21st Century Britain: A Nation Hungry For Answers

Many families across the UK will have finished their Christmas shopping this week, spending big bucks for no reason (I still find it hard to believe that because Jesus was born, I deserve £300 worth of stuff). However, there will also be families who haven't got their Christmas presents yet.

These people aren't usually leaving it until the last minute, they simply don't have money to buy gifts because surviving is more important. This has led many skint citizens of Britain visiting foodbanks this Christmas to get through the turbulent times of the Winter season.

Yesterday, there was a debate in Parliament about food banks and poverty in the UK in which Labour's appeal to reduce dependency on food banks was defeated by 43 votes. From watching it and reading multiple articles, I realised I am not the only one who is absolutely appalled by this.

Lets think from a non-biased point of view here. Who can honestly say that they think that human beings should have to use food banks? It's demeaning, it's embarrassing, it lowers your reputation and destroys your dignity.

Now, back to politics. According to shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle, 500,000 people in the UK - a third of them being children - have relied on food banks in the past eight months. That is almost 1% of the population. If you live in a town of 40,000 people, around 300-350 people will have relied on one. Put this into figures for London, a city of 8.1m and you have over 80,000 people relying on food banks. Sickening figures.

Yet with these sickening figures, you have greedy politicians. Iain Duncan Smith is shown above giggling during the debate and when called upon to answer questions, he moved the responsibility to his deputy Esther McVey, before leaving early. McVey's speech has been called one of the most disgusting and Labour's Gerald Kaufman described it as the "nastiest" speech he had heard in his 43 years as an MP.

Although most Tories sniggered and snorted at the thought of an alternative, credit has to be given to Conservative MP Laura Sandys who said "Food banks are not the answer. They must be seen as a transitional support mechanism for families in stress at particular moments." Perhaps there is a trace of humanity in the party after all.

What would my solution be? To first of all create jobs so that we don't have a problem with income; then offer support to families who are struggling at this time of year; and finally, to grab energy companies by the balls to make the winter season easier to survive in. Last year my house suffered from no heat for three months and no one done anything useful about it. Kettle baths and extra blankets weren't a fun experience. So I can imagine how people who can't afford to turn their heating on must feel. The only reason I feel that I can live with the heating on is because Scotland isn't as badly hit as the rest of the UK. 

So, if you have time, go down to your local food bank, help out. Volunteer or deliver goods. If you are reading this and think all hope is lost, don't think like that. It can hardly get worse than it already is.

It's Not All Bad...:Holidays Being Well Spent

Since I decided to get a 30 day free trial with LoveFilm yesterday, I've been cramming every minute I have watching films from the "To Do List". I've watched sci-fi action film Looper and comedy 30 Minutes or Less. Looper was brilliant, fun and a good take on a dystopian world. 30 Minutes or Less was less impressive and although some scenes were hilarious, there were some that were quite cheesy. However, I have watched a film (twice now today) which has to go down as one of my favourite films and probably my favourite coming-of-age film. I'm talking about The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

This film is evidence that life is worth living. It's basically a film about misfit freshman Charlie who befriends a boy called Patrick in his craftshop class and his step sister Sam. He is accepted into their social circle and faces many problems along the way, including his never-ending love battle as he loves his best friend, Sam. The film deals with many issues which could possibly fling a film for being such huge issues to tackle in a film, yet it's perfect. The music in the film is incredible, with the main characters growing up in the early 90's (as they don't even mention Nirvana) listening to The Smiths and Nick Drake. Of course, there is also the "Tunnel Song" which they later figure out is David Bowie's "Heroes". Music brings Sam and Charlie closer together, which is such a huge factor. 

Then there are more important issues: without giving much away the film deals with mental trauma, sex abuse, sexuality problems, suicide, death of a lost one, bullying, loneliness, drugs and love. Yet, with all these things happening, the honesty of this film works. There's no far fetched scenes and others make you smile uncontrollably. 

