose their positive edge. Every song has a very up-beat feel from start to finish.

The concept album is based around the idea that each song is an entry in the diary of a teenager preparing to go off to college. Each song wrestles with different events and conflicts that many teens wrestle with, ranging from dating to religion.

The album’s opening track, “Boy Moves to a New Town with an Optimistic Outlook,” starts the album off on the right foot. The album’s protagonist has just moved into his new house at the start of his senior year of high school, and is exploring the realm of emotions that come along with that. Ultimately he decides that indifference is not an option as he sings, “I’m on a long journey through mountains of apathy and I’m not afraid to walk through.”

One of the album’s brightest spots is the duet between McNevan and Superchick’s Tricia Brock on the song “The Voyage of Beliefs.” The song follows the unnamed protagonist through his contemplation of his belief system. He wonders whether he truly believes in his religion or if he is just following in his family’s footsteps as he declares “I’m tired of making excuses. I need to decide for myself.” Brock  plays his female counterpart, as she ponders the same dilemma. Her voice is the perfect complement to McNevan’s fast paced hooks, and the result is ideal.

FM Static may become the launching pad for their underappreciated label as “Dear Diary” is a great listen from start to finish, and is an album everyone needs to add to their collection. But when you pick it up, prepare for your head to hurt a little, because there are going to be too many hooks stuck in there for your brain to process. ..But trust me, it’s a good thing.

Key Tracks: Boy Moves to a New Town with an Optimistic Outlook, The Voyage of Beliefs, Take Me as I Am

The Watchmen

Never before have I seen a movie get itself in so deep. The Watchmen road the rails of its own hype and just couldn't deliver. It definitely had its moments, but after Snyder made the magic that is 300, the Watchmen paled in comparison. The climax was flat, and the film moved far too slow.

My review for the Kentucky Kernel:

As the clock neared midnight last Friday, the lobby in Lexington Movie Tavern was completely full. The man taking tickets was dressed in a Dick Tracy-esque trench coat and fedora hat, capped off with a mask covered in randomly splattered ink, not unlike a Jackson Pollock painting. Customers were being turned away as every midnight showing was sold out. What brought all of this buzz to a local theater on a Thursday night?- the premier of Zach Snyder’s latest graphic novel interpretation, The Watchmen.

While it’s clear that film certainly delivered its share of hype, the more important thing to consider is whether or not the movie lived up to its billing.

If you go into the film expecting a light plot, and constant high-octane action, you will be sorely disappointed. The film’s plot uses every second of the movie’s three hour run-time to unfold itself. Yes, the film has its share of visually stunning action sequences; however the action simply serves as a compliment to the plot, rather than the plot simply being an excuse to move from one action sequence to another.

Once the audience realizes they aren’t in for a mindless thrill ride, they are able to see that the plot is very well done. The Watchmen is a breath of fresh air with respect to its story in an age where monotonous superhero movies are a dime a dozen.

The differing characters and their contrasting personalities is another area where the Watchmen shines. Each character’s attributes and they way they clash with one another, lends a unique blend of comedy, action and tragedy to the film. Rorschach is a character that deserves particular attention because despite his ruthless behavior, there is a sense of compassion and rawness that allows the audience to root for his barbaric tendencies.

While the Watchmen has its bright spots, it is far from flawless. The film opens with an eye-candy fight sequence that has you on the edge of your seat from the get-go. The problem is that the movie can’t keep you there. It seems that the moment the film has you thirsting for more, it lulls and leaves you feeling unsatisfied.

Unfortunately, this sense of  lacking fulfillment doesn’t merely apply to a handful of scenes, but to the movie as a whole. The audience spends 3 hours becoming invested in the lives of these characters and their motives. As a result they are itching to see an explosive climax where everything is resolved and all of their questions are answered. The problem is that this moment never comes.

The Watchmen is just as visually progressive as anyone could have imagined. The problem is that the filmmakers didn’t take advantage of their capabilities, and an ultimately flat climax makes the movie feel a bit hollow despite its countless positive components. It would be unfair to call this film a complete waste of time, but it isn’t one I would recommend going out of your way to see. 

A few articles since I last wrote.

One on the RIAA's new approach to stop illegal downloading

Another a review of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' new album "Lonely Road"

A couple works I've fallen behind on posting.

This semester the Kentucky Kernel offered me a position writing weekly columns. After two weeks, here are the stories that have been run by me so far. 

The first is a look at the incorporation autotune in modern music

The second if my first time writing for the Kernel something other than music. In this case, a review of My Bloody Valentine 3D

Heartless Bastards

My latest column in the Kentucky Kernel: A little gem from Dayton

Return of The Killers

My Kentucky Kernel review of the Killers

This one is definitely worth checking out. It may not be for everyone, but it is definitely for someone.

Latest Journalistic Work...

My latest column for the Kentucky Kernel: A review of Kanye West's "808s and Heartbreaks"

Could I really get paid to do this?

Anyone who knows me relatively well at all, knows that music is a big part of my life. They also know that I have a strong desire to enter the field of Music Journalism as a career later in life. This semester opportunity struck in the form of an English teacher. I wrote a paper describing the evolution of my passion for music, leading to the ultimate decision to become a music journalist. She herself had a similar passion in college, and  wrote the music columns for the Kentucky Kernel (The University of Kentucky's daily paper). She would go on to do road production for bands such as Motley Crue and Pearl Jam, ultimately leading into a larger career in movie production (The bound journals in Will Smith's upcoming film "Seven Pounds" and the desert explosion scene in Termanator:Salvation, both her work). 

Anyway, she had enough faith in what she read that she personally escorted me to the Kernel's headquarters in the basement of the UK Journalism building and told them to consider adding me to their staff. I'll never forget her no matter how successful or unsuccessful of a journalist I become. Just having a teacher who cares enough about students to take time out of their day is a rarity these days, and it did not go unnoticed. 

I am now the Rock Columnist for the Kentucky Kernel, and in the 2 months I have been on staff I have already been fortunate enough to have written over 10 articles. In addition to writing my own pieces, the position has put me in a position to interview bands who just months ago I saw on stage at places as epic as Bonnaroo. 

To date, these are the columns I have written in chronological order:

Guitar Hero Gives Rock a Pulse in Generation of New Music

Review of Jack's Mannequin's "The Glass Passenger"

Bands to Tear Up Dame's New Location

Review of Noah and the Whale's "Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down"

Review of Mates of State's "Re-Arrange Us"

Review of AC/DC's "Black Ice"

Review of Rise Againt's "Appeal to Reason"

Review of Oasis' "Dig Out Your Soul"

Students Empowered by Woodie Awards (Includes interview with Ross Martin of mtvU)

Review of Ray LaMontagne's "Gossip in the Grain"

Q&A With Artists of the mtvU Woodie Awards (Includes interviews with Vampire Weekend, All Time Low, Santogold, She & Him) (I'm proud of this one, I got to talk to bands I love)

I think it'll be entertaining to keep all of my works logged to see if there is a growth as they progress. I certainly hope there will be. It would be fun to see. Regardless I hope this is the beginning of something great. Time will tell...