(Perfect Albums) The Evaporators - Ripple Rock

This album is a happy-go-lucky romp through Nardwuar the Human Serviettes skittish mind. The Evaporators rifle through 18 tracks in true punk fashion, with the average track time being just over one minute. 

The simplicity of Ripple Rock is what makes it so special, each song fits verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure, there's nothing to look into lyrically, and all song concepts are extremely day-to-day. 


However, they inhabit simplicity with such energy, ability and astonishing character. Truly, no other album I have heard is filled with such wall to wall fun.

Ripple Rock is proof that good music isn't always about tapping into the deepest thoughts and feelings, it can be as simple as saying 'I Feel Like a Fat Frustrated Fuck' or 'I Quit School' to a catchy and memorable tune.

Favourite Song: 'I Feel Like a Fat Frustrated Fuck'

The Time I Faced DOOM

Opportunities to see the super-villain rapper, MF DOOM (Daniel Dumile) are very few and far between, the dude is underground, and he likes to keep it that way. 

Though it has been announced he will don his mask and climb out of hiding to play a show on Flying Lotus' bill at Brixton Academy on May 1st. I have bought a ticket and look forward to the post-show "boy, that was worth starving for".

The show is headlined by experimental, electro producer Flying Lotus, who is joined by DOOM, Shabazz Palaces, Lapalux and KUTMAH. 

I have listened to and am aware of some of Flylo's projects and have heard good things about his live act, so will make it my goal to familiarise with more of his work before the show. I'm also a big fan of Shabazz Palaces, so it'll be nice to see them live for the first time. The other two I have never heard of and will have to size them up soon. The main pull though, is the appearance of my favourite rapper, the unrivalled DOOM.


I saw DOOM for the first time at Reading Festival in 2013, surprisingly, or unsurprisingly he played his set on the smallest stage at the festival; in the alternative tent. It was the smallest crowd I had seen the whole weekend, which made me doubt that DOOM would actually appear; being renowned for either sending an imposter in his place, or just not showing up at all.

It seemed everyone had this same thought, it had long gone past the time he was expected on stage and everyone began murmuring about how they knew he wouldn't turn up. 

These bucket hat detectives were eventually silenced however, as the background music switched off and DOOM's hype-man appeared, urging everyone to coax DOOM out. The chant "We want DOOM!" was the best everyone could do to entice the metal fist terrorist, and it worked. 

Over the PA, his deep, raspy voice met with us - "DOOM wants you!". It was happening! If this was an imposter then the guy deserves an emmy. 

Hearing his iconic voice on a record is one thing, but seeing him bring songs like 'Accordion' and 'Hoe Cakes' to life made for an action-packed 40 minutes or so, with DOOM rifling through his biggest hitters. 

I can't remember much of the show, I think I was too struck by how surreal the moment was. I had my eyes fixed on DOOM and his every move instead of paying any real attention to anything else going on.

All he had on the stage was a laptop and a hype-man; in typical DOOM style he did what he had to do and got out, seemingly without a trace. 

He didn't seem phased by the low attendance, and gave great energy to every one of his songs for those who had made the effort. 

You always have to treat a DOOM sighting as if it's the last, so I am thoroughly looking forward to May 1st, and will hopefully be less of a fan-girl this time around so I can take in every detail of the set. If he turns up that is.

Shameless Plug: /r/strong10

Some friends and I have started a sub-reddit (www.reddit.com/r/strong10) that will be a place for discussing music of the 10/10 variety, where people can come and add their views on acclaimed classics, underground gems, perfect new releases, or really any album that they believe should be awarded 10/10 status.

We want as much debate as possible so any and all additions are welcome, come and fight for a favorite album/ artist that doesn't get the credit it deserves. Even better, go pick out an album that we have shortlisted as "perfect" and bring it down from its pedestal. 

Its very early days and the page is quite bare at the moment but the more support and interest we get, the more it can grow.

SUBSCRIBE!  

