The Instrumental Blog

Still Feel Gone: Ramones - Mania

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:25:44 -0400

I love this blog.

“I Wanna Be Sedated” - Ha Ha Ha, turn that off! I wouldn’t buy that in a million years! Mishugina music! Oi! That gave me a belly ache! Who buys that, who’s buying that? I don’t know what kind of people, but people.

“Sheena is a Punk Rocker” - It’s crazy. Tell them to get someone…

Making The Music I Want To Make

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:30:00 -0400

I don’t. I don’t make the music I want to make, that is. I make the music I’m physically, technologically, and financially able to make; and I like it. No, I love it. Though I still feel totally restrained, and it’s frustrating to have something in my head that I, for numerous reasons, cannot recreate.

I’ve been locked into my acoustic guitar for way too long now. I finally broke free a bit from it ,and it’s like I’ve shed the most constricting, uncomfortable snake skin. Funny thing is, I didn’t spend a dime to obtain it. I just parted ways with my Harry Potter books and my sister parted ways with her first guitar.

I don’t own an electric. I don’t own an amp. I don’t own any fancy pedals. I just have the bare minimum to make music (though thankfully having a Mac means I can experiment a bit). I bum around. Trading this, borrowing that. I can’t go forever with just an acoustic. That’s why I started a band. I needed to hear, in reality, what I hear in my head or I’d just get so bored I would stop playing.

There is one type of music that I have a lot of respect for—electronic music. Not the stuff where it’s a dude and a computer on a stage. (That’s the polar opposite of impressive.) I mean the LCD Soundsystems, the Faints and the Liquid Liquids of the world. Making dance music with real instruments. Real songwriting underlined with pure fucking pandemonium.

Every since I heard the Faint’s Wet From Birth when I was 14 or 15, it immediately struck me as the coolest music I had ever heard. On Record Store Day 2011, I finally picked up a copy of Wet From Birth on vinyl and listened to it in solitude with my AKGs. It still rang out as some cool ass music. The deep bass and synthisized spazz-outs were as fun 7 years later (that’s weird to say).

That record in particular is just special. I remember it was probably one of the first of many my sister and I bonded on. She came home to show me this strange song about being born called “Birth.” We were both so mystified by it. She went out and bought a copy. When she refused to share with me, I bought a copy and played it endlessly.

There’s something about pining over the minutia of an analogue synthesizer that just seems so exciting to me. I’ve come across a few little Moogs in my day, and I am totally entranced by them. When I do play electric guitar, which is more often now with hands&knees, I am known to have a serious case of the “dgaf’s” when it comes to tone and intricate bullshit. The way I play guitar, it doesn’t matter.

Twitching one little knob on a Moog can make something that sounds lame and cliche into the next big hook-leading synth tone. It’s why electronic music is so exciting. There are so many possibilities. This is the same reason why folk music is so damn boring.

So please, dude from City and Colour, go back to that hardcore band you’re in.

Oh and Andy Hull, stop that Joni Mitchell crap you’ve been pumping out as Right Away, Great Captain. Manchester Orchestra is the one of the best rock bands around. #wasteofeveryonestime

I digress.

I’ve also been really intrigued by Panda Bear’s new effort, Tomboy. I read an interview today where he was explaining how he made the record. Basically there was this one “white box” (solid term there, Noah) that he line inputted everything through. It was this crazy lookin’ Korg module. Panda Bear and Animal Collective’s creative process is just so…otherworldly. The fact that the process is so different make me want to do it even more. Not being able to do what you want is as bad as not doing anything at all.

I can’t end this entry with out at least mentioning that of all the electronic artists that influence me, LCD Soundystem is the pinnacle of perfection. Great songwriting (most times), flawless execution, never a dull moment.

So to all of the 5 people who care about the music I make: fear not, I still want to rock. I just want to make you dance too.

Screw guitars tonight, guys. I just want to dance.

