it’s not you, it’s me

Filed under: wip | Back to: Homepage

I’ve been playing around with the basics for this song for several months, but I didn’t really figure out what it was about until vacation in Joshua Tree.  I was going to title it i don’t know #2 (because idk #1 is on downtime), but I think this is a much better title:

it’s not you, it’s me

Yes, that’s a whistle solo in the middle.  I recorded this in one take and whistled in place of what was intended to be a guitar solo, but the whistling is growing on me.  Maybe I’ve been inspired by Andrew Bird.

That makes 6 solid new songs in the hopper since the last album with a few more that are marinating.  I think a new album is in the works for 2009…

Photo Credit: Goofing around in Joshua Tree with Christopher Bost behind the camera

wip comment

Broken Wings - Electric

Filed under: wip | Back to: Homepage

I promised in my earlier post that I would take a stab at recording this one the same way that I wrote it.  Here’s Broken Wings with the electric guitar behind it:

Broken Wings - Electric

For reference, here’s the more polished acoustic version:

Broken Wings - Acoustic

Hmmm… still not there.  But closer?  Eh, at least it’s fun to sing.  I think I’ll work on some new stuff for now and come back later.

Here’s how anti-anything-pop-culture I was in 1985.  I had no idea a song titled Broken Wings was a #1 hit for Mr. Mister until I did a search on the title just now.  Apparently Nothing Left to Lose is a relatively more recent single by Mat Kearney.  Thankfully, it looks like no one has written a woman-killing song titled Micheline besides me, so I’ve got that going for me.  It’s all good - according to the New York Times’ songwriter’s blog, we’re all rip off artists anyway.

Photo Credit: James H.

wip comment

Nothing Left to Lose - Electric

Filed under: wip | Back to: Homepage

Here’s a new sketch of Nothing Left to Lose with the Telecaster.  I didn’t capture the exact guitar sound I wanted, but it’s close:

Nothing Left to Lose - Electric

Here’s the more produced acoustic version for comparison’s sake:

Nothing Left to Lose - Acoustic

Ideally I could get this to the point where it sounds as stark and beautiful as the Up to the Mountain arrangement Patty Griffin used the last time I saw her in concert.  It was the highlight of the show for me.  Here’s a recording somebody posted on YouTube:

Patty Griffin - Up to the Mountain

I think I need to be a better guitar player to make this work.  And a better singer.  And a better songwriter…  **Sigh**  Patty Griffin is so lovely. 

wip 2 comments

Further to Fall

Filed under: wip | Back to: Homepage

This one is probably the most polished of the new batch of songs.  I introduced a recent performance of it with the fact that I’m from the South and a lot of my songs have some twang in them.  After I finished playing, somebody said to me "nah, man, not too much twang at all."

As if twang was a bad thing.

So when you listen to this one, close your eyes and see if you can hear some heavy pedal steel guitar in the background.  That’s how I hear it when I play it.

Further to Fall

wip comment

Broken Wings

Filed under: wip | Back to: Homepage

#1 on my list of things to record when I get the time is another version of Broken Wings.  The emotive quality of this song makes it really fun to play, but I can’t seem to capture a recording that sounds like what I’m hearing.  I specifically asked for opinions on this song the last time I played it live at the Bazaar and got a thumbs up, but maybe folks were just being nice?  Judge for yourself - here’s the latest acoustic recording:

Broken Wings

I originally wrote this on the telecaster with a real dirty, bluesy electric guitar part.  Maybe that’s what’s missing?  Or maybe it needs another stanza?  Or a really good bridge?  More to come…

wip 1 comment

Gwendolyn

Filed under: wip | Back to: Homepage

I wrote this one a while ago - right after I completed downtime - but put it away for a while (explanation below).  Picture a rocking Old 97s-type arrangement (blistering telecaster and driving, shuffling drums) when you listen:

Gwendolyn

So I submitted this to Nashville Songwriters Association for a song evaluation right after I wrote it.  As part of your membership, the NSAI allows you to send in a tape of your compositions.  A “professional” will listen to the song, record their thoughts on the tape and send it back.  All in all it’s a great service and one of the main reasons to pay your dues.  When I first completed this one I was a member and dashed off a recording of the song, anxious to get feedback.  When the tape came back, the reviewer said it was the worst song he’d heard all day.

It was then that I realized I wasn’t mature enough to handle criticism of my music.

wip 4 comments

It’s Complicated

Filed under: wip | Back to: Homepage

This is the latest one that I’ve finished.  Believe it or not, it was actually more depressing in an initial draft, but now I think it has a slight bit of hope at the end:

It’s Complicated (6 String)

This guy sounds better with the 12 string, but I can’t seem to capture a good recording of that guitar.  Judge for yourself:

It’s Complicated (12 String)

And yes, I know this sounds a little bit like an Eagles song.  Maybe Don Henley will be flattered.

wip comment

Nothing Left to Lose

Filed under: wip | Back to: Homepage

Though I’ve been tweaking it for a while now, this song came about as easily as a song ever has:

Nothing Left to Lose

wip 2 comments