The following is a list of Justinpdrew's blog entries, in reverse order
Matthew Drew: The Basement Sessions, Volume 1
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 (15:03:00)
As you might not know, I have the tendency to gush about my brother's music.
It's because I genuinely, honestly, truly in my heart of hearts believe he's a decent songwriter and know he has the potential to be a downright great one in the future. I mean, he's almost 19, plays three instruments and has written over 50 songs over the last five years. And a good percentage of them are actually listenable!
So, keep that in mind when you listen to this EP/demo/monstrocity. These songs have been recorded over the past few months, and they showcase his raw talent. If you listen to these songs intently, (after you get past the poor recording quality) you'll hear an interesting sound; the sound of Matthew growing as a musician. I do.
Sure, these eight songs are far from perfect; he doesn't always hit the right notes, he slurs words occasionally, kind of fucks the rhythm up sometimes and not all of the keyboard work is fantastic, but within each of these little song nuggets I'm giving you show one more step toward the amazing musician he will eventually become. All I ask is that you listen to the songs, then come back here and tell me exactly what you think of it. And be honest!
Also, my brother Scotty is on four songs. He's getting better too. "The Beast" is my favorite Scotty singing song ever.
A couple nights ago, I taped myself performing two of my poems in front of Scotty and Matt. They went fairly well, I know what I'm good at and where I need to improve (one thing I do is a move called the Weeble Wobble, where I pivet from right foot to left to right to left to right and on and on forever. If you watch the video, make sure you've taken your epilepsy medication because the small flash of black as I move back and forth across the screen like you're looking at me with one eye closed and constantly switching eyes, closing one at the exact moment you're opening the other, is probably going to fuck with your head.)
Also, I'm not posting either of the videos. Yet. I want to wait, there are too many improvements to make before anyone else sees. I can see myself becoming something great (see below) but it's a long road and negative criticism is something I can only take from myself right now and no one else. Trust me, I'm very good at pointing out my faults.
I also have been watching shyteloads of spoken word videos on the internet, and I want to know if there's anyone awesome that I'm missing. Matt turned me on to Taylor Mali who, oh my fucking head, is like the end-all be-all right now. He's one level I'm aspiring to. Another is Mike McGee. People who aren't just funny, but can make you think, make you wonder, cause a wave of emotions to sweep over you--all in one single poem. Below are a couple of my favorite videos. I aspire to be this.
My father got a printer from his friend at work. I've printed out three of my poems, not super short but middle-of-the-road poems when it comes to length. I'm going to memorize them. No, not just memorize, I'm going to remember them. I'm going to fully realize every line and practice them until I can perform it and make it entertaining. The thought of this lifts me out of my deep blue funk, but just a little bit. I want to be able to perform all three of these poems by my birthday on April 1st. That will be my present to myself, and I guarantee you it will be better than any other I will get this year.
I just watched "Rebel Without A Cause" and I'm thinking about fame. What makes someone a legend?
If James Dean were still alive today, would he still be an icon? Of course there's no way of knowing, any number of things might've happened.
Which gets me wondering: if Chevy Chase had kicked the bucket, say, right after wrapping filming on Fletch with Caddyshack and Vacation still fresh on America's mind, would he be considered a comedy god? Someone who would have gone on to redefine the genre? No one in 1985 could see Cops and Robbertsons or Vegas Vacation coming down the pipe. Makes you wonder what John Belushi had in store for his future...
And think about Kurt Cobain; everyone thinks of him as a genius. Would he still be as iconic as he is now? What if Gavin Rossdale had offed himself instead, would people be wearing Rossdale t-shirts and putting Glycerine on top of "Greatest Songs of All-Time" lists instead of Smells Like Teen Spirit? Would Kurt Cobain record a song as bad as Love Remains The Same?
What is it about death that makes the deceased so revered? Is it the unknown, the possibilities that person had in front of them? Why do we assume they'd make the right decisions if they hadn't made that final wrong one? If Kurt Cobain hadn't killed himself that day, who's to say he wouldn't have tried it again a week later?
I think that by death, especially when details are and remain cloudy, the person is given a sort of super-human status, like it was some cosmic plan being enacted as opposed to say, a misplaced chicken bone or an under-inflated tire. When someone talented dies young, it gives them a sort of mystique and legend about them.
Take Heath Ledger for instance: 90% of the planet never gave a shit about him before he died, and the only reason people were starting to remember his name was because his turn as the Joker had already begun generating buzz. After he died, he became a legend. People will be talking about Ledger forever just like they still talk about James Dean. I'm not saying it is or isn't deserved, I'm just wondering what it would have been like if they had survived, if this reverence would still exist.
I just uploaded a metric shyteload of new poems. Read 'em, rate 'em, love 'em.
Also, The Audience is an epic poemsong my brother and I are working on. I'm workshopping it here verse by verse, including the chorus around it just to be pretentious.
American Idol Poetry Edition
It's a stupid slam I put together, but if people think it's a cool idea, we should do more like this.
PS, go there and vote my poem up.
I hope that link brings you there, it's literally just called "I wanted to make a basic slam" on the page. Join it if you feel like a little friendly competition... I just wanted to see if my poems are good enough to win contests.
I heard Taylor Swift's "Love Story" on the radio today, and loved the hell out of it. Shhhhhhhhhhh. Don't tell nobody.
PS: Thomas Mitchell is swiftly becoming one of my favorite actors ever. Just watched Mr. Smith Goes To Washington and have previously seen Stagecoach and It's A Wonderful Life. He's great, he looks at people with large, knowing eyes, and has terrific comedic timing. He is relegated to the role of the "drunk" a lot but he does it beautifully by giving each character depth, even winning an Oscar for the drunk doctor Doc Boone in Stagecoach.
I need to see more of his work. Yes, yes I do. If I were to make a list of actors whose DNA I would dig up and clone in order to work with when I eventually become a respected filmmaker (inevitable), he currently tops the list. John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Heath Ledger, and Phil Hartman round out the top five.
I should have a new poem called "Mr. Forty-Something" popping up sometime very soon. Ya'll should read it and stuff.
I've been so so so busy with work and college that I've not much time to post, but I did make it out to the movies recently and I have a review of "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" that I'd like to share...
PAUL BLART: MALL COP
I'm disappointed that the director chose to torture us with so much sex and nudity that he lost the shock value. The multiple sex scenes became as dull as the story. While we are expected to see deep into the motives of the prison guard-turned-pedophile, I frankly became bored and tired of the whole sordid affair. The moral dilemma is whether or not a young law student helps a past lover/predator/Nazi prison guard out of a sabotage planned by her peers. The movie finishes SLOWLY wrapping up the choice he makes and how he and she copes with it.
.:: Home
:: Poems
:: Workshop Forums :: Register
:: Features
::.
Membership:
Latest: lostsoul104
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 8
Overall: 9338
Members: 10
Visitors: 179
Staff: 0
- Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from GotPoetry.
You can syndicate other parts of our site using the following files:
Inside
Community
Reference
Communication