 

(Perfect Albums) Classic Review: Johnny Cash - Live: At Folsom Prison

Outlaw country's rugged captain, Johnny Cash released his infamous live album 'At Folsom Prison' in May 1968 on Columbia Records - it is effectively a greatest hits from his past 26 albums that makes up a dream set list, exclusively for the convicts of Folsom Prison.

Along with his future wife and collaborator June Carter and band The Tennessee Three, Johnny plays through 19 songs, of which 5 were originally written by Cash, with the rest being covers and songs written for him.   

It was Johnny's idea to play a show inside prison walls after writing his song 'Folsom Prison Blues' in 1955 - the track that aptly kicks off the album.

The idea was delayed however, as those in charge of Johnny's material at Columbia Records didn't see fit to put a drug addled Cash in front of a rowdy convict audience. 

With a cleaning up of his act in 1968 and a desire to reach commercial success, the Man In Black was taken to play a show to hundreds of inmates inside the dining hall of California's Folsom Prison.

This one off event included two shows in one day on January 13th, 1968. The live tape recording immediately achieved commercial success in the U.S - reaching the number one spot in the country music chart, and getting as high as 15th in the national album standings. 

This was an unprecedented turn-around for Cash, having previously been shunned by just about everyone in the music industry for his unpredictability, drug abuse, and inability to keep up with the evolving industry; as new, fresh acts placed Johnny's gospel themed, country-blues into the past.

So what makes this thing a PERFECT album?  

For me, it is a perfect storm of all the mitigating circumstances and speculation that surrounded Cash at the time that raises the profile of this record into legendary status. He had to prove his relevance in the cut-throat music industry, and he pulled through with a killer live performance brimming with emotion, wit and ripe technical ability. 

Cash didn't bend over backwards to incorporate himself into the evolving scene, instead he took advantage of his branding as a rock and roll outlaw by reaching out to his fellow societal outcasts and allowing them to witness his revival. 

Johnny sets out to please and let the inmates know he is on their side with every song on this calculated set-list, right from his token introduction "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" he has the audience howling with praise and laughter through tracks like 'Cocaine Blues' that incorporate comedy to the act, with lyrical punchlines of dark proportions such as Johnny's brag: "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die".

The inmates adds to the comedy with shouts and cheers as the prisoners relate to the tales of criminality. 

It's the tightrope that Cash walks between comedy and sincerity that showcases his charm and his audience awareness on this record. As well as hanging onto every word of Johnny's lone voice in ballads of death penalties and life sentences: 'Send A Picture of Mother' and my personal favourite 'Give My Love To Rose', the crowd stamps their feet along to '25 Minutes To Go', a rib-tickling countdown to a man's hanging.  

Johnny dresses his songs with sounds and storytelling that transport his audience away from the prison walls, be it with laughter ('Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart'), or with makeshift sounds of train tracks and whistles ('Orange Blossom Special') as well as pastoral songs of freedom ('Green, Green Grass of Home').

This album would come with me onto my desert island without a doubt, I wouldn't place it in a top 10 list, but at the same time I wouldn't like to live without it. Whilst it exhibits fantastic song-writing and that is usually the key to a successful record, it takes a back seat as Johnny Cash sets the bar for what live music is all about.
    





  

Going Cold Turkey: Vegetarianism (Part III - My Children)

It's a long way off at the moment, barring a life shattering accident, but if/ when I have children, is it right that I would bring them up vegetarian? 

Since turning, it dawned on me I will probably have the responsibility of feeding tiny humans of my own one day who can't fend for themselves, so it would make sense that I try to pass on the veg baton, right? 

My choice to not eat meat would stand for even less in the grand scheme of things if I can't at least influence my offspring to make the same choice, so while I'm in charge of their morals in the early years, I would definitely make our collective living a meat free zone. 

