Hello errbody.

Musically speaking, I've sort of taken a laissez-faire attitude. That would explain why I haven't updated my blog in forever. As my voice is improving (and it is - I am so embarrassed by my older songs), I am becoming more eager to get it out there for everyone to hear. I've been working on this orchestral-sort-of version of an old song called "Undertow" and I am so damn excited to get it out there that I have decided to post it without complete strings and without drums. This has been a lot of fun to make. I wrote up the string arrangement and had my friends Ben and Peter come over and play their respective instruments. The horns sound pretty fake, but whatevs. They add to the grandeur of the song.

I really hope that everyone likes it. At the moment, what you're listening to is a work-in-progress, but it's pretty complete. I'm really itching to see what people think about it.

Otherwise, I've been writing a little with Kevin Lindsay and I have a few new songs written recently. My focus, however, has been on film and trying to make something happen. We'll see.

Peace...
Joe

I just finished encoding the mp3 for my latest recording, "I Should". I'm very proud of the way it sounds and I hope that everyone out there likes it. I've been writing some more music lately. Trying to depart from the business of life and just get more cultured - I've been reading, watching a lot of films, etc. I'm actually in the process of filming a movie called "The Violet Hour". It's coming along slowly, but it is coming along. Who knows if it'll get finished - either way, the music I've lined up is great. My cousin Steven is doing the score and Aimee Allen has agreed to let me use "Silence is Violence", which is an AMAZING song.

As you see below, I'm reading The Quiet American by Graham Greene. Such an interesting portrayal of the horrors of war, and it can really be striking to apply it to our current war. If you like war books or character studies, I'd recommend the book.

That's it, really. Have a nice apocalypse!
Joe

As you can see, I just uploaded "Love On", which I am very happy with. There's one really obliously missed note after the first chorus and a few tempo issues that I'm going to go back and fix. Otherwise, I really like the way it sounds. Very happy. I'm going to try and get another new song recorded in the next week or so. Maybe redo "Pretty Girl" or something like "I Should".

Otherwise, I need to get drums recorded for a song called "Sunset Boulevard" and bass for a song called "Jesus Dust". I am thrilled with these songs and can't wait for people to hear them. Lyrically, they're at a whole different level from previous stuff. It's a pretty different sound. I'll probably post "Jesus Dust" once it's finished.

I've been extreeeemely busy with school work, so music's been sort of on the back burner, unfortunately. I've been working with TX on "Inspecting Carol". I'm not in the show, but I'm working with the actors and it's absolutely hilarious. After that, I would like to start doing shows around Cincy.

Peace
Joe

.... you better put your kingdom up for sale.

Love Stevie Nicks. She's great. I'm listening to Rumours right now and I love that line. Brilliant stuff. I wish I had the gusto to attempt a Fleetwood or Stevie cover live. I'm going to start rehearsing with my band next week and I may put in a "Rhiannon" cover, but it's not looking like that's going to happen.

Anyway, as I previously stated, the band and I will begin rehearsing next week or so. My goal is to have 9 originals and 5 covers down. 14 songs should be an hour long set and we'll start playing shows by mid-September. I'll keep you guys posted. I just figured I should post here in case anyone reads this stuff.

Joe

Hey everyone.

I'm writing to you from our condo thing in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It's really cool, but I was suprised, borderline offended, by the palm trees here. Who told South Carolina that they were allowed to have palm trees!? California should totally sue, because those things should only be found in Cali.

Seeing as this is my music page, I guess that I'll write about music. I've been writing a lot of music recently, which is awful because I thought I had a good group of songs selected for the album. Unfortunately, I've written close to three songs in the past two weeks. Two of them will most likely end of on the album. One is named "San Diego" and the other "Sunset Boulevard". My drummer, Natalie, is working on the drum tracks as I write/you read, so those are going to sound really good. She's extremely talented, and I'm blessed to be working with her.

With all these new songs coming in, I'm going to have to start cutting songs. I've already cut "Please Don't Go" because the recording that's up on the page now doesn't sound good and I don't feel like re-recording it. I may cut "I Should" or an old song called "More Than Enough", I think. I have a cool idea for the latter song though, so it may very well be "I Should".

Ehh, we'll see. I'll finish the album soon enough and get it out. Right now, I'm on vacation and am going to go swim in the ocean or something. We already went biking on the beach and we were biking into the wind... so that was real fun.

Peace,
Joe

PS: everyone go buy Mandy Moore's new album "Wild Hope". It's amazing. Hands down.

Hey everyone!

