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I'm a writer and creative director. I make things, collect books, write fiction and don't understand Zen. I'm Vegan.

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Trent Summar Video Release

A video that I recently directed for the single “Really Never Loved Her Anyway” is out. Look for it on CMT, GAC, CMT Pure and on other country music sites and networks. I loved working with Trent and the video came out really great.

It was sort of a “fun with overhead projectors” kind of experience, which I thought was excellent.

The video was produced by Task Force Films and Executive Produced by Chris Rogers.
For more on Trent Summar and the New Rew Mob, buy the CD, it’s great and visit Palo Duro Records online.

Trent Summar Video Release

A video that I recently directed for the new Trent Summar single “Really Never Loved Her Anyway” is out. Look for it on CMT, GAC, CMT Pure and on other country music sites and networks. I loved working with Trent and the video came out really great.

It was sort of a “fun with overhead projectors” kind of experience, which I thought was excellent.

The video was produced by Task Force Films and Executive Produced by Chris Rogers.

For more on Trent Summar and the New Rew Mob, buy the CD, it’s great and visit Palo Duro Records online.

New Timothy Craig Music Video

Keep an eye out for a new video from Timothy Craig. I just directed You Got It, the title track off his forthcoming CD of the same name due out later this year.

Tim’s been around the scene for a while and is a great artist and songwriter whose live shows are legendary.

You can hear the song over at his myspace site.

The video, which also features Devan Monako, a really talented model and actress, is sure to be a hot one.

So make sure that when the video comes out, you check it out.

New Dan Wallace CD: Culture of Self

Dan Wallace has a new CD and it’s absolutely amazing. In fact, I’d argue that it’s without a doubt his most creative effort yet.

Part of what makes Dan’s music so great is his ability to pull in a broad range of subtle musical influences and turn them into something no one has ever heard before. The result is a sort of cutting edge familiarity.

As for the songs, Culture of Self packs lots of punch. He opens with “Counting” a musical interlude that takes the mind on a bit of an aural journey only to give way to “Heap” another textured offering that builds and grows from vulnerable to soaring all while featuring Dan’s impressive vocal range and unique style.

The CD is filled with musical gems, including personal favorites “Low Road,” “Perfect Weather For A Superhero” and “Capsule.” Throughout the disc there are a wealth of unexpected moments from the atypical arrangements to the instrumentation, which is most on display with Dan’s guitar playing. Here he repeatedly teases us with his chops on songs like the previously mentioned “Heap” and “Perfect Weather For A Superhero.”

This isn’t a safe record. It takes chances and sticks its neck out. But this is precisely what makes it so remarkable. This is where pop and rock should be going as a genre.

Dan Wallace challenges his listeners. And as a listener, I sincerely appreciate this. In fact, as his popularity has grown, he’s bucked the trend to simplify and sellout, instead opting to create an even more abstract offering of songs that once they get inside your head will echo for a long time.

Trent Summar Video Shoot

I just wrapped on the Trent Summar video shoot. Trent was amazing and he brought an incredible cast of characters with him in his band the New Row Mob.

The song we shot was “Really Never Loved Her Anyway” which was written by Trent and Jay Knowles and it’s one of those tunes that you won’t be able to get out of your head once you hear it.

In fact, I’d say pick up the album because it’s great. And once the video is done, make sure you find that too. It’s going to be a great one. It’s fun, energetic, colorful and filled with stunning visuals.

I’ll stick it up here once it’s done.

The “Party Like A Rockstar” Video Shoot

I spent the weekend directing a music video for JTX, a great performer and songwriter with a hot song called “Party Like A Rockstar.”

The song itself has been a bit of a viral sensation on You Tube and Myspace. So much so that the Army flew him and his band to Afghanistan to perform for the troops.

Keep your eyes open for the video and make sure you check out the song on Myspace or iTunes.

UPDATE: The edit should be done by August 12th, 2007

Cat Power Gives Us Her Greatest Effort Yet

Cat Power’s latest CD is great.

It’s that simple.

