FANTAZZMO 1: ENTER THE FANTAZZ
Genre, what Genre?
Who cares about genres?
Why are there so many of them?
Who sits around and comes up with shit?
Do people that only listen one genre eat only one type of food?
Do they only have sex in one position?
Do they only listen to that genre for the rest of their lives?
I think not!
I'll agree there is some need for genres. Music stores, ways for people to categorize what they listen to and why they dress as they do, etc. But it seems to be taken to the extreme.
Classical, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Rap/Hip Hop. Blues, R&B, Gospel.
Most music can be put into these categories, if you want to get crazy ad a metal genre, world music, and maybe different languages.
Led Zeppelin played blues, blues rock, american folk, traditional, classical, middle eastern, pop, prog rock, elements of jazz, tropical, calypso, and many other styles of world music, all while under the name of Led Zeppelin. Did people freak out? No, they LOVED it!
The Beatles covered pop, rock, r&b, doo wop, elements of jazz, classical, middle eastern and many other types of world music and guess what.....they're still considered one of the greatest bands and greatest song writers of all time!
The Rolling Stones covered, pop, rock, blues, soul, r&b, delta blues, elements of jazz, classical, disco and other world music and they are and were one of the greatest bands of all time!
Jimi Hendrix covered, many blues stylings, rock, pop, soul, r&b, waltz and pushed the sonic envelope further than anyone could, and he is one of the greatest musicians who ever lived.
Do you see a pattern here? The greatest, most successful songwriters and musicians incorporate many different styles of genres into their music & so will I!
My heros did what they wanted, played what they wanted, and said what they wanted & Fantazzmo will do exactly the same. So don't take genres so seriously, you may only like one song on the album, or you maybe willing to enjoy the ride. I can only guarantee one thing, if you like any of the artists I like, if you share any of the same heros I do, then you will like AT LEAST ONE SONG ON THIS ALBUM. I guarantee it!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Fantazzmo - Fantazzmo I: Enter The Fantazz (Album Review)
Friday, October 15, 2010
Fantazzmo - Fantazzmo I: Enter The Fantazz (Album Review)
Looking for a new outlet with which to spread his musical wings, former Anima/Idle frontman Sergio Bedolla has taken on the alter ego Fantazzmo and created the multi-styled musical roller coaster that is Fantazzmo I: Enter The Fantazz. Having the feel of a party mixtape, Bedolla experiments with rock, reggae, R&B, ska, funk and hip-hop for this 12 song album. Diversity is the name of the game as he combines genres and instrumentation to come up with something both familiar and fresh. One minute he can be in your face and the next he’s as laid back as can be, never relying on one more than the other. One thing’s for sure though, whether it’s with a powerful vocal, a blistering guitar solo or just a unique instrumental blend, Fantazzmo will grab your attention one way or another.
For Fantazzmo, Bedolla wears his musical influences on his sleeve. Some songs have a distinct 311 feel (“I Know You’re Mine,” “Drown Your Lies” and “Reciprocity”), some have that fluid Carlos Santana touch (“What You Doin’ To Me” and “Always Something”) and some even have an almost Rage Against The Machine guitar tone (“Superman” and “Souls On Ice”). He even spices in some tasty Middle Eastern flavors in “We Are Waiting For You” and some great Pink Floyd psychedelia in “Eternal Abyss” to keep things super interesting. All of these feel much more like acknowledging nods than reproductions though, as Bedolla is quite content to use these as ingredients to cook up his own brand of music. The only song I don’t quite get is the closing instrumental “Cancion De La Gitana.” Using only two acoustic guitars, the track starts off nice but quickly sounds like each guitar was recorded without hearing the other one. Maybe I’m just missing something, but the instrumental abilities found throughout the rest of the album convey a much more talented and melody-minded individual than this last track does. But hey, to each his own. Bedolla makes sure that every song on the album has an unmistakable rhythm and groove to it and with a little track list tweaking, you’ve easily got a ready-made party on your hands.
"I Know You're Mine" - Fantazzmo (Fantazzmo I: Enter The Fantazz)This review was posted on My So Called Soundtrack blog:
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz: A musical journey.
Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz- is a musical journey.
This album was created with pure heart for the listener and live audience to have fun, move and groove just like the music does. I believe my passion for music is clearly poured out on every tune. There are dynamics and a variety of musical styles on this album, and they have one common thread: It's the same band. Yeah, there are some moments of tranquility, retrospect, sadness, but just as in real life, all of these moods must be felt in order to really appreciate the happy, energetic, "highs."
The album rocks and has an undeniably great live feel all throughout, thanx to Tone's amazing production! Everyone may not like every song on the album, but they'll like at least one!
There are some good "radio quality" songs on the album. "I Know You're Mine," "Drown Your Lies," "What You Doin To Me," "Always Something," should be "hits," and would be if I could get them on the radio or MTV 20 times a day! lol. These are heartfelt, touching songs and people should be able to relate to them very easily.
"Superman" and "Reciprocity" should be on the radio as well. "Souls On Ice" and "She Really Likes It" could be with an edit here and there.
Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz is a modern work of thankful appreciation to my influences: Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Van Halen, Pantera, Sublime, 311, Beastie Boys, Hip Hop, Motown and many, many more.
Track List:
1. Superman - A non stop energy filled, groovy, catchy, singable, danceable, shoot from the hip rocker that should be a party anthem! You cannot walk away from this song without remembering the hooks, we got hooks for days on this bad boy! Super, super, catchy!
Lyrics are more on the Hip Hop side- Too Short, Tu-Pac, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris type stuff. Musically, it's a big Pantera style riff with some upbeat funky drumming backed by a latin style bass line. Gotta get the Dimebag influence in there!
Superman is the first "single" and the video should be up any moment.
"Baby I'm your Superman!"
2. I Know You're Mine- This song is the album favorite so far. This one is straight from the heart. A heartfelt, touching, rocker with a memorable vocal. The chorus groove and melody are beautiful & super catchy and I owe much of that to Randy & Rodax. Rodax gave it a Police type feel in the chorus and I just love it!
Music is upbeat rock in the pop/punk vein ala Green Day, Blink 182. The video should be released on Valentine's Day 2011.
3. Drown Your Lies- This seems to be the second favorite so far. A heartfelt tune, this time with a reggae/rock feel ala Sublime/311. This is one of the strongest songs on the cd and could really do some damage on the radio if it had a chance. A memorable and catchy vocal, really great production and bam! Great song.
4. She Really Likes It- Yes!!! This song is dedicated to the ladies working the pole for a living! It was inspired by one particular female, but that was then, now we have this song! It's got a White Stripes type feel, but was originally inspired by AC/DC's "Squealer." I'm a huge Bon Scott & AC/DC fan and this one tips that hat to him/them. It's got Bon type lyrics all over it, (there are only 4 lines in the whole song! lol!) I love this song for so many reasons! The main hook/groove is really infectious! The lyrics are sexy and playful, then when the band kicks in, KAPLOW!!!! Time to rock the fuck out! That's when the ladies on the pole should be in full throttle with the hair whipping in a circular motion, while shaking this and that! The song then jumps into a kick ass "Hells Bells" type groove while I bust my best Eddie Van Halen impersonation! Hell yeah! Good times!
We drop back down to the main riff and get one last verse in. One more naughty & playful tease before we do it all again! Ooh yeah, don't ever stop!!!
I wanted the music to do all the talking so there aren't a whole lotta screams and hype type bells and whistles, like "Squealer" or something Diamond Dave would do, just a band rocking out. (I love Diamond Dave and all the bells and whistles, just didn't wanna do it)
5. We Are Waiting For You- A touch of evil to give the album some variety. I'm a big horror movie buff and this turned out to be a really cinematic song! I'm really happy with the dynamics in this song from the haunting melody to the huge chorus, the quiet stripped down solo section, the outro cadence, great stuff! Randy's playing on this is dead on and I think this song has some of his best drum orchestration. .
The screams at the end get me every time, I'm all over it, I'm there! End it off with a little Robert Plant "Song Remains the Same" type chorus vocal and there you have it, a four piece orchestra!
6. Eternal Abyss - I'm pretty domesticated. I've had a couple of really long relationships. I finally learned to tire them out & put them to sleep kinda like babies, so that I can play guitar in peace. Over the years I would play a routine of songs that would put her at peace so she would fall asleep easily. Eternal Abyss is one of those pieces and probably the best one as well. I added an extra progression and improvised a melody and am really happy with the result.
I recorded it on my home studio and Tone added some delays and of course his "magic reverb" and there it is, a gorgeous piece of music.
7. Souls On Ice- Ha ha, where do I start with Souls. I've been dreaming of the day I would be able to play this riff again! Waiting, contemplating, meditating, imaginating(?), procreating, masterb.. wait a minute! lol!
This was one of the last songs we tracked on vocals. I was thinking back on the album and felt something was missing, then I had an "Oh yeah" moment! The album needs some Serg! So I started the song with my trademark laugh! I used to walk in to parties with that laugh, when you heard that laugh, you knew "The Serg" was there!
That riff! That groove! Damn!
This one goes back to the Anima days with Kinski & Rodax (now Monte Negro). We wrote this song way back in the day around 1994-1996. The melodies are all Kinski and the second verse, bridge and chorus are almost verbatim to what it was back then. I changed the first verse a bit to give it some "Serg!"
Souls is the only song of mine I've ever heard on the radio. It was on KPFK back in the day. I didn't know it was on either! I was flipping through the stations and then I heard "ME!" I was just rippin! I caught it at the solo section. The song was longer back then, so I still got to hear a bridge and chorus after. One of the biggest thrills of my life!
Musically this song has Pantera style riffs with some funky drums and some Dave Lombardo type fills here and there to inject some "kick ass!" It's in the "Superman" vein, just with a slower groove. Rodax put down some solid funky bass lines, when it comes time to solo, I don't know what I like more, the bass line or the guitar solo!
