The Musical Stylings of Jonny Q

Well, here’s the first batch of recorded songs. These are rough cuts with no post-recording effects. I could probably benefit from some reverb on the vocals, at least, but that’s for another time. Meg White (Reminds me of a Friend), Eden, and Never Say Sorry. You can read descriptions of these songs a couple of posts back. Yesterday, I also recorded a little version of Jimmy Eat World’s Hear You Me. It was done just kinda messing around, but I think it sounds decent. Often when I hit a low point in motivation or creativity I have to try to craft a good version of a song I like to get going again. I think it’s because I lose faith in my songwriting first, then my faith in my playing and singing goes (not that it’s far from fragile to begin with). When I do a cover, I at least know that it’s a well-written song and I have at least a halfway good chance of sounding ok on it.

Anyway. I’m having some issues with some songs. There are a few (Gun, I Know Your Name, and Letting Go, most obviously) that I just can’t seem to make good versions of on tape. I like them when I play out, but I don’t know that I’ll be able to get a recording I like. I guess they’re more like song sketches than fully developed ideas. I need a band to help me flesh them out.

I need to get away from the idea that I have to record a conventional 12-song album. I’m trying to finish writing the ones that are half-done, record them all, pick the best ones, and go with it. If it’s 10-12, awesome. If it’s three, then I guess I have a demo I can pass around. I have high hopes for a couple new ones. In the meantime, I’d love feedback on the ones I just posted (from my readership of zero). I don’t want feedback on the older two. They’re silly. Goodnight.

Music meme, via www.itsrob.com

- Put the iPod on shuffle (in my case, put the Nomad Zen Xtra on shuffle)

- Listen to 5 songs

- Write how you feel about each one

1. Garrett Sparks - (Not So) Hidden Track:

I miss Garrett! I read his blog, and it’s entertaining, but I still wish we could have been in a band together for more than one night. This is his take on the Duck Tales Theme song.

2. Sufjan Stevens - The Upper Peninsula:

Is this my favorite Sufjan song? It might be. Great ambience. It’s the one that first truly sold me on Michigan. I sometimes play it as a lead-in to “Ghost Town.”

3. The Whites - Keep on the Sunny Side:

I guess the O Brother soundtrack was my first step into getting into some roots music. This song always makes me think about how depressing so many songs from thus era are. It also makes me think about my (late) maternal grandmother. I could picture her in a group like this, even though she didn’t play music as far as I know. Nice low harmony voice though.

4. Tom Jones w/ Steven Page - Little Green Bag:

Wow. It’s amazing what’ll pop up on a 30 gig. I don’t think I’ve listened to this song since freshman year at Centre. I like it though. I wonder how it came about. Steve really divas it up on this one. Almost better than the Welshman.

5. The Beatles - Happiness is a Warm Gun:

This song makes me realize I should listen to the White album more often. It’s also one of those songs that would definitely be on the “I wish I’d written that one” list. Mother Superior jump the gun!

This is fun. I’ll probably do it again.

My parents gave me the TASCAM 8-track recorder for Christmas - the one on which I recorded Rearrange. Remember? My hit debut? Lately (when I get around to recording anything), I’ve been going straight into the computer, using a pirated Cool Edit Pro. I haven’t really been happy with any of those. Something about turning the knobs and having a big mixer in front of you feels more organic. At least for me, more organic leads to more creative.

So yeah. I’ve re-learned how to use a real analog recorder and have recorded the first two songs in the “sessions” for my long-awaited follow-up - as yet untitled. I need a working title.

I made some lists for the process.

Songs already written I want to record (9): Gun, Ghost Town, Letting Go, Later, Meg White, She’s Learned How to Disappear, Never Say Sorry, I Know Your Name, and Eden.

Songs that are partially written that need to be finished and recorded(3): This Town, Silver Girl, Untitled anti-protest/protest song.

Tonight I recorded Meg White and Never Say Sorry. I’ve talked about Meg before here, but NSS is a kind of Everybody Hurts meets Elvis Costello with a healthy dose of Jon B.’s overwraught guitar. I’ll post them when I get a stereo RCA-to-stereo mini plug converter.

I’m kinda excited about this. The rest of the songs are going to take a little more arranging and instrumentation than Meg and NSS, and I don’t think Letting Go (too synth-pop) or I Know Your Name (can’t find the feel) will make the final cut, but this is the most creating I’ve done in years. Probably since Short Story. I have a lot of questions and hopes about this, and I hope it turns out satisfactory.

Here I’ll log my ups & downs.