Saturday afternoon randomocity

My Muse is capricious and unpredictible. But I still love her. Even though she's made this one tune sort of the soundtrack for my entire life right now--it keeps going through my head. I'll have to record it just to get rid of it. Fortunately it's the sort of thing I like so it's not too bad. I just wasn't wanting a new project right now.

Unfortunately (or maybe not), it doesn't really fit in with anything else I'm planning, so it'll be a stand-alone. A really long stand-alone, methinks, but a stand-alone nonetheless.

Doesn't really matter since nobody will listen to it but me anyways. Getting people to listen to your stuff--especially your friends--is nigh on impossible. Even friends who are artists themselves and ask you to take a look at their stuff and you do so, religiously. Reciprocity is non-existant these days, I'm discovering.

Just watched the film Let Me In, the American remake of the Swedish film Let The Right One In. I thought it compared favorably to the original film. Have no idea how it compares to the novel as I haven't read it. If I ever resume reading fiction it's on my list. In the mean time, though, I can recommend both films to you. Sweetness mixed with horror. The best kind of horror film.

I may go see The Eagle sometime soon. As I may have mentioned I have no luck with theater audiences. Plus, the film is set in 140 AD with is a little later in history than the time period that generally interests me. When we're talking Rome I start losing interest somewhere during the reign of Tiberius. Utterly fascinating until then, not so much afterwards, to me.

Speaking of films, keep your eyes open for a short film called Hearts on the Knee.  It was written and produced by a friend of mine--she's the same one responsible for Witchy Ways, which you will see a widget for to your right. It's quite wonderful. My friend is a talented writer--I can say that because she manages to avoid the other things most other writers do that make me crazy. It's stuff most normal people won't even notice, but which to me screams lazy! Hack! Anyways, my friend avoids that stuff and presents a nice, involving, moving story that is sentimental but not saccharine. You get a chance you watch it.

And check out my Cold Iron song cycle-you can go to my ReverbNation page or my Myspace page to give it a listen. The songs are on my profile in order--start with The Passing and end at The Passing Reprise. You can go on and hear the other stuff, too, if you want. Let me know what you think!

It's really the least you can do.

Cold Iron now available

Cold Iron is now available on my Myspace profile, my Facebook page, and, now, on Reverb Nation. Also, note the new widget to your right where you can click to hear my stuff.

I've been fighting with iLike all day to post my tunes there but it just ain't happening. Their server just stops responding. So, I'll continue to try it, but in the mean time you can hear all the songs by visiting the above links or clicking the widget to the right. I'd love to hear what you think!

Cold Iron - this Wednesday!

Cold Iron is in the can!

All eight songs will be available for your listening pleasure on my Myspace and Facebook pages this Wednesday, February 9--see above for the links. I'll post a reminder here, too, with the links, just to make it even easier for you to click on over and listen to the whole thing.

I hope you can check in and give them a listen! Mark your calendar!

Cold Iron news and final track list . . .

I've decided to cut a couple of titles from the list of tracks for the Cold Iron song cycle that I posted a while back. "Aeon's End Remix" actually wouldn't fit in with the other tunes, I think. And "Child Of The Moon" didn't make it because I already have one song with "Moon" in the title and I think two would be a little much.

So, if you're interested, here's the final lineup:

1. The Passing
2. The Devil That I Know
3. It Hurts
4. Cold Iron
5. The Crawl
6. West of the Moon
7. Someone to Love
8. The Passing Reprise

I'm working on "It Hurts" now--after that, only thing left will be "The Passing Reprise". I'll upload everything at once so you'll be able to enjoy the whole thing in one sitting. If you want.

So, watch this space. It won't be much longer!

It Hurts lyrics

Here we stand again my friend


each of us bearing new scars

standing here with nothing

in this place among the stars



I wish sometimes I could make you see

I could explain the unexplainable

I wish you would stop wasting your love

on those who don't know who you are



It hurts sometimes to be your friend

though I believe I understand

I'll help you pick up the pieces again

as many times as you need me to



There's so much I'd like to say to you

but the words just don't exist

I wish I could just come out and say it

Circumstance always makes me resist



It hurts sometimes to be your friend

though I know I understand

I'll help you pick up the pieces again

as often as you need me to



words and music by J Franklin Evans

Aeon's End lyrics

(this is one of my older songs that I'm going to remix for the Cold Iron song cycle)

A million years came to an end today

The doorway opened and the chains fell away

A brave new world where I can come out and play

A million years came to an end today

A million years and I’m still alive

A million years and still I thrive

You’d be amazed at what I’d do to survive

A million years and I’m still alive

The stars have finally arrived to their ordained place

A doorway opened wide to this time and space

A world of minds of all kinds where I can play

A million years came to an end today

A million years started today

The doorway opened and the chains fell away

A brave new world where I can come out and play

A million years started today

words and music by J Franklin Evans

Progress report, what's next, etc etc

Well, I had to take my monthly trip to visit the family this weekend. Just got back an hour or so ago. Finished unpacking, and doing all the post-trip stuff one does. Atari has settled back down into his routine, sleeping now on his new heating pad. Like me he doesn't dig traveling.

