One kooky thing about this song is the chorus. That weird guitar noise in the chorus is actually a keyboard ran through a distorted guitar amp. I love making crazy weirdo sounds. It's probably better that I don't have a band, because I would be able to make a whole lot more weird noises if I didn't have to hold down rhythm by myself all the time. In this song the stomping noises were done by my foot on a guitar case. Gotta make due without a drummer!
The guitar in this song is tuned low to high DADFBD.
This song was the last that I wrote for the album, I sort of gave myself a deadline at the end and this one snuck out. Sometimes deadlines can make cool things happen, sometimes they make nervous breakdowns happen. But since I can record everything at home, and have unlimited time pretty much, it leads to me trying to make everything perfect, but perfection doesn't exist. HERE is a link to a Seth Godin blog. I like some of the things that this fellow talks about. I think he helped me finish my album and take the plunge into being a working musician.
My new album The Great Unknown is available to buy HERE
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Waiting Blues
I've always really loved the feel of Spanish music. I visited that sound on an old song called Deja Vu. Recently I'd been listening to a bit of Rodrigo y Gabriela and I think that sound had an influence on this song. It's one of the few groups that E. and I agree kick total ass. You can check them out HERE. Prepare to have your mind blown.
I tried to get some intensity in this song through some loud/soft dynamics. This song has minimal overdubs. Elizabeth wanted even fewer instruments (like always) but on this song there is still only 1 acoustic rhythm and 2 electric lead guitars. This is my weird version of a blues song.
This song is also going to have a video!!!! If you'd like to hear more about the Kickstarter campaign for the video you can go HERE. The guys from Mutual Co. are helping me get this thing off the ground and I think it's going to look fantastic. More details on that coming soon!
I tried to get some intensity in this song through some loud/soft dynamics. This song has minimal overdubs. Elizabeth wanted even fewer instruments (like always) but on this song there is still only 1 acoustic rhythm and 2 electric lead guitars. This is my weird version of a blues song.
This song is also going to have a video!!!! If you'd like to hear more about the Kickstarter campaign for the video you can go HERE. The guys from Mutual Co. are helping me get this thing off the ground and I think it's going to look fantastic. More details on that coming soon!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Great Unknown
2 special guests on this track: James Lee Smith played lead guitar once again and Britt Scott sang backup vocals. Two Savannah Badasses. I hope to work with them again soon. I was listening to James' lead yesterday actually, and noticed how on the last note of solo he goes for a lower note, instead of a giant climactic high note like you'd usually hear in songs. It has a very tasteful effect. Especially because the chorus has more of a laid back underwater vibe anyways.
On a side note, it's so much easier to blog about someone else's playing/performance than it is your own.
In this song I'm reminiscing on the past, where I've been and realizing that the best things can happen when you give up and plunge into the great unknown. Now that can be about the highway, your future, or even God if you like. It's your call. It's your world, I'm just a squirrel trying to get a nut.
On a side note, it's so much easier to blog about someone else's playing/performance than it is your own.
In this song I'm reminiscing on the past, where I've been and realizing that the best things can happen when you give up and plunge into the great unknown. Now that can be about the highway, your future, or even God if you like. It's your call. It's your world, I'm just a squirrel trying to get a nut.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Your Every Move
For the guitar geeks out there, this song and Gone Now are both in DADGBbD tuning. Only this song has a capo at the second fret. Apparently this is my bitter song tuning, because both of those songs are kind of pissed off tunes.
In the beginning of the writing process I was just messing around with writing a 2nd song with that tuning for live purposes. I only take one guitar with me when I play live, so the less amount of tuning I have to do the happier the crowd is....or the drunker they are, I'm not sure really.
This song is about women who use other people just to get ahead. It specifically veers towards the entertainment/acting realm (yea you Paris). Women who show skin just to get ahead. That's all I have to say about that.
James Lee Smith recorded some amazing lead on this song. That solo definitely brought the intensity level up. It's always great to have some different guitar playing perspective on my recordings. He recently told me it was his favorite guitar solo that he's recorded to date. Pretty Awesome.
Also, my girlfriend, who this song is definitely NOT about!, she talked me into keeping the "Hip Hop" beat that is in this song. It was originally used as my click track to play along to, but she heard me playing it and made me keep it. I'm glad she did. It became the opening track on the album.
In the beginning of the writing process I was just messing around with writing a 2nd song with that tuning for live purposes. I only take one guitar with me when I play live, so the less amount of tuning I have to do the happier the crowd is....or the drunker they are, I'm not sure really.
This song is about women who use other people just to get ahead. It specifically veers towards the entertainment/acting realm (yea you Paris). Women who show skin just to get ahead. That's all I have to say about that.
James Lee Smith recorded some amazing lead on this song. That solo definitely brought the intensity level up. It's always great to have some different guitar playing perspective on my recordings. He recently told me it was his favorite guitar solo that he's recorded to date. Pretty Awesome.
Also, my girlfriend, who this song is definitely NOT about!, she talked me into keeping the "Hip Hop" beat that is in this song. It was originally used as my click track to play along to, but she heard me playing it and made me keep it. I'm glad she did. It became the opening track on the album.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
My Mistakes
My cousin Jay tells me that I need to buy a mandolin already because I'm always trying to emulate one in my songs. This song's weird stringed noises are all done by guitar. I really put this guitar deception to work in a song a few albums ago called Boy's Girls and Fools. Check it out here.
I'm sure that my overdub obsession started with The Smashing Pumpkins and Queen when I was a teenager. This Queen song Keep Yourself Alive just blew my mind. Listen to that solo at 2:35...I mean come on!! I used Open E Tuning (EBEG#BE) on this song with a capo on the 2nd fret.
This song is a laundry list of mistakes that I've made in my life. And in the end I think they all happened for a reason. All of your mistakes can eventually lead you to the thing that makes you most happy.
I'm sure that my overdub obsession started with The Smashing Pumpkins and Queen when I was a teenager. This Queen song Keep Yourself Alive just blew my mind. Listen to that solo at 2:35...I mean come on!! I used Open E Tuning (EBEG#BE) on this song with a capo on the 2nd fret.
This song is a laundry list of mistakes that I've made in my life. And in the end I think they all happened for a reason. All of your mistakes can eventually lead you to the thing that makes you most happy.
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