The fortunate thing is that I thought ahead and decided to turn on the video camera on my phone while things were happening. I caught some vital stuff on tape and it may or may not work out in my favor. Lawyers are currently researching the situation and are happy that I have the video tape of it.

In the meantime, despite my exhaustion yesterday I got a second wind and still managed to do a workout last night. I was about to start a workout this morning when things took their turn for the bad.

I think I’m gonna do a twofer. Yesterday I did Stabbing Westwards Darkest Days, today I think I will go with Torn Apart. Why? Well, it’s currently how I’m feeling. I feel like I’ve been ripped in two. While NIN had the lock on this type of sound early on, there is no doubt that Stabbing Westward took it to a new direction. Such deep hurt and pain, so craftily put into music. It’s really obvious the emotions they’ve brought out in their music.

Do what you can to feel what they’re getting across. Back with ya tomorrow.

Nothing like having a breakdown in front of a friend because of it. Especially when he says: dude, I’ve never seen you like this before. Truthfully, I hadn’t been like that before either. One because I never been through it before, two, because I hate when someone tells you they’re taking care of things. Then last minute letting you know that they didn’t do it and that you’ll have to.

Because of what I’m feeling. It’s most appropriate to go with Stabbing Westwards – Darkest Days.

They were a band with a heavy vibe of dark subjects. I really dig the sound they went after and got. It’s not happy by any means. That’s why I going with them today. It’s been a bad turn of events. Without going into too much detail, let it be known that I do intend to fight with all my might. Though I can say I’m drained from all the thought that had to go into today. I’m guessing that’s how stress is for people who can’t handle the daily grind. I will say it’s not your normal day stuff, but still, I can’t imagine why people stay where they get stressed out.

On to the song. If you can’t hear why it’s a great choice for a dark day, then I’m thinking you’re not hearing the music and or their lyrics. For a dark day, they nailed it on the head.

We all tend to see, hear or come across things in our lives that make us think the other person needs to relinquish something to right the injustice or whatever.

Not to take away from people who tend to create, but there are those who’s creations are better left not seeing the commercial light of day. I recently read an article with a hit songwriter who attended the same school I did. In it she mentions how she has 100′s of songs that will never see the light of day. Many that were written when she was writing a song a day for years. She soon realized that it’s not the quantity, but rather the quality. Good thing she figured it out because now she’s really in demand.

Today I was doing some writing with a buddy. I wanted to write a song that was an acoustically driven industrial type thing. He didn’t know if it would be possible. I didn’t either. However, we got into it and I came up with a melodic riff that flows in 6 and we put it over a standard 4/4 beat. We built the song up around it all and as I’m writing this I’m listening and thinking, hell yeah this works. At one point the co-writer mentioned, that’s an extremely hooky part [meaning the main riff]. Then he said, it’s a great thing that I get half of that. I thanked him for the compliment and went on to say there’s more in my head that will come out eventually.

If there’s one thing I’ve got, it’s an ability to write a hook, that I won’t relinquish.

One of my favorite bands that can write a hook like no other has to be Queen. Of course the ultimate in industrial is Nine Inch Nails. Which should I feature here? Well, since I recently had a Queen song, I’ll go with Nine Inch Nails. NIN is also no slouch to having some great hooks too. One of my favorites songs by the Reznor crew has to be All The Love In The World. There’s mood, there’s repeating figures, and a cool chorus to top it off. Plus the way they do a type of picardy third in the end of the song. Love it.

If you’ve not explored their world, do so.

The dentist that I would prefer work on my teeth unfortunately doesn’t work on fridays or saturdays. I guess I’m backwards of most people, having always had my teeth do stupid things on weekends, never on a weekday. Thus I’ll have to wait it out eating soft food with the opposite side of my mouth. At least this was a metal filling that will now get replaced with white resin. Sometime soon I plan on getting all of my fillings replaced with the resin. Mostly for health reasons.

Since I’m feeling the pang of teeth (and no it’s not like I don’t take care of mine)… Actually, let me digress for a moment. I recall as a kid going to the dentist and him having put some sort of clear coating on my back teeth. I think the real idea was to help prevent cavities, but I really am of a mindset now that that clear coat created the cavities by sealing them up from cleaning.

Back to the music idea. Of course if you’re here on Single of the Day, you’re likely hearing the song With Teeth from the album With Teeth by Nine Inch Nails. What I like about the opening of the song is the really bizarre drum beat. If there on thing that NIN does very well it’s coming up with crazy drum grooves and loops.

Of course the song actually has nothing to do with actual teeth. Too bad.

Other things that are part of the NIN lineup is lots of little musical and noisical bits that go on all over in the stereo field. While I wouldn’t say I’ve ever copied the idea, I do know that I also like to add lots of little bits into songs. Especially when I work on them for a long time.

It’s those little bits that really gives NIN their sound and vibe. The more he does the more perfection that seems to happen. That’s a great thing!

Meanwhile, I’m still playing a waiting game on some things. So later today I’ll likely be working on more little bits and pieces of music for my library. I’ve got enough new stuff that I need to finish off two CDs to add in since one deal is done.