This may seem oppressive on my part, but isn't all parenting? and of course they will be allowed to make their own mind up when the time comes, and sneak off to confirm the fables they've heard about beef burgers should they so desire. However, hopefully by then I'll have conditioned them so that they throw up or feel a sharp pain in their spine anytime they see meat.

I wouldn't make it so black and white and poison their minds with "look, you either kill innocent animals for no reason, or you don't", but I would pass on what I have learnt and what it means to me, because I trust that what I know, and what I will come to know is of worth to them.

Whilst this may want them to rebel and eat meat as if it were the forbidden fruit, I'll have done my bit. Though it's probably incredibly naive and ignorant of me to say as a non-parent, but ideally I think I would be happy for my future progeny to ignore my lessons on life if they come to not truly believe them. Even though they are just kids and, what do they know!?   

I can see the poor things now, sitting at school with chickpea sandwiches; everyone else is finishing off their mum's leftovers of last nights roast and sneering at how weird it is to never have eaten a chicken wing. 

But fuck those kids, my children of the future! Use shock and awe, threaten to put their cat on a spit and chew at its deep-fried legs, how would they feel about it then!?

I quite like these invented children of mine, I've grown so close to them over this post, they've got guts. Maybe i'll try to speed up their existence and set up a test tube experiment in my room.

What a Bunch of Snow!

Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow recently took part in an experiment to test the effects of the marijuana strain 'skunk' as part of the channel's upcoming 'Drugs Live: Cannabis on Trial' event that airs on Tuesday 3rd March.

Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyn0fDFqG3I

I use the term 'experiment' very loosely, as there is nothing at all groundbreaking or worthwhile about this test. Why measure the effects of a highly potent, hybrid strain of marijuana that mixes both physiological and psychological high's, on someone with little to no experience and an overall reluctance?? - The dude will be overwhelmed, especially the amount he is given, chances are he's gonna have a bad time, and that's exactly what they want to show.

In front of a camera crew no less, and then put inside an MRI scanner, a tight, claustrophobic space, where they look into your brain. That's wild enough without the D.R.U.G.S.

If they're so intent on it being Snow to whom they bestow the honour, make it a fair fight, give the guy a joint, a box of cereal and Netflix, and leave the science out of it.

Why this examination is cropping up is beyond me, the research is already out there for anyone who needs to know what different types of weed can/might/wont do, so what is this video bringing to the table? Maybe in the grand scheme of the event in March it will make sense... but it just seems like same old, same old.

Nothing has changed, it just seems to be the recycled message, in case parents forget: DRUGS R BAYD. That's the only demographic for this I would think, the parents. Channel 4 want them to see the dark room, the lab coats, hear the eerie music and think "Boy, if Jon Snow has reported the news in a war-zone and cant cope with these weeds, my child has no chance, thanks Channel 4!"

I'm not saying all parents will fall for this, but they are the targets; no one wants their child's soul robbed like poor old Jon Snow's, so they'll want to protect them of course, not from literal soul robbing, although this is apparently a good angle to use, but from the stigmatized effects attached to cannabis. With the parents sold, kids can then be grabbed nice and early and fed the idea that nothing but bad things will come of taking drugs.


This is simply a cautionary tale that will be grown out of, like I grew out of thinking that without good behaviour, father Christmas wouldn't sort me out with a new gaming console every year. I even used to consider that a dude with a big white beard stood in the sky and held a lightning bolt to smite me if I misbehaved, and we all know what hokum that is, right!?

Its no secret that weed has side effects, and in some cases they are bad, but too much of any substance will harm you, so its up to the individual to find out how far they want to push their bodies if they choose to partake, and accept the repercussions. Hand me a food I've never tried before because I'd heard stories about it being fermented in a container with piss, and if I were to try it, i'd probably take a nibble, not a chunk. Then maybe I'll think "hmm this is ok, maybe next time I'll eat a whole bowl". Or most likely, I'd say "this tastes like piss, no thanks". 