8. Reciprocity- This song is another blast from the past, the Anima days with Kinski & Rodax. The melodies and chorus are the same, I didn't recall the lyrics for the verse, so I put my own in. The outro section is as close as my memory can recall. Some of my fondest Anima memories were with this song and Souls On Ice. We'd be jamming at backyard parties sometimes while the sun was still up and I really loved that outro verse and melody.
This song always had a long intro. After I heard Randy's drums without music, I was like, screw the intro, crank up those drums. Tone did something with the mikes to give it that big Bonham "When the Levee Breaks" sound and BAMMMM!!!!! Magic baby.
The song's got such a great groove. Zep, Sublime, Rage, with a little Rick James "Mary Jane" on the end.
Lyrically well, after going through a bs relationship, you realize you've got nothing to show, and you want something, some thing to show for all the madness & more often than not, have nothing.
9. What You Doin To Me- Another one from the heart. Written in Feb 2010. This song is a personal one of course & describes going through a turbulent relationship knowing everyone can see how negatively it is affecting you and your life.
On one side I'm addressing her and stating the obvious goings on and on the other side I'm letting her know I'll always lover her and be there. I'm questioning why she is putting us through this. Deep stuff.
10. Always Something- I have many favorites on this album and love every song for different reasons. This one stands out among the heartfelt teardropppers for me. I love the melody, I love the production, I love the words, I love this song!
I'm the type of person that doesn't like to argue and am not good at it. So, there's always something that she said ringing in my head afterwards. There's also always something I wish I had said.
This was the easiest song to sing for me vocally, (Besides "She Really Likes It"). I was most comfortable and confident with it and I believe it shows. Tone's "magic reverb" worked wonders for the song & really helped the emotion cut right through.
Musically this was supposed to be my tribute to the Beatles "Don't Let Me Down," but my rythym playing plus Rodax's super groovy motown bass line on the chorus and bridge & reggae style bass line in the verse changed all that! Not to mention Randy's drum tracks, which left me speechless when he first played on it. This song grooves like back in the day baby! I feel like I'm in Detroit, jammin', trying to get Berry Gordy to sign me to Motown!
11. Fear In Me- Here we are at last, the big bad motherfucker! Fear In Me is Fantazzmo, this is the essence and core of Fantazzmo just as much as Superman is. Fear In Me has a unique, killer vibe to it and is the perfect finale.
In my mind Fear In Me sounds like a confrontation between Clint Eastwood in his "High Plains Drifter,""The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly" days & Michael Myers from "Halloween," my favorite actor mixed with my favorite horror movie and character. Hell yeah: the showdown!
This song has such great dynamics, music and lyrics, I love, love, love this song! The haunting guitar line just sets my soul on fire. The alter ego lyrics, melody, and wow especially the bridge are just amazing:
Well I come back ready and I'm trip on me
I got a bad fuckin attitude and something to see
I got Molotov cocktails and a switchblade knife
I got a gun in my pocket gonna take your life
Fear In Me
Poetry baby, pure poetry!
This song was created in 2000 after parting ways with Anima. I rejoined my childhood friends and former bandmates Rob & Fern Ochoa and we jammed for a little over a year.
This was another song I've been dying to hear and play for a while. Now that it has materialized, I'm thrilled.
12. Cancion De La Gitana- ("Song of the Gypsy Woman") This instrumental came out exactly as it was meant to. I wanted it to sound like two old dudes just jamming on a street corner in Cuba. We left it a little loose and a little dirty for ambience. There were takes where my playing was more in time, cleaner & more articulate, but those takes just did not have the right "feel." We decided that these looser, dirtier takes were keepers and here you go!
I'm not expecting everyone to like every song. But I can guarantee everyone will like at least one!
There's a time and a place for every song. I doubt Too Short, Snoop Dogg and Ludacris want their kids listening to some of their sexually explicit material, but there is a place and an audience for it.
Because of bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen, and numerous others, I bring you Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz.
My heroes did what they wanted, played what they wanted, and said what they wanted & Fantazzmo will do exactly the same. So, sit back and enjoy the ride. You may like the whole cd, or just one song! I can only guarantee one thing, if you like any of the artists I like, if you share any of the same heroes I do, then you will like AT LEAST ONE SONG ON THIS ALBUM. I guarantee it!
Do you remember the first time you had sex? Wasn't that an experience! Moments of fear followed by moments of arousal & wonderful delight. Moments of ecstasy followed by tranquility. The passion is all here!
Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz is a musical journey.
It's a wild ride, so is life!
Enter the Fantazz!
This album was created with pure heart for the listener and live audience to have fun, move and groove just like the music does. I believe my passion for music is clearly poured out on every tune. There are dynamics and a variety of musical styles on this album, and they have one common thread: It's the same band. Yeah, there are some moments of tranquility, retrospect, sadness, but just as in real life, all of these moods must be felt in order to really appreciate the happy, energetic, "highs."
The album rocks and has an undeniably great live feel all throughout, thanx to Tone's amazing production! Everyone may not like every song on the album, but they'll like at least one!
