Why Am I Doing This?

“The music industry is not dead. It's just re-inventing itself”.....Unknown 

I would add to that by saying: “The music industry is not dead. It's just re-inventing itself…….Whether we want it to or not” 

As a kid listening to the radio, I grew up with the dream of becoming a famous musician. I dreamed of signing to a big label and becoming a big rock star.  

Then the music industry changed, and with it came the wake up call. I realized that the music industry that I dreamed of being a part of, had no real place for someone like me. 

 This wake up call made me re-evaluate. It made me ask myself “What am I really doing this for”. Am I doing this for the fame? Am I doing this for the money?

 I certainly want to make money doing this. In fact, I NEED to make money in order to keep doing this. And I certainly don’t spend hours writing and recording music so that no one will hear it. This made me realize that the best purpose that money served was to be able to create more music and that the ONLY purpose that fame could serve was so that people could know about my music. As strange as it may sound (especially as you read this and especially as I type this) the real reason for doing this is the need to create the music that I want to create. In other words: The real reason is the music. 

Sadly, too many of us forget or lose sight of this.

I know of too many musicians who are still hoping that the great record label in the sky will descend upon them and take them to recording artist nirvana. They haven't realized that there is no longer a place for them there. They don't want to realize it. 

Like I said at the beginning. When I was a kid I dreamed of being a Rock Star. I don't know if that is possible for me within the current state of the music industry, but what I have realized is that no matter what happens to the music industry, the digital world has made it possible for me to create my own place. With or without the music industry. 

And the interesting thing is, is that because I chose to create my own place in music, I have managed in the process to become a professional musician, a songwriter, and.....a recording artist. 

As a society we lost focus on what makes music worthwhile. It is not how famous you are, or how much money you can make from it (Although these things are worth striving for).  

What makes the music worthwhile is the quality of the music and it's ability to affect others.

My name is TJR and I am a recording artist......I am just simply not a famous one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will The CD Be Dead?

Will the CD be dead?

 It looks that way now. But 5 years ago when this question was being asked, I said. The CD would probably decline in sales as people get more and more into downloading.

 That is happening now.

 But 5 years ago I also said that over time the CD could possibly be come a boutique item. Something designed for the hard core fan. It would be limited in its production (maybe even signed and numbered) and include special packaging, and that in time if enough artists did this, the CD could become a collectible that would create its own collectible market.

 This could create another group of consumers who would see the boutique CD as an investment item (something that might increase in value due to its limited run and scarcity).  

 This in turn would create more demand for product, which in turn could create a return of the CD as people would place more value on getting the physical product.

 You might even see people buying a copy of an indie artists limited run of 1,000 CDs as opposed to downloading it (legal or otherwise), Simply because in the back of their mind they are thinking "Hey you never what this might be worth 10 years from now, and I do want the music anyways".  

 Now whether or not this last part will play itself out is anyone's guess, Right now, we do see CDs from major labels where there is the standard and deluxe version (just like with DVDs). But they are hardly scarce. But a better example is Trent Reznor's recent "Ghosts Vol 1-1V release which came in all kinds of various editions including a limited $300. 00 deluxe edition that sold out. It is possible that in time there might be collectors willing to pay a lot more than $300.00 to get a copy of this version.

 I am not saying that this is what will happen, and I am not saying that I want to see CD's turned into a collectors market (there is downside to that that I wont get into here) but I think it's a possibility and that it could bring the CD back.....Of course it hasn't completely gone away yet, now has it?   :)

Christmas Time Is Here

NOTE: This post was originally only circulated to my email list. Because of the response I received from it, and because I didn't have this blog page back then, I am reprinting it by request: 

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The other day I bought one of my favorite Christmas songs 

"Christmas Time Is Here" By the Vince Guarldi Trio (from the Peanuts
Christmas special). 

I bought the original version online (the one with the kids singing).
I admire this song on so many levels. It's so brilliant in its
construction, and so beautiful to listen to. And yet, there is a
somberness to it, you can hear a tint of sadness. It's as if the kids
singing it are happy that its Christmas time but sad that it can't be
Christmas all the time. 

Released in 1965 (over 40 years ago) the TV special has Charlie Brown
as a lone voice in the woods de-crying the rampant commercialization
of Christmas. 

The song recalls a Christmas before mass communication. The song is
sung by children but the lyrics are written from an adult perspective
of someone looking back on a less frantic Christmas season.

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...

Merry Christmas everyone! 

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A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack for $4.99

Music Worth Buying 12/16/08 Carol of the Bellss - The Bird And The Bee

 

Artist: The Bird And The Bee

Song: Carol of the Bells

Worth Buying: Yes! 

