Monthly Archives: January 2012

beautiful carelessly sultry

Posted on 23 January 2012 by spinhead

ongwriter friend Charlie Cheney keeps telling me that song lyrics should lean heavily on nouns. Show, don't tell. Pack the song with people doing things in places with stuff, instead of talking about feelings and interior monologues and all those … Continue reading →

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Acoustic Lovely Sarah Through the Wall

Posted on 22 January 2012 by spinhead

y Michael Hedges Pandora station has been playing a lovely little harp-like guitar piece for a while. I listen all night so I don't always check to see who's doing what. (Okay, sometimes I do. It's music.)

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I Wish I Had a Ukulele

Posted on 19 January 2012 by spinhead

uring February Album Writing Month, you'll hear lots of ukulele songs. A couple years ago, it seemed everyone had one. Everyone but me.

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You Can Not Like Steely Dan

Posted on 19 January 2012 by spinhead

ecently a friend reluctantly admitted (his words) that he doesn't like Steely Dan. Though I understand, I don't get it.

Posted in jazz, pop, rock | Tagged | 8 Comments

What if the Light at the End of the Tunnel is Just the Headlamp of an Oncoming Train?

Posted on 17 January 2012 by spinhead

fter repeated listenings to Cream's Born Under a Bad Sign a few years ago I went to my music room to play around on my bass. Rather than trying to copy Jack Bruce's bass line, I played what it made … Continue reading →

Posted in Americana, blues, rockabilly, twang | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Flute for All Seasons

Posted on 17 January 2012 by spinhead

lassical music has a long history of instrument-swapping. Lute tunes transcribed for guitar. Harpsichord pieces performed on piano. Since guitars and pianos are easier to come by these days than lutes or harpsichords, this is a good thing for modern … Continue reading →

Posted in classical | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Tyranny of Beauty in an Ambient Tangerine Dream

Posted on 16 January 2012 by spinhead

he idea of progressive rock appeals to me. Take elements of classical and jazz and blend them into some variation of rock and make it, well, progressive. Since it requires composing, arranging, and performing skills beyond that of 3-chord blues … Continue reading →

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The Voice of the Story

Posted on 2 January 2012 by spinhead

he first time I watched Princess Bride I didn't enjoy the song over the closing credits. Somewhere around the eleventh viewing I realised I was humming it through the whole movie. Mark Knopfler knows how to compose a soundtrack, eh?

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