I'm scheduled for surgery next week and while it's minor surgery I will still be laid up a few days. Since I'm exactly half way through Cold Iron I think I'll wait until after the surgery to begin tracking the next song, "The Crawl." I won't be able to lift anything heavier than ten pounds for a few days after the surgery--which means no guitar--and I doubt I'll be able to sit or stand for very long while I recover, so that means no tracking. I'd hate to leave a song half done for that long and then come back to it--I know I'll just erase what I've done and start over. So I'm not going to bother.

I will be able to write, however, and I think I'll finish the lyrics for the remaining songs while I'm laid up.

I've also been thinking about the next musical project and I think I'll be doing some longer instrumental work. Maybe five or six really long, sort of symphonic pieces. Stuff like you'd hear on a movie soundtrack. Heavy synth work but with guitars and the like, too--symphonies for a modern ear, let's say. Though I'm sure the word symphonies sort of lends an air of dignity to what I'l be doing beyond what these songs will require.

I also want to do a drastic rewrite of my screenplay, Mythophobia. Unfortunately, what I want to do, the character and plot line I want to add, won't fit in with it as it exists now, but it'll make it much better, so the rewrite is necessary. It'll be fun. Once I dive in I usually find myself enjoying the process of writing--I can see it in my head as I write it down.

I'm also thinking about doing something drastic in my personal life, though at this point I don't think it's something that's actually possible. I'd love to go to college and get a degree in art history. Considering all the other crap I've got going on in my life right now that's probably just a pipe dream, and I wouldn't know where to start if I did decide to go through with it. I'd have to start from the very beginning, too--all the core curricula. It'd be years before I got into anything I found remotely interesting. I'd also have to sacrifice my limited time for my music and writing, which these days is all I look forward to. Unlike a lot of people I can't stay up until 1 a.m. or later doing homework or research or whatever. I needs my beauty sleep. So, while it'd be nice, it's one of those things that'll have to wait.

Anyways, that's the plan, such as it is. We'll see how well I can execute it!

Friday morning randomocity

I'm sitting here killing time before heading in to the hospital for a pre-operative whatever. My surgery is next week and they have some paperwork to go over and I'm sure they want to poke and prod me some, too.

The hospital wants a name and a number of the person who is going to pick me up after the surgery, which is sort of annoying. But I managed to work it out and found a lucky volunteer.

Musically, I've got five songs done in the Cold Iron song cycle. I'm halfway done! So far, so good, too. I dig them, anyways, and I guess that's all that matters in the end. Though it'd be nice if other people would give them a listen, too . . . I know I'm strange but I'm not that strange--if I like it there have got to be a few others who like it. Sorry, whining over. Be sure to give them a listen when I post them--watch this space for the announcement. I'll put them all up at once so you'll be able to listen to the whole thing, beginning to end, if you want.

Atari seems to be feeling okay. He's acting about like he usually does. I'm glad he seems to be comfortable. I'm going to get him a special treat while I'm out running around today--a double-whopper with cheese. His most favorite thing in the whole world. He hasn't had one in a while, and he loves those things so much.

I know I sound glib and laid back about Atari's situation, but trust me, I'm not. When the end finally comes for him I'm not sure how I'll react. I'm not even sure I can handle it. We'll just have to wait and see.

Anyways, that's my story. What's up with you? Big plans for the weekend?

Cold Iron progress report

So, I've got two songs in the can. One more that will be in the can in the next couple of days. Lyrics for a couple more--not counting "Aeon's End" which I wrote and recorded some time ago.

I'm having surgery in a couple of weeks which will lay me up for a few days--I want to get as much tracking done as I can before then. I hate leaving a project for an extended period when I'm right in the middle of it, then coming back to it later. It takes me forever to get back into the groove.

Making this one is a little bit like open heart surgery for me--most of the songs are autobiographical, personal, about people and events that shaped my life. Which means it's pretty dark. But there will be some lighter stuff, too, that I hope you'll like. Sure, most of my stuff is about me, in some manner, but most of my stuff is like a story told in the third person. These--or most of them, anyways--are a bit more direct.

So, hopefully the entire Cold Iron song cycle will make it's debut in the next few months. In the mean time, click the links above or to your right to hear my other stuff--the Ashes and Bone song cycle, or the Mythophobia song cycle. Plus some other stuff.

Speaking of Mythophobia, I'm hoping I'll finally find the initiative to dive back into my screeplay for the (hopeful) film with that title and do another rewrite. I guess there's no hurry but I would like to have that in good enough shape to have people look at it. If I can get anyone interested in it enough to read it, that is.

