Reading the critiques of JD (Flashpointe) on his similarities to Prince I started thinking about how others may view my own musical style or lack of it. It seems that most people have a certain genre that they stick to with a few exceptions. Musicianship, phrasing, vocal styling usually gives everyone a commonality in their tunes. I don't know that I really stick to a certain genre or if I should. What genre are you guys? What genre am I? How do we classify ourselves?? Since I like a wide variety of stuff I must figure I owe it to myself to explore them. Maybe I'll find one I'm really good at. Just thinking out loud...sorry.

ah don't put a box around ya'self.

You haven't thus far and that's your style. The only thing that's totally consistant in your recordings is all that reverb on your vocals. I'd like to hear you do a number without it.

Rock-on-08

yamomma said:

Hahaha. Actually, I just use a couple different settings on that Zoom thingie I record on. One has a lot of reverb and echo and the other really doesn't. For example, strip it and touch me again are the latter setting. I really didn't add the 'verb. Thanks for the kind words, yamomma!

In the stuff of yours that I've heard, I felt like you were still searching for a style - hesitant to open up your shell and let your freak flag fly too high, if that makes sense.

The Funk Anthem was probably the most pointed thing you've done - in that, it seemed like there was a "YOU" in there trying to get out. I don't know if this makes any sense...

See, to me, the style thing is a combination of a couple of things. It is partially your ability to fuse your influences. So, for me, it's P, SRV and Hutchence. For Flashpointe, it's P, Clinton, Zapp. (just my opinion, nobody go beating me down). However, the STYLE part comes from taking that fusing and then pushing your own ID through it all.

So that, when you listen to Prince, you hear Sly, James Brown, Joni Mitchell, whatever, but there is a strong sense of self coming through as well, unafraid of critique (most times) and willing to show you the guts.

With your stuff, so far, I feel like you're still trying to find the guts, still trying to find the musical direction, influences and insides - and trying to figure out how to present it.

Now, my opinion could be based on a million things, so, take it for what it's worth, (free). In your recordings, I hear stereo chorused guitars, a gruff voice and very boxy arrangements -- boxy meaning, I dunno, I feel like what I'm hearing is a rough rough demo, almost a notepad of ideas that will be fleshed out/fixed later. I would really like to hear you take one of your songs and re-record the whole thing, paying special attention to detail musically, but at the same time, trying to open yourself up - open up the arrangement - LET the opening hang on the one for 8 measures with just the guitar and bass drum - I dunno... experiment.

To put it another way, I hear in YOU what I was doing maybe 8 years ago... after my first big metal band, but before the blues band. The blues band taught me to open up vocally and then the funk band taught me to open up musically. THAT is what I would push you to do. Try doing two things - strip your songs down to a minimalist thing - playing chords with just two strings, don't strum - I mean, really, STRIP your songs to the bone and then explore in that area with your voice...

This is a long winded ramble. Sorry. You HAVE a style, but I think the real YOU is still buried under all that somehow. I hope this doesn't offend or come off as being all self-impressed and a know-it-all, (which, hell yes, I AM. I wont lie, it's a curse I tell you).

Okay. I'll shut up. Go strip down two songs, re-record them, and then RE-re-record them, and see what you can find about your style.

hey Tim, I was gonna say you have a Garth Brooks/Chris Gaines thing going on but you put that funk thing on us and I am not too sure now what it is. That is a good thing because we can't put you in a neat little box and close the lid. As Beau has said, don't be afraid to let the freak-within come out to take you to that next musical plateau. LETITGO so to speak.

Yeah, I think you have a style, but it is still kind of "gestating", which is a wanky term I like to use for saying it just needs to come together a little mo'.

Your style is definitely funky, but also quite sardonic lyrically. I really like that in artists like Beck and Ween and I can hear that in your music, too, so you get props from me.

As for me, my style is more melodic, I suppose Beatlesque sometimes, with a little electro and Princey/Funkadelic/Hendrix guitar thrown in. I am really into Bjork right now and I can see her influence coming across in some of the beats I've been making. I also try to whittle my arrangements down to their most essential elements, which I think is something most good artists do in order to find their own "sound". So I'd say CONDENSE the form of your compositions, learn the power of the "hook", "riff" or "motif", whatever you want to call it - oh, and don't forget to stay a little "out there", to paraphrase Otan.

Keep looking for inspiration, too, but don't let your inspiration be stealing from other artists, of course. Bottom line, I really think you have to be concise at the same time as being "out there" if you know what I mean. Learn to EDIT and find the BEST parts of your songs and compositions and then string them into an appealing form. I'm not saying I always am succesful at doing that, but it's something I really aim for, even if my results aren't always as I hear them in my head. Remember also that even the pros make mistakes and that mistakes are only there to show you what doesn't work so that you can keep finding and hammering at what DOES work.

Anyway, your stuff is cool and I look forward to hearing it gel more with some slightly more condensed arrangements, if you like. Songwriting is a craft that you have to HONE. Keep it up, bro.

Thanks guys. Beau, I've never claimed that these songs were anything more than demos that are waiting to be recorded with excellent musicians. I really prefer playing with a drummer, etc. Even though I'm in a band that plays covers these guys want to play some of my songs. They like them! I keep wanting us to record an EP of originals to sell at each of our shows, but we haven't had time yet. The music we play is just as eclectic as the stuff that I write - we should have a song list on the website soon. I'll just continue to look for my inner freakiness, I guess...haha. And I think that I manage to hide my influences well. I have learned that there is a band that does cover a variety of musical styles (ok, there's probably more than one, but this one comes to mind) and are masters of the 'hook' - Fountains of Wayne. These guys are just professional song writers. You know the theme from Crank Yankers? The song That Thing You Do? That's them! I'm not a huge fan, but they do cover a wide variety of styles. I've rambled enough. Thanks again for your comments!