in absinthia
The album title was inspired by someone saying that they had seen Absinthe for sale in a local gas station. I assumed that it had been banned years ago, but I subsequently found another brand of Absinthe in a local liquor store. ‘In Absinthia’ therefore combines the idea of Absinthe and of its effects.
01 lazy afternoon conversations
Having lived in France for several years, I have a certain affection for French-style movie music of the ‘60s and ‘70s which I indulge from time to time, as in ‘Deep in the darkness of the human mind,’ ‘No Shit!’ and here.
The scene is on a Sunday after a good boozy lunch. Yes, I know that ‘good and boozy’ is an oxymoronic phrase in the US, but it works pretty well in France.
The scene is on a Sunday after a good boozy lunch. Yes, I know that ‘good and boozy’ is an oxymoronic phrase in the US, but it works pretty well in France.
02 high windows
The title ‘High Windows’ is based on Philip Larkin’s poem of the same name.
In the poem, Mr. Larkin enters an old church in a miserable condition and has his spirits lifted by examining the high stained-glass windows in the church.
In the poem, Mr. Larkin enters an old church in a miserable condition and has his spirits lifted by examining the high stained-glass windows in the church.
03 the day that will never come
For some people that day is their wedding day; for others it is death. This was actually written to describe a doomed marriage which ended in murder.
04 desperado from the city
The ‘desperado’ here is my wife, Kathleen, who hates being away from San Francisco and is desperate to return to it whenever she unavoidably has to be away.
05 in absinthia
06 rigoloso
This is a sister piece to ‘The day that will never come,’ as in: “On a lighter note.”
07 i just wanna say i wanna burn you down
Somebody had just done something absolutely outrageous in the news, and this represents me musically blowing off steam. It's the same sentiment some people feel about California.
08 all across this land
One of my favorites from this album, but I don't have much to say about it except that I love the syncopated, jumpy bit.
09 dancing to my dreams
This was originally going to be the title track, then I got into absinthe ...
10 another year older
11 the walk of shame
If you live in San Francisco (and New York, and a few other big cities), you see the ‘bridge and tunnel’ girls from outside the city pouring into town on a Saturday night to chat up the tech bros. As we spent some time living over a very busy tech bro bar, we certainly saw it, and heard it: The laughter at 10pm and the drunken, tearful conversations at 1:30am.
Then, the next day comes ‘the walk of shame,’ these same girls, after giving their all, stumbling home, often on broken heels, clothes totally inappropriate for the style of the city and the time of day, and mascara running down their faces.
The rhythm of the song tries to emulate the walk, and the clunking discords in one section are describing heels breaking.
Then, the next day comes ‘the walk of shame,’ these same girls, after giving their all, stumbling home, often on broken heels, clothes totally inappropriate for the style of the city and the time of day, and mascara running down their faces.
The rhythm of the song tries to emulate the walk, and the clunking discords in one section are describing heels breaking.
12 too much love is making a fool out of me
13. it's a scandal!
Every news story at the moment has to describe a scandal of some sort, unless a celebrity is getting married or having a baby (which stories seem to take up about a third of my news feed, even though I never click on them).
I am still trying to get my head around how George and Amal Clooney manage to get bitterly divorced at least every three months, if you believe the National Enquirer, the National Examiner and the Globe, without ever getting remarried.
Jennifer Aniston stories are even more ridiculous: She manages to meet a new man, get engaged, get back together with Brad Pitt, get pregnant, get married and get divorced on an almost monthly cycle.
And as for that scamp Barack Obama … (and he seems so in control whenever he makes a TV appearance).
I am still trying to get my head around how George and Amal Clooney manage to get bitterly divorced at least every three months, if you believe the National Enquirer, the National Examiner and the Globe, without ever getting remarried.
Jennifer Aniston stories are even more ridiculous: She manages to meet a new man, get engaged, get back together with Brad Pitt, get pregnant, get married and get divorced on an almost monthly cycle.
And as for that scamp Barack Obama … (and he seems so in control whenever he makes a TV appearance).
Instruments used during the recording of ‘in absinthia’
Guitars:
BG Guitars Lyon
Epiphone Les Paul Custom Shop Special
Epiphone Dot Studio
Fender Stratocaster (Mexican-built)
Gretsch Streamliner
Ibanez Gio
Savannah acoustic
Washburn Viper
Bass:
Sterling SUB
Keyboards:
Yamaha P-115
BG Guitars Lyon
Epiphone Les Paul Custom Shop Special
Epiphone Dot Studio
Fender Stratocaster (Mexican-built)
Gretsch Streamliner
Ibanez Gio
Savannah acoustic
Washburn Viper
Bass:
Sterling SUB
Keyboards:
Yamaha P-115