Then I need to spend some time working on lyrics for several other new songs that are a little half baked. Focus, focus, focus. That’s what music needs.

The good thing is, that there’s a bit of a buzz going on with an idea I’ve come up with for the recent releases of all the versions of the sports song I’ve got. Plus it’s nice to see that they’re selling on iTunes, versions for the NHL and the NFL. I’ll make an announcement of it when it gets a little more concrete, the idea that is.

Now for a complete about face. Today’s choice has nothing to do with anything I’m talking about. It’s called A New Heaven. The thing I’m diggin is the music and the production. Reminds me very much of a Nine Inch Nails. I wasn’t sure of what to expect. Usually someone lists NIN as a reference and then you’re let down because it’s nowhere close. Of course I wasn’t fully aware that Android Lust was a single female artist. But being that Trent is the brainpower behind NIN it would make sense. I’m guessing by this point she may have a team of people behind her that she’s directing much like Trent does.

It’s definitely got a Nine Inch Nails vibe. Though I’m still digesting the vocals. Android Lust is not commercial. However, they, actually she, is getting some great placements on TV and the like. Thus I’m sure it’s doing wonders despite how eclectic sounding it is.

Enjoy and explore – I’ll Ping it right now.

The day ended with having a killer homemade Italian dinner. I made the pasta noodles a couple of days ago (by hand). Bethany made sauce and meatballs. It was a killer combination of homemade goods. We also had awesome garlic bread that was made with fresh garlic and oregano. Yum yum. We finished it off with a to Sweet Rose Creamery for freshly made ice cream. To put it lightly, the meal absolutely rocked. I can’t wait for some sort of repeat.

A short while ago I had a musician friend tell me that I had inspired him to take up cooking. He had told me that mentioned how much better a meal is when its made with ingredients you know of and with lots of care and love. I know that I talk a lot about the goodness of cooking with friends. I don’t remember saying that particular phrase, but I’m flattered that I inspired him – it’s nice to know you can inspire many people in different ways.

I haven’t got a song that directly relates to making food with love. Hmmmm… maybe I need to figure out a way to do that myself to fill that void – as long as I can make it cool. No, instead I’m going to roll with Nine Inch Nails and their song All The Love In The World. I know the song questions the concept of why someone else gets all the love. But, it’s a great melody, and it’s got a way about it that expresses why someone would want to give love all around them. I know, weird that I get that from it.

Go make a great meal and enjoy it, don’t forget to have some great music to go with it.

I made it home on adrenaline. But yesterday I was super stiff and unable to walk. Thus today I’ll be making a trip to the chiropractor to get my back straightened out. I could tell that I have few vertebrae out of wack. I do believe that is the source of my pinched pain.

Because of the intense pain I have, I’m going to roll with one of the best known songs about pain, Hurt, by Nine Inch Nails. If there is a guy on this planet that seems to know how to translate pain into music better than Trent Reznor, I have no idea who it would be. Many try, but he really has it cornered.

Don’t you agree?

Do take of yourself when you hurt yourself.

Who the hell am I kidding, things rarely go as planned.

I’ve been without my studio machine for over a week now. Fortunately I have a very capable lappy to work with. However, when you’re told 5 days and it’s stretching past 7 it’s more than frustrating. Lots of us like to think we’re superhuman and can predict when we’ll get something done. Then life gets in the way.

I’m 90% finished with the cataloging of music for the library I’m working on for a rather nice deal and that should help provide additional income for years to come. 90% done with the CD’s I’ve got right now. However, there are about 5 CDs that are wrapped up on the computer that has been in the shop and that’s frustrating because I’m spinning wheels without it.

Today I have a writing session. That will be an exercise for us without all the tools I’m used to working with. Especially when I’m supposed to output a kickass mix with top notch material. I feel a little naked without the sounds I normally work with. On the flip side it will likely lead to exploring some different things to achieve a great result.

I still feel like I’m limping along without the power I’m used to.

Also, Dorian has been limping since I’m guessing yesterday late afternoon. I’m not sure why that would be. He wasn’t limping yesterday morning. Hmmmm… Makes me wonder what he’s doing when I’m not around.

Well that’s interesting, as I’m writing this I got a phone call from the co-writer letting me know they have a doctor’s appointment that ends up killing the writing session. That’s disappointing and a blessing at the same time. Now I’m able to put more time on the library and not worry about the tools being missing for the writing/recording. Maybe the shop will get the machine done today and I’ll be back in business later tonight.

In the meantime, I’m going to leave you with a song about being without things and or people that you really get used to being with. If there is a band that got the whole industrial dark vibe down as well as Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails it would have to be Stabbing Westward.

About two years ago I went to a show here in LA that had the lead singer from Stabbing Westward in a new band that he was playing in. There were a lot of Stabbing Westward fans there. It didn’t strike me as hard as the SW material. It was still a fun show.

Despite the very dark nature of their material there’s some quality to it that I can really get into. I’m not a very dark person, at least not on any kind of a regular basis. Maybe for a fleeting moment every couple of years. Otherwise I can only appreciate their creation from a creative standpoint and not as something I’d actually relate to. However, it still seems to resonate with the crunching guitars, the desperate vocals, the pounding bass, and the additional noise they layer in. It’s got ear candy to go and I dig that.

