28 oct. 2007
Writing, Recording, TV and Movies
For the last 5 weeks or so I've been going through all the tunes I can think of that I've written, looking to find which 20 I should really focus on for album track selection. I thought it was going to be a lot easier, but I've never been good at letting things go that I've held on to for so long. I keep telling myself is that the songs that don't belong on this record could always have an audience on the next one and that's making me feel better about sending so many to the chopping block.
Slim, Darwin, and Lemony have been the greatest roommates of all time here in Nashville. They are real troopers as they learn and re-learn and re-work tunes over again as I go mad deciding which ones I like the best and how I like them played. Not an easy job the three of them have! But no one's departed yet and they appear to still like me. Appear...
I feel a lot closer than I ever have to making this record. I've got several new songs that have become favorites even above other songs I've always loved to play and thought I'd record with certainty this time around. The musicians I've met down here and this scene of writing openly with one another has blown my songwriting wide open. I think these are the best songs I've ever written and it feels really good to say that. The extended time it has taken so far to prepare for this recording process has been well worth it. If not to anyone else, then at least to me. I think we have all made some intelligent decisions about which songs should make the final cut for this album. My next session in the studio will be sometime in mid-November with a new friend of mine, Dan Huff, guiding the way and playing along. I can't wait to have the chance to play for you what we create. Onward!
So here's the thing, I have a confession to all those who believe I retain some semblance of "cool" or "cred" or any such word that I am now not if I ever was. During a recent few days off from rehearsing I was on the couch eating some snacks with friends and all of a sudden I realized we had just watched three episodes of Hannah Montana without removing ourselves from the view of the TV. What does that mean? I don't even know how it happened. I think one of us clicked on it for fun, some jokes were made, the channel was never changed and everyone remained completely silent for an hour and a half. What a great show. I really liked it...ah, poo! I'll never be as cool as Bright Eyes now. That's all I've ever wanted... So, there you have it. Wait not for my cool, friends, it won't come!
Did everyone see Josh Kelley in LA? I missed it. Wanted to go. Bet it was rockin', too. Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers are in Nashville Tuesday and I will be here. Always a good show and they are tour friends so I must say hello!
I really want to mention the new movie "The Kingdom" and say that if you haven't already seen it I really recommend it. I thought it was so interesting and really brought perspective to the articles and black and white photos I've seen in the newspaper articles. The Middle East is just this place I always hear about that seems so unreal. This movie takes place in Saudi Arabia and really brought the country and its people to life for me. I just kept thinking throughout the movie that we're so involved with countries in that region and I know so very little about them (or you, if you're reading this from that area of the world). I felt I haven't done as much as I can to be familiar with that culture so I'm going to open myself up to that more. Maybe some reading, or some music, maybe? The great thing about art is that some of you might not enjoy this movie, but what it's done for me is priceless.
Talk soon, everyone!
Tyler