For those of you not familiar with John Mayer’s music, you’ve probably heard his song, “Waiting on the World to Change”, a song about feeling un-equipped to deal with what’s going on in the world and affect change. It’s a sampler to his songwriting genius you’ll find on Continuum.

Maybe I just haven’t heard enough great music, but I’ve never heard an artist with as much talent as John Mayer in every aspect. iTunes lists his whole album as “Rock”, but musically, his style varies from the very bluesy style you’ll hear in songs like Gravity, to a song that, I swear, could have been written by Ray Charles himself - “I’m Gonna Find Another You” (I was so convinced, I had to check the song credits).

He’s not one of those artists that will throw you for a lyrically intellectual loop with cryptic verses. Instead, they are direct, honest, and beautifully crafted lyrics that deal with the human condition.

Besides Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong’s “Ella & Louis”, this is probably one of the highest rated albums in my iTunes library and defnitely one of the most played.

Here’s my favorite song on the album, In Repair: In Repair by John Mayer

This album has been getting a lot of play in my iTunes playlist since I bought it a few weeks ago. In a few words, it’s Christian rap that doesn’t suck.

I’ve heard a few of his albums before, and while I’ve always liked a few songs on all of them, this is the first time I feel like he’s put out a really complete album. The production is BANANAS and varies from the down south style of ”It Ain’t Easy” to the much more melodic sound of “Fanmail” and everything in between.

I think what really makes this album special to me is the fact and sets it apart from most other Christian music I’ve heard is that he comes off as, well, human, and isn’t full of all the usual cliches. He still focuses on reaching out to his listeners and there’s a message in every song, but it doesn’t come off as preachy - instead, it’s relatable, fun and entertaining (especially “You Hang Up First” lol).

I wish I could post the whole album for you to hear, but if like these tracks, go buy it. You won’t regret it.

You Hang Up First You Hang Up First

Fanmail Fanmail

KJ-52 - The Yearbook on iTunes

I haven’t updated my blog in a while. Here’s an instrumental I put together the other day. Something you can sorta kinda dance to. I dunno. It’s got my usual minimalistic sound lol. Just the BASSics
The overall volume on this is a little lower than normal, so turn up your speakers

Outta Control

Professional musicians look away now! I recorded myself playing the song that made me want to learn to play piano, Moonlight Sonata (1st Movement). I’m self-taught so I’m sure I’ve made some mistakes. Anyway, enjoy. I need to learn some new songs lol.

Watch me play Moonlight Sonata (1st Movement)

Here’s another draft of the instrumental. The melody is basically the same. The song is very simple. I’ve just filled it out more, mostly with the right hand. If anyone’s out there, let me know what you think.

Listen to “Heart to Heart (Draft 2)”

I also made a few edits to the lyrics too.

(1)
I sit and I pray,
“Dear Lord,
please take all my fears away.”?

I hear your response,
it’s, “No,
I’ll give you courage instead.”?

“Step through to the truth.
Have faith;
I’m just an arm’s length away.
Reach out to me, please,
trust me,
and have a little faith.”?

(2)
I’m frozen in fear,
but my mind,
is like a raging hurricaine.

Can’t focus on faith,
or love,
and my hopes are fading away.

It’s all a bad dream,
it seems,
that my dreams die every day.
I walk with you and
it still seems
I am so far away.

(3)
“Beloved, calm down,
I hear,
the cries of your heart when you pray.”?

“Find yourself in me,
come, rest,
and cast all your cares away.”?

“Leave them at my feet,
and leave,
count your blessings every day.”?
You know what I found?
My God!
My fear has been replaced!

(4)
Lord, don’t leave me now.
Mold me.
You’re the potter, I’m the clay.

I still need your help,
you’re my hope,
in this battle every day.

More mountains to climb,
to claim,
for your kingdom, in Jesus’ name.
Please, help me progress,
persevere,
press on towards that great goal.

Okay, so it’s later I worked on those lyrics a little, and a title popped into my head. Got it to a point where it’s presentable. If anyone out there actually reads my blog lol, please comment. I can think of at least one person who will probably have something to say about it. Anyhow, I encourage you to listen to the draft of the instrumental and read along at the same time and you will get the feel for how the song goes.

Listen Here

(1)
I sit and I pray,
“Dear Lord,
please take all my fears away.”

I hear your response,
it’s, “No,
but I’ll give you courage instead.”

“Step through to the truth.
Have faith;
I’m just an arm’s length away.
Reach out to me, please,
trust me,
and have a little faith.”

(2)
I’m frozen in fear,
but my mind,
is like a raging hurricaine.

Can’t focus on faith,
or love,
and my hopes are fading away.

It’s all a bad dream,
it seems,
that my dreams die every day.
I walk with you and
it still seems
I am so far away.

(3)
“Beloved, calm down,
I hear,
the cries of your heart when you pray.”

“Find yourself in me,
come, rest,
and cast all your cares away.”

“Leave them at my feet,
and leave,
count your blessings every day.”
You know what I found?
My God!
My fear has been replaced!

(4)
Lord, don’t leave me now.
Mold me.
You’re the potter, I’m the clay.

I still need your help,
you’re my hope,
in this uphill battle every day.

More mountains to climb,
to claim,
for your kingdom, in Jesus name.
Please, help me progress,
persevere,
press on towards that great goal.

I started working on a new piano song about a week ago. I started working on some lyrics to it too, which actually came first, and which I will post when they’re fleshed out more. But I thought I’d share the instrumental, which is also a work in progress. I haven’t come up with a title, but due to the nature of the lyrics, I’m thinking of calling it “Father and Son”, or something along those lines. And in case you’re wondering, it has nothing to do with my dad - it’s Father as in God. If anyone actually reads my blog, lol, please leave comments.

Oh, and please tell me if you’ve heard this melody somewhere. When I do piano music, it’s difficult for me to tell whether I’m inadvertently playing someone else’s melody, or if it’s original. It’s almost like deja-vu sometimes lol because I hear it in my head first, and when I play it, it sounds like I’ve heard it before.

Listen

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

I used to know little to nothing about punk rock. I still don’t But at least I can say I have found some that’s grabbed my attention. A while back I asked someone who was into punk rock what I should listen to, and they told me to try Green Day. I checked out iTunes and found their latest album American Idiot and got the thumbs up from my friend. I listened to it once and burned it to CD only to use it as a coaster. But the way I multitask, I really didn’t hear any of it the first time, so I dug it up and had another listen, and it ain’t half bad. It’s a little depressing, but really good music - the same of which can be said for other favorites of mine like Linkin Park, which I can only listen to in doses. Seriously, do they ever make music that doesn’t make think about jumping off a bridge?

Anyway, here’s a song that I fell in love with on the album because I totally relate to it, and on a couple of different levels at that.

I stand corrected on the title. Thanks

El Shaddai

Back Up

Okay… I was trying to do something a little different from what I normally do and decided to try and make a reggaeton track. Somewhere in the creative process, the direction of it changed, and it is far from reggaeton (I think) lol but the track is hot to me. As if my music wasn’t different enough, this one actually surprised me - it really is far off the deep end of what I normally come up with. I hope you love it as much as I do. It’s become my favorite track.

By the way, I haven’t given up on the reggaeton yet. It will just take some more work. If I keep making tracks like this in the process, well hey, I can deal with that lol. Also, I usually do 2 1/2 minute tracks max, but I did a full length track on this one, so if you have a slow Internet connection, I apologize for the larger download in advance, but trust me, it’s worth it Oh, and one more thing it’s meant to be played loud, so turn the volume up!