|
Demon's Eye |
| This tune is extremely classical and I'm
very happy with the way the arrangement turned out. The
unison runs with the bass, and the guitar / harpsichord
section are real cool. This is my first record with keyboards
on it and I love the way they sound. The arpeggio section
and some of the other neo-classicalisms were extremely intricate
and quite challenging. As far as this type of track goes,
definitely my best work so far. |
| Wrecking Machine |
| Heavy, totally slamming power groove.
Appropriately
titled, the Wrecking Machine hits you in the head like a
Heineken and Jaegermiester induced hangover. With all the
cool groove sections I could have turned this tune into
about 5 tunes, but hey, I couldn't be holding out on you
guys like that. The heavy rhythm playing on this track is
totally cool and the octave box solo is really haunting,
but the outro solo is my favorite part of this track (It
was a first take!). Believe it or not the majority of the
solos on this record are all improvised and first takes! |
| R.B.N.C.S.F. No.II |
| What do those initials stand for? Ritchie Blackmore's Neo Classical
Shred Fest #2. Just a nod to the man in black. When it comes
to this type of playing he wrote the book (I'm just stealing
pages out of it). The main melody is a classical variation
of "Child In Time" and rest of the tune is a barrage
of just about every neo-classicalism I can play. Jeff's
drum solo came out great and it breaks up the track nicely.
After all the human brain can only take so many arpeggios
in a given time frame. |
| Lost Soul |
| This tune goes out with the most heartfelt
respect and admiration for the classical masters. Beethoven,
Paganini, Mozart, all had such passion and dedication for
their music and many times no one shared their vision yet
nothing discouraged them. (heavy huh?) I wonder what they
would think of the new slacker generation of musicians?
Guys with stickers all over their guitars singing off pitch,
playing out of tune and wearing clothes my Mom gave away
to the Salvation Army when I was in seventh grade. What
did you think, just because I am sporting a little facial
hair I enlisted in the alternative nation? NEVER! |
| Tornado Watch |
| What would one of my records be without
at least one solo guitar piece? I kept this one a bit more
stripped down with it being more a duet with the keyboards,
as opposed to all the harmonies and baroque style counterpoint
I have done in the past. (A fitting intro to the track which
follows). |
| Where No Men Dare
Shred |
| Okay, okay a pompous, egotistical, and all
in all pretty silly title. But even though I have an undying
dedication to my craft, you guys should know by now that
I don't take myself all that seriously. How could you describe
this one? Relentless, unstoppable, a real white knuckle
sort of affair. Here is some advice after listening, take
a deep breath, maybe splash a little cool water on your
face and remove your fingernails from whichever piece of
furniture they happen to be dug into. Maybe we should call
it "Where No Men Dare Listen". |
| Backstabber |
| Well there's certainly no question about
where I'm coming from on this one. When recording this track
I just forgot about everything, reached deep down and hoped
I could summon up the spirit and aura that Jimi inspires.
Luckily my buddy Ducky was also doing his best Eddie Kramer
when he mixed this track. Jimi's work is truly timeless,
Although extremely derivative, my intentions are only
honorable
and always with the utmost respect. |
| The Need For Speed |
| This tune is a total romp. On this record I tried to push myself
and make the technical stuff extremely challenging. The
harmonized lick before the melody is so fast that its absurd
and the ending octave jumping arpeggio section is way beyond
difficult. It's the tune that shred guys and wanna be shredders
are either going to be inspired by or it's going to make
them cry (only kidding). I should post some sort of warning
on this disc that people with high blood pressure or any
type of cardiac condition, stay clear of this track. |
| Fall From Grace |
| A real mood piece, I just wanted to keep
it simple and chordal. Seems like a nice change from all
the maniacal single note playing on the rest of the disc.
It's real pretty in some sections then haunting in others. |
| The Dark Gift |
| A line that Lestat spoke during the movie
"Interview With A Vampire" seemed like the appropriate
title for this plodding gothic metal sludge-fest. Extremely
European and Classical. The melodic theme is one of the
nicest melodies I've ever written and the tone on this one
is real glassy, smooth and extra Strat like. |