You will be interested in this song if you like: Carol Of The Bells and cool twists on holiday favorites

 

Tell Me More: 

Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells,

all seem to say,  throw cares away

Christmas is here, bringing good cheer

to young and old, meek and the bold

Ding dong ding dong that is their song

with joyful ring, all caroling

One seems to hear, words of good cheer

from everywhere, filling the air

Oh how they pound, raising the sound

o'er hill and dale, telling their tale

Gaily they ring, while people sing

songs of good cheer, Christmas is here

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,

On on they send, on without end,

their joyful tone, to every home

Pretty isn't it? It's the original English lyrics to Carol of the Bells. Originally composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych and was premiered in 1916. The English lyrics would come later in 1936 by Peter Wilhousky (A more recent version would come about in 1946 by Minna Louise Hohman).

It's amazing how different a piece of music can sound to you when it's taken out of it's context. When I first heard this song it must have been in another language or it must have been an instrumental version, because Christmas was the last thing it made me think of. I was just a small boy and it felt dark and scary to me. But I loved it. Because it was mysterious sounding and filled my childhood head with a sense of mystery and wonder.

The best way I can describe how this song made my young mind feel, would be to say that it felt like I was standing in the middle of dark wood. And the trees and skies where whispering secret messages to me that I couldn't understand. 

Later I would find out it was Christmas song and some of it's mystery was taken away by this fact. But it still sounded very powerful to me, and I still loved it.

As a teenager (and long before I was any kind of  serious musician) I would parody the song in numerous ways by making up my own lyrics to it (Don't laugh, Weird Al made a career doing this).

A year ago (to my delight) I found a fantastic version of this song by the group The Bird And The Bee (Whose self titled album was reviewed on this very site). For the first time this song feels like a Christmas song to me. It feels happy. It feels like a celebration of the holidy. So this week on I would like to recommend The Bird and the Bee's version of Carol of the Bells.

 listen to and purchase Carole of the Bells by The Bird And The Bee

Robert Kinsler's Holiday Music Wrap Up

Guest writer Robert Kinsler 

It's not surprising that an ever-growing number of artists release Christmas-minded collections around the holidays. The good news for fans of such recordings is that the past few years have yielded an especially-strong number of albums in tune with the season.

So while 2007 revealed the memorable "Christmas Songs" from Jars of Clay and rollicking "Christmas with the Smithereens," an equally sharp field of 2008-issued discs seems positioned to blast over the speakers at Santa's toy factory this year.



"The Dawn of Grace" (Nettwerk Music) features the recently-reunited Sixpence None the Richer-led Leigh Nash revisiting eight traditional Christmas songs, including a stirring rendition of "Angels We Have Heard On High" and tender "Silent Night," the latter showcasing the artful guest vocals of Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine. Two original tracks, "The Last Christmas" and "Christmas for Two," highlight the pleasing folk-rock approach of the Grammy-nominated group.

listen and buy in mp3 format

CD Format



Although not as well known as the aforementioned Jars of Clay and Sixpence None the Richer that she is touring with as part of the Love Came Down: A Christmas Pageant throughout December, Sara Groves' "O Holy Night" (Integrity Media) is a strong 12-song collection sure to win the one-time Rosemont, Minnesota high school teacher more followers.

Because Groves' voice works best when singing emotive material in hushed arrangements (think Shawn Colvin), standards such as "O Holy Night" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" are reworked to focus on the lyrics and melodies with refreshing insight.

Listen and buy in the mp3 format

CD Format



The fourth full-length album from Texas-based Los Lonely Boys is "Christmas Spirit" (Sony Records) a 10-song collection that features outstanding takes at "Run Run Rudolph" and "Away in a Manger," as well as a flamenco-flavored instrumental take on "Cancion de las Campanas (Carol of the Bells)."

CD Format

Listen and buy in the mp3 format



Rosie Thomas' "A Very Rosie Christmas" (Sing-a-long Records) will please fans of the Seattle-based indie singer-songwriter, as well as lovers of traditional Christmas albums. Her voice draws comparisons with Joni Mitchell, so it's no surprise a version of that singer's "River" works so well here. She brings a nice dose of melancholy to reworked selections of "Christmastime Is Here" and "Silent Night," making the songs her own.

Thomas is currently planning her first-ever Christmas tour, which includes a stop at Hotel Café in Hollywood on Dec. 9.

Listen and buy in the mp3 format

CD Format



Of all the season's new holiday-minded entries, few are as adventuresome as "Jingle All the Way" (Rounder Records) the latest album from Grammy-winning banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. While the track list includes plenty of well-known standards ("O Come All Ye Faithful," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Silent Night"), the delivery is all about style and innovation.

Highlights abound, including impressive renditions of the Vince Guaraldi Peanuts gems "Linus and Lucy" and "Christmas Time Is Here."