This is in no way a "drugs are cool, go take them" message, I don't believe drugs should be taken, nor do I believe that they shouldn't, but people should at least be given the space to make their own mind up about whether they agree with drugs or not, without this fear-mongering entering the equation. It would be heavily short-sighted for anyone to take this evidence alone, and it is our responsibility to ignore this kind of thing and do our own research for the sake of our intelligence.

So I guess just be safe out there and pray for Jon Snow, if anyone finds the skunk that took his soul, please get in contact with him. #PrayForSnow

 

Joey Bada$$ - B4.DA.$$ (Album Review)

I'm a little late to the party on this one but here's a review of Joey Bada$$' debut album 'B4.DA.$$'.

From the United States' (B)east coast, Brooklyn rapper Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott (Joey Bada$$) drops his first full-length, commercial release from record label 'Cinematic Music Group'.

On his 20th birthday (20/1/15), Joey released possibly the most eagerly awaited hip-hop record of the year, B4.DA.$$. The hype surrounding Joey has snowballed ever since his '1999' mix tape that I for one was a huge fan of, thanks to Joey's refreshingly old school flow and dogged word play. These techniques were recycled, explored and evolved by Joey on his second solo mix tape 'Summer Knights' and also within projects from his hip-hop collective 'Pro Era' (The Progressive Era).

With a heap of features under his belt and excessive touring, it was clear Joey was in the rap game to stay.

B4.DA.$$ to me is a creative extraction of all that Joey has experienced/ hopes to experience since his exposure from '1999' and the scope that Joey now finds himself looking through due to this exposure. Though the album lacks some of the '1999' charm and at times Joey's extensive and experimental flow sacrifices the clarity of his word play, what he does do is cement the hype that he created into a cohesive and concise project that showcases his mental and technical development.

                                             8/10  

There isn't a beat on this album that lags behind, despite the variety of style, from Statik Selektah's boom-bap to Chuck Strangers drum and bass endeavours on track 'Escape 120', each producer holds their own and supplies Joey with challenging and thick instrumentation for him to work around.

I found the lack of influence from his Pro Era counterparts a surprise, as although I firmly believe Joey is leaps and bounds ahead of others in the collective in terms of rap ability, I had assumed they would appear more on the album in order for Joey to use this platform to exhibit the group as a whole. However, I am grateful for this not being the case and for Joey's overall eye for detail surrounding the features that made it onto the album, especially Raury's guest verse on 'Escape 120' which is my favourite feature on the record.

Though on the whole, there are very few features from anyone on the album and Joey works alone on ten out of the fifteen tracks. After all, it is HIS album and it seems he has a lot to say. Talking mostly of how his life has changed over recent years in terms of wealth, travelling the world and how the passing of two of his close friends threw a spanner in the works during the rise of Badass. Joey's song concepts seem closer to home on this record as he now raps about his personal experiences of violence and the passing of life with first hand experience.

Joey takes a refreshing stance on how money effects a young rapper as the hook "money ain't a thing if I got it" rings throughout track 'Paper Trails'. Presumably this is Joey's way of reassuring his fans he won't sell out and "sign to no major" as he understands that while this money is life changing for him and his mother who he hopes to support, it is part of a bigger picture. Joey doesn't use his new found affluence to speak for him in this way, and instead allows his talent to speak for itself on hype tracks like 'Big Dusty', 'Christ Conscious' and 'No.99' that tell us Joey will remain hungry for as long as there's progress to be made, in these, his most hard hitting tracks yet.

It's Joeys ability to move from these brag-filled, pun-slinging dimensions into subtle, ballad type tracks like 'OCB' and heritage exploring 'Curry Chicken' and 'Belly of The Beast' that cause B4.DA.$$ to be a captivating listen and one that I have grown to thoroughly enjoy after several listens. I feel like a proud father having watched Joey grow and surpass his promise with success and critical acclaim, despite a personal worry of whether or not he could continue to live up to his own prestige.

