Thoughts Of The Townedger-August

Happy Birthday to Mom.

It's been a long week for people and passings, Alan Lanier passed away, he was part of Blue Oyster Cult but years of smoking caught up to him and he died from C.O.P.D.  I've never been a big fan of smoking, my folks gave it up finally in the 80s but it kinda bums me out to see my best friend continue to fight the smoking demon and failing. But it's not for me to criticize what he likes to do.  I just rather not visit any more funerals if I have to.

I have a co worker that worked in another department. Troy Liddell and his wife Kelly were both killed by a hit and run driver last weekend to which the hit and run driver remains at large.  It's tough to live life in a world that you take your life in your own hands when you venture out on the road and never knowing if you'll get back home alive.

The one passing that I took notice was Jon Brookes, who died way too young at age 44 from brain cancer.  If you live long enough like me, 44 years is a short time being on this planet and Jon did great things with The Charlatans UK  And leaving behind a family too.  Nothing more shattering than having to deal with that.  It also shows that the time spent here on Earth is as fleeting as it comes, that one minute you're here and next you're not.  I also believe that the the more you bitch the longer God lets you live, so I'll be here for a while.

The No Exit promotion is done and the critic in me has aroused from the dead. I was thinking of doing a revision of that album and taking some cuts off and adding a couple in its place but the issue at hand is of course The End.  It seemed like a good idea at the time but the more I hear it the more I think it should have been left in the can.  It was a good exercise to see if I could pull it off and for a couple months I did but it does sound dated, four months after issuing the album.  The record has been a jinx from the start it seems, getting flooded out of the basement three times and the cover art that offended a few.  I'm a bit torn to the fact that I should have simplified it down to 12 tracks and keep the running time under 50.  But it is what it is I guess and warts and all, live with the end result.  But it does pose a challenge for me to come up with a better flow and better songs next go round.

2013 still has been a crap year regardless. Can't please the public either, after being flooded most of the spring and June, it hasn't rained much and the farmers are crying again. Wish there was a way I could have given them the water in the basement that still makes this place smell like cat litter and GD gnats around my face inside intolerable.

I have no ideal who will be on the next album outside of Geoff.  Robby Knowles remains penciled in, but Geoff has been clambering for Martin Daniels to return as the third member.  Hardly anybody remembers John Verhoven anymore, even myself.  When I do interviews about it, I forget V's name.

The reissue campaign got suspended as well due to weather related things too. It's going to be a very busy wintertime when that comes around.

We're Getting Nowhere has been getting some airplay loving, not bad for a 12 year old album.  You Lost Me gotten some airplay on KMAI/Radio M Burg. Abstract Girl from the new album as well.

If I redo No Exit, I'd would use the first mix of One More Time, since the vocals came through better.  If I reissue it, The End would be dropped.  Maybe Stone City too. All Along The Watchtower would take it's place.(meaning replacing The End).

The next album I might return back to the Zildjian lineup of the early 2000's.  Still have them put away in boxes. Probably one of the reasons why the 90s and Road Less Traveled sound better.

Russ told me that he thinks Pawnshops For Olivia was the best TE album made.  Diggy thinks A Long Time Forgotten was the classic one.

If No Exit first edition felled by the wayside, it wouldn't command big bucks on the EBAY market. Nobody brought it in the first place.  It's a matter of taste and what I think..  I think I've done better.

Songwriting today for me is much different than it was 20 30 years ago. The memories were clearer and my emotions wrote better songs.  Nowadays its  nostalgia and a fond looking back although Pawnshops For Olivia was much more inspired.  It's easier to write about that then than now.  Even done as acoustic, the songs still remain fresh. No Exit sounds dated four months after the fact.

Ain't it amazing that nobody in high school knew the whereabouts of Janice but I did?  If you knew her last name and use google, you'll find she's out there.  Her being chapter president of Ladies Auxiliary of a Church?   That would be totality opposite of me playing rock star record and CD collecting hoarder.  I know if I was with her, there would be no Townedgers but I might be playing in a church band.  And having five kids, two that are into rap.

I know the next project will be the first that I attempt to do on Disc recording and not using cassette tape.  Had it for many years, the one with disc recording since it has built in features (including, gasp Autotuner) and it's probably easier than four track tape recording. After fighting the masters of No Exit to make a presentable version, maybe it is time to move up.  But I yet to master the MP3 art of making music that way. I know Diggy Kat made some MP3 copies of Pawnshops For Olivia but they sound much tinny than the cd version.   But I owe him a radio spot.

Somebody yelling at the world? Beside myself? Oh really?

That's it for now.  I'll be back and rocking before you know it again.

Jon Brookes

Sad to hear about the passing of Jon Brookes, drummer for The Charlatans UK of a brain tumor.  His drumming was one of the reasons why I listen to their albums all these years.

He will be missed.