This film is for losers. If you have ever felt like you are on the outside looking in, feeling like you don't belong, feeling depressed - get this film. Before watching this, I was pretty much in a downer for two days, just feeling shitty about life in general. Then I watched this and it gave me hope. It made me feel like I wasn't the only one who sometimes felt left out. 

However, the pinnacle of this film is the quotes. They are life quotes. My favourite being "But even if we don't have the power to choose where we come from, we can still choose where we go from there."

So, today I will go to bed knowing that my life feels that much better from watching a film. The film ends on a beautiful quote which will stick in my mind for the rest of my life.

"We are infinite".

What Music Culture?: Are the Newgen a good gen?

"Remember when rock was popular and actually good?"
"Who do we have nowadays that are anything near as good as The Rolling Stones and The Beatles?"
"Music is dead."

All three of these statements have their faults: they are the words of the ignorant. The kind of people that wish that they grew up in 1960s.

Except there are no iPods, the internet is the webbing in swimming shorts and you wouldn't be able to read this blog - you lucky bastards. Adding to that is the lack of civil rights back then. Oh, so you are gay and you want to live in the 60s just to grow up listening to the Stones? You are an ethnic minority likely to grow up in a world of hate and segregation, but you want to be part of Beatlemania?

Grow up guys. The 21st century isn't all bad.

So getting back to my main point, the opening statements are complete bull and I'll tell you why.

Tackling the first sentence, yes rock music was popular and was incredible back in the day, however, why is this statement wrong? It may not be a popular genre - in terms of charts - however, the quality has not dropped.

You still have so many artists who are fantastic, yet they are ignored by many; thrown onto the scrapheap because they simply can't make a living. Take London band Tribes who recently split. Fair enough, their second album was disappointing, but their debut was a great listen, yet, only two people I know, know of the band. First lesson is to give all sorts of music a chance before labelling it "crap". Arguably, the best music you hear these days involves a little searching.

The second sentence, how can we compare The Rolling Stones and The Beatles to say, Arctic Monkeys or Muse? It's ridiculous.

The Rolling Stones and The Beatles were pioneers. They were the first to do something very obvious and since the 2000s I can only think of one genre of music that has emerged as new and that is dubstep. Everyone always thinks first is best, but sometimes the progress of music is better. I honestly think that The Clash were a million times better than The Sex Pistols, yet the Pistols were the first to really popularise punk music. Arctic Monkeys and Muse have both pushed the barriers moving into hip-hop and dubstep-influenced rock.

In saying that, Kanye West has the potential (if not already is) the greatest hip-hop artist of all time. Before I get smacked in the face with Biggie Smalls' lyrics or threatened with a Tupac chorus, think about it. Did Biggie or Tupac completely change hip-hop multiple times the way Yeezy is today?

Of course not.

Artists such as Frank Ocean, Drake, Chance the Rapper and The Weeknd all owe so much to Kanye due to his change in hip-hop in his album "808's and Heartbreaks". This popularised slow hip-hop and has only grown since Ocean's debut "channel ORANGE". Recently West has also been the first to mix heavy electro beats and tribal music into his album "Yeezus" which is a confusing album, yet it's a work of art.

So again, don't think that everything is rubbish just because it is modern. Music is ever-growing and we have to give everyone a chance.

And finally "Music Is Dead". No it is not.

People became very familiar with this phrase from the day that crap music dominated the charts (see 80s onwards). However, is it really?

You would have to be an idiot to say yes.

Although, the critically acclaimed are usually kept underground and anonymous to most, doesn't mean that you can't still see them live; buy their albums; or sing their songs. Only when these artists no longer exist, will there be an argument that music is dead. The newgen are hugely exciting.

In the past few years we have had many bands and artists breaking through: Miles Kane, Haim, Peace, Palma Violets, Django Django, The Vaccines, Two Door Cinema Club, Merchandise, Earl Sweatshirt, Parquet Courts, Swim Deep, Chvrches, Iceage, Disclosure, Jagwar Ma, Drenge, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky, Radkey, Baby Strange, The Orwells, King Krule, Lorde, Jake Bugg, Spector...to name a few.

