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Thursday, July 03, 2008
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Wednesday, July 02, 2008
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Drums and Guns
The last few months have been a whirlwind. So many changes over the past year have finally culminated in so many different ways that I can barely believe some of it's even happening. Sometimes you hope for change for so long that when it comes you wonder if it's real, and no, I'm not talking about the Obama campaign. I know that this blog is supposed to be based on the life and times of Joy Electric, so I'll keep it on track with that, but since my personal life is intertwined with JE there tends to be some overlap.
After months of searching for a new studio location, something finally fell into place and I moved in on April 1st. It's an adjustment getting used to a new space, and it took me about a month before I felt comfortable with the environment, but now it's starting to feel more like home. I had a few projects waiting in the wings so I jumped on those: producing some music for my church, a cover version of "People Like Me" (by Celluloide), finishing some mixes for Jared Colinger, and doing a remix for a band from Texas called The Evertronic, which you can listen to and buy at www.myspace.com/theevertronic
When May arrived, I continued flushing out the studio, adding more practical things, and leaving other things like analog sequencers by the wayside because they're not being called for as much. A band called The Reagan Eighties flew in from Lancaster, PA. to record a four song EP, and although we only ended up finishing three songs, I think we achieved what they were aiming for. We definitely lived up to the name of the band. Great guys, too. I flew out to Minneapolis right around the same time and played a quick show called Punk Rock Prom, which was super energetic and fun. Not a lot of shows these days, I know. The direction of my life is sort of precluding that right now, and truthfully, I need a break from it anyway. I'll be back in the thick of things come August, as I play TOM Fest and then two international fests in Singapore and The Netherlands. Should be interesting. Oh yeah, the album came out on May 27th to top the month off. A lot of polarizing opinions about it, and that's the way I like it. My thoughts? I like it, but I'm already thinking about the next one, which I want to make very beautiful, energetic and upbeat. But those are the only thoughts I have for it now, plus about ten new songs taking shape slowly but surely.
Things didn't really slow down in June. Work continued in the studio for my church and then abruptly stopped. I'm writing and recording two new songs for a debut solo release that I won't mention anything more about. I'm thinking about what kind of set I need to put together for these festivals and hope that maybe I'll have time to add a new song to the list. And right now, barely visible in the corner, is a brand new Moog Voyager OS sitting in the box, next to a couple of four and two track tape machines. It's the essence of what I love, sitting right there and I see possibilities.....but now is not the time to realize them.
So that's that, and there's a lot more where all of that came from. Music? Yeah, new Coldplay (title track is song of the year IMO, the rest...ho-hum), Martial Canterel (check it out at www.wierdrecords.com) and well, not much else, I guess. Movies? The Happening (poor M. Night), Wanted (sure, but why the we're-special-but-we're-still-street-video-game'ish dialogue?), Indiana (I guess), and...well, I think I'm just waiting to see Batman like everyone else.
Life is moving at a strange pace right now. It's the result of many things I don't feel the freedom to discuss in this type of format, but I will say that transition is hard. We stretch from one life to another, and it hurts.
I'm looking for padding, but I know where it is.
10:59 AM
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Friday, June 13, 2008
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"Rudimentary Animation"
There is another new song up from "My Grandfather, The Cubist" called, "Rudimentary Animation." Come by to check it...
The album is out now, thank you to those of you who have already gotten a copy. If not, you can get it at iTunes here - http://www.toothandnail.com/itunes_links/joy_e_cubist.php
2:43 PM
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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"My Grandfather, The Cubist" Available Now!
The new album, "My Grandfather, The Cubist" is out now. You can get it at your local record store, or online at http://www.toothandnail.com/itunes_links/joy_e_cubist.php.
There's also a new song called "I Recall The Telephone Booth" up on the page, so please stop by for a listen, or to give your thoughts on the new record.
Thank you.
12:15 AM
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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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"Victorian Intuition / Father Winter Replies"
Another new song has been posted from "My Grandfather, The Cubist" called "Victorian Intuition / Father Winter Replies" Check it...
The album is out next Tuesday, May 27th, but is available for pre-order NOW at http://www.smartpunk.com/product.php?item_id=27013
12:39 AM
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Friday, May 16, 2008
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New Song Posted, "Draw For Me, M.C. Escher"
A new song has been posted from "My Grandfather, The Cubist" called "Draw For Me, M.C. Escher." Check it out at myspace.com/joyelectric.
The album is available for pre-order NOW at http://www.smartpunk.com/product.php?item_id=27013
Another new song from "...Cubist" will also be posted on May 20th, so stay tuned.
_support_j_e
www. joyelectric. com
10:49 AM
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Friday, April 18, 2008
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Tracks of My Tears.
