I was reading a interview with Todd Howard, a video game creator, yesterday - he was talking about how to make a good game.  One thing he said struck me:

The player experience should go: learn, play, challenge, surprise.  You should always give the player a challenge with a way out, even it is one they don't want to use.  As an example he talked about the nuclear bombs in Fallout 3.  The option is always there if you're in a pinch, but most people finish the game hoarding the mini-nukes.

This seems, to me, to be paralleled in life.  We have these obvious ways to get out of trouble, or make our lives better, but most of us die without ever using them.  I guess this could mean a lot of things, most of which I haven't figured out yet.

I also like the idea of learn, play, challenge, surprise.  I think this could be adapted to music.  I was telling someone the other day that I think good songs are familiar but surprising.  I want people to be instantly comfortable with my songs - and then take them on a ride.  I think my rides are a little more subtle than some others - but a ride nonetheless.

If you want to hear some music that takes you on a wild ride, check out my friend Jonathan's website.

Making Pasta in the oven with Joni

I dreamt last night that I hung out with Joni Mitchell for a day.  She knew every song she had ever written, and I seemed to know most of them too.  We talked about music and who she wrote her songs about - I don't remember the last time I felt so happy.

...the dream ended up with us cooking.  She made cinnamon rolls and, for some reason, pasta in the oven.  I made fun of her, so she took it out and put it on the stove.  I wonder if she's so easily swayed in real life?  I could go either way.

The Process

This made me puke, eat my puke, and then puke and cry at the same time.

Enjoy:

Songsmith Commercial

Handle Bar Mustache

I grew a handle-bar mustache for a party this weekend, because studies have shown that mustaches are fun for the entire family...      I waited over two hours for someone to comment on its majesty, and, finally, when no one did, I questioned the group as to why no one was interested in fun for the entire family.  They had all been too nervous to say anything, afraid of hurting my feelings.  

Do I come off as being that sensitive?  That my choice in (seemingly) hilarious facial hair is so embarrassing in the first place that this new direction was a serious part of my thing?  It has made me wonder if I am a handle-bar mustache kind of guy after all.  It seemed to be the most shocking temporary thing I could've done... but it ended up either being too awkward to be funny or to normal to be considered.

Unfortunately, there are no pictures to prove that the mustache existed.  Just the images burned into the minds of the attendies of said party.  Here, however, for your viewing pleasure, is what you may* have missed:

V-Day

I am currently in the process of recording a "Valentine's Day" album.  I'm being heavily inspired by Phil Collins, so it should be hilarious if nothing else.  I'll post it on the web when it's done so everyone can download it and cry simultaneously.

to Kandinksy from Schoenberg

"Art belongs to the unconscious!  One must express oneself!  Express oneself directly!  Not one's taste, or one's upbringing, or one's intelligence, knowledge or skill."

to Kandinsky

from Schoenberg

Good Musicians are Talented?

If a scientist is good at what they do, they're considered smart.  If a plumber is good at what they do, they're considered hard working.

Good musicians are talented?  Or are they smart and hard working?

I can feel it coming in the air tonight...

I recently became enamored with all the things I associate with the 80's.  Between listening to hardcore Genesis, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, and Prince, I'm watching old episodes of Star Trek the Next Generation, messing around with Play-doh and playing Atari.  Weird, I know.

There are so many things we overlook when we're younger because we're just not supposed to be interested.  There is so much value that we throw away because of our date of birth.  Sometimes I think I could go the rest of my life without anything new - just the stuff that's already been made.  How do we open our mouths when so much has already been said?  What do we have to add?

Anyway, big surprise, the 80's can kick it.  That's news to me.

Interjection on Having Fun

I think what I've decided is that we can only really have fun when we forget about trying to have fun...

...This was the first new years eve in a while when I didn't try to have fun, and it was definitely one of the most fun (weirdest) new years I've had.

Along the same lines, I don't think we can truly like something if we're thinking about weather or not we like it.  Not to say that we don't "decide" we like things; but, I don't know, do we really like the things we "decide" we like?

My answer to that question is "decidedly" no.  There are things that we are supposed to like and dislike.  When we make that decision to like or dislike, what we are really deciding is weather or not we want to be seen as going with or against the flow.  Maybe we're even deciding the kind of person we want to be.

So, the likes and dislikes (or the fun or not fun) becomes the part of ourselves that we can control.  What does liking a particular band or musician say about me?

Topic No. 1 : What is Talent?

Alright, here's our first topic of the blog, and it's a winner.  Talent... Well...

Here are a few questions for our initial consideration:

What is talent?  Do some people have this stuff that others just don't?  Where do people get it?  Are we born with it?  Can you get it if you don't already have it?  What's the difference between talent and hard work?  How do individual physical traits effect talent?  Waka waka.

This is a pretty limited list of considerations for a big behemoth of a topic, but it's where we'll start.

So check it, this month's all about talent.  I'll post my continually evolving thoughts as the month goes on.

Breaking the sound barrier

Welcome...

For a young musician, I have always felt that I had a unique concept of music - what it is, what it should be, what is good, what is not.  I figure, instead of writing a super lame book, I could use this big stupid box on my desk and work things out a chunk at a time.

Herein you will find my general thoughts on the medium, interspersed with reviews of recordings, concerts, and people, and maybe some basic musical news/gossip interspersed.  I plan on having a specific topic each month, with multiple posts flimsily supporting that topic until it finally falls down and we start over.  The first of each month stop by and see if you have any interest in what I am thinking about.

I intend this to be a dialog.  Please use the comment box below and let me know what you think.  I expect not everyone will not not agree with everything I have to say, not, and that's great.  Just keep me posted.  Even if it's, I hate this topic, I'll come by next month.

I find myself so oft diverted by completely useless gunk these days.  I only hope that I don't add to the pile.  I've always been one for addition by subtraction - here, however, I would like to present addition by addition - my concept of, and in, music - enjoy.