He have already seen the likes of Haim, Lorde and The Vaccines becoming big on the radio and around the UK and the other bands mentioned have great potential. I would say that music is, if anything, stronger these days because you can find it anywhere and you can become noticed easy. So, yes I would say that the newgen are indeed, a good gen. There's nothing better than finding as many influences in music as you can, and these new kids can use that to their advantage.

Have I missed any new bands/artists that you feel have done well in the last few years? Do you agree with me on the three statements? Leave a comment and tell me your thoughts.

21st Century Britain: The Dark Secrets of Ian Watkins

How often do you see your favourite frontmen on a personal level?

The answer is usually never.

They can look like they enjoy themselves, when really they are suicidal, like Kurt Cobain. They can seem really and nice, but turn out to be a knob, like Damon Albarn. Or, they have a twisted dark side. Much like former-Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins.

Last year it was revealed that the Welshman had been charged with numerous child sex offences, shocking pretty much anyone who knew of his band. Unfortunately, the band ceased to exist after these allegations.

Lostprophets announced in October after a lengthy hiatus that they were officially over after 15 years as a band, a sad time especially when they really had no choice. Quit now or continue as the band that used to be fronted by a child abuser?

Yesterday, Ian Watkins pleaded guilty to 11 acts of child abuse, which grotesquely included raping a baby. In court it showed Watkins appearing to Skype fans with young children and telling them to abuse them. Watkins even discussed with one of the women about blowing crystal meth smoke in her infant's face. Jesse Pinkman would not approve.

However, I discovered today that an ex-girlfriend of Watkins had already complained to the police after Watkins frequently confessed to being a paedophile. These accusations were dismissed as there was not sufficient evidence, which is fair enough.

Then, I came across an article in the Independent. It mentioned that Watkins uploaded videos of him featuring in child pornography on illegal porn sites. Fans of Watkins - after seeing indecent images on his computer - also reported him to the police. Now at this point, it goes by "angry stalker" and becomes serious. Several accusations and not even a search from the police raises some questions when an innocent football fan - Rangers fan in the Manchester riots of 2008 - can be singled out and beaten to a pulp on assumption, yet the police don't react on assumption in a case that is a more serious matter than drunken fighting.

If accusations like that weren't enough then you would think that the video for their 2008 single "A Town Called Hypocrisy" wasn't an additional clue that something wasn't right. The video consists Watkins being a children's TV show presenter before getting drunk and mental in an after party. There's something very creepy about the video and as allegations first came about around that time, I am sure that they could have possibly suspected something.

But like Savile, Glitter and Harris before him; he got away with it for a while before being brought to justice. However, that is at least five years where he was freely allowed to abuse children as he pleased and delve into the darkest, vilest corners of pornography. There has to be a tighter grip on these sort of accusations, but also, you have to respect privacy to a certain extent. Hopefully this kickstarts an improvement in the police force.

To wrap up, I was shocked by this news. Loved a few Lostprophets songs (who didn't like Rooftops?) and at one point I was naive enough to think he was really cool. It's a shame for the other five band members who have pretty much lost their career and my sympathy goes out to them. As for Watkins after reading all the disturbing stories of his personal life, I cannot describe my hatred for him, but yet, a little part of me has died. I hope Watkins is the last of these "celeb paedos" because it starts to ruin everything that you believe in as a teenager, idolising these "role models".

Sadly, I find it hard to believe this will be the last.

Follow me on Twitter: @ML0g

Sportman: Drivers Without Sponsors? F Off!

So it is this time of year where I die a little in side - Formula One hibernates for another four months.

Yes, I the left-wing teen who hates big money invading sport, loves the biggest motorsport in the world.

In this time, the 11 teams confirmed for next year will change their cars to fit new regulations for the 2014 season. However, there is something more important that is changing this season - the drivers.

Formula One in the past few years has become a sport of politics and who has the biggest buck, rather than who deserves a seat. We have had a breath of fresh air/worrying swarm of young drivers coming through the sport and making me feel old.

