Oh What a Year

Okay, this was supposed to be a songwrite blog originally, but I've re-appropriated it since I have not done much songwriting this year. Although, in fairness, I must make a note that I've done more songwriting this year than I have in the past six years, which is a nice re-start to one of my favorite activities.

I wrote a song earlier this year for my lovely wife, called "Love's Coming Down", and I gave it to her for her birthday. It's a pretty good song, and the first love song, like TRUE love song that I ever wrote. She loved it. Not sure what to do with it, as it really wouldn't work in a band setting, but it's in the collection nonetheless.

The next song was written a couple of months later, and it's called "Disappointed One Track Mind", which is not a great title, but the song came out just fantastic. It's not much of a rock song either, but it has a nice Elvis Costello ditty-vibe that I like, something that could have been on "King of America" or something (nice compliment to myself there). That one is a very good song and gives me hope for the future of my writing abilities.

Anyway, I'll try to post more about songwriting, when the fact is that most of my days these days are spent working on marketing, and blogging in other places about SEO and Digital Advertising.

But I'll be back as much as I can to talk about music... my first love.

Have a great December and a Happy New Year!

Boomient Consulting for SEO and Web Marketing Intelligence

Just a quick announcement to promote my new company, Boomient. I started it this year following a career of 18 years in the advertising and marketing industry, where I worked for large agencies. Now I'm doing my own thing as a small Digital Marketing and SEO consultancy. I take on small to large businesses and help them define their Internet Presence and increase their marketing and communication footprint on the web.

We do research, marketing, SEO, and we are fast becoming WordPress site experts who can build you a fantastic website at a very low investment.

check out my site if you get a chance, and send any clients my way!
Thanks,
Jim

Here's the website:
SEO ROI and Digital Marketing

I almost forgot, here is the link to that story about the Beatles themed barbershop

Beatles Barbershop on Penny Lane

Penny Lane, there is a Barber showing photographs

I just read a really fun Beatles story.  It seems that the famous Penny Lane in Liverpool, has never had a barbershop on it, despite the famous lyrics to the contrary.  Well, one enterprising Liverpudlian has decided to cash in on the idea and open his barbershop on Penny Lane.  Sounds like a good enough idea, but apparently the bloke has been literally inundated with eager fans wanting to get their hair cut on Penny Lane, and naturally, to also have him take their picture and post it on the wall so that he can be true to the idea that he will be "showing photographs of every head he's had the pleasure to know".

This has got me thinking that there are probably dozens of other ideas within Beatles songs where one could start up a business in Liverpool based around a particular location.  Although I suppose Strawberry Fields is not open for commercial business.

Anyway, anyone who follows this blog knows that I've written quite a bit about the new Beatles USB Apple product that came out in December, which contains high-resolution showing files of the entire Beatles box set.  Apparently, the files are what they call DRM free, at least the MP3 files are, so you could buy the product, and then return it to the store.  The perfect crime.  I suppose some people don't feel any twinges of guilt having already paid for the Beatles catalog one or two or three times throughout the history of recorded music.

Anyway, I have made a few updates to my review of this audiophile Beatles product, and you can check out my page here: Beatles USB Box Set

one more link:
Granite restoration – Boston and North Shore

I am He as You are He as You Are Me

Geez, I have so many personas going on these days I don't even know what to think and who to be.  I am doing a variety of things to keep myself busy, but blogging about music has not really been one of them.

I can only offer this humble reco for today.  If you are a math-rock fan, do check out a band called Battles.  They are quite amazing and have a level of sophistication for both instumental and lyrical music that I haven't heard from a modern band in a long while.

Hope to be back with more Beatles analysis soon.




Best Albums of the 00s Decade

Let Me Take You Down, Cuz I'm Going....

There is lots of Beatles news going on these days. Rumours are that Paul McCartney is getting married this year in a secret ceremony to his new American sweetheart. Ringo has a new album out and has apparently found God after many decades. The John Lennon museum in Japan is closing down after 10 years. And George... well, okay I don't have any George news.

But it's time to re-invigorate the intent of this blog as a music appreciation source, and what better than to pick up where I left off with the Beatles.  I wrote an article claiming that the Beatles' Sgt Pepper is the most overrated album in the history of music, and I've received a lot of flack for that.  But I stand by my statements: Beatles Sgt Pepper Overrated

However I've been listening to Pepper a lot and I think it's time I sung it's praises a bit as well, lest my readers think I am not the Beatles-bleeding fan that I actually am.

It's not that 'Pepper' is not great, it's just that it's got a few holes that need fixing, next to the bright spots.  Let's talk about those bright spots.  "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" is easily one of the best Beatles songs, a truly inspired (and drug-induced I suppose) wonder from the fertile minds of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.  There are some other songs from the 60s that paint this sort of colorful dreamscape, but none do it with the panache and combination of childlike wonder and professional songwriting sophistication that you find on this track.  And unlike some other Pepper tracks that I have a problem with, LSWD is served perfectly by the production stylings and overuse of stereo on this track, as it is meant to shock and surprise the listener by virtue of its sonics as well as it's lyrical imagery and melodic bouncing.

Another track on Pepper that is not widely discussed is the opener of Side 2 (back when there were actually sides), and that is the brilliant George Harrison composition "Within You, Without You".  Many people are bored by this tune because it is really not a Beatles song (none of the other Beatles even played on it), and doesn't quite fit the rest of the album because it is so exotic-sounding.  However, as I've gotten older this track has really seeped into my soul, for reasons having to do with the complex musical mix going on in it, as well as the spiritual and holistic message of the words... "you will find peace of mind is waiting there.... life flows on within you and without you".  I always thought he meant "without you" in the breakup sense, but now I realize he just meant inside and outside, in a spiritual sense.  It's a wonderful lyric, and the indian music combined with a decidedly Western pop sensibility makes this track unique and special among any music made by the Beatles or by any other band I can think of.

Why aren't there any artists around anymore who even attempt to make music this way, by virtue of experimentation with new instruments, odd song structures, served up in a melodic pop context.  Can you even name one?  There's lots of little indie bands that I love who write tuneful music, but no one seems to pursue the grand ambition that the Beatles had... maybe there's not a market for it anymore, or maybe the record companies talk them out of it.  And to think... the Beatles were putting out a record every 6 months at the time they made Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt Pepper.




Beatles USB Box Set

The Soothing Sounds of TOOL

Is it possible that Tool is actually an easy listening band? It's weird, I don't normally like anything metal or too aggressive, and there are tons of crappy bands who churn out this sort of LA heavy rock that I just can't stand.

But Tool is in a different category to me. They are intelligent, deep, almost alien, and do not neatly fit into the "metal" category, despite the intense razorburn guitar sound and mammoth production style. I actually find them soothing. Maynard's voice has a lilting quality to it that is oddly comforting, and the wash of bass and guitars working with his voice, over a strange math-rock rhythm, just makes me feel like I'm listening to music that improves my brain.

All Hail Tool!

They are on my best of the decade list, which you can see here:

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