General Music Chat

I don't know what the issue is with smoking.

I smoked for 5 years, hard. It got to the point if I had more than 5 cigs in a 3 hour period, it would make me physically ill. (turn green and want to puke)

From there it was easy to stop smoking cigarettes. Marlboro lights give me a headache 2nd to none.

Unfortunately, the wacky tobaccky is way more fun and much harder to forgo. The positive is that one doesn't smoke 5 of those in a 3 hour period. lol

Hell these days, I am lucky to do that once every 2 weeks if that and never when I have to perform, unless it's open mic night at the local zoo. lol

i hear what your saying about the "smoking" craig..its been the baine of my life forever...i know it f ucks up my voice and i dont sound half as good as i could but i find it is something i cant get away from...
ive quit in the past but always end up back sucking the old cancer sticks for all my life is worth....
but some of my favorite singers (kurt cobain,josh homme,tom york) are all smokers and it never seems to effect them or if it does it never shows
i dont know.... smoking will always be my crutch..i had more or less stopped smoking back home in ireland(due to the smoking ban) but here in the states its hard not to smoke when im having a few drinks etc...ive cut down alot as of late but ill never break free...and ill never stop singing so its a lession in futility.....me thinks.

Gee thanks Anthony! You've just given me at least a few more months delay in quitting, cause now I don't feel half as bad about it! After all, I like the artists you listed, all smokers, and I'm a fan of all the stuff you've done and posted up too! Good thing you don't live around here, cause I'd probably be hitting the Irish bars with you, adding a whole new vice to the list! LOL

Reminds me of Benjamin Franklin, who was like a rock star here and in Europe back in the day, for his intelligence and wit.

He once decided to list ALL the sins and vices he could think of, that he had ever been guilty of, and put a mark next to them every time he committed one. Over time he was proud to see the marks getting less and less, as it made him conscious of changing these behaviors and he got better and better at NOT doing them, until there were almost no marks to put each day. Suddenly he felt so proud of himself, that he realized he had to put a new category down "Vanity", at that point he gave up, realizing that conquering vices, only seemed to lead to new ones!

LMAO! Gotta love that!

Unfortunately, the wacky tobaccky is way more fun and much harder to forgo. The positive is that one doesn't smoke 5 of those in a 3 hour period.

LOL - 10 years ago, I might have tried to prove that statement wrong, just for fun!

Beware the Devil's Lettuce! LMAO!

The thing that rips my voice up the most is (hate to say it), beer. If I drink any thing at all while performing, it's scotch. My smokin' consist of a good cigar once or twice a year. I had some green Pakistani hash back in the early 70's, almost coughed up me gizzard!..and that was the end of that! (of course I didn't inhale)

The way the music comes in really set a mood and the vocals were awesome. I know that I am not really up on all the recording stuff, but I know what I like and I liked it !!!!!!!!

God Bless !
guitargal

I agree with Shredd6 that the chimes need to be lower in the mix. I like the bright guitar, but I couldn't hear the vox enough. They sounded good, but the level was inconsistent. Your voice is nice and thick. I hope everybody who smokes can give it up. It's not for everybody, but using dip or chew as a step down (like nicorette) can work. It's just not as satisfying but it can keep you from smoking. Then take smaller and less frequent dips/chews. Tobacco just sucks. It holds you hostage. For a lot of us here our voices are are our favorite "toy". It's so risky to pass all those carcinogens past our precious pipes. Good luck to anybody trying to kick the habit. You CAN do it!!

Unfortunately, I'm going through the same thing. I've been smoking a lot lately. I'm just stressed out these days.

But then tonight when I came home I started working on a song and recorded a sample of the first verse.

I work construction, so I breathe a ton of crap all day, then the Vegas winds kicked up to about 50 mph, I smoked a whole pack today.

Feel free to check out my page and listen to the sample. It's just a home demo for me to have a plan of attack for the song. You'll have to forgive my recording skills. I'm not a very good engineer.

I'll dedicate it to Craig for some support. The song's called "Throw The Hammer".

The funny thing is, I quit smoking 2 bands ago because I was penciled in as the lead singer. Then the rest of the band said I couldn't sing, and ditched me. Then I started up again.

Man am I glad I have always been able just take or leave the smoke thing. (both of them) Although the lefties were harder for me. I did get kinda fond of Black and Mild fast break cigars, a touch of pneumonia was all it took to kick that one. But then again I dont sing. When I worked offshore I'd smoke , drink n raise hell in New Orleans for a week, would not even take a pack out on the waves the next week. The only thing I missed out on the water was the LADIES (I use that term loosly)

Luckily I do not sing, so I do not have these worries. But irony has it that I do not smoke or drink, or do drugs for that matter. Actually, I have never even tried any of them. I refuse to, I am not starting a habit that I cannot break. To me my only addiction is Ginger Ale (Don't ask me why, I just love it).

You know I tried to sing once, I think that is how my last computer broke (Jumped off the ledge on its own, self-preservation I guess? Lmao).