CD Format

Mp3 format



The Boxmasters bridge the gap between yuletide classics and rockabilly on the trio's latest, "Christmas Cheer" (Vanguard Records). If you haven't heard of the Boxmasters, you've surely heard of at least one member of the group; actor Billy Bob Thornton handles lead vocals and drumming duties in the band. He is joined by bassist-guitarist J.D. Andrew and lap steel-lead guitarist Mike Butler on versions of "Silver Bells," "Blue Christmas" and John Lennon's "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)," as well as several Thornton-penned originals.

Mp3 Format

CD Format

One of the original heroes of the rockabilly revival movement of the 1980s has become a champion of holiday-themed releases in the '00s.



The Brian Setzer Orchestra has released the 2-disc "Ultimate Christmas Collection," a best of set that also includes a new recording of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." The release also features a full-length concert on DVD that was filmed at Universal Amphitheatre in December 2004.

Disc Format



If it's Christmas, chances are Mannheim Steamroller is issuing another holiday offering. The group's 2008 collection, "Christmasville" (American Gramaphone), includes a number of songs from the "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" animated classic (including "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas"). This release also marks the first Mannheim Steamroller album with vocals on every track.

CD Format

Mp3 Format



Although Enya released the 4-song "Christmas Secrets" in 2006, the Irish singer has issued a full-length album of new material in 2008. "And Winter Came..." features a range of holiday material boasting her distinctive vocals and Celtic-tinged new age style.

Mp3 Format

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Although Al Jarreau has enjoyed a celebrated career stretching back to the mid-1970s, 2008 marks the first time he has released a Christmas album. His aptly-titled "Christmas" is also his first album of new studio recordings since 2006. "Christmas" features the R&B singer's take on a dozen classics, including "The Christmas Song" and "Winter Wonderland."

CD format

Mp3 format



Christian rockers Third Day released the excellent "Christmas Offerings" in 2006, and completed a full-length Christmastime tour in 2007. One of those full-length shows was videotaped and has just been released on the similarly-titled "Third Day: Christmas Offerings" (Sony Music Videos) a DVD that finds the Georgia outfit performing gems such as "Do You Hear What I Hear" and "O Come All Ye Faithful," as well as their own "God Of Wonders" as part of the 13-song set.

Mp3 format

CD Format



Although Johnny Cash died in 2003, his enormous and wide-ranging body of work continues to be reissued. Several recent releases have special significance this season, with Shout! Factory having issued a 4-DVD box set that includes his annual Christmas specials shown on CBS television between 1976 and 1979. The holiday specials are also available individually.

There are highlights on all four programs, but the 1977 special includes an all-star tribute to Elvis Presley that features Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison playing together.

Get your Johnny Cash Christmas here



Bibles On DVD has released "Johnny Cash: Chapter & Verse," a DVD-CD set featuring Cash's 19-hour narration of the New King James Version New Testament on DVD with an accompanying CD featuring 14 of Cash's gospel hits.

Get Chapter and Verse Here



With the upcoming arrival of Hanukkah on Dec. 21, Shout! Factory is issuing the perfectly-timed "The Heart and Humor of a People," a collection of classic Jewish songs newly-recorded for the 13-song disc. An especially eclectic mix of musicians and actors have recorded tracks, including Neil Sadaka, Herb Albert, Max Weinberg (Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band), Dave Koz, Barbara Streisand, Jason Alexander and Adam Sandler.

CD Format

Mp3 Format

There are a number of other noteworthy holiday-related collections that have been issued in recent weeks, including Yo-Yo Ma's "Songs of Joy & Peace," Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas," Tony Bennett's "A Swingin' Christmas," Casting Crowns' first-ever Christmas album "Peace On Earth," Melissa Etheridge's "A New Thought for Christmas," Sarah Brightman's "A Winter Symphony," Harry Connick Jr.'s "What a Night! A Christmas Album" and Mindy Smith's "My Holiday."



And finally, "We Wish You a Metal XMAS and a Headbanging New Year" features performances by genre heavyweights such as Alice Cooper, Vinny Appice, Ronnie James Dio and Tommy Shaw as they tackle well-known holiday songs.

Get your metal Christmas in the mp3 format

CD format

Music Worth Buying 12/08/08- Bryan Setzer

 

Artist: Bryan Setzer

Albums: The Knife Feels Like Justice & 13

Worth Buying: Hell yeah. Both uvem'

You will be interested in these album if you are fan of: Rock, Blues, Rockabilly, Country, Roots and Classic Rock.

 Tell Me More: Like a lot of people my first introduction to Bryan Setzer was through the hits of his 80's Rockabilly band the Stray Cats. I am of the opinion that a lot of music critics (who while I'm sure they enjoyed their songs) probably figured that they would be a passing fad.

