Sour Grapes came as an experiment, or therapy session, or self-help project, or whatever. I took a week off of work with intentions of writing and recording an album, top to bottom. While I had the best week in years, I was working 12 to 14 hour days on these recordings. Each track started as a 10 to 15 second guitar and drum loop that I had recorded back in September 2007 and had not yet done anything with.
During this week, I mapped out a song structure, programmed midi drums and bass, then recorded guitars. Each song on the CD was written in the order they appear on the CD. This is also the same order that they were conceived as song ideas last year.
When it was time to record vocals, I got pencil and paper, then stood in front of the microphone, putting words together on the spot. This is not how I usually do things. My process is normally to spend weeks on a song, coming up with something on guitar, then fitting lyrics and melody while playing the guitar. I spend a lot of time smoothing out transitions and planning the song structure. This whole album was completely off-the-cuff.
Back in 1995, I was nicknamed 'The James Machine' by a friend for my ability to crap a song out of nowhere, writing sometimes 3 to 4 a day, on instinct alone. Over the years, I have transitioned from writing 40 songs a year to 4 or 5 a year and that just isn't acceptable. This project was intended to put me back in touch with that part of myself and I feel it has worked.
| 1. Everything's Great
|
|
|
|
You called today from the same place
as always.
You talked of change and it sounded
dreadfully the same.
I don't feel like lying down all day is the best place for me.
In the dark, with not a soul around. It feels like I might waste the day.
You lost your way and lost face,
but it doesn't matter.
You called to say everything's great.
I've got to doubt it.
It would be the first time
it worked out that way.
You called to say you lost face.
God, I hope it matters.
I would love to say everything's great. |
| 2. Patterns
|
|
|
|
Anyway, as I was saying
before the last break,
my mind, it tends to wonder.
You'll never find me asleep.
Endless chatter,
it muddies my water.
It fractures my patterns,
makes new ones.
And now, in closing,
I would like to finally
say something of some interest.
I cherish my neuroses
Endless chatter,
it muddies my water.
It fractures my patterns,
makes new ones
I fall into. |
| 3. Somewhere
|
|
|
|
If you look, you will find it
There's got to be something wrong here
somewhere
It's buried deep in the OK
Calm down, it's all right
If you think one-sided
You'll find you'll soon be reminded
If it's not worth the trouble
Then just quit trying
Hold on, goodnight
Good night, sleep well
Look where you've found yourself |
| 4. Sorry, Jack
|
|
|
|
Can you tell me
who I should apologize to?
I'm thinking Page & Plant
But wait, hold up,
weren't you playing covers, then, too?
This melody is Cream-y
Tony Iommi
It's not like the White Stripes.
Oh, wait, I guess it's that, too.
Step back. Sorry, Jack,
You had it coming to you.
Tony Iommi |
| 5. Inside Out
|
|
|
|
The end result wasn't what you expected
I fled the scene, like a coward, agreed,
but you can't change the rules
in the middle of the game.
I won't suffer your indulging
of insecurities
I tip-toed around you
while trying to be true to you.
Fighting doesn't really fix anything
and denial isn't all it's cracked up to be.
You found the nerve
to call me selfish.
Well, sure, I'm thinking
only of me.
The end result wasn't what you expected.
My obligations are second degree.
But, now the burns are healing
from the inside out. |
| 6. Take Advantage
|
|
|
|
Hey, you there,
what are you waiting for?
What are you running from?
Hey, bed-hair,
why don't you clean yourself?
Why don't you go outside?
Time as a commodity
Vacation break
Go be productive
Quit playing this game
The chance won't come around again
Just take advantage
Hey, you there,
when will you tie this up?
When is enough for you?
Time as a commodity
Vacation break
Go be productive
Quit playing this game
The chance won't come around again
Just take advantage
Hey, bed hair,
who do you think you are?
Who are you waiting for? |
| 7. Resolution
|
|
|
|
The time has come to address the issue
So let's get moving
on, forward,
onward, progress to
a resolution
It could happen at any time
We don't have to plan it at all
Dedicate
five minutes today
to a resolution
We could meet at a drive through window
and order something to take the edge off
Onward,
forward progress
to a resolution |
| 8. Friend and Nemesis
|
|
|
|
What a week it's been,
the best possible, considering.
I've seen shades of myself
I hardly recognize,
it's been so long.
It's good to see you.
Old friend and nemesis
Come sit and reminisce
The times we had
were the beginning of everything.
It's good to see you.
Don't forget,
next week,
it's possible to feel this,
to be this way.
Old friend, enjoy this.
Just take it in, forget about
our nemesis.
He seeks approval
of your imaginary friends.
Our friend and nemesis
is just lonesome,
wading aimless,
through a sea of faces
of the ones he shouldn't meet. |
| 9. The Next To Last Track
|
|
|
|
It's called a waste, what I was doing
Throwing away this song
Backward lyrics are funny
Maybe once
But, now I feel I've got another one in me
Just need to squeeze it out
If I can pull it off, I will
For a minute, it was an amusing
concept for the next to last track
But, now I feel I've got another one in me
Whether it's good or not
if I can pull it off, I will
I will
It's uninspired, but over random crap,
an improvement, true, but over random crap
Need to appear invested
and enunciate
How what that?
For a minute, it might be amusing
But, maybe not |
| 10. Happy Answers
|
|
|
|
Day in and day out
I've been spending my time
Trying to find a happy answer
Or any answer
To a question that was never asked
Call me in doubt
Just hand it over if you find
A happy answer
Or any answer
To the question I'm asking
At last, I find out
I've been spending my time
Asking why, not what's the question
I never knew
What I was asking
So when you are in town
Maybe we can hang out
And spend some time
And clear the air
Day in and day out
I've been spending my time
Trying to find a happy answer
At last I find out
I've been spending my time
Asking why, not what's the question
I never knew what I was asking |