FAVE TRACKS: Big Dusty, Christ Conscious, Escape 120, Black Beetles, OCB.

LEAST FAVE: No.99 (only for its cringeworthy video and similarly cheesy 'BADMON' hook).



 

Better Call Saul - Series 1, Episode 1 "Uno" (Review)

AMC's spin-off of critically acclaimed, nuclear bomb TV series 'Breaking Bad' aired in the US on Sunday night, and reached the UK in the early hours of monday morning, ready to be digested by creator Vince Gilligan's starving fan-base. Announced in April 2013, 'Better Call Saul' is the long awaited answer to the question 'what now?' after the climax of the Walter White tragedy left fans of the show more open mouthed than it had kept them throughout the series.

This prequel and possibly sequel series see's Bob Odenkirk take his role as slimy, slogan-slinging lawyer 'Saul Goodman' into the forefront, supposedly six years before his dealings with the infamous, meth kingpin 'Heisenberg'.

This review/ reflection of the first episode will probably assume some knowledge about people's familiarity with the story as a whole and possibly spoil some elements of the original series, so if you belong to the minority of people without their 'I've seen Breaking Bad' badge, look away now (and watch Breaking Bad, like, immediately).

As the episode begins we have our beloved Saul shown to us in an unfamiliar habitat; behind the counter of a fast food dessert restaurant called 'Cinnabon'. It becomes obvious as the hints move into place that we have joined him sometime after his escape from his life as Saul Goodman. He has been away long enough to establish the character of 'Gene', the balding fast food dessert store manager, somewhere in Nebraska. Saul is somewhat comically disguised in a bushy moustache and glasses as he clambers through his daily work routine to the tune of 'The Ink Spots- Address Unknown'.

This opening black and white sequence did an excellent job of settling me back down into the Gilligan universe and establishing Saul as no longer the laid-back, tongue in cheek goofster that bounced in and out of Breaking Bad when called upon, but instead a fragile, deeply on edge, lead man, who has found himself in hiding, following his run-ins with some of the grittiest members of America's underworld.

I was naive to think that creator Vince Gilligan would loosen his focus and eye for detail in this spin-off series, as each camera cut and placement of objects seems to have meticulous planning behind it, forcing me to hunt for Easter eggs within the frame that may prove important later in the story or even provide a hat tip to Saul's prior adventures with Walt and company.

As we find Gene back at home and follow him around the house through stalker type angles, he rummages to find an old video tape of his alter-ego Saul. Placing it in the VCR player, he watches back his old TV adverts through seemingly gritted teeth and a face that is on the brink of tears. As he is reminded of what placed him in this foreign, snow topped town far from Albuquerque, New Mexico, we are snapped out of the black and white, eerie present situation of Gene and plunged back into the recesses of his mind, where we find James McGill, the original pseudonym of Saul Goodman (after the catchy credit sequence of course).


From then on we see a day in the life of struggling lawyer McGill as he attempts to earn a steady buck on the Public Defender circuit, while establishing his own law firm. With a couple of familiar faces thrown in from the Breaking Bad franchise, and a Grand Theft Auto mission-esque plot to con a potential client, we begin to see James McGill morph into Saul Goodman as the odds stack against him and he finds himself doing what he can to make ends meet.

This opening gambit, though not too highly anticipated from myself did not disappoint, whilst I was extremely hopeful of Gilligan's ability to carry out a spin-off in a manner that wouldn't take anything away from the original series, or borrow too much from it in order to match its stature, I was more curious to know whether or not it could be done, rather than looking forward to the idea of the series itself.

I am aware that many more cameo's will occur from the cast of BB which would be a trick too foolish to avoid, as the depth of each character definitely has my vote to be explored, however I hope this does not form the basis of the show and that it is allowed to stand on its own without the aid of Gilligan's home-run-hit.

Now it has me, I feel it won't lose me, the killer cliff hangar that left off the first episode has not just invited me into episode two, but more dragged me by the eyes.