How about you, you hurt and limping along right now?

I will recap a little bit of my last couple of days seeing as how I finally made good on not trying to force myself to the daily maxim while on vacation. Friday was an eventful day. Started off with picking up an iPhone 3Gs, then came a writing session with guitarist Troy MacCubbin (if you’re a Tatu fan, you’ll know who he is). Following that I caught the weekend box office winner (again, if you keep up on that data, you’ll know what movie that was – and yeah, my balls are still intact. The movie was funny).

Then I got a text from a buddy, Randy. He asked if I would be up for a jam session at his place. A couple of hours later I was there. A jam session that started around 2:30 am. It was a great group of people assembled for the jam. Lots of music was played and it was a fun time as usual. I got to bed around 6 am.

Shortly after waking up around 10, I was getting myself together for a trip to Vegas for a friend’s birthday party.

I got there, dropped off Dorian at a friend’s house so he’d have a dog to hang with. Then it was off to the Hard Rock Casino. I walked in to the room everyone was in and the fun began. A shot of patron, along with a room service burger and fries. Then it was off to the circle bar to drink and mingle. I took a short break from the party to play some poker with one of the other party goers, Matt.

By the end of the night the birthday boy and I ended up parting ways at 5:30 am. I got back to my buddy’s house at 6 am. Then again up around 9 am. Two all nighters and very little sleep in a row. Spent some time talking to my buddy before the trip back to Los Angeles.

Of course there were a lot of details left out of the birthday night party. I will have to leave them out to protect the innocent.

Which brings me to the musical selection for today. I’m going only on a title connection and even then it’s an opposite thing. The whole what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas thing is getting old right? Well at this point I do know that despite all the friends I do have that live in Vegas, I don’t really think I could ever stay in Vegas to live. But I love to visit. I know I get there several times a year.

Linkin Park has certainly got the spark that would be fun to be in Vegas. There’s that edge that people are looking for. That desire to be edgy or on the edge to have fun, yet do it in an organized and controlled manner. Right? That’s the key behind Linkin Park’s sound. It’s a very controlled kind of edgy. I actually like the way they balance the crunchy guitar, loops, singing, and screamo. It works very well. And of course it’s worked well for them, they do remain fairly popular.

If you’re not familiar with this song or the band, you may be hiding under or rock or under the age of 6. Either way, I would recommend that you go explore.

Speaking of being so connected… I watched an editorial piece on CNN today as well. It was about how there is information and connection overload with the internet. I’m gonna have to go out on a limb and say that I’m probably one of those people that have hit the wall with being over connected. Facebook, Twitter, a website, a sagging myspace page, and other sites that I tend to frequent are actually starting to get a bit boring. As I was watching the story unfold, I began to think how I really made a concerted effort to continue blogging a year or so ago when I was on vacation. On vacation and out in the middle of nowhere.

Don’t get me wrong, I really dig showcasing music here. However, I think this year when I decide to vacation and unplug I will do exactly that. Unplug. I may preload the blog with posts that state I’m on vacation that will only have the song for that day. And not much else.

The one person they quoted in the piece was Trent Reznor who is fairly famous for his music under the name Nine Inch Nails. Apparently Trent is about to pull himself offline as much as possible and announced this to the world. More power to him. I’m not sure why there is a need to announce it. Oh wait, I did the same thing a moment ago. Though there are sites where I used to be a staple poster on a regular basis, that I did not tell I was taking a break and I’m sure they don’t really miss me all that much. Though when I do make the occasional post now, people do ask what I’ve been up to.

And since attention spans are dwindling to the point of being only good for 140 characters ala twitter. I think it’s best I get on to the music since this post is running on…

As I sit here resting from the big improvement I’ve made to my back yard (yes, it’s now under control and looking better), I’m listening to iTunes DJ play thru songs in my library. Earlier I heard a Nine Inch Nails song, so I figure what the hell, lets go with that. It’s also timely as I got an email from a service that provides daily insight to a thought on life and last night it was about not putting family or close friends on a pedestal with your loving feelings of them. I know my mom meant well telling me about my yard, and it’s a direct reason as to why I cleaned it up today.

I know that the song ends up questioning the concept of why someone would get all the love in the world. The very nature of someone getting all the love goes against the grain of the email that I got. Lyrically I can understand why someone would question that concept. It should be questioned.

What I dig is how the song starts very sparse – but somewhat complex. The drum beat is fairly involved. And Trent is singing a simple melody over it. Then little by little pieces of instruments get added. Kinda parallels how someone might begin to notice bit by bit how someone else is getting all the love. Suddenly it will dawn on the antagonist that it’s overpowering and has become too much. I also like how Trent changes the direction at the end of the song where it becomes more major and shifts the focus. Because of that shift I think this has become one of my favorite Nine Inch Nails songs ever.

If you haven’t got this song or the CD it’s high time you get yourself over to iTunes or Amazon and pick it up.