Its only after a pretty sleepless night that I think of things like this apparently.
It's been a songwriting miracle as of late and I've been on fire. Ever since I got that new guitar, or possibly right before it, I started writing music like crazy both lyrically and musically. I've noticed that there are two kinds of writing that I do in life: the extremely goofy and funny and the mildly depressing take a look at my life kind of deal. I don't know at what point it happened but I was inspired enough in October or late November that I hopped back on that goofy train and haven't gotten off yet, despite all the difficult things I was/pretty much still am going through. Maybe its my defense mechanism, in fact I'm pretty sure it is, but I've gotten a lot of good songs out of it, some of which we've used, others we're going to, and the like. Then because of everything that happened it inspired a whole slew of other songs, ones just for me really. Those are the a little sad, a little inspiring, semi hopeful, semi regretful songs that have mostly littered my little side project.
That's where the filter comes in and a lot of those will never see the light of day to anybody but me, because like in any situation when you are extremely controlled by your emotions a lot of what you write is just crap. Maybe its because I'm still slightly in the moment but I don't feel that much of it is, and maybe its not or maybe I'm just still in the moment like I said.
But the more time goes on, the more as anyone would, healing happens and some things aren't as impactful and important as others anymore. It still dominates my thoughts when I think about it, but its mostly manageable for the most part. There are still days, like last night or a few days before that, that I still feel crippled by my dreams and memories, but it doesn't seem to inspire me anymore. That makes me wonder if I've finally got about all of it out. I've noticed a trend these newer songs that its starting to shift from the "why me" to "what next" and finally some other topics all together and I think that's good. I think that's where my brain is headed in general in life and that's good too. I've also noticed that I let it slip into a few T3 songs that to me aren't so oblivious, yet are extremely obvious but I'm hoping they aren't to everyone else. Then again we might not use some of those songs. Those aren't sad, but they deal with a few of these issues. Music is funny like that.
I just know that two songs in particular that I've been writing on with PBnJ have come to a dead stand still in the last few weeks and I don't know why. One can go either way depending on what gets written next. It can be a song about finding hope and new love in general or it can be about regret and giving up. Maybe I'll make two different versions I don't know. The other, a song I'm very proud of and mostly all I've played it for really seem to like on a legitimate level is also trapped in the final verse. That one is more of a progressive story and maybe the reason I can't finish it is because I haven't decided how this story is going to end yet. Yeah me. I didn't start this story, but at this point its up to me to finish it and its a day to day struggle to figure out what I want anymore. On one hand my brain says just let it go and continue on. On the other my memories and heart says hold on just a bit longer. Maybe that's how the song should end instead of waiting to be based on the real story, because that seems like its going to be too far away from here.
None the less after the last few days I sit and wonder still as I look at what I've been up-to, I wonder what you've been up-to and wonder if I still cross your mind at least once in awhile.
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
The New Generation
I spent a few hours after band practice talking to Derek about the direction these crazy new tunes are headed in and it reminded me of a conversation I had about the same thing a year or so ago.
When T3 first started it was about being a goofy band. Almost all the songs reflected the carefree life I was living at the time. Little by little as the band grew there began to be a division in the songs that were not only nonsense songs and goofy, but a lot of them hold a second and very personal meaning that I don't really talk about. Not many on the first album are like that, but they are there. It might be a line or it might be the song in general, but its the pattern that I've started to develop as I've been writing music. T3 will never be serious and will never be sad, its just not what it is. I've gone against limiting of what it is and what it isn't, but that is the one rule and only rule I've ever held us to, other than keeping things less than vulgar.
When we released Your Music Is Bad And You Should Feel Bad, it comprised of pretty much the first nine songs that we had completed and were satisfied with. During that period of time there were quite a few songs that were worked on, but ultimately never finished. The only ones that ever popped up later from that time period in all honesty were Unemployed and Momma's Boy, even though they didn't really get past the basic rhythm or just lyrically for another 2 years or so. After those songs were done I started to dive deeper into what I was writing and many of the songs that were written at that period of time took a much different tone than originally. Fewer songs were just nonsense songs straight up, and were more that divided meaning that I mentioned before. I describe the YMIBAYSFB as daydreaming of some extraordinary world where anything is possible and does. The most ridiculous things that could be happening are happening, but all are grounded in semi-realistic ideas, places, and things.
