Influences

Music That Inspires me (besides of course the beatles...)

I like to go on music fasts... listening to and playing very little or no music at all... In a short time I hear the music in my head and it is amplified because outside influences, i.e: radio, mtv and even muscle memory have been squelched...

I listen to other people's work and try to figure out what they're about because I'm intrinsically attracted to them. I've been that way with many different kinds of bands, singers, guitarists, or whomever. A few examples have been (not in any particular order) kd lang, the smiths, tom petty, ian mcculloch, lyle lovett, u2, the police, james taylor, chrissie hynde and nrbq. Disparate? Not to me. (I could add to this list all day...)

I get a real kick out of Beck, I'd like to hear more of him. But I'm real tired of most of the "alternative" white suburban pseudo-angst... No disrespect, for the respectable and I'm not saying there isn't a place for anger as an expression... But how long can you keep making the same musical point? My idea of "Alternative" embraces a variety of creative approaches and sensibilities to music. Why do I only hear anger? or sophomoric - "I cant play %#@* or sing in key and I don't care if I ever learn...attitude." At least some realize that Neil Young has soul and knows the zen of rocking!

Timeless Musicians
I admire musicians with interesting chord progressions (although the songs I write tend to have more sparse changes) and I've studied them, for example james taylor SOUNDS simple on the surface because his music is direct. But just take a look at one of his song books! Such elegant progressions... Graceful... This man is deep on many levels. Another and more important thing about ol' JT is, when you hear him live especially, the funky man has got SOUL! Love you JT! If you're out there!

I've been listening to:

• Elvis Costello
  I been revisiting this little genius! He is so refreshing to hear, He was on Fresh Air (NPR) two times recently (one was an archive edition) and performed and acoustic version of Almost Blue that was tremendous. Terry Gross is such a good interviewer and Elvis was very receptive and revealing on both shows. This is a man, like me who enjoys all kinds of music and isn't afraid to admit it! Does it take his edge off? No, he is still who he is!
  Clubland! What a tantalizing, haunting song. Beautiful piano, Elvis telling it like it is, in earnest... What is so remarkable about elvis is, as he's ripping through an intense vocal performance only afterwards do his haunting, emphatic melodies grab you!
  

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Drop me a cyberline if you are so moved...brumley@webzone.net

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