Review: Brett Dennen - Loverboy

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:00:00 -0400

Too many people take things too seriously. Too many bands take themselves too seriously. Not many people have fun with music these days. It’s a drag. Music is seen as a serious art, and rightfully so, but it should be a fun thing to be a part of. A small percentage of people actually have the ability to make good music, so they might as well make the most of it and have fun, right?

These pet peeves I have, just don’t exist on Brett Dennen’s new record, Loverboy. It’s even the modern singer/songwriter’s job to be a drag and yet, he avoids it at all costs. Loverboy is loose, fun and groovy. Three attributes I find indispensable in music these days.

I’ve been listening to Brett Dennen for a hot minute now, and the one thing that has bugged me about his music is that he’s always trying to be profound. He’s always trying to “bring people together” with his “social commentary”. Brett, that stuff is for the middle age songwriters who have nothing to write about. It took some time, but finally, he is young.

On the new record he’s singing about youth and love, 20-something youth and love. And it couldn’t feel more fresh. As much as I try to convince myself otherwise, there will always be something incredibly appealing about songs about women and youth. (Fear not, the whole record is not love songs.)

Though the record is pretty long, it flies by pretty quick. Even with the 6 minute jam, “Queen of the Westside,” everything seems to be in a proper place.

Other highlights like “Must Be Losing My Mind” and the lead single, “Sydney (I’ll Come Running)” are pop-funk gems that any human with a soul will instantly love. Dennen really took his sense of rhythm to a new level. It is highlighted over and over again throughout the album, and the grooves became the reason I couldn’t stop listening.

The long and short of it is, yes, you should hear this record. It grooves hard, and Dennen’s songwriting has grown immensely. It’s an undeniable summer record just in time for rolled down windows. Rarely do you get a singer/songwriter putting out something that’s not sappy and/or way too serious. I immediately latched on to Loverboy and I haven’t let go quite yet.

I figured I’d announce this here as well: hands&knees...

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:21:14 -0400

I figured I’d announce this here as well: hands&knees is the name of the band I started with 4 of my bestest bros. Here’s the facebook page.

Negative Reviews

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:00:06 -0400

Recently, I’ve made my mind up about writing negative reviews. I feel extremely negative towards them. I won’t do it. I’ve had a few publications ask me to write a review on a show or an album or a song or whatever. I’ll always go or listen. I’m always up for new music. Sometimes, I’ll really not like whatever I’m suppose to review and it will takes me such a long time to articulate exactly why a band sucks. I’m wasting a ton of creative energy on something or someone that failed at creating. It’s counter-productive.

I make my mind up on something fairly quickly. If I don’t like something on first listen, I’m probably never going to listen to it again. Unless there is a really good reason to, which there never is.

I stewed on this for a few days and it’s just not worth the time.

Let’s take Harry Nilsson’s Nilsson Schmilsson for example (an album I actually love with every ounce of my being). Let’s say I put on this album. I listen to it. I hate the originality. I hate the amazing vocal abilities of Nilsson. I hate the ingenius songwriting. I hate the perfect production and sequencing and humor and feeling of Nilsson Schmilsson.

Why even bother on continue listening? Why bother wasting a good chunk of your day writing about why someone shouldn’t ever listen to this album?

They say, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”. And that idea comes into effect here.

If you really don’t like something, why put it up on display for all to read about? Most times people are more curious to hear bad music than good music. It’s the Rebecca Black effect. Shitty music brings people together.

If I truly hated the magnum opus that is Nilsson Schmilsson, I’d want it to die a trillion deaths and never mentioning it in the first place is the best way to do that.

In the 70s, bad music faded into obscurity, it didn’t become well known for being bad.

Sometimes I wish I could live in that world.

Haiku Review: Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues + a little more.

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 02:06:00 -0400

Out with the old jamz

In with something similar

ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

I originally wrote a Haiku Review 12 hours after it leaked, after only hearing it once or twice. The original was kind of snarky and scathing, which i’ve concluded is a waste of time. I came to the conclusion that I didn’t give it a fair chance. After 5 or 6 more spins, I realized that while I love when bands evolve (like the Strokes), not everything has to change. I couldn’t imagine Fleet Foxes sounding any other way. Honestly, I guess the record has enough unique sounds to make me want to listen again. “Helplessness Blues”, “The Shrine/An Argument”, “Batterie Kenzie” and “Lorelai” are strong enough to bring me back to this one.