Episode 1 is available now on Netflix and episode 2 drops at 7am Tuesday morning.

Going Cold Turkey: Vegetarianism (Part II - First Meat-Free Shopping Trip)

Having finally offloaded the last bits of meat in my freezer, the slate was wiped clean, and I was excited to stock up on some new products and go in search for items that wouldn't usually make the list.

I was mostly interested in meat-replacement services like Quorn and Tofu as I had never thought or looked twice at these products before I turned. Though, I have had Quorn before in the uncanny shape and demeanour of a sausage, I can't quite remember how I felt about it at the time, but I don't think it was at all negative. This time around I bought Quorn 'chicken' and 'beef' and await the response of my body to these fungi in disguise.

I've seen mixed reviews of Tofu and wanted to make my own mind up, but unfortunately I couldn't find any inside the belly of supermarket beasts Aldi or Tesco and so will look elsewhere. Unless I missed the secret passage that I'm to be lead down by whispering a code word inside one of the workers ears.

I'd hoped I wouldn't experience any kind of food snobbery, especially being a vegetarian noob after only just converting, but as I found myself skipping the 'poultry' 'beef' and 'fish' aisles there was an inkling of thought that slipped through, telling me I was more morally accomplished for throwing butternut squash in my trolley instead of a leg of lamb.

I was handed another moral dilemma as I was searching for eggs and having to check with my conscience which ones to get. Now I have to look for organic, free range, 'don't worry we gave them warm clothes and fed them treats in a luxurious garden before we forced them to shit out an egg' eggs, so as to not have a double standard about how I believe it is wrong to kill an animal for food, but that its OK to keep them cooped up in a shit filled B&B until they've eaten so much they might explode.

There I was, however, shopping in a supermarket, creating the demand for these shithouses by feeding a mass producing grocery retailer. But until I have enough space to house chickens and cows that can produce eggs and milk with a smile on their face, I will continue to be a cog.

I wasn't tempted to meat-out during this shop, despite my accompaniment for the trip flashing steak cuts and chorizo sausages in my eye-line, s/o Dan Morris for doing so.




 

The Cribs - 'Burning for No One' + 'An Ivory Hand' (Track Reviews/ Sigh)

Ahead of the release of their sixth studio album 'For All My Sisters' that will drop on the 23rd March this year from their own label 'Sonic Blue' records (in partnership with Sony RED) three piece, indie rock, band of brothers The Cribs have released the singles 'An Ivory Hand' and 'Burning for No One'.

This is the latest peeking of the Jarman brothers collective heads since their hibernation following 2012's full length release 'In the Belly of the Brazen Bull'. Teaser track 'An Ivory Hand' was gifted to Cribs fans shortly after the official announcement of the new record, and though it didn't have me clinging onto the replay button for days on end like I wish a new Cribs song would, after a few listens I felt an uncertain but familiar warmth that the band gave me in the lead up to their last LP.

The track kicks off and throws me back into a world with The Cribs like they'd never left, instantly feeling the force of all three Jarmans with help from producer and ex Cars member Ric Ocasek. A vocal mirroring synth runs alongside a weezer-esque melody and a crunching guitar riff in a cleanly produced menage a trois of catchyness. The Cribs have always had a way with chorus' and vocal hooks, and in this teaser track, front men Ryan and Gary continue their form, less in the spit soaked microphone screams that I have grown accustom to, and more fist on chest vocal bellows toward the back wall of space that they began to favour on their last record. This ever changing Cribs cycle looked to me to be continuing its evolution in a positive light.

Though something didn't quite sit right with me after hearing this teaser track; maybe it is the time apart and the growing both I and the Cribs have experienced over the years that meant I didn't click with the song, but I was desperate to hear more to know for sure whether we were both still on the same tracks.

