First Rough Mixes

I heard the first rough mixes for the album today -- just drum, bass, some keys, and unfinished vocals.

And ...

Well, it's not how I saw the album going, let's say that much. Not that I'm complaining. It's just that my instincts as a musician point me in a certain direction, and this isn't it. But this is Juicy Mountain's direction, and that's painfully clear to me, as it was painfully clear to me when I first heard it, some 4-5 hours ago.

Now, I ain't gonna spoil things by talking about what it actually is at the moment... That would be ... like spoiling the ending, I guess. Suffice to say that anyone who knows me well enough would have a clear idea of how I would take things, musically, and this sure ain't that.

But it's the right move, I think. It's all about staying true to what Juicy Mountain is, and the fact here is that I wasn't involved when the definition was constructed. It's also about making the right business decision, and though it pains me to think in those terms, it makes far too much sense. Making music is all well and good, but if you're the sort of person who is willing to forego much of the accepted social expectations that one is burdened with, then you'd better make damn sure that you're making the sort of music that can support and sustain that decision. It's not selling out, it's ... it's like taking an interest in your mate's kid: you help the child grow and learn; you feel proud when you see your input becoming manifest in the child's achievements; but eventually you get slapped in the face with the harsh truth that it isn't your kid. That's my relationship with Juicy Mountain, at least at the present moment -- I believe in it and feel very proud of what it accomplishes with my help, but it ain't my baby.

But then, we're dealing with a backlog, of sorts. We're playing songs that were written before I joined. They sort of got reworked since that time, sometimes due to much input from me, and they're being reworked again for this recording, because that's Juicy Mountain for you, but at the end of the day, these aren't my children. The parents know best, which is why I'm deferring to Christian on this one. I'm not unhappy about it at all, but it sort of has me holding back, keeping the rock on the inside, and I think I'm getting to a point where I seriously need to rock out. Get my fix, let it out ... something like that.

So: optimism. I've been told, very firmly, to not be a pessimist and focus on the positives, and this is the upshot: these kids will take care of me. I've put enough love into them that I think I should get some love in return. Meanwhile, I can look forward to the day that I have my own kids, who will most definitely

keeponrockin
Tom Hauville
Juicy Mountain Bass Monster