There are three rookie drivers who will start on the grid, with more to be announced. These kids are: Daniil Kvyat (19, Toro Rosso), Kevin Magnussen (21, McLaren) and Sergey Sirotkin (Sauber and he is 10 days younger than me).

Of course, some of you will be asking me, "Are you telling me that you are angry that young drivers are on the grid?"

Well, I wouldn't say angry, more frustrated.

The fact is, that these boys - despite their racing talent - will be chosen because they are worth vital money to the team, take a look at some of the previous rookies:

Pastor Maldonado

Venezuelan driver, soon to be ex-Williams, has developed a reputation for being quite aggressive and clumsy. Won the Spanish Grand Prix in 2012.

 Sergio Perez

Also replaced. Showed promising signs in his debut year at Sauber, before being snapped up by McLaren. Still trying to find a seat for next year.

Esteban Gutierrez

Newbie who has had a competent year, but obviously replaced Kobayashi due to his sponsorship.

This has left some very talented drivers leaving F1. Heikki Kovaleinen was gutted when asked about a seat at the end of 2012, stating that sponsors ruin chances for good drivers. Kamui Kobayashi - one of the most exciting race drivers of 2011 and 2012 - also lost his drive for Sauber in favour of Esteban Gutierrez. They also join a list of Nico Hulkenberg, Pastor Maldonado (ironically), Paul Di Resta, Sergio Perez (also ironically) and Adrian Sutil.

This spells danger for Di Resta and Sutil as both drivers do not have an oil-rig named after them or came out the womb to be sponsored by Telemex.

I know that karting has never been a hobby for the working-class, but they are certainly distancing the sport from the poorer folk. Why would I want to watch drivers who are only in the sport because of millionaires? And who can even say for certain if we will be able to watch this sport for free in the future?

Can drivers make it into Formula One without sponsorship these days? Yes, but it will take some talent. The best way to get into F1 these days is through Toro Rosso's youth system, but even at that, it's a slim chance.

Surely there will be an uproar about skint drivers losing out on opportunities? Probably, but Bernie Ecclestone won't change anything. The more money, the better.

Apparently.

Leave comments below and tell me your opinion about the state of Formula One financially.

Do you think that sponsored drivers are just as good as those who do not receive funding?

Who do you think is the best driver to receive mass funding?

For updates, follow me on Twitter: @ML0g

What Music Culture?: Have Arctic Monkeys Stamped Their Authority?

If I rewind just two years ago, back to November 2011, I went to see my favourite band for the first time. The strange thing was, as a 16 year old boy, I never felt passionately about a band, even my favourite one. When I came out of the SECC that night, I was so happy, but at the same time, I felt that there was something missing. Now I know what was missing - personality.

If you haven't gathered by now, the band I went to see was Arctic Monkeys. The support act were The Vaccines - my second favourite band - and yet at the end I thought that The Vaccines done themselves justice, whilst Monkeys were a bit boring. Turner cracked a couple of jokes, the concert had some musical highlights, but would I have called Turner an icon in November 2011?

No.

Would I on the 21st of November 2013?

Definitely.

In November 2011, Arctic Monkeys had hardly put a foot wrong in their career, but they were a band like Kasabian or The Killers - lacking something extraordinary. Kasabian's front man Tom Meighan is constantly overshadowed by his guitarist Serge Pizzorno; whilst The Killers are destructive, with no real group chemistry, as this year has shown.

They all got on and despite losing Andy Nicholson in 2006 - who was replaced by Nick O'Malley - they played like they were their usual selves. However, when they were on stage, it wasn't like watching The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles...it was like watching a good - not great - indie rock band.

It all changed after that.

First came the release of the single R U Mine? which rocked the socks off fans. Nothing had ever sounded this hard, with the closest being the likes of Crying Lightning and Don't Sit Down 'Cause I Moved Your Chair. This started rumours of a heavier fifth album, but only time would tell.

Then came the Olympics Opening Ceremony. The quartet played a cover of The Beatles' Come Together and I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor, looking like a band on the up. Then, there was silence for almost a year.