Good work boys, sophomore slump lays dormant this time.

Solitary Confinement: My Beatles Journey - The Early Years

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 14:11:35 -0400

So the second installment of Beatles nerdfest 2011 was published in MTSU’s sidelines right here. Parts three and four will come soon!

The Re-rebirth of the Cool

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:58:00 -0400

In 1948, Miles Davis defined ‘cool’ with The Birth of the Cool. For years he emulated everything that was cool. He had the look. That certain “don’t give a fuck” attitude. and he was stupid good at his craft.

All kings, merchants and ambassadors of cool have these traits.

So when Miles stopped being cool around 1965, Frank Sinatra claimed the cool thrown and held on to it until he kicked it.

When he died, it was 1998, a very uncool year. NSYNC put out their first album, Van Halen III somehow existed and a very cool band (Spoon) was deemed uncool by the label big wigs. Which just isn’t cool.

But something beyond cool was born: The Strokes. More importantly, the heir to the cool throne, Julian Casablancas.

I witnessed his cool first hand in August 2010 at Chicago’s Lollapalooza.

Julian just gripped the mic and howled his way through the Strokes’ set, not giving a shit that the biggest pop star on earth was on the other side of the park. Why didn’t he care? Because he knew everyone who mattered was there to see him and his band. The ocean of people seemed never-ending.

Do I really think that Julian Casablancas is the coolest living human on earth? Yes. Need proof? He still managed to be cool in this video. Which is a feat in its self.

There needs to be a king of cool at all times. No questions asked. JC’s got the crown for the foreseeable future. Say what you want about his music…

but that motherfucker is cool.

Who do you think is as cool as Julian? Jack White is a close 2nd in my book.

New band debuting 4/7/11

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:25:35 -0400

hey guys. In two weeks I will be debuting a band I started with a few of my best friends. I couldn’t be more excited. We’ll be playing songs you (probably) dont know and songs you (probably) know. It’ll be at bhofs and it would be mean a lot if you came. more info soon. thanks.

-garreth

Solitary Confinement: My Beatles Journey

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:09:00 -0400

I listened to the Beatles for two weeks straight and wrote a 4-part column on it. Here is part one as it appears in MTSU’s Sidelines.

-garreth

Tell me how much I suck!

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:43:00 -0400

Hello friends,

After some scouring, I’ve made it so you can comment on my posts. Anyone can comment. Tell me I’m right, tell me i’m wrong, tell me to give up, tell me I look like Dolph Lungren. Tell me anything and get a conversation going. Just click the post title to pull up the comment box.

For all you forward tumblrs, you can do the same to your blog by going to disqus.com and signing up and setting it up. It’s fairly easy, just takes some basic interweb know-how.

Byebye for now.

-garreth

ps. I just got really into Stevie Wonder this week. If you haven’t heard this song. You should. Now.

Weird Life: Melody/Lyrics

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:17:00 -0400

Alright folks, for those of you who disagree, you should probably check yourself. Melody is the most important thing in a song. Yeahokay, AC/DC was memorable more for their fat nasty riffs, but I wasn’t put on this earth to make fat nasty riffs (if you dig enough, you can find proof of that). If you’re not attempting to write a memorable melody, than you should probably re-prioritize.

Personally, I find that a melody and words should kind of come together. That’s just how I’ve been doing it recently. Any time I find a melody, it’s usually because I take a phrase (something someone said, another interesting song title, or a great line from a song) and sing/hum/mutter a simple melody that that phrase naturally fits into. Make sense? An example I can make of that is this little melody I have here titled “Young Blood” (warning; when I do melody sketches, they may sound terrible because I, in fact, am totally tone deaf sometimes…this is no exception):

Young Blood melody sketch by Garreth Spinn

So I just spit out these words, almost with no real conscious lyric direction. The lyrics you hear are what just came out off the top of my head (hence why they don’t make too much sense). Dissecting the lyrics a bit I can kind of see a theme of opening up to someone or someone opening up to you. Which is something I’ve never really explored lyrically. Here’s the first draft of lyrics. You can see I did some editing of the original verse into something more logical.