I assumed that the next album was going to be more focused on personal yet more realistic experiences that I had been through in my life, as that was the tone that was going on at the time. It was still going to be abstract and funny, but a majority of the songs were more relatable I think as they all dealt with everyday situations to the extreme. You can see this starting to happen in the last two songs that were written for that album in Ken and Unemployed. They were real situations with a goofy twist. You know, stuff like that.
However with lineup changes, the passing of time, and general dissatisfaction with some of the things I had written, a lot of those songs just never materialized or never got past the demo stage and a lot of them never will. At the moment we have roughly 9 demos ready with another 4 or 5 on deck that we'll be working on over the next few months that will dwindle down to the best 11 or 12 tracks for the new album at some point. I made a list of those songs the other day and noticed the pattern is returning but in a more divided way. There are songs that are completely not about anything and there are other songs that have a strong tie to the experiences I've had in the last year. That's the weirdest thing to me really. With the exception of maybe one or two songs so far, all of the new songs were written brand new as of September or October of last year. None of the older ones survived or at least aren't resurfacing right now. Because of the experiences that have made up my life over these past ten or so months have shaped something very different. If you combine that with the fact that we are all collectively much better musicians now and aren't just throwing crap together and calling it a day at the first handful of songs, its shaping up to be a whole different monster this time around.
That is all things considered, we won't know until we record and release the album later this year, but it just makes me think of how far we've come. But as always, I'm not going to say what these songs are about. People can take the meaning however they want. I just know that I enjoy writing songs that have dual and recently sometimes tri-meanings in them. Maybe I'm getting better at this kind of thing?t
When T3 first started it was about being a goofy band. Almost all the songs reflected the carefree life I was living at the time. Little by little as the band grew there began to be a division in the songs that were not only nonsense songs and goofy, but a lot of them hold a second and very personal meaning that I don't really talk about. Not many on the first album are like that, but they are there. It might be a line or it might be the song in general, but its the pattern that I've started to develop as I've been writing music. T3 will never be serious and will never be sad, its just not what it is. I've gone against limiting of what it is and what it isn't, but that is the one rule and only rule I've ever held us to, other than keeping things less than vulgar.
When we released Your Music Is Bad And You Should Feel Bad, it comprised of pretty much the first nine songs that we had completed and were satisfied with. During that period of time there were quite a few songs that were worked on, but ultimately never finished. The only ones that ever popped up later from that time period in all honesty were Unemployed and Momma's Boy, even though they didn't really get past the basic rhythm or just lyrically for another 2 years or so. After those songs were done I started to dive deeper into what I was writing and many of the songs that were written at that period of time took a much different tone than originally. Fewer songs were just nonsense songs straight up, and were more that divided meaning that I mentioned before. I describe the YMIBAYSFB as daydreaming of some extraordinary world where anything is possible and does. The most ridiculous things that could be happening are happening, but all are grounded in semi-realistic ideas, places, and things.
I assumed that the next album was going to be more focused on personal yet more realistic experiences that I had been through in my life, as that was the tone that was going on at the time. It was still going to be abstract and funny, but a majority of the songs were more relatable I think as they all dealt with everyday situations to the extreme. You can see this starting to happen in the last two songs that were written for that album in Ken and Unemployed. They were real situations with a goofy twist. You know, stuff like that.