Just when you think you have a handle on her style, she changes things up in beautiful and dramatic ways. “The Greatest” is no expection. In fact, it most perfectly embraces this very notion. Part soul, part country and pure emotion, she has created a modern classic. There is beauty in simplicity and no one gets this like she does.

I can’t say enough about how much I like this CD. Favorite cuts are The Greatest, Living Proof and Love and Communication.

Give it a listen.

Now Hear This: Neon and Gold

Neon and Gold, the lastest from Dan Wallace is out and I urge any fan of great independent music to get a copy. From beginning to end, this disc is filled with amazing songs rich with dynamic textures, beautiful arrangements, lush harmonies and strong musicianship.

Clearly an evolution in sound and substance over the well-received Pindrops CD, Neon and Gold shines brightly in what has bcome an increasingly dull and contrived music scene.

Stand out tracks include the infectious Fell, the very personal The Lizard and the Cat, Too Soon, Maybe, Homage and Sonatina. With that said, make no mistake, this album is solid from the first note to the last. And pay special attention to the guitar playing, an element that could easily get lost among the profound lyricism and memorable vocal performances.

Yes, this is a glowing endorsement. But this is one of those under the radar records you’re gonna wish you had so you can say you were listening to Dan Wallace before he blew up.

My One Problem With The Karate Kid

Everytime I watch the Karate Kid I’m left with this nagging qustion that has pretty much ruined the movie for me: What’s the deal with the fat guy in Cobra Kai? You know the one pictured left fighting the really speedy guy who lost to Johnny in the quarter finals although he clearly had better moves than any Cobra Kai.

But, if Cobra Kai was all about picking on social outcasts, why wouldn’t the fat guy have been the first to go? He wasn’t up to snuff. Daniel La Russo was much cooler than that guy. What gives? But there he his fighting in the tournament, lumbering around the stage before catching a flying kick to the chest that wasn’t even that hard. I mean, what a wuss. La Russo got his knee hyperextended and probably all his ligaments stretched and torn and he still beat Johnny with a bad-ass crane kick right to the nose. And I know, all of you from the “Mr. Myagi has magic hands school” may disagree, but all the massaging in the world ain’t gonna take that pain away. Special ancient technique or no special ancient technique.

The Cobra Kai were all about “No mercy” and had it drilled into them with a relentless vigor by Sensei. Great. I get it. But then I see the fat guy and think why does he get a free pass? He doesn’t represent Cobra Kai values. The only thing that didn’t get mercy from him was a visit to the all you can eat buffets around town. They clearly cut him lots of slack and showed lots of mercy to his out of shape, huffing and puffing ass.

This just bothers me. Don’t ask me why. But it has come to ruin the Karate Kid for me. I’ll get into the why there’s no way in hell Ralph Macchio could ever take Steve Vai in a guitar duel in a later post.

Planning A Musical Intervention

Ok, the guy across the hall from me at work must be stopped. All day long he sits at his desk, works diligently and listens to the worst collection of music ever assembled.

Not since man first began to bang sticks together and pound on skins stretched across gourds has there been an abomination such as this. He turns his stereo up and down in multi-hour waves so that just when you think you’re in the clear, he rips your heart out with a loud shriek, “We’ve built this city. We’ve built this city on rock and roll.”

For my part, I’ve engaged in a steady ritual of door slamming and wall pounding, always to no avail. I even sneak into his office and unplug his CD player when he goes outside to smoke just to send him a message. His take away: He thinks it’s funny. What’s funny about having to endure daily uninterrupted stretches of Wham, post-Thriller Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, several random metal songs of no merit, more post-Thriller Michael Jackson, some Mariah Carey, Huey Lewis and something by either Jefferson Starship or Foreigner? What the fuck? Is this guy trying to do me in? I tell myself it’s all part of some joke that he’s playing on all of us, but then I hear him sing along and I know the real truth. Which is why I must do something. Why we must do something. And that something is a musical intervention. It’s the only way to save him and to save ourselves.

UPDATE: He spent Tuesday morning listening to deep cuts by Air Supply. If anyone is curious as to what hell sounds like, drop me a line.