There are some good "radio quality" songs on the album. "I Know You're Mine," "Drown Your Lies," "What You Doin To Me," "Always Something," should be "hits," and would be if I could get them on the radio or MTV 20 times a day! lol. These are heartfelt, touching songs and people should be able to relate to them very easily.
"Superman" and "Reciprocity" should be on the radio as well. "Souls On Ice" and "She Really Likes It" could be with an edit here and there.
Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz is a modern work of thankful appreciation to my influences: Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Van Halen, Pantera, Sublime, 311, Beastie Boys, Hip Hop, Motown and many, many more.
Track List:
1. Superman - A non stop energy filled, groovy, catchy, singable, danceable, shoot from the hip rocker that should be a party anthem! You cannot walk away from this song without remembering the hooks, we got hooks for days on this bad boy! Super, super, catchy!
Lyrics are more on the Hip Hop side- Too Short, Tu-Pac, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris type stuff. Musically, it's a big Pantera style riff with some upbeat funky drumming backed by a latin style bass line. Gotta get the Dimebag influence in there!
Superman is the first "single" and the video should be up any moment.
"Baby I'm your Superman!"
2. I Know You're Mine- This song is the album favorite so far. This one is straight from the heart. A heartfelt, touching, rocker with a memorable vocal. The chorus groove and melody are beautiful & super catchy and I owe much of that to Randy & Rodax. Rodax gave it a Police type feel in the chorus and I just love it!
Music is upbeat rock in the pop/punk vein ala Green Day, Blink 182. The video should be released on Valentine's Day 2011.
3. Drown Your Lies- This seems to be the second favorite so far. A heartfelt tune, this time with a reggae/rock feel ala Sublime/311. This is one of the strongest songs on the cd and could really do some damage on the radio if it had a chance. A memorable and catchy vocal, really great production and bam! Great song.
4. She Really Likes It- Yes!!! This song is dedicated to the ladies working the pole for a living! It was inspired by one particular female, but that was then, now we have this song! It's got a White Stripes type feel, but was originally inspired by AC/DC's "Squealer." I'm a huge Bon Scott & AC/DC fan and this one tips that hat to him/them. It's got Bon type lyrics all over it, (there are only 4 lines in the whole song! lol!) I love this song for so many reasons! The main hook/groove is really infectious! The lyrics are sexy and playful, then when the band kicks in, KAPLOW!!!! Time to rock the fuck out! That's when the ladies on the pole should be in full throttle with the hair whipping in a circular motion, while shaking this and that! The song then jumps into a kick ass "Hells Bells" type groove while I bust my best Eddie Van Halen impersonation! Hell yeah! Good times!
We drop back down to the main riff and get one last verse in. One more naughty & playful tease before we do it all again! Ooh yeah, don't ever stop!!!
I wanted the music to do all the talking so there aren't a whole lotta screams and hype type bells and whistles, like "Squealer" or something Diamond Dave would do, just a band rocking out. (I love Diamond Dave and all the bells and whistles, just didn't wanna do it)
5. We Are Waiting For You- A touch of evil to give the album some variety. I'm a big horror movie buff and this turned out to be a really cinematic song! I'm really happy with the dynamics in this song from the haunting melody to the huge chorus, the quiet stripped down solo section, the outro cadence, great stuff! Randy's playing on this is dead on and I think this song has some of his best drum orchestration. .
The screams at the end get me every time, I'm all over it, I'm there! End it off with a little Robert Plant "Song Remains the Same" type chorus vocal and there you have it, a four piece orchestra!
6. Eternal Abyss - I'm pretty domesticated. I've had a couple of really long relationships. I finally learned to tire them out & put them to sleep kinda like babies, so that I can play guitar in peace. Over the years I would play a routine of songs that would put her at peace so she would fall asleep easily. Eternal Abyss is one of those pieces and probably the best one as well. I added an extra progression and improvised a melody and am really happy with the result.
I recorded it on my home studio and Tone added some delays and of course his "magic reverb" and there it is, a gorgeous piece of music.
7. Souls On Ice- Ha ha, where do I start with Souls. I've been dreaming of the day I would be able to play this riff again! Waiting, contemplating, meditating, imaginating(?), procreating, masterb.. wait a minute! lol!
This was one of the last songs we tracked on vocals. I was thinking back on the album and felt something was missing, then I had an "Oh yeah" moment! The album needs some Serg! So I started the song with my trademark laugh! I used to walk in to parties with that laugh, when you heard that laugh, you knew "The Serg" was there!
That riff! That groove! Damn!
This one goes back to the Anima days with Kinski & Rodax (now Monte Negro). We wrote this song way back in the day around 1994-1996. The melodies are all Kinski and the second verse, bridge and chorus are almost verbatim to what it was back then. I changed the first verse a bit to give it some "Serg!"
Souls is the only song of mine I've ever heard on the radio. It was on KPFK back in the day. I didn't know it was on either! I was flipping through the stations and then I heard "ME!" I was just rippin! I caught it at the solo section. The song was longer back then, so I still got to hear a bridge and chorus after. One of the biggest thrills of my life!