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

Ginger releases endorphins in the brain you junkie LOL.
(apparently so does taking a deep breath - whoa headrush)

Ginger releases endorphins in the brain you junkie LOL.
(apparently so does taking a deep breath - whoa headrush)

What, you say something... I'm numb man... *Takes another swig of ginger ale and faints.*

Lmao, GuitarAnatomy.

I'll dedicate it to Craig for some support. The song's called "Throw The Hammer".

You would think that you were offering help to quit smoking, right?

But the song lyrics seem to paint a picture of intolerant fundamentalists enforcing their will against others. Am I misunderstanding the lyrics, or was that indeed meant as an insult against me?

Cause, after all, you dedicated it to me.

I hope that is not what you see, when you try and paint my picture. I am far more complex than that. I am usually the object of scorn of extremists on BOTH sides, both liberal and conservative. I don't fit into a neat little box. Yes, I believe in traditional values, like hard work, respect for authority, love of country, chivalry, etc... But I also don't believe that abortion is murder (which incidentally, neither do most pro-lifers, though they like to believe they do) I don't believe that recreational drugs should be criminalized, save the prisons for child molesters and the violent criminals. I am patriotic and would probably kick your ass if I saw you burn an American Flag, but I don't believe it should be a criminal offense to do it (burning, not kicking your ass for it). On a personal level, I don't believe homosexuality is moral, but I don't agree with making it a criminal issue, or discriminating against consenting adults that choose (yes, they choose, sorry that lifestyle, which includes legally sanctioning such marriages, which they have a right to enjoy. I fervently believe in the Bible, but I know that hell is not a literal physical place, and no one literally burns there for all eternity. I am a Christian, because I am a follower of Christ, but I know for a certainty that God is the inspiration behind many religions, and that people can be saved and know God and have a relationship with him, whether they have ever heard of Jesus or not, or ever read the Bible. I believe that loving your enemy is the only hope for a permanent peace and a civilized world, but I also believe war is justified and even necessary at times. How are those for seeming contradictions?

I will be happy to elucidate any of these positions or debate them if anyone disagrees with them, or seeks clarity on my beliefs.

The point really is, that if I made vocal these positions, one at a time, depending on the subject matter, someone could easily assume I was a bleeding heart liberal, just as easily as they could assume I was a war mongering conservative.

Either view though, would be innaccurate.

I am a seeker of truth, whether intellectual, philosophic or spiritual.

I just want the truth, and I always maintain an open mind and heart while pursuing it.

btw...

Those songs are badass!

The one song "Burn" or "Help Me" which is it? It's titled differently on your MySpace and Bandmix. Is that original?

I dig it. Immensely!!!

I would buy that CD bro.

I write stuff like that, but I am in a Southern Rock band right now. Sometimes I feel like I need about a dozen side projects. My interests are far too varied. LOL

Craig Maxim, those views were interesting. I must say I concur with some and I am probably more skeptical with others, however, I am not going to elucidate because it will probably exhaust my mind, lol.

You do seem to be more complex than you appear, much - my grandmother was like this I hear. I did read you as more of a conservative, but now I really think you remind me of an Independent more than anything. I stand Independent because I cannot choose a side, I agree with both and then disagree with both.


You said: "I am a seeker of truth, whether intellectual, philosophic or spiritual."

I can concur with that, I think similar, mainly depending on the issue at hand. I try to be objective and open minded, I try not to judge off hand without knowing all of the facts (I am not saying it always works though).

On the other hand, I do not usually use my religious philosophy in my selection of candidates or in the politics at all for that matter, I guess I see no reason to. I do not really care what their religion is, as long as I know they are worthy of taking the jobs they do. For instance, my dislike for McCain has nothing to do with his personal life, religion, or his sacrifices (Which he made plenty of, I agree, I could never have done what he did), it has to do with watching him for a long time and not liking his politics.

I think it is important in this biased world to keep an open mind. I got sick watching the Clemens hearing the other day, it was a pathetic hearing and was a mockery of justice, completely.

I am just hoping that whoever gets into office as President can change something. It seems though, in my view, that Obama is coming on stronger. It looks like a year for the democrats, especially since the polls are showing overwhelming majorities of democratic voters as compared to republican voters - though I admit this could change come election day.

I am not really for Clinton or Obama, I dislike them both really. I do not like any of the candidates out there. As I said before, I only really liked Senator Biden (And Senator Hagel, but he never ran).

I almost do not want anything to do with these elections, I am not sure if I want to even bother voting. Maybe if she wins the primaries I will, maybe.

Hey, out of curiosity, what is your take on Nostradamus?

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

Craig...

Dude.


All I meant by dedicating the song to you, was that even though you smoke, you can still sing.

If you read my post again you'll see where I'm explaining how yesterday my lungs and throat took a pounding due to construction dust, a freaking dust storm due to high winds, and I smoked a whole pack of cigarettes. And I still think I did a pretty good job on my vocals after all that.

So the dedication was really about, "alright, so I smoke cigarrettes. I still kick ass!" kind of thing.

That's all...

It had nothing to do with the "subject matter" of the song.


You just wrote a big long post for nothing.


(But thanks for the compliments. I do value your opinion. I think you're a killer musician. I hope the movie thing works out for you.)

Peace.