HOLLOW
I send Jamie, the new singer, the track Hollow with my vocals to show how I want him to sound. Do me but better. He never changes the lyrics while we recording, because I'm paying him not too.
I found this one change interesting: the lyrics are “Its getting a little HARD here in Montana.” (I’m doing like a Taken the movie themed song, (lazy ideas at this point). Jamie changes it to, “Its getting a little HOT here in Montana.” Which has nothing to do with the lyrics story theme wise. Our characters are going through a HARD time in the state of Montana because their daughter is missing.
Someone may have asked Jamie if it was about the fictional character Hannah Montana. I didn't ask him. But he may have been worried it was, which makes both lyric choices sick.
I had a coworker who had a story of when he was in Montana, he took a days long journey to find a Dinosaur egg with his dad. The tribe leaves the eggs right out in a desert spot as a reward for your long travel. His story more interesting then the song. Its a little weird to sing a song about a dinosaur egg with your daddy.
BLOWING SMOKE
The first band before the new stuff, considered "Blowing Smoke" the best song, but doing that song live, it was boring. Too many acoustic songs, for an alt rock band. Slow songs are fine if the audience knows the songs, its a packed house and they have their cell phones waving.
It also sounds less boring live if I play the synth part while the back up guitarist plays the main rift. Some times I ran out of time to set up the synth, or it wasn't loud enough through my guitar amp. One time, I just forget. Oh, my synth is right there in front of me. Play it at the end of the song.
Lets talk the Music video:
I tell the director I need something for this song in music video form to visual music. Do whatever you want. I'll splice in real band member footage. He sends me two teenagers riding bikes in the above video. This mean's he listened the first 5 seconds of the song and made an entire video off of it.
A little close to the Arcade Fire video for me, but different enough. I like the video, it works. I think somebody doesn't realize that video was made when I was in my 20's, also I'm only in my 30's now. Also if its an adult riding bikes (could be funny), less meaningful. Why are adult riding bikes if not working out?
"This music video is about two tourists riding bikes in the country side on vacation for my alt rock band."
Some older lady listens to the song and thinks all the songs are going to be like this. Turns the song off at the "and I want it to happen again". You take out that line! The chorus is meaningless! Re-pressing the memories of a tragic incident, doesn't have to be what you think it is. People get hit by cars.
I'm sure someone one covering song if ever took off, would change that one part. It lose the edge. You pussy.
This music video became little sad for me recently, because when my car got repo'ed from me being poor, I was riding a bike around town. I was the neighborhood older bike guy doing errands. It is fun to ride a bike around if there are things to look at. Trying to get a six pack so I can take my shirt off on stage.
DR DENIAL
The song is about Amanda Feldman. She was a an actress that jumped from a building in New York saying "I'm going to be the Next James Dean or Marlin Monroe!" Later on, I think I googled her name and it said she was thrown out a window. Both stories are tragic, one is bad-ass which is what I liked. Only half what she says works as lyrics. A popular name which is in a lot of lyrics that I guess you have google words individually and not whole lyrics before publishing. "Those two words, forgot or didn't know was in this poplar song. I think the name of this person might like what they did better."
One time I was in New York, I find the hotel in New York where she jumped from, which is green and a few stories up high. Its creepy style hotel with a doorman. Its weird because people are walking around about their business and i'm looking at the spot where her body landed. The energy is amp'ed for me because the story and song. To everybody else they are moving about their day.