Musically this song has Pantera style riffs with some funky drums and some Dave Lombardo type fills here and there to inject some "kick ass!" It's in the "Superman" vein, just with a slower groove. Rodax put down some solid funky bass lines, when it comes time to solo, I don't know what I like more, the bass line or the guitar solo!
8. Reciprocity- This song is another blast from the past, the Anima days with Kinski & Rodax. The melodies and chorus are the same, I didn't recall the lyrics for the verse, so I put my own in. The outro section is as close as my memory can recall. Some of my fondest Anima memories were with this song and Souls On Ice. We'd be jamming at backyard parties sometimes while the sun was still up and I really loved that outro verse and melody.
This song always had a long intro. After I heard Randy's drums without music, I was like, screw the intro, crank up those drums. Tone did something with the mikes to give it that big Bonham "When the Levee Breaks" sound and BAMMMM!!!!! Magic baby.
The song's got such a great groove. Zep, Sublime, Rage, with a little Rick James "Mary Jane" on the end.
Lyrically well, after going through a bs relationship, you realize you've got nothing to show, and you want something, some thing to show for all the madness & more often than not, have nothing.
9. What You Doin To Me- Another one from the heart. Written in Feb 2010. This song is a personal one of course & describes going through a turbulent relationship knowing everyone can see how negatively it is affecting you and your life.
On one side I'm addressing her and stating the obvious goings on and on the other side I'm letting her know I'll always lover her and be there. I'm questioning why she is putting us through this. Deep stuff.
10. Always Something- I have many favorites on this album and love every song for different reasons. This one stands out among the heartfelt teardropppers for me. I love the melody, I love the production, I love the words, I love this song!
I'm the type of person that doesn't like to argue and am not good at it. So, there's always something that she said ringing in my head afterwards. There's also always something I wish I had said.
This was the easiest song to sing for me vocally, (Besides "She Really Likes It"). I was most comfortable and confident with it and I believe it shows. Tone's "magic reverb" worked wonders for the song & really helped the emotion cut right through.
Musically this was supposed to be my tribute to the Beatles "Don't Let Me Down," but my rythym playing plus Rodax's super groovy motown bass line on the chorus and bridge & reggae style bass line in the verse changed all that! Not to mention Randy's drum tracks, which left me speechless when he first played on it. This song grooves like back in the day baby! I feel like I'm in Detroit, jammin', trying to get Berry Gordy to sign me to Motown!
11. Fear In Me- Here we are at last, the big bad motherfucker! Fear In Me is Fantazzmo, this is the essence and core of Fantazzmo just as much as Superman is. Fear In Me has a unique, killer vibe to it and is the perfect finale.
In my mind Fear In Me sounds like a confrontation between Clint Eastwood in his "High Plains Drifter,""The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly" days & Michael Myers from "Halloween," my favorite actor mixed with my favorite horror movie and character. Hell yeah: the showdown!
This song has such great dynamics, music and lyrics, I love, love, love this song! The haunting guitar line just sets my soul on fire. The alter ego lyrics, melody, and wow especially the bridge are just amazing:
Well I come back ready and I'm trip on me
I got a bad fuckin attitude and something to see
I got Molotov cocktails and a switchblade knife
I got a gun in my pocket gonna take your life
Fear In Me
Poetry baby, pure poetry!
This song was created in 2000 after parting ways with Anima. I rejoined my childhood friends and former bandmates Rob & Fern Ochoa and we jammed for a little over a year.
This was another song I've been dying to hear and play for a while. Now that it has materialized, I'm thrilled.
12. Cancion De La Gitana- ("Song of the Gypsy Woman") This instrumental came out exactly as it was meant to. I wanted it to sound like two old dudes just jamming on a street corner in Cuba. We left it a little loose and a little dirty for ambience. There were takes where my playing was more in time, cleaner & more articulate, but those takes just did not have the right "feel." We decided that these looser, dirtier takes were keepers and here you go!
I'm not expecting everyone to like every song. But I can guarantee everyone will like at least one!
There's a time and a place for every song. I doubt Too Short, Snoop Dogg and Ludacris want their kids listening to some of their sexually explicit material, but there is a place and an audience for it.
Because of bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen, and numerous others, I bring you Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz.
My heroes did what they wanted, played what they wanted, and said what they wanted & Fantazzmo will do exactly the same. So, sit back and enjoy the ride. You may like the whole cd, or just one song! I can only guarantee one thing, if you like any of the artists I like, if you share any of the same heroes I do, then you will like AT LEAST ONE SONG ON THIS ALBUM. I guarantee it!
Do you remember the first time you had sex? Wasn't that an experience! Moments of fear followed by moments of arousal & wonderful delight. Moments of ecstasy followed by tranquility. The passion is all here!
Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz is a musical journey.
It's a wild ride, so is life!
Enter the Fantazz!
FANTAZZMO 1: ENTER THE FANTAZZ- AVAILABLE NOW!!!!!!
