Ends

So here goes 2009. Another decade is underfoot as well, I suppose. I've been thinking about what to write lately and nothing has been coming to mind. Oh well. Ultimate-Guitar.com has some cool "past decade in reflection" lists. Ronnie has been kicked out of the Stones, Chinese Democracy actually came out and it was nothing to stop the clocks for (making Axl hole himself up inside his house without contact to anyone.), Smashing Pumpkins broke up and Billy Corgan wrangled them up again-only to see them disband again, The Chili Peppers went on hiatus/returned from hiatus and are now without Frusciante, and Blink got back together. These are just small details in some of the awesome things that have been happening lately; I could spend a whole article just talking about Jack White's endeavors! Even though the radio is polluted and decaying, music is still quite alive and its last few kicks have given me a very pleasant surprise.

In addition to the 2010 lineup I presented previously, Angels & Airwaves is indeed alive and has pushed their new album, "Love", back from this past Christmas to Valentines Day (go figure). Their single "hallucinations" is available for free on their site, as will be the whole album come Valentines Day due to some apparent contractual mishaps. Whether or not I dig A&A, they're giving their new stuff for free and I think that's really cool of them. You can grab the single here if you're interested:

http://modlife.com/angelsandairwaves/download

Other than that, I have been wildly busy putting together my own musical exploits into something we seem to be calling "The Ticking Timebombs." Either way, we're getting ready to record soon and have not yet written what we want to record (woohoo!) but i'm up to the challenge and am excited to get back in the studio. Speaking of studios, I also recently picked up The Black Crowes latest album, "Before the Frost...", which was released in August. They recorded it all themselves in their studio, under their label, "Silver Arrow." The boys don't disappoint, but I will admit that the lack of really professional recording takes a toll on the power behind their sound. Nevertheless it is a sweet record and they have not changed a bit, which makes me very happy. Keep music alive people, and don't let the sorry excuses on the radio masquerade about while the real thing suffers beneath the facade. If I don't post again before the new year, happy 2010 everyone. Peace 2009.

Tragedy

John Frusciante has left the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It is a sad day for music. Maybe a Chili Peppers record is not on the way after all. Either way, we are just one step closer to "one hot minute" and one giant leap away from "blood sugar sex magik"...again.

To even further depress an already dead and decaying day, Billboard announced today that the All-American Rejects claimed the "Most Played Song of 2009" with their single "Gives You Hell." Honestly, it is a relief to have that spot possessed by them and not some other degenerate like Rihanna or...gulp....Lady Gaga (I just puked in my mouth a whole lot). But it is still saddening that a group/person that deserves it musically is not sitting in that place. I will not place my opinion of who should reside there for (1) there are too many, and (2) I could not choose between them. I'm sure though that is is safe to say none of my choices even came close to the top 10.

On a closing note, the footage was released of Axl Rose punching yet another paparazzi member. Thanks for denying it Rose, with your track record, none of us believed it anyways. But seriously, as much as I hate Axl, he's doing what everyone wishes they could (and get away with it). What person in fame DOESN't want to rail one of those guys in the jaw. I mean, Axl has been know to dive off stage and punch guys in the front row with cameras. Oh well.

Come back Frusciante, and if you do not, may the Peppers rest in peace.

Forward

For all who will listen,

2010 is looking like a big year kids. To much joyous ardor, January 25th will see the release of some previously withheld live Hendrix recordings from 67'/68'. Sonic Youth are also working on a new album, as are The Dead Weather, the Chili Peppers, 30 Seconds to Mars, Kasabian, and Them Crooked Vultures apparently. Honestly this "supergroup" deal is getting on my nerves. There's talk of a Page/Clapton teamup in the works as well. It's really starting to feel like a big publicity stunt. If you're going to put the Yardbirds together again, I'm down for that; call up Jeff Beck! Maybe they can tour around playing some Zep and Cream. I'm just not so sure how I feel about them automatically starting at the top with new material, especially when it sucks (chickenfoot?). I saw TCV in Philly recently and they were great, I just dont want these "supergroups" to smother new talent.

Enough about this garbage though; in recent news Rivers Cuomo (Weezer) is out of the hospital and on the way back home to LA. Hopefully the Weezer tour will continue and even more hopefully maybe the crash knocked sense into him and he'll start making music that is worth listening to again.

Oh, and apparently Axl Rose has denied attacking a member of the paparazzi......right.

Progress

For all who will listen,

I had a dream a few nights ago; implying that I do not have dreams every night, which is false, but might as well be true because I never remember them. That said, it was one of those "half-dreams." I was just dozing off and wasn't completely gone yet when it occurred. Either way, in the dream I was on some kind of talk show and the lady asked me to characterize the musician's mental path through life. At this point I woke up, but I sat in bed hashing the question over in my mind.

After my conference of insomnia, in which I arrived to the answer unexpectedly quickly, I decided the serious musician's life (from my perspective) is represented by inferiority, loneliness, and insatiability. Obviously negative terms, I'm not trying to get all emotional here and cry you a river but seldom is this far from accurate. I'll break down why I feel this way.

I say inferiority because, from my own experiences, no matter how good I feel about my playing on any given day, I am perpetually put in my place by the great players who are far better than myself.

With this comes the insatiable desire to get better because, no matter how good you get, there is always something more to learn, something to improve on.

It is then lonely because no one, no matter how musically similar, ever thinks exactly the way you do. On the more presently lonely hand, it's difficult to find anyone at all who can think and converse with you on a musical level that furthermore has a similar mindset as you.

All negative, they all come together to make said person better though. Inferiority breeds discipline. Insatiability breeds motivation. Loneliness breeds independence and originality.

Just some thoughts.

Introduction

For all who will listen,

Thank you for coming here to witness my opinion. Though it is small, and I am fairly sure few will ever actually read this, no opinion is without worthiness of being heard and I wish to voice mine. To paraphrase Voltaire, whether or not I agree with your opinion I would defend to the death your right to voice it.

I digress. I created this with the interest of writing down my ideas and thoughts about the poor state of the music industry and the superb music that, sadly, manages to fly under its radar. I am a music major in college and, while that should mean nothing to the intelligent skeptic and musician, I consider myself to have a musically sound opinion (which should further mean nothing to the intelligent skeptic and musician, and with good reason). I am some kind of musician. To put it better, I am a soul in constant pursuit of the very music that continually pursues me. More primarily I am some kind of bassist who has played in bands that more frequently match the genres of Alternative Rock, Blues Rock, and Ambient/Instrumental. Although I have a soft spot for Rock and Roll (infinitely different from what the common people of today view as "rock") I enjoy playing Jazz, Funk, and Classical Music.

Through this blog I plan on writing about whatever the hell should take refuge in my head, pertaining to music. As a human (and as I believe it is every human's duty) I consider myself to be some kind of philosopher, in that I analyze the world around me and fabricate theories about it based on my own understanding. In this respect, I apply this principle to the music I play and listen to. I plan to voice these thoughts as the main focus of this blog. Although I would never limit myself to this, many other idea will ensue with the most common likely being the music I am currently listening to and new albums or music news that should come my way.

If you have made it this far, thanks for already putting up with me. More will surely come. I hope that you are intrigued and can relate and learn from my opinions. Thanks.

-Jordan