When it comes to guitar solos Jimi Hendrix may very well be the best. Ever. This live recording of, “Manic Depression,” from Live At Winterland is a psychedelic mind trip. It has it all – lots of melody, feedback and a blissful wah-wah pedal moment.

The 3/4 time signature has an intensity that no other groove does. The Jimi Hendrix Experience were on top of their game on this one.

Robin Guthrie is one of the most underrated guitarists ever. Ever. The Cocteau Twins influence on modern music has always been grossly overlooked.

Here’s one of my favorite Robin Guthrie solos. It’s from the 1993 Cocteau Twins album, “Four Calendar Cafe.” It’s the grand finale of a flawless record. The guitar solo starts at 2:44 on this video. It’s exquisite. It’s all about minimalism, he picks just the right notes and then ends it with nice bend on the tremelo.

As for the interpretaion of the lyrics I don’t like it. Part of what is so great about the Cocteau Twins was that you could make up your own meaning of Liz Fraser’s lyrics.

At the end of each year I like to take an inventory of all the new things I did for the first time. 2009 had a lot of ups and downs. JamSmooth is still standing strong. 2010 will be a good year. How do I know? Because I’m going to work hard to make it that way. Here are my firsts for 2009.

1. First time to Cambodia. This trip included with it many other firsts. First time: flying Korean Air, to Seoul, South Korea, seeing Angkor Watt and first time speaking Khmer.

2. First time getting laid off. In 2009 the economy hit home, at least for me. Thought I was safe. I thought wrong. However the experience was rewarding in many other ways.

3. First time at SxSW. Great time. Great music, food, atmosphere and city. Looking forward to going again.

4. Joining Toastmasters. I started Toastmasters in October with a bang. I’ve already given 3 speeches, been Toastmaster, General Evaluator, Timer and Ah-Counter / Grammarian. Toastmasters is going to benefit me in numerous ways.

5. Reading consistently. I’m a bit of a self-help junkie. For years I’ve listened to Brian Tracy talk about the importance of reading every day yet I never read. This year I did. I read for 30 minutes every day. In about 6 months I’ve read 14 books, just reading 30 minutes a day.

6. Cutting my own hair. This year I joined the “Balding Guys Hair Club.” I wanted to do this for a while but I didn’t know if I could rock it. My buddy Adam came over with the clippers and since then I’ve been cutting my own hair. The feedback has been nothing but positive.

7. Sweat lodge. Before I left for Cambodia my pal Ginny invited me to a sweat lodge. We did 3, 20 minute sessions in the piping hot tent. It was one of the most relaxing and spiritual things I’ve ever done and I will definitely do it again.

8. Making Kombucha. Back in 2006 a friend introduced me to his homemade Kombucha. Later I saw GT’s Kombucha at Sevananda. I drank GT’s regularly and because of its high price, about $3.50 a bottle, I started making my own. The drink has numerous health benefits.

9. First job at the mall. I never would’ve dreamed I’d end up working at the mall. Thankfully I work at the best store in the mall. Since I love being around people and people watching I’ve enjoyed it.

10. First time tracking every dollar spent all year. My pastor, Andy Stanley, talked about how he and his wife have tracked every single dollar they’ve ever spent as a couple. His point is how can you track your spending if every dollar doesn’t have a name? Dave Ramsey says the same thing. This year I used my iPhone to keep track of cash expenses and Quicken to record where every dollar went. The only way you can get a handle on where you money goes is to name every dollar.

See ya 2009. You’ve been unforgettable but 2010 will pwn you.

Hey everybody. I finally got around to changing the theme here. I wanted to do this for a long time.

I’m still customizing the look and getting the blog looking the way I want. I think it’s a much cleaner and more organized theme.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks,
Jam

Being one of those folks who constantly search for new and exciting music demands a lot of time. I used to be such a person. I used to be desk jockey. Sitting at a desk for 8 hours every day afforded me lots of time to listen to music while I worked. Right now that is not an option.

Growing tired and being consistently disappointed in what I heard fueled my waning interest. I’m not one to say, “Oh the 70′s were the best, the 80′s were the best,” and so on. I think that artists should consistently create inspiring works of art. Of course my opinion is entirely subjective however, it’s been ages since a record blew my mind. Again I’m not looking like I once did. Now I let music find me. This leads to me not listening to much new music.

