http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixw5WBLgv40

He's just the best!

I decided to take down all the songs on my myspace for a while. Nothing I had up there was representative of who I am as a songwriter.

I've uploaded a new song. I doubt this one has much marketability, but it's a cool song in my opinion. I don't know what was with my voice when I sang it, kind of not my normal singing style!

This is my first recording done with my new home studio setup. For those of you who care, it's Pro Tools 8 LE with a Digi 003 control surface/interface. I use a Studio Projects C1 mic for vocals, a Line 6 Variax guitar and the new digidesign amp sim plug-in Eleven.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhNqkTQh1qc

I'd post lyrics, but the description field is too short. Why? MySpace! MySpace! Why do you vex me so??? Anyway, this is the result of a re-write, following a discussion at www.totalcontrolaudio.com.

http://www.lala.com/album/432627040088097194

This band is kind of loose, but in a good way.

http://www.lala.com/album/360569445170095362

Here are the takeaways for me from the NSAI SongCamp 301. I've added after each item how I've done on those points since then.

1) I need to work on my guitar playing and grooves -- need better groove and rhythm in my guitar/vocal demos and performance

I think I've improved dramatically in this regard. I studied a groove class through Song U and I really have been paying attention to this more.

2) I need to simplify my melodies -- remember to use more repetition in phrasing and melody

I've been very careful to do this on the songs since songcamp: Crushed, Never Enough Time, Hard Way, If We Do it Right, I See it Now all have simpler verse melodies that repeat more.

3) Copy the phrasing of some popular songs on radio, but using my own lyrics

I did this once so far. I changed a Trace Adkins song (which will remain a mystery) into a Christmas song! First I matched the lyrics and then I changed it all.

4) Work harder on having perfect rhymes -- I had gotten away from this intentionally

Done. Every song I have, I have worked harder to have perfect rhymes. I'm not a total believer, but I heard it a LOT in Nashville. I can say that singing songs with perfect rhymes is easier. Hugh Prestwood is correct that it aids in helping memorize the words.

5) Alternate tunings

Done! I've written several songs in Open D and one in open D minor and one in Drop D. Very important step right there.

6) Learn to play more songs off the radio to learn how the chords are working and how the rhythm and melodies work.

Um, not so much :( I admit it, I just didn't want to do it. But to be fair to myself. I did a couple quick hacks for Hit Hackers. I'm Still a Guy and Your Gonna Miss This. I guess that counts, doesn't it?

7) I need a more practical guitar case for flying.

Done. Bought a nice protective shell for the Taylor. Much better than the coffin that I took to Nashville last time.

8) Let myself write songs that aren't necessarily commercial

Done. I wrote a song for myself called "Sweet Sleepy Bliss" in D Minor. I suppose it could be a library song for TV/Film.

9) Money spent on a private 1 on 1 with a professional mentor will go further than attending songcamps.

Nah. I'm headed back to Nashville for SongPosium in September!

So there it is. I give myself a solid "A" for that work. I didn't even remember writing the take aways until I ran across them. I must have really internalized them to have done so well.

Been writing more songs. Even a Christmas one this week! Things are going very well. I've been averaging about one complete song per week, which is ahead of my goal for the year. It some ways it's getting easier.

I rewrite a lot, but I do it quickly and then move on to the next song.

I keep writing more songs. I think I've gotten into a groove now, where I can get a song pretty much complete and then assess whether it's worth more effort, or if it was just an interesting exercise. It used to be that each song was everything, but not each one is just a part of something else. I don't feel as attached to completing them all -- only the really strong ones.

That said, I'm working on one right now that I think is pretty special. We'll see what I think a week from now.