FANTAZZMO 1: ENTER THE FANTAZZ -AVAILABLE NOW!!!!!!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Superman: Musically Speaking
Superman was created in 2000 and is the song that let me know I can create a musical style of my own and gave me the confidence to steamroll ahead. Superman is where I belong & am most comfortable, this is Fantazzmo.
The Anima/Idle brothers Kinski & Rodax (now Monte Negro), Billy Panther & I parted ways in mid 1999. By late January early February 2000, I started jamming with my childhood friends and brothers Rob & Fern Ochoa. We were jamming in Fern's living room in Long Beach, CA & according to my memory, Fern started playing an uptempo funky drum beat and a few min later Superman was born!
We did some shows here and there under the name "Crisis" (horrible name, my bad!) and in Spring of 2001, Fern relocated to the San Francisco/Oakland area. Luckily we had the foresight to record a demo days before he relocated. We recorded 13 songs, two of which are the monsters that bookend Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz, "Superman" & "Fear in Me."
Low on dough, we tracked the band live. We had a little help from our friends though. My good friend and former bandmate "Big Bad" Billy Panther came in and did some percussion with congas; he brought his childhood friend & renewed bandmate Oscar Mercado aka: Oski Vengeane (they formed Balistik) in for some backup vox and we were set. Sonically speaking, the audio was poor but the vibe and essence were captured.
Fast forward to December 11, 2009. Pre-production for Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz at Tone Def Studio in Los Angeles, CA. Tone and I go through
the songs and arrangements & make a few edits to Superman, leaving out some Robert Plant style moans and an extra chorus, bridge and outro section.
December 17, 2009. Drum session at Stagg st. Studio. The drum tech shows up, sets up the kit, Tone and he go through the whole soundcheck, miking etc with the help of the in house extra hand. A few hrs later, Randy Cooke shows up, walks in, has a few laughs, says Superman, grabs his sticks and NAILED, I mean NAILED IT!!! SENT THAT WHORE HOME IN A TAXI!!!
The rest of the session was exactly the same. I was in awe, I've never seen such musicianship. We spent more time eating lunch than Randy took to track 7 songs. ( The second batch were recorded in June 2010.)
That drum session set the tone for the entire album. We had smooth sailing right from the start. When I first entered Stagg St., my producer Tone was already ecstatic at the great sound of the drums & the room while Randy's tech (Dusty) was soundchecking. He let me know that this was one of the easiest & fastest times he's gotten such a great drum sound.
We intentionally kept the drums loud during the mix and throughout the record. I let Tone know that I wanted that big Led Zeppelin drum feel throughout and he totally agreed and we ran with it!
When it came time to track guitars, Superman came first. We achieved a great big guitar sound and ran with it! We used "Big Blue," Tone's PRS guitar, (I purchased it from Tone in Aug 2010), my Marshall JCM 2000, going through a Tone Tubby with Blue Alnico Speakers. ( Which belong to Tone). Tracking the guitar was effortless, I had the same parts for the last decade! Nothing was changed.
When it came time track the bass, Rodax put the perfect feel on the bass line and bam! We got ourselves a jam!
We actually did the Superman vocals last in the first 6 week recording session. Aside from "She Really Likes It," this was the easiest to record vox for.
Tone did an amazing job and his production kept a great live feel throughout the album.
"Baby I'm your Superman!"
The Anima/Idle brothers Kinski & Rodax (now Monte Negro), Billy Panther & I parted ways in mid 1999. By late January early February 2000, I started jamming with my childhood friends and brothers Rob & Fern Ochoa. We were jamming in Fern's living room in Long Beach, CA & according to my memory, Fern started playing an uptempo funky drum beat and a few min later Superman was born!
We did some shows here and there under the name "Crisis" (horrible name, my bad!) and in Spring of 2001, Fern relocated to the San Francisco/Oakland area. Luckily we had the foresight to record a demo days before he relocated. We recorded 13 songs, two of which are the monsters that bookend Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz, "Superman" & "Fear in Me."
Low on dough, we tracked the band live. We had a little help from our friends though. My good friend and former bandmate "Big Bad" Billy Panther came in and did some percussion with congas; he brought his childhood friend & renewed bandmate Oscar Mercado aka: Oski Vengeane (they formed Balistik) in for some backup vox and we were set. Sonically speaking, the audio was poor but the vibe and essence were captured.
Fast forward to December 11, 2009. Pre-production for Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz at Tone Def Studio in Los Angeles, CA. Tone and I go through
the songs and arrangements & make a few edits to Superman, leaving out some Robert Plant style moans and an extra chorus, bridge and outro section.
December 17, 2009. Drum session at Stagg st. Studio. The drum tech shows up, sets up the kit, Tone and he go through the whole soundcheck, miking etc with the help of the in house extra hand. A few hrs later, Randy Cooke shows up, walks in, has a few laughs, says Superman, grabs his sticks and NAILED, I mean NAILED IT!!! SENT THAT WHORE HOME IN A TAXI!!!
