Exploring Exposure

I've encountered and interesting quandry, I hope you'll help me hash it out.

I read someone's opinion somewhere on the internet some time ago that musicians are wise to post things about their band's nitty gritty goings-on. If I were to put up a post each week after our rehearsal that recounted what we did and why, and how it'll impact our music in the future, would that interest you?

Battling with my distaste for such self-involvement is my sneaking suspicion that that sorta thing would be interesting to some folks, and perhaps draw in more folks to our performances.

Even deeper than my leeriness at rampant self-documentation is another deeply held belief. There is much to be said for productive ambiguity. Shakespeare is better than it at anyone--suggesting things in a way that compels your imagination to create more than is actually there. Bob Dylan is good at this as a songwriter and as a self-promoter--he's constantly presenting himself in ways that makes you think there is so much more going on on unseen levels than is probably the case.

If I start telling you all about the earnest grappling with the songs that our band does in practice sessions, that detracts from the beautiful mystery of music. At the moment, I'm inclined to do otherwise--to give you a window into what goes into crafting the arrangement and creation of a song and set. What do you say--do I risk over exposure and deflate productive ambiguity, or do I put us out there in a new and (at least somewhat) unique way, but revealing the creative issues that are now behind the curtain up on these pixels of a stage?

Lyrical Dissections to Come

Starting next week, expect to read in depth analysis of a new song each week here on the Ramble-logue.

American "Blues" & "Folk" Music Are One

This is most excellent:

Randy Newman's Newest Album

My favorite line from "Harps and Angels" comes from the album's title track:

"God bless the potholes
Down on memory lane..."

That old fella has still got it--never mind the crunch orchestral arrangement on "Korean Parents For Sale". Another choice Newman verse from earlier in his career:

"They say money can't buy love in this world
It'll getcha a half pound 'o cocaine,
A nineteen-year-old girl
Big long limousine
in the hot September night,
Now that may not be love but--
it's all right."

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Concert

Goin' to see the man tonight. No telling if it'll be moving, alienating, or anything in between, since it all depends on the vocal delivery and the quality of the sound system.
However, his band is always ultra-tight, so it will be unassailably rockin.