Verse: Young blood/Trying hard to be undone/Every way you’ve begun/Stretching out the truth

Verse: Old days/Tell me bout your old ways/Even if they’re tasteless/Or too soon

Chorus: I’ve been…Running all around/Talking to my self/Telling everyone/“take me off the shelf”/I’m past due/Kickin’ at the dirt/Like a little boy/Shutting off the lights/Naming asteroids/After you

Verse: Young bones/Finding ways to let it go/Those silly girls who show no/Sign of remorse

Verse: Old hearts/Wishing for a new start/Years of being apart from/Anything adored

Bridge or Final Verse(?): Old friends/Always hitting dead ends/Never wanting lenses/To see clear…and they never hear.

Next time I’ll toy around with some chord progressions. Pretty sure I know what I’m going do but for this purpose I’ll experiment.

I’m just hoping this song is good and I don’t embarrass myself.

-garreth

Weird Life: Introduction

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 17:48:00 -0400

I love writing songs and I think i’m starting to understand it more and more. I guess there was a time I thought I knew what I was doing. I’d pump out song after song and they had no real point or objective. Basically just a bunch of blibber blabber set to ‘song’. Things have changed and I’ve become far more focused in this craft.

Okay here’s my objective: Essentially I am going write a song and document every step right here. This could be interesting/interactive or it could totally boring and a massive train wreck. Either way, I’ll be here dissecting my self and whatever song comes out. Hopefully the song doesn’t completely blow.

Until next time…

I have a weird life because I live on songwriting royalties, which are a strange income. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn’t.

-Joe Strummer

Full Disclosure: I stole this Idea from Andrew Bird/the New York Times.

Haiku Review: The Strokes - Angles

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:05:25 -0400

For all the old fans.

Give up on your hopes and dreams.

Music must evolve.

Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:26:00 -0400

Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math:

This song is one of a kind. From the moment I heard it to the countless times I’ve listened since, it blew me away. It should put them on the map. Beautiful song, amazing lyrics. Andy Hull perfection.

Review: Ron Sexsmith - Long Player Late Bloomer

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:10:00 -0400

Elvis Costello was right when he said that Ron Sexsmith is cursed. He came at the wrong time. He was thirty years too late. He came at a time when Hip Hop was on the rise, albums were overlooked and under-appreciated. Ron kept on keeping on. His gift for melody was always in the forefront and only grew stronger with time. I think Ron grew tired of the constant commercial strikeouts that paired with critical hailing, so he called up producer Bob Rock (Metallica, Bryan Adams, Michael Buble) to swing for the fences. The result is the irresistible Long Player Late Bloomer.

I got a live preview of most of the record at the International Folk Alliance conference in Memphis, TN. I knew some of the old songs he played, but he always announced the new songs before he played them. Every time he played a new song throughout the conference, the room erupted when it ended. It was a subtle hint that if enough people hear this record, it could do some serious work.

The record itself is as slick as could be without compromising the songs Ron beautifully crafted. The melodies are bouncy and smooth. These songs sound classic upon first listen.

One late album highlight, “Eye Candy”, tells of an evening Ron had at a local bar where a couple of “drunken socialites” were rubbin’ all up on him (spoiler: he wasn’t feelin’ it). When he debuted the song in Memphis, it got tons of laughs and everyone had the chorus down by song’s end.

This could easily be in my top five albums in 2011. It’s easy to get through. All the songs have value and he tells great stories and sings like a bird. Not much else you could really want. Hopefully this record does its job and gives this late bloomer a second start.

Here’s the hot opening jam from this record - “Get In Line”

test. test.

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:28:00 -0400

This is a test.

I’m starting my career in blogging over.

I’ll be writing about music. My music. Other’s music.

we’ll see.

-garreth