Then I saw they had dropped a second teaser single. Hoping not to be correct about catchyness for catchyness' sake in this new direction, I went into 'Burning for No One' with a fragile mindset. Upon and after the four second mark of the song I fell weak at the ears. To be a long-serving member of The Cribs' fan-base and hear such blandness on all fronts was somewhat impossible to believe.  The song doesn't move on from it's pub band dwelling rhythm guitar twang that is revisited after a chorus that is flatteringly given a double round each time. The track comes and goes leaving nothing to look back on or revisit, unless you're going back to check whether what you just heard was in fact a Cribs song or not.    .

Perhaps this pop drenched offspring of 2009 album 'Ignore the Ignorant' exists due to the talk of a split LP from the band when they first hinted this new release. One record to accommodate their long standing fans, who recognize the band as a force that (with the exception of Johnny Marr induced hiccup 'Ignore the Ignorant') has pressed up against the box of mainstream British chart music and delivered a blemished and unforgiving alternative. The other to rightly or wrongly exist within said box and attract interest from those who may be unfamiliar with the band, or just prefer their more poppy adventures.

However, it seems instead that they could be looking to pass in and out of these two musical avenues within the track-listing of the one LP, which by the sounds of this second single, could mean more upsetting times to come. I will of course listen to the the full album and review it upon its release. I can only hope that within a full project I can see the bigger picture of songs like 'Burning for No One' whilst I get my teeth into what more is to come along the parallel of  'An Ivory Hand'.


In case you missed the hyperlinks you can check the songs out here:

Burning for No One - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tMG68Orftw

An Ivory Hand - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tMG68Orftw

CHECK OUT THEIR OTHER PROJECTS WHILE YOU'RE AT IT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.


   
   

Going Cold Turkey: Vegetarianism (Part I - My Reasons)

Eating meat has finally stopped making sense.

The idea of converting to a vegetarian lifestyle has been sat patiently at the back of my mind for a large chunk of time. While it seems to me now that there is no logical reason to continue eating meat, two weeks ago my brain couldn't comprehend a day without it.

While I attempted to understand these barriers, I found myself back home after my mindless weekly shop where i'd purchased meat as a force of habit. I'd bought enough to last me a couple of weeks at least, but as I prepared the beasts for the freezer I found myself repulsed by the idea of how convenient it was for me to do so. I get hungry, there's nothing to eat, I purchase the goods, and I'm fulfilled, painless. 

Being so far removed  and only seeing the end product as I would any other grocery, makes it a perfectly impersonal process, i'm sure that if I was handed a knife and told to bring steak for a household I would come back bearing the gift of canned beans and a loaf of bread. 

These thoughts got the ball rolling, however I knew my actions to abstain from meat would not affect the world at large, so why should I be the one to never visit that familiar roast ham haven ever again? Besides, wouldn't, given the chance, the animals that are slaughtered do the same to me in my shoes? I'm just lucky enough to find myself at the top of the food chain looking down; selecting what will sustain my deserving human body for the minute, it's just the way it is. 

Then I reminded myself that no decision I have ever made has affected the world at large, so this is no kind of excuse, I wish instead to change the world inside my head, whether it sends the animal kingdom into a frenzy to break free and run into my open arms to congratulate me or not. 

As for my stance at the top of the food chain, I do not feel I deserve that status, nor do I need it. If it were the case that I had to eat meat or starve to death I would be selfishly and infinitely thankful to our ancestors for teaching the generations to feed, but not now, not with all of the alternatives that are available to experiment with and discover. 

Aside from the obvious nutritional value, I feel I have no real obligation to meat. Aside from beef burgers of the cheese soaked, red in the middle with all the toppings I desire variety, I know I can look back on my meat filled days with a short lived glance. 

Being shown the website www.theppk.com/ by a friend who has recently taken the plunge into vegetarianism helped me to find a bunch of recipes that eased the pain of thinking i'll never eat for pleasure again.

I shall be using this blog space to  describe in detail the hallucinations and night sweats I experience with my withdrawal symptoms, but mainly just to mark my progress and commentate new food experiences. .