The rest of the session was exactly the same. I was in awe, I've never seen such musicianship. We spent more time eating lunch than Randy took to track 7 songs. ( The second batch were recorded in June 2010.)
That drum session set the tone for the entire album. We had smooth sailing right from the start. When I first entered Stagg St., my producer Tone was already ecstatic at the great sound of the drums & the room while Randy's tech (Dusty) was soundchecking. He let me know that this was one of the easiest & fastest times he's gotten such a great drum sound.
We intentionally kept the drums loud during the mix and throughout the record. I let Tone know that I wanted that big Led Zeppelin drum feel throughout and he totally agreed and we ran with it!
When it came time to track guitars, Superman came first. We achieved a great big guitar sound and ran with it! We used "Big Blue," Tone's PRS guitar, (I purchased it from Tone in Aug 2010), my Marshall JCM 2000, going through a Tone Tubby with Blue Alnico Speakers. ( Which belong to Tone). Tracking the guitar was effortless, I had the same parts for the last decade! Nothing was changed.
When it came time track the bass, Rodax put the perfect feel on the bass line and bam! We got ourselves a jam!
We actually did the Superman vocals last in the first 6 week recording session. Aside from "She Really Likes It," this was the easiest to record vox for.
Tone did an amazing job and his production kept a great live feel throughout the album.
"Baby I'm your Superman!"
Superman
Superman is the first track on Fantazzmo 1: Enter the Fantazz because it kicks ass! This song grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go. This song moves, grooves and rocks letting it all hang out. This is straight forward, shoot from the hip, bare bones rock with nothing held back.
Superman rocks hard with a Pantera style riff & grooves with super funky drumming & a bass line with a latin feel to give it that extra "essence." This song was effortless to create & pured out just as you hear it lyrics & music in less than 5 min. The first thing out of my mouth was:
Baby I'm your Superman,
Do you every way I can,
Stretch your legs above your head,
Make a mess outta your bed
Poetry! Anyone that cringes probably has a boring sex life!
Superman is a fun, energetic, hook oriented straight from the hip song. If you're partying or need something to lift your spirits, crank this baby up!
Superman was created in 1990 and is the song that let me know I can create a musical style of my own and gave me the confidence to steamroll ahead. Superman is where I belong & am most comfortable, this is Fantazzmo. I believe in this song so much, it's not only the first track on the album, but the first video as well.
Superman is a statement of what Fantazzmo is, an introduction to shoot from the hip, play what you feel, let it all hang out rock music; and an explanation as to where Fantazzmo is going:
We're gonna rock, we're gonna groove
We're gonna make your booty move!
Enter the Fantazz!
Superman rocks hard with a Pantera style riff & grooves with super funky drumming & a bass line with a latin feel to give it that extra "essence." This song was effortless to create & pured out just as you hear it lyrics & music in less than 5 min. The first thing out of my mouth was:
Baby I'm your Superman,
Do you every way I can,
Stretch your legs above your head,
Make a mess outta your bed
Poetry! Anyone that cringes probably has a boring sex life!
Superman is a fun, energetic, hook oriented straight from the hip song. If you're partying or need something to lift your spirits, crank this baby up!
Superman was created in 1990 and is the song that let me know I can create a musical style of my own and gave me the confidence to steamroll ahead. Superman is where I belong & am most comfortable, this is Fantazzmo. I believe in this song so much, it's not only the first track on the album, but the first video as well.
Superman is a statement of what Fantazzmo is, an introduction to shoot from the hip, play what you feel, let it all hang out rock music; and an explanation as to where Fantazzmo is going:
We're gonna rock, we're gonna groove
We're gonna make your booty move!
Enter the Fantazz!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Always Something
"Always Something" is very dear and personal to me. It was written February 7 around 12 am and recorded during the second session in June 2010.
It was a sad look on a wounded relationship and unfortunately instead of acting on the feeling and doing my best to save it, I wrote a song about it. Pretty retarded now that I think about it.
I sat and watched our movie fall apart. But this was not something I could rewind or use my imagination for my own ending, this is real, and there's no going back. This is real life, there are feelings involved and errors made & hurt last a lifetime and cause us to choose different courses in life.
I made so many errors during the course of the relationship that disaster was eminent, I was not smart enough to realize that there was a chance at salvation had I only acted accordingly. I took it for granted. We don't think of our next breath and where it's going to come from, we just breathe. Like the abundance of air I never gave our relationship a second thought, I thought we would always be, even in our crippled state.
I was so mentally and financially preoccupied with the making of this album that upon the stages when I needed to do what I could to rescue my relationship, I was so drained that I let it go. I took for granted that she would always be there, but I was wrong.
The loneliness. Not only was I lonely, she was too. She never really showed me, and when she mentioned it, I tried to be by her side. But see, I was only lonely when I was not busy, she was lonely all the time, I know that now.
I left her vulnerable and as a result she's gone. All I have left is a song, he gets the prize, he gets to wake up next to her for the rest of his life. He gets to enjoy her beauty, her wisdom, her energy, excitement, love of life, love of music, love of all things beautiful. He gets to have infinite conversation with her and watch her shine throughout life. All I have is regret, vague memories and a song.