Finishing an album is a whirlwind. Last minute changes, last minute songs, last minute mixes....it's not done until you get it back from the mastering plant, and even then there might be problems....as there was with this one! Everything gets worked out in the end, but you have to learn to let go and be content with what you have before you. The alternative is...well....toiling incessantly, nitpicking excessively, and finding any excuse not to finish. At some point you have to say "enough! there's always the next one....."
I'm still too close to the record to give a balanced overview, but I will say that I'm fairly happy with most of it. It feels like the realization of something I've been pursuing for far too long and finally a sound I'd like to grow from and develop further. It's unabashedly melodic, and probably more so than any record I've done, which sounds funny to say. What I mean is that most of the musical parts are comprised of melody lines rather than sound effects or dischordant electronic textures, which is an idea I've never consciously pursued to this extent because I really like texturing. It reminds me of some of the early songs and it's hard to believe that it took me this long to be able to make an entire record in the manner with which this one was made. The question always comes back to: will anyone notice or care about the confounded method? Of course not, but for me it's about establishing my own set of challenges and then trying to accomplish them...however long it takes. Breathe out now, Ronnie, breathe out.....
1. Victorian Intuition / Father Winter Replies
2. Rudimentary Animation
3. Draw for Me, M.C. Escher
4. Four Gone Pierre (or What Electricity Made)
5. The First Time I Loved Her it Was Here
6. I Recall the Telephone Booth
7. On Being Principally Utopian
8. Whether By Horse, or Horseless
9. Only Copernicus
10. Prelude to Cubism
11. My Grandfather, the Cubist
12. Cubism Interlude
7:43 AM
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Sunday, March 30, 2008
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Tour Journal - Sunday Afternoon
Sitting at O’Hare Airport waiting for my flight home. The show last night went well....we played:
1. Instrumental opener
2. My Grandfather, the Cubist
3. Four Gone Pierre
4. Rudimentary Animation
5. I Recall the Telephone Booth
6. Draw for Me, M.C. Escher
7. Red Will Dye these Snows of Silver
8. The Matterhorn
9. Monosynth
10. The Ministry of Archers
11. Dance to Moroder
12. The Ushering in of the Magical Era
I want to thank everyone who came out, as well as Freezepop who is always very nice. Minneapolis has always been a great city for JE. The show wrapped early, so Josh and I hit the road to try and make up some time on our way back to Chicago.
The run has been solid and uneventful, which is in stark contrast to Autobahn weekend. It’s kind of fun to watch the faces go by as I sit here in the terminal. The difference in people’s facial expressions can be dramatic....you see the scowling, frustrated types right alongside happy, bemused, enthusiastic ones, both frantically hurrying to wait at their gate. I hope to be the latter in this life, but I fear that I’m too often the former. How many of us live a "hurry up and wait" life? I know I have and do, but I also realize the futility of reaching for things that have no eternal value. I’m concerned about the things that I have spent a lifetime thinking, slaving and sweating over, because I know that many of them have limited the potential of other, more worthwhile things. Another song, another show? Maybe, but it needs to be...different...and I don’t know that it can be.
It’s time to wait.
4:13 PM
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Saturday, March 29, 2008
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Tour Journal - Saturday Afternoon
Show last night in Madison went well....packed house and we played six songs from the new album...met some old and new faces...good time. We proceeded to get a little lost finding our way out of the Madison maze...thank you Google Maps (ok, it was probably our fault, too) and ended up finding a place outside of town about 1:30am.
I’m sitting at a Caribou Coffee in Minneapolis at the moment contemplating a long night ahead. I’d like to do a couple of other new songs tonight if it feels right, but I don’t know. I’m already thinking about the next album now since I just compiled six new songs that will go on it that I’m ridiculously excited about, but....there’s no time and energy to jump into that right now (which would simply be insanity anyway)....I have other music that needs to be started and finished.
That new Radiohead album has grown on me leaps and bounds since I threw it aside upon first listen. Normally it would have stayed buried at the bottom of a pile of forgotten discs in the car, but I’ve been so bored with my music collection lately that I just ended up putting it in and giving it some repeated listens. There’s nothing instant on it but the production is so tops that it’s hard to ignore.
I find it tough to be away from home when all of me feels like it’s still there. I have so many things I need to do, besides just living and being home, that I feel like I’ve been tapping my toes in impatience for the last two days.
I need to get back on that plane. I really do.
1:13 PM
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Friday, March 28, 2008
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Tour Journal - Friday AM
Yes, it’s early....4 AM’ish. On the left of this page I see a photo of myself from Autobahn three weeks ago and wonder what this trip will bring. Funnily enough, I already have some of the fondest memories of that weekend. In spite of the ridiculous circumstances which culminated with an even more absurd journal post, I really just had a great time with friends and strangers alike. I don’t know that I would’ve been able to say that too long ago, but times are changing in many ways.
Meeting up with Josh Graham at Chicago O’Hare and then heading to Madison, WI. for the first of two shows we’re playing with Freezepop this weekend.
Let the games begin.
4:12 AM
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