However with lineup changes, the passing of time, and general dissatisfaction with some of the things I had written, a lot of those songs just never materialized or never got past the demo stage and a lot of them never will. At the moment we have roughly 9 demos ready with another 4 or 5 on deck that we'll be working on over the next few months that will dwindle down to the best 11 or 12 tracks for the new album at some point. I made a list of those songs the other day and noticed the pattern is returning but in a more divided way. There are songs that are completely not about anything and there are other songs that have a strong tie to the experiences I've had in the last year. That's the weirdest thing to me really. With the exception of maybe one or two songs so far, all of the new songs were written brand new as of September or October of last year. None of the older ones survived or at least aren't resurfacing right now. Because of the experiences that have made up my life over these past ten or so months have shaped something very different. If you combine that with the fact that we are all collectively much better musicians now and aren't just throwing crap together and calling it a day at the first handful of songs, its shaping up to be a whole different monster this time around.
That is all things considered, we won't know until we record and release the album later this year, but it just makes me think of how far we've come. But as always, I'm not going to say what these songs are about. People can take the meaning however they want. I just know that I enjoy writing songs that have dual and recently sometimes tri-meanings in them. Maybe I'm getting better at this kind of thing?t
Friday, December 31, 2010
My Musical History of 2010
As I look back at the year, I’m always reminded of how big of impact music has on my life. This year at first glance I think there weren’t nearly as many new artists I discovered or new albums I listened to, but after making a list well I was right for the most part. 2010 was full of catching up on a lot of great stuff from 2009 for some reason. A lot of bands and albums that for some reason I put on the back burner and really didn’t listen to until some point this year. I’m still going to include them in my list tho because I can.
Albums of 2010
Neon Trees - Habits
I saw these guys open up for a local band in Rexburg in early 2009 and though they were pretty nifty, but it wasn’t until I saw them open up for 30 Seconds to Mars that I got hooked on them. While short, their debut album is rich in energetic happy-ish music that just makes you want to dance. And that’s really all I can ask for from anybody.
Scott Pilgrim Soundtrack
The movie was epic and the soundtrack was just as fantastic. For a show about music I’m sure it was pretty difficult to select a soundtrack that would reflect the odd world that the characters lived in. What we got was an indie world of unknown stuff, but that’s ok because it was all good unknown stuff at least to me anyway. The 8-bit soundtrack to the game was just as good however and that little something something to make you smile and remember the good ole days.
Preston Pugmire EP
Preston is not a signed artist nor known by anybody outside the immediate Idaho/Utah area, but he should be. He’s a one man band that I’ve seen perform numerous times over the years either as a solo act or in other bands. Apparently he’s made the jump to full time musician and taking his solo act on the road. This was a small free 5 track EP that was released on his website and its just that sort of sweet melodies and looping that he’s well known for that makes you think a little.
The Left Rights - Bad Choices Made Easy
The side project of Jimmie Urine and Steve Righ? Of MSI, The Left Rights are just a huge collection of stupid 1-2min songs that really have no relevance to anything whatsoever. But they are hilarious and that’s all I need to know.
3oh3! - Streets of Gold
While I’m still having a hard time listening to all of it, much like their previous release, Streets of Gold is everything you’d expect from 3oh3. It’s a bunch of energetic rap/pop songs that just make you want to move and dance, only this time with a lot less “gangsta”
persona going on.
I Fight Dragons EP
I saw these guys open up for Cobra Starship this past summer and while I don’t listen to it quite as much anymore, it did introduce me to the world of chiptuning, or in otherwords using an old NES or gameboy motherboard to create 8-bit sounds to go along with your music. Very cool and very fun.
The Throbbing Testicles EP
Absolutely tooting my own horn here, but we also released a new album this year and yes I listened to it quite a bit for awhile. While it was not really anything new, but just a compilation of some of our best songs, it was recorded in a studio for the first time as well as putting keys/synth on a lot of songs for the first time as well. It solidified the idea that in a good setting we could make this work and that’s all I need. Plus its funny.
Birds of New York EP
Ryan White of the band Resident Hero recently created this little side project that is a more power pop feel than heavy rock, but his sweet voice excels just as much here as it does in the former rock trio. I’m not even sure if this EP is available anywhere, but I managed to harass him into emailing it to me. Its that sort of good feeling space out music that takes you on a little trip, not the drug kind but the life experience kind, before dropping you off back where you were at the last few notes.