 Depending on your point of view this statement might be true since the band broke up and their hit singles made their way into nostalgia radio play lists. But in their short time on the music scene they began a modern Rockabilly music scene that continues to thrive to this day.  

 In 1986, lead guitarist and lead singer Bryan Setzer released his first solo album entitled: The Knife Feels like Justice.

 From the moment you looked at the cover you could tell that wasn't just a continuation of the Stray Cats. He wasn't dressed like a Rockabilly player, and the album's title suggested deeper themes than fast cars and hot gals (not that there's anything wrong with writing songs about either of those themes mind you).  

 The albums opening title track confirmed this. It was clear that he wanted to be taken as seriously as a songwriter as he was for his virtuoso guitar playing. With it' 60's jangely guitar riff and 80's production value "The Knife's" chorus almost seemed to be commenting on his former image.

 Cause there aint nobody ever looked at me without looking right through me
There aint nobody ever looked at me without looking right by me
And you cant go on when the knife feels like justice

 "The Knife" did not do well. Not compared to the sales of his previous band and it's a shame. Because the album is instantly likable. Penning most of the songs himself and only co-writing a few, Brian moves into the territory of Springsteen, and Mellencamp.

 Songs like Radiation Ranch would be there to let you know that he had not forsaken Rockabilly altogether and there where plenty of opportunities on the album for him to display his formidable guitar prowess. But on this album, the song came first before anything else. It was an artist saying there is more to me than just Rockabilly and I will not be pigeonholed.

 I often wondered if the album had done well, what might have come next?

 Big record labels can be very unforgiving though.

  Fast Forward to 2006 to his most recent solo CD entitled "13". Released independently on Surfdog record and it appears that he is at it again...sort of. Like "The Knife", "13" does not completely leave his Rockabilly sound behind, but he musically stretches out and plays with other genres.

 Starting with the opening tack Drugs & Alcohol (Bullet Holes) He toys with the audience by starting with a very familiar Country/Rockabilly style guitar riff. This is what you expect from Bryan Setzer after all. Then suddenly he pulls the rug out from under you and the song effortlessly launches in a distorted 80's style rock riff. It's as if he winks at you and say "Ha, Ha, fooled you"! But you're not angry. You smile because now you are in on the joke too.

 The rest of the album follows suit as Mr. Setzer jumps around from song to song. Blending and having fun with different genres. There are his usual and expected forays into Blues, Rockabilly, Country, and Swing, but there are also equal doses of Hard Rock, Funk, and some outright musical weirdness. My favorite track on the album "Everybody's up to Something" has him treading Zeppelin territory opening with one of the meanest guitar riffs ever, before it smoothly moves into a funk rhythm vibe with satirical lyrics that takes potshots at everyone's hypocrisy and Ashley Simpson.   

 While "The Knife" is more serious, "13" is the guitarist having himself one helluva good time.

 In the song Really Rockabilly he very bravely pokes fun at those who take the Rockabilly scene (a scene that he started) too seriously

 The man at the door
He's a rockabilly guy
He said you can't come in
Your pompadour's too high
Better grow them sideburns

Get a tattoo on your neck
Drink Pabst Blue Ribbon
Drive a rockabilly wreck

Has it come to this?
I want a new job
Rockabilly retards, and rockabilly slobs, are rockabilly stars.
It used to be fun just to play the guitar
Now I just want to run real, real far

 When I first heard this song, I thought to myself....."When did I ever get to tell him about this"?

 You see, as a musician, my guitar upbringing started with a lot of Hard Rock and Metal. I still have the long hair to prove it. And I still did when I started to fall in love with Rockabilly music. Naturally (since I couldn't play this stuff) I wanted to go out and see some real Rockabilly Cats play this stuff live and show me how it's done.

 So I went to a rockabilly show, and just like in his song, there where all these kids dressed for it. I understood this of course from doing the same thing going to metal shows. I didn't care that I didn't look the part, but the guy at the door sure seemed to. I remember the look he gave me and how he said to me "You know this is a Rockabilly show"! as if to say, You don't belong here boy.

 "Well good, because that's what I came to see". I replied as I laid my 5 bucks down to get in.

 So thank you Bryan Setzer, The man who brought Rockabilly back, for writing this song for me.  J

 Between these two albums there has been no shortage of recorded material from one of America's most underappreciated guitar heroes. But these albums seem to bookend each other so well that it makes great listening to play these together.

 Now excuse me, I just read that in Sept of 2007, the Brian Setzer Orchestra released Wolfgang's Big Night Out which features Setzer's take on classical pieces. I have to get a copy of this.  

 Unfortunately The Knife Feels like Justice is only available new as an expensive import

Click here to listen and purchase 13 in the mp3 format

Click here to to purchase 13 in the CD format