Too Much Music

Where to start?

I really wanted to go see Eric Clapton this last Saturday night here in Nashville. A week before the show, I asked my dad if he wanted to go. He said they didn't have the money. The next day, his best friend called and asked my dad to go to the show. Dad replied, "Sure, just don't tell Brad." I did get a shirt out of it though. And I bought 3 Clapton albums (Slowhand, Money and Cigarettes, and Behind the Sun) to make myself feel better for not seeing the show.

I've also acquired a lot of new music:

Derek Webb - Stockholm Syndrome
Train - Save Me, San Francisco
Nick Jonas - Who I Am
Lady Antebellum - Need You Now
Miranda Lambert - Revolution
Carrie Underwood - Play On

and a few single songs off iTunes:

David Archuleta - Crush
Andrew Peterson - Gather 'Round, Ye Children, Come
Kenny Loggins - Playing with the Boys
Harold Faltermeyer & Steve Stevens - Top Gun Anthem
Jessica Harp - A Woman Needs
Owl City - Meteor Shower
Ke$ha - Tik Tok
Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, & Keith Urban - Lean on Me
.38 Special - Caught Up in You
Travis Tritt - Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde


It would take quite a while to review all this. I'll sum it up as this - I have listened to everything but Clapton's Behind the Sun and Slowhand and Derek Webb's Stockholm Syndrome. Everything else I don't regret paying for. Even the pop beat (because it's not really music) Tik Tok. I just finished listening to Money and Cigarettes the first time through, and I can say EC was rockin' it back in 1983.

Also, I've been going to this once-a-month songwriter's workshop. It's like AA for songwriters. I've really enjoyed it, and I can't wait to go back and share the song I cowrote with a friend of mine last night entitled, "Never Here." We'll see what my peers think of it next month.

Hopefully it won't be another 4 months before I post again.

Long Time Coming

It's been a while. But I haven't had much time (or energy) till now. Two new albums to talk about:

Billy Currington - Little Bit of Everything

I'm diggin' it. He brings a smoothness to country singing. He comes at country from a different angle with "Heal Me" and "Everything." He rocks it with "That's How Country Boys Roll." He longs for love that could have been in "Walk On." This was definitely worth the $12 I wasn't planning on spending.

John Mayer - Battle Studies

Has anyone else noticed that the initials for his new album are BS? Anyways, one friend of mine said it was "whiny." I think he's just showing more emotion. Whatever you think, JM has some awesome guitar tones and fabulous licks up and down the track listing. Immediate fave - "Assassin." I also love the feel of "Heartbreak Warfare."

Happy listening.

Power of a Song

It never ceases to amaze me the power of a song. Just tonight I was cruising around downtown Nashville after dinner with two friends. The three of us were in the car with the windows down, blaring Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." when a very attractive (and very busty) young woman came up to the car and started shaking her stuff. After she walked away, we laughed for a good while. Good things happen with music.

It Never Gets Old

I had so much fun playing guitar this weekend. It helps when there's a great band around you. Several guys I have gotten to know the last couple years helped to rock out. Yes, it was in church. It's ok to rock out in church. God has given us talents, and we can't go burying them in the ground. Anyways, Rex Schnelle was on electric guitar and mandolin. It was just beautiful. What I would give to have half his talent. Then Brent Cundall was on bass, rockin' it like only he can. My bud Matt Manes was on drums, and that's always a pleasure. David Hampton was kickin' it on the piano. Finally, there was Moose Smith on the B3 organ. It just felt good this morning, making music together.

The whole morning's set was great, but in particular the offertory. It was "As A Child" by Cindy Morgan. I had to go home and buy it immediately. I just put it on repeat and keep letting it reawaken the child within.

There is no better way to start off the week. I even learned to dropped the third and play an F2 instead of F. That pesky little third.

My Wish List

These things are a bit out of budget, but here are some wish-list items.

Gibson Les Paul

Marshall Amp Head (preferably a JTM 45)

Dr. Z Amp Head (Prescription Jr. Strength)

Peavey Classic 30

and a ton of pedals.

I need some money before I get any of these. I'd also need to do a lot of research too.

BP and KU

First of all, I am all excited about the Keith Urban concert happening here in Nashville on Saturday night. It's also my friend Billy's birthday. What a great night it will be (even though Billy will be 800 miles away in Waco). Urban is supposed to make some big announcement at the show as well. Check his website for more info.

I got his album from when he was in the ranch. If ever one doubted how country KU could be, check out the twangin' licks on these tracks. The fun-lovin' Urban sound is there intertwined with the country telecaster licks that make up this album. While it won't get as many spins as Golden Road, Be Here, Love Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing, or Defying Gravity, I enjoy it more than Keith Urban. But that's just my opinion.

Brad Paisley's Part II was another album I got recently. There's no question Paisley is a country picker. This album contains the hit "I'm Gonna Miss Her" which is a big reason I got the album. I'm old fashioned and will still buy an entire album based on a single or two. Part II is made up mostly of slower love and pain songs. It's better for when one is in a melancholy mood, while American Saturday Night is better for an upbeat mood. However, Part II is still a big part of my music collection.

Two singles that I've gotten recently are Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way" and Death Cab for Cutie's "Little Bribes." Both are bluesy tunes that just feel good. I've been in a bluesy mood lately, and these tunes did the trick. I also went back and pulled out ZZ Top's "LaGrange" and have been giving it some spins as well.

Early Thoughts on Old Music

My dad and I have a tradition for my birthday - he always gets me a CD or two of music with which he grew up. This year I got Billy Joel's Piano Man and Hall & Oats' The Best of.

Joel just rocks and rolls. This is instantly a favorite of mine.

I had Hall & Oats playing in the car while a friend was riding with me up to the lake, and he made the comment that this music should be played on a date. I agree. It's some great date music.

I also have a couple groovin' singles (Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way" and Death Cab for Cutie's "Little Bribes") and two other older albums (Brad Paisley's Part II and Keith Urban's In the Ranch) that I need more time to soak up.

Happy listening!