So this year there is no Top 10 records list. I didn’t even buy 10 records in 2009. I bought a few: Jeremy Enigk – OK Bear, Fee – Hope Rising and Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night which all released this year. Other records I bought were older.

Things are changing for 2010. I’ve got a project in the works that will change it all.

See ya 2009! I’m looking forward to 2010!

In about an hour I’m giving my 3rd speech at Toastmasters. Admittedly I haven’t prepared as much as I’d like. Ironic as well since this speech is about procrastination. I think I’ve got it though. Wish me luck!

Do It Now!

I. Start off with Procrastinator joke
A. Intro – as we approach the new year time to think about resolutions
Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. – John Lennon from “Beautiful Boy”
THIS IS YOUR LIFE!
B. Why do we procrastinate? Why do we put off goals like losing weight? Quitting smoking, Watching less TV, reading more? Learning a language? Laziness, lack of purpose, fear of failure, fear of success?
C. Procrastination holds us back from our full potential

II. First Step – Admit the opportunity
A. Admit you’re procrastinating.
B. Be aware and identify
C. How to identify? Cleaning, organizing your socks?, doing laundry? Seriously.
1. Are you working on what you set out to work on?

III. Do It Now
A. You may forget
B. Another task may come along that preempts
C. Have a sense of urgency – “Like your hair is on fire” – Seth Godin
D. Repeat to yourself: I do it now!

III. Write it down immediately
A. If you can’t do it immediately write it down
B. Follow up with the person when complete
1. Then he/she will know task is complete, how quickly you did it.
2. Tell story of former boss – “What did they say?” before you’d even done it. Imagine being able to answer!

IV. Start Small when starting it
A. 30 minute a day reading example
1. Same with exercise
B. Set a timer for the task – I’ll work for 15 minutes

V. Accountability
A. Get someone you trust to hold you to a deadline
B. Create a punishment / reward system. A trip. A dinner.
C. Pray – ask your Higher Power to give you the strength to take that first step

VI. Conclusion
A. Repeat Steps
1. Acknowledge the opportunity
2. Do It now – Don’t wait
3. Write it down
4. Start small
5. Get accountability
B. Procrastination robs us of living extraordinary lives!
C. Stop making plans and do it now!

Here’s the story behind, “Riding Free Today.” A former co-worker licenses music for TV, film, commercials, etc. From time to time she’ll let me know about opportunities looking for a certain type of song. It’s much cheaper to get an independent artist to write a song in the style they need rather than pay the original artist to license a song.

So when she called me up and told me about this opportunity with Harley-Davidson I jumped. They were looking for a song in the vein of White Stripes, Wolfmother, Black Keys and Black Angels. It’s a spec job which means that you have to do the work first and if they choose your song you then get paid. The past few days I’ve been working on what became, “Riding Free Today.”

I was at work and the main riff came to me. I wanted something that felt like motion, specifically that of riding a motorcycle. Then I thought about the freedom one has when riding a motorcycle. Bikes symbolize a certain freedom and individuality that I wanted to express in the song. The lyrics became about freedom and using the bike to achieve that freedom.

I recorded the song in Logic, all in the box. Unfortunately you can hear that. The recording is a bit muddy. Also I haven’t been singing and playing guitar in recent months. It’s a bit like running long distance but not having the conditioning to finish. I did my best. The vocals are not that great in my opinion. Although I think the song benefits from that. I don’t sound quite like my normal self. I have an edge which this song needs. I also hear a female vocal singing it. So any rock female singers willing to sing this let me know!

All the guitars were done with my Ernie Ball Music Man – Albert Lee model. That guitar has so much versatility. You can go from rock to shoegaze to country pickin’ in no time. Great guitar, thanks Dad!

For those that will, please pray that the song gets chosen. I could really use the money! Thanks!

I’m curious to get any feedback on the song. What are some ways you think I can improve it? What kind of visions and emotions does the song evoke from you, if any?

Thanks,
Jam

Stream MP3 here.

Riding Free Today by James N. Staubes, Jr.
Jam It Up Your Music (ASCAP)

Verse
Gonna ride this thing all night long
Gonna ride this thing ’til the break of dawn
Gonna break free from this lifeless life
Gonna ride this bike ’til I see the sun rise

Chorus:
Oh Oh Yes I know there’s a better life waiting
Goodbye to all the lies, lies that you trade
Oh got to go, gotta get away
I’m breaking free from the night and I’m riding free today

I like both of them but I’m going with Howard Jones. No contest.