You see, as I look back on the relationship now just at its finality that she married someone else three days ago, it seems like I just went through the motions like a robot with no soul and watched us fall apart without trying to do anything to save our relationship. I can try to justify my ineptitude by saying I gave her space, or that I was waiting for her to see things my way, but that's bullshit. I thought she was mine, and would be there for me and we'd spend the rest of our lives together.
I didn't know she had an ace card just waiting in the wing.
I seemed to have lost track of my priorities. I lost track of the most influential person in my life. I lost track of how empty my life would be without her. I let her slip away. I didn't know she was ready to go, I didn't know I should have cherished each opportunity to be by her side and make things work. I didn't know I was being tested and compared to.
This song was written as a brief description of the way I felt. Four minutes, and it was written in just as much time without effort. Why didn't I do something about it? Why didn't I let here know how I felt? I had weeks, months, years to do the right thing, say the right words and show her she's the one, but I didn't.
I thought she would always be around, I thought she was mine, I was wrong.
I wish I could turn back time.
You were always on my mind and now I find myself persecuting myself for all my errors and condemn myself for all of my wrongs.
I'm reliving each word, each memory that I possibly can. I have a memory, he has you. The decision you made, was catastrophic. The decision you made was final.
I find myself trying to relive the entire relationship. Relive the happy times & the sad ones. I find your words ringing loudly in my mind. I can also hear the words I should have said and see what I should have done. I can smell you, taste you, feel you, but he has you.
It's hard to listen to "Always Something" and it's going to be a struggle to sing it without reliving us, without a knot in my throat, without you.
It was a sad look on a wounded relationship and unfortunately instead of acting on the feeling and doing my best to save it, I wrote a song about it. Pretty retarded now that I think about it.
I sat and watched our movie fall apart. But this was not something I could rewind or use my imagination for my own ending, this is real, and there's no going back. This is real life, there are feelings involved and errors made & hurt last a lifetime and cause us to choose different courses in life.
I made so many errors during the course of the relationship that disaster was eminent, I was not smart enough to realize that there was a chance at salvation had I only acted accordingly. I took it for granted. We don't think of our next breath and where it's going to come from, we just breathe. Like the abundance of air I never gave our relationship a second thought, I thought we would always be, even in our crippled state.
I was so mentally and financially preoccupied with the making of this album that upon the stages when I needed to do what I could to rescue my relationship, I was so drained that I let it go. I took for granted that she would always be there, but I was wrong.
The loneliness. Not only was I lonely, she was too. She never really showed me, and when she mentioned it, I tried to be by her side. But see, I was only lonely when I was not busy, she was lonely all the time, I know that now.
I left her vulnerable and as a result she's gone. All I have left is a song, he gets the prize, he gets to wake up next to her for the rest of his life. He gets to enjoy her beauty, her wisdom, her energy, excitement, love of life, love of music, love of all things beautiful. He gets to have infinite conversation with her and watch her shine throughout life. All I have is regret, vague memories and a song.
Always something, always something that she said on my mind
Always something, I wish I could turn back time
Something in your eyes told me that you weren't mine
a blank expression, a feign look, but I was blind
Something in the way we touched said that we would not be
a lonely feeling, blank smiles, lost souls, you and me
I should have known there was a reason,
I should have known it was a lie
Always something, always something I should have said on my mind
Always something, I wish I could turn back time
You see, as I look back on the relationship now just at its finality that she married someone else three days ago, it seems like I just went through the motions like a robot with no soul and watched us fall apart without trying to do anything to save our relationship. I can try to justify my ineptitude by saying I gave her space, or that I was waiting for her to see things my way, but that's bullshit. I thought she was mine, and would be there for me and we'd spend the rest of our lives together.
I didn't know she had an ace card just waiting in the wing.
I seemed to have lost track of my priorities. I lost track of the most influential person in my life. I lost track of how empty my life would be without her. I let her slip away. I didn't know she was ready to go, I didn't know I should have cherished each opportunity to be by her side and make things work. I didn't know I was being tested and compared to.
This song was written as a brief description of the way I felt. Four minutes, and it was written in just as much time without effort. Why didn't I do something about it? Why didn't I let here know how I felt? I had weeks, months, years to do the right thing, say the right words and show her she's the one, but I didn't.
I thought she would always be around, I thought she was mine, I was wrong.
I wish I could turn back time.
You were always on my mind and now I find myself persecuting myself for all my errors and condemn myself for all of my wrongs.
I'm reliving each word, each memory that I possibly can. I have a memory, he has you. The decision you made, was catastrophic. The decision you made was final.
I find myself trying to relive the entire relationship. Relive the happy times & the sad ones. I find your words ringing loudly in my mind. I can also hear the words I should have said and see what I should have done. I can smell you, taste you, feel you, but he has you.
It's hard to listen to "Always Something" and it's going to be a struggle to sing it without reliving us, without a knot in my throat, without you.
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