Where did they go? Well they were busy recording in the LA desert and thanks to Matt Helders' mum (Mrs Helders) we discovered that they were making their fifth album.

In the spring of 2013, we were treated to the single "Do I Wanna Know?". A rifftastic song, with falsettos and a more rock sound than their previous albums. Didn't I mention that in July they would also play Glastonbury? Yeah, that was something else.

Alex Turner came out at Glastonbury looking like a man possessed. There was something strange about him. My family thought he had taken a line before coming out and so did I.

He was eccentric, witty, ostentatious and owned the stage. He held the crowd in his hand, even taking the piss out of Coldplay ("look at the stars" *crowd starts to sing* "Nah I'm jokin pipe down"). It just wasn't normal. He had finally developed as a front man, but as a doubting Thomas I wouldn't believe that until I seen it myself.

The album AM was sex-fuelled, it was different from anything they had done before. They had heavy rock, disco, ballads, hip-hop and indie rock on that album and it worked! Lyrically, Turner was as good as he has always been and the mainstream lovers even started following the Sheffield boys.

Then, there was last night. Although I couldn't participate in standing due to the rapid sell-out (less than a minute in Glasgow, appropriately put on sale right after that Glastonbury performance) I had a view from above which is arguably just as good. I got to see how buzzed the crowd were, how the songs affected them and I got to see the actions of all the band members. The Space Choirboys (Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders falsetto "duo") were great, Cook was a machine on guitar, but played with little effort and Turner was dancing around the stage like a modern-day Mick Jagger. It was something of magic - a real team effort.

Picture is credited to the amazing photographer, Emma Quinn (she threatened to sue me)

Which finally gets to my point, have they stamped their authority on the music industry today? Of course they have and I would go a step further in saying that they are the best British band of the 21st century. Only a couple can come close to them - The Libertines, Coldplay and Muse. The Libertines were like Nirvana, a band who tragically ended abruptly; Coldplay haven't been a consistent band and they bend over for pop; and finally Muse are close, but yet, what was the album Resistance all about? They, like Coldplay are inconsistent, but they are no sell-outs.

As for 21st century bands around the world? They have arguably tore The Strokes who despite their genius sound, like The Killers, have personal problems getting in the way.

Some people would even say that Arctic Monkeys are the best British band of the past 20 years. What do I say? Pretty damn close. Two years ago, I would have dismissed Arctic Monkeys being compared to Blur or Oasis, however, what have they not got that these two bands had? Exactly.

Even if Arctic Monkeys do an MGMT (see Congratulations) and make an album that they love, but many hate, they have already cemented their position in the history books of the 2000s and 2010s.

Leave comments below and tell me if you think that they have earned their place in the music history books. Do you think they deserve to be in the same sentence as the likes of Oasis and Blur?

Who do you think is the greatest (British) band of the 21st century?

Follow me on Twitter for updates: @ML0g

Wee Introduction

So...I'm starting a new blog here called "Modern Life Is Rubbish". Yes, I took inspiration from Blur.

Bit of background on me...my name is Michael, I am a Multimedia Journalism student at Glasgow Caledonian University (Caley), I'm 18 and I'd like to work in sport or music journalism when I graduate.

Anyway, my blog is going to be mainly (not all the time) moaning about things in the news. This might make me look like a pessimistic bastard, but it is better to moan here than moan at everyone in my house.

The areas that you will find on my blog are:

What In the World?

This section will be dedicated to my selected piece of world news of the week in which I will express my opinion.

21st Century Britain

I will discuss the biggest news of the week, usually political.

What Music Culture?

I will be moping about pop music and giving readers new artists to listen to.

Sportman

Big drug scandal in Athletics? Footballers being paid too much? I'll put my view on it.

It's Not All Bad...

This is the part where I don't moan! I'll bring you some of the nice news of the week, either heart-warming or hilarious.

I am planning to have 5 days for the 5 areas that I plan to write on. Until then, stay tuned by following me on Twitter: @ML0g