The rest of the albums that I listened to a bunch this year didn’t come out in 2010, but rather in 2009. I only just now got around to listening to them.
LMFAO - Party Rock
Flyleaf - Memento Mori
AFI - Crash Love
30 Seconds To Mars - This is War
(I did listen to this in 09, but I didn’t like it very much. It wasn’t until I saw them perform again in January that it became a staple cd in my car)
Electric Valentine - Automatic
Stephen Lynch - 3 Balloons
Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
There’s more to be said, but I’ll save it for the next one.
Albums of 2010
Neon Trees - Habits
I saw these guys open up for a local band in Rexburg in early 2009 and though they were pretty nifty, but it wasn’t until I saw them open up for 30 Seconds to Mars that I got hooked on them. While short, their debut album is rich in energetic happy-ish music that just makes you want to dance. And that’s really all I can ask for from anybody.
Scott Pilgrim Soundtrack
The movie was epic and the soundtrack was just as fantastic. For a show about music I’m sure it was pretty difficult to select a soundtrack that would reflect the odd world that the characters lived in. What we got was an indie world of unknown stuff, but that’s ok because it was all good unknown stuff at least to me anyway. The 8-bit soundtrack to the game was just as good however and that little something something to make you smile and remember the good ole days.
Preston Pugmire EP
Preston is not a signed artist nor known by anybody outside the immediate Idaho/Utah area, but he should be. He’s a one man band that I’ve seen perform numerous times over the years either as a solo act or in other bands. Apparently he’s made the jump to full time musician and taking his solo act on the road. This was a small free 5 track EP that was released on his website and its just that sort of sweet melodies and looping that he’s well known for that makes you think a little.
The Left Rights - Bad Choices Made Easy
The side project of Jimmie Urine and Steve Righ? Of MSI, The Left Rights are just a huge collection of stupid 1-2min songs that really have no relevance to anything whatsoever. But they are hilarious and that’s all I need to know.
3oh3! - Streets of Gold
While I’m still having a hard time listening to all of it, much like their previous release, Streets of Gold is everything you’d expect from 3oh3. It’s a bunch of energetic rap/pop songs that just make you want to move and dance, only this time with a lot less “gangsta”
persona going on.
I Fight Dragons EP
I saw these guys open up for Cobra Starship this past summer and while I don’t listen to it quite as much anymore, it did introduce me to the world of chiptuning, or in otherwords using an old NES or gameboy motherboard to create 8-bit sounds to go along with your music. Very cool and very fun.
The Throbbing Testicles EP
Absolutely tooting my own horn here, but we also released a new album this year and yes I listened to it quite a bit for awhile. While it was not really anything new, but just a compilation of some of our best songs, it was recorded in a studio for the first time as well as putting keys/synth on a lot of songs for the first time as well. It solidified the idea that in a good setting we could make this work and that’s all I need. Plus its funny.
Birds of New York EP
Ryan White of the band Resident Hero recently created this little side project that is a more power pop feel than heavy rock, but his sweet voice excels just as much here as it does in the former rock trio. I’m not even sure if this EP is available anywhere, but I managed to harass him into emailing it to me. Its that sort of good feeling space out music that takes you on a little trip, not the drug kind but the life experience kind, before dropping you off back where you were at the last few notes.
The rest of the albums that I listened to a bunch this year didn’t come out in 2010, but rather in 2009. I only just now got around to listening to them.
LMFAO - Party Rock
Flyleaf - Memento Mori
AFI - Crash Love
30 Seconds To Mars - This is War
(I did listen to this in 09, but I didn’t like it very much. It wasn’t until I saw them perform again in January that it became a staple cd in my car)
Electric Valentine - Automatic
Stephen Lynch - 3 Balloons
Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
There’s more to be said, but I’ll save it for the next one.
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