The missing Karen and recurring Mills

Again, I haven't written in a while. I've been somewhat preoccupied with non-music things for a while. Well... I've written and recorded a handful of songs between the last post and this one but not as much as I wanted to. I've mostly been working (job-wise) and reading a lot lately. Not just computer books, but economy-type books and some political stuff. The wife and I have also been working on things we should have been working on for a while. The nitty gritty of finances, housing - a plethora of things.

Changing subjects rapidly - I did manage to get the new R.E.M. album "Accelerate". I read some good reviews about it on iTunes and Amazon and bit the bullet. If you don't know this - I've been a huge R.E.M. fan since I could remember. 15 years ago I used to know how to play almost every R.E.M. song on guitar and that's where I think the kinship and bond between young Todd (of Third Frequency fame) and I came to be. Todd and I used to perform those songs with vigor - mostly in his room or basement - at his parent's house. Now... I've been let down by the past 10 years of R.E.M. releases - mostly since the departure of my then-favorite member, drummer Bill Berry. (I did really like the "Up" album though). But this latest release... wow. It's kinda sparked a fire in me again - not just about the band - but about myself, musically. Seeing the guys play at the Garden this June. Should be fun.

With regard to my one-man band, Self Parody - I've been thinking and deciding on the number of songs from "Thank You Captain Obvious". Originally, I was thinking a 19-song album. But now I'm thinking that might be a bit too much. It's an interesting dynamic as well because as I'm working on newer songs and newer mixes some of the older songs recorded don't seem to fit the general theme of the album anymore. I originally had this concept of the album being a bunch of light and moderate piano-driven songs. But as time moves on the songs are getting more uptempo and more guitar-driven. Doesn't help that I'm using quasi-real drums as well. So I've been pondering cutting a bunch of songs and releasing a 15-song album or maybe even a 12-song album. We'll see. The latest work is called "You Can't Save New Jersey" - which I'm liking a lot. It's pretty neat (and I'm usually modest about my songs - but I like this one). Despite the title it's actually a "nice" song with two separate themes. One theme is about friendship and kinship in the face of where you currently are. The other theme - which comes out a lot more directly in the song - is about acceptance of loss as a natural progression in life. Musically, it may be the only song that doesn't have any piano recorded - which suits the song fine.

Not much more to say. I hope to write more in the future - especially as I start to tweak and record more lately. I wanted to have this "Captain Obvious" thing completed by now, already. But these things take time.

Oh yeah, one more thing... Charlton Heston is dead.