An update on the album in progress.... I am trying to pick a final group of songs to be recorded for the album. Now that Miss Saigon is over, I will have free time and a life, so I can concentrate again on writing and recording. More recording, though. I can't keep writing new songs because it will make the decision-making process harder. I just finished writing what I know is my most lyrically and structurally complex song yet and I'm waiting for Peter to put his drop-D bass in there. After that I will be proud to put it up here and will surely be pimping it across the internet system. I've got Steven Kinney II doing drums for me and he'll be doing that very soon, so I'll have then completed four or five songs, in addition to the 3 or 4 I already have finished. It's definately coming into form.

Also, I would like to state my disappointment with the whole Paris Hilton-going-to-jail frenzy. I don't think her sentence is really fair. http://freeparisshirts.com <--- to support Paris.

Thanks,
Joe

I think that's something to be proud of, right? 600 friends on Myspace. But this isn't just going to be a landmark post. No real news to report on. I'm still working on the CD for Lation Flood and we're planning out details for the album. I'm still writing and recording new songs. Hopefully I'll get a drummer in here soon enough. I'm learning how to play "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" by Elton John and "Blue" by Joni Mitchell (quite possibly the best song ever), so once I have those perfected, I'll play them live.

But most importantly is Miss Saigon, St. Xavier's spring musical, for which I am in the company. The play is going extremely well and I'm having a ball in rehearsals and everything. I wish I could pimp ticket sales, but we sold out before the tix event went on sale to the public (cast and crew pre-orders). It's going to be amaaaaaazing, though. We have a helicopter, a 64 Cadillac, tons of set pieces, etc. Can't wait for that. When that's over, I'll concentrate fully on music and hopefully get the album out sometime this summer.

Also, I uploaded a 5th song today, "It's Just Me", which is JUST a demo with unfinished vocals and such. I'm going to get a real drummer on there and it'll sound pretty awesome (I hope).

Thanks,
Joe

I was as shocked as the next person to hear of Anna Nicole Smith's death yesterday. I read about her on PerezHilton.com, where her life was called a "soap opera". An untimely and tragic death seems like a fiiting conclusion to a soap opera life. Strangely enough, though, I found myself getting really morbid thoughts. I was obsessing over this event. Why should I care? I was never really a fan of hers. I felt bad for her after her son died, but I never considered myself a fan.

And yet, I found her death really depressing. She left behind a 5 month old baby (and a lot of money) and she was only 39 years old. I started asking myself some really morbid questions. I promised myself that if I became a famous movie director that I would make an Anna Nicole movie. I would/will pay tribute to her. She went through unimaginable struggles with the public eye always watching and judging her. She was a strong woman, one who almost seemed larger than life. Interesting how, upon one's death, you then realize that they were human, too.

I listened to Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" last night and it had a strangely emotional impact on me. I didn't cry, but I felt an extremely deep sadness. I want to write the "Candle in the Wind" for Anna Nicole, which is my goal for today. This has all been really strange for me. I don't know why this has affected me so much, but it certainly has and, hopefully, for the better.

In news related to me, I am still working on the new album. Just writing music, recording, etc. 'Tis fun. When I have a realy update, I'll give you guys one.

Joe

Hey everybody.

Recently, I've been prepping for my show later this month. It's December 29th at the HAT. Everyone needs to come and see Mia Carruthers, myself, and possibly another band put on what will be an awesome acoustic show. Doors open at 7 PM and the show starts at 7:30. Tickets are only $5, so be there!
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In other news, I've been working on an album for Lation Flood Records, planning out how everything is going to work. I've finished the first draft of a song called "I Told You So", which I may put up around the New Year. I've finished two songs off the album and have the skeletons of a bunch of other songs recorded. Natalie Bradley, who is a very talented drummer, will be doing drums for me, so I'm excited about that. Having a real drummer for once will improve the sound. I'm writing at least three new songs and am looking into doing one cover. I may even have to cut a few songs. Regardless, I'll keep you guys updated.

My latest obsession, you ask? Courtney Love and Hole. SHe's so amazingly raw. Listening to her music is really inspiring. I've definately got a Hole influence on a track which I am writing right now. You'll be able to tell. I've been listening to "Live Through This" religiously lately. I'll be covering "Asking For It" live (with a band!!!!!). I will also be covering "Sunset Strip", a song from Courtney's solo CD live. That song is amazing. If you haven't heard it, go buy it off iTunes right now. It's seriously one of the best songs I've ever heard.

I'm gonna stop rambling.

Joe

Hey everyone.

I'm happy to announce that I've signed on with John Hughes's record label, Lation Flood Records. I am going to be recording a lot more new stuff now, so be prepared for a lot of new music and appearances coming up.

I would also like to announce that "The Fountain" is one of the best movies of the year. I saw it at a sneak preview and it was absolutely amazing. It comes out November 22nd and I highly reccomend it to everyone. Also, Tenacious D comes out on the 22nd, so I'll see that, too.

Otherwise, not very much has happened musically. I've been listening to Joni Mitchell a lot lately. She's amazing. If you haven't heard any of her stuff, check it out NOW.

Joe