The Kerosene Quarter

Vids fine but song seems to carry a different vibe without it.
Maybe watch it first time around cause really, your curiosity will win right? Then after…If you like, give a second listen and close your eyes…open your imagination.

Notice how the Beatles sound is a huge influence on this band.
I’ve been thinking about album sounds lately.
These albums posted today are more found sounds..along the way. I want to make my own album true to what I am while being respectful to root sounds that peoples ears can find some relation with.
Something about each truthful album defines its unique voice/mood/attitude.
When i go into the studio, I’ll need to know what I’m looking to create at least in part. In my looking for sounds I hope to in the end be able to shut them out as well. In the end I hope to throw concepts, rules, ideas and influences away far enough and long enough to clear space and simply get out of the way long enough so the musical voice/spirit can come out sounding like IT wants to. If its true it I should be as surprised by it as anyone else by its freshness and a familiarity all in one.
Maybe too much conceptualizing for one night. Usually things turn out waaay differently than planned. Good thing for that!

Onto the modern

Everything finds a

place

Some of it stays and grows

for a while

Ahh, a fresh new album

I walked into a thinned out music store and saw 2 older gentleman with their eyes nearly closed, heads tilted up and sidewise toward music speakers so their ears could hear better. Then I heard the music, this low baritone voice and harmonies that immediately made me nod an inner recognition to quality and craft. This was music from another era. It smacked of a feeling, a time gone by. This the song they were playing on the Stereo. (Click it above) The older guy say’s, “Ahh listen to that, who’s going to cut a track like this anymore?”
. He looks around the near empty room. “They worked with Stan Kenton”
“Wonderful” “Ahh best music ever”
The conversation continued but I felt my initial interest waning.
His love for the art was apparent in his heartfelt tone. He was also nodding his head a bit in appreciation and in sorrow for something that he felt was lost on todays music culture. I knew he must have been a musician with Stories of his own to tell, but i don’t like nostalgia that is tinged with an underlieng complaint and I felt one was just under the surface about to rise.
Instead of lamenting, I got excited about how the Beach Boys must have gleaned many ideas for their vocal style from this band. It really sounds like horn lines to me, big band arrangements done up in four part voices. Meanwhile, I perused the music store with an ear and eye on the older men. I can appreciate trips down memory lane, but I made a note to myself to stay open in my older years. I want to appreciate my times and music but I dont want to get caught in a time period, I don’t want to be an old dude who thinks his times and music were best and all else pales… Appreciate it, miss it but hey man your alive now, why all this living in the past? This is sheer nostalgia. That said… I havn’t heard vocal harmonies like this in modern pop music in ages.

I knew it was coming, and then he said it as I left. In the old man voice we have all heard before “They dont make music like this anymore” I knew there was a hint of disdain under it but I understood. Their is often enough less Talent and craft that goes into much of popularized music today. The old guys /girls often played multiple instruments, studied in Paris, NYC and learned on the road. They could sing, write, compose, they knew styles of music. Guys who have penned some of the most famous pop songs you ever heard, guys like Charles Fox and Quincy Jones paid there dues long ago. I appreciate that they can also orchestrate, play keys, compose etc. I appreciate musicians, artists, anyone in any field really who studies their craft with passion. I’m not down on todays music. Some of it is Amazing! Sure I don’t listen to most of the main stream stuff it but It’s not aimed for me anymore than a Big Mac is marketed for me. I know better. I dont eat or listen to garbage. I know where to get good organic food. Musically, I know there are also many serious musicians in every era so I’m not into looking backwards and bemoaning today. Let’s seek out or even make something new! Something Soulful.
I closed the door behind me. I was already looking forward to letting this music seep in and hearing new ways to make these vocal harmonies fresh again in a modern way. I thought to myself…about the parting words partially aimed at my ear… And whispered inaudibly, “No they don’t make music like that anymore but I’m sure glad someone did. Thanks for the new lead. Enjoy your memories my friend.”