Anyways, watch this space for updated, enjoy the tunes out there now, don't be afraid to let me know what you think. Input is always welcomed! If you love it, especially, let me know. If you hate it, let me know that, too--a strong reaction, even a negative one, is better than boredom. "Boring" is the absolute worst criticism one can level at any artistic endevour. imho

The Crawl lyrics

I spent the night looking for you

I started north and worked my way south

I can spot you from a thousand miles, I looked for you up and down

but you were nowhere to be found.

Then I found you, on the street chasing your pain

looking for your score to get you through your night

That's when I knew I was wrong about you

You're not the one that I thought you were

I'm not going to crawl for you

as much as I might want to

It's the only thing left for me to do.

So, goodbye to you my dear, my pain

I really don't want to see you again

Give yourself over to your addiction

And know that you are no longer mine

I'm not going to crawl for you

as much as I might want to

It's the only thing left for me to do.

words and music by J Franklin Evans

Cold Iron lyrics

My baby died


should have buried her at the crossroads

Well, my baby died

should have buried her at the crossroads

Cause she comes to see me every night

makes me reap what I have sewed.



I went to see the preacherman

didn't know what else to do

Yeah, I went to see the preacherman

didn't know what else to do

cause that woman she won't leave me alone

I'm payin' the price for bein' untrue



Preacherman told me,

keep some cold iron by the bed

preacherman, he done told me

keep some cold iron by my bed

cause that's what you gotta do

when you're haunted by the livin' dead



So I got me some cold iron

and some dimes to pay my toll

Yeah I got me some cold iron

and some dimes to pay my toll

I'm gonna send that woman back where she belongs

I hope it don't cost me my soul



words and music by J Franklin Evans

Cold Iron track list

Here's a list of the tracks I'm planning for the Cold Iron song cycle. Things may change but for now this is the lineup of song titles:

The Passing
The Devil I Know
It Hurts
Aeon's End remix
Cold Iron
The Crawl
West of the Moon
Someone to Love
Child of the Moon
The Passing reprise

The Devil That I Know

The Devil That I Know




You say you don't understand my rage

Well, there you go, it just goes to show

'cause it’s the same thing all over again

Same old show, do your damage and go



You never see from my perspective

I tried to explain why I feel this pain

It really doesn't take a detective

to understand where this is coming from



This is the devil that I know, a gift from you to me

This is the dance I have to dance, the show I have to see



I guess I should be grateful

You made it possible, irreversible

Because of you now I am knowledgeable

Honorable, accessible



How you made it clear that you hated my dreams

So pathetic, unsympathetic

I realize now that it was more than it seems

Your scorn was a cover for your fears



This is the devil that I know, a gift from you to me

This is the dance I have to dance, the show I have to see

This is the pain that I must feel, forever a part of me

It keeps me sane and sets me free



I used to think I was a monster because of you

I wondered what was wrong with me

I hated myself because you told me to

I finally discovered it's not me, the monster was you



This is the rage I'll always feel

Long as I live, I'll never forgive

You've taken all from me that you can steel

No longer submissive, no longer derisive



This is the devil that I know, the one that brought me here

the rage that blooms inside I think I've made that clear

You'll never really understand why I do what I do

But you introduced me to the devil and for that I thank you



words and music by J Franklin Evans

The Next Big Thing

After much thought I've decided to close out the Ashes and Bone song cycle.

I know it's short--only three songs--but it just feels like it's done. You can go to my Myspace page to hear them if you want. They are the first three songs--"Walks Like A Man," "Homeworld," and "Ashes and Bone."

Next up will be a longer one--probably ten or twelve songs--I'm calling Cold Iron. These will all be extremely heavy tunes, on the order of "Walks Like A Man," or "Inside." There is no underlying story or anything, though the songs will be unified stylistically and thematically.

The reason for this is simple. In the past I've heard so many bands that considered themselves "metal" who would release a tune that really rocked. So, I'd buy their CD, expecting ten more songs like that one. But no, the other songs would be really sappy ballads or stupid and boring pop tunes. Just that one song to catch my interest, then boredom . . . anyways, this is a response to that. If you like one of these tunes, you'll like all of them, more than likely.

I'll be posting lyrics for the tunes that actually have lyrics (I'm anticipating two instrumentals at this point, though there may be more) as I write them. I may also do a couple of remixes of some of my older stuff that I think would fit with the newer stuff--got a couple of tunes in mind for that, in fact.

I'll also probably not upload these until I have them all finished. I'd like to post them all at once, so you can listen to the whole thing in one sitting. This of course means it'll probably be a while before anything new gets uploaded to my music websites. Plenty of time for you to click over and listen to the stuff that's there now!

So, watch this space for lyrics, news, and whatnot!

Projects in the queue

A friend of mine who knows a helluva lot more about the TV and movie industry is giving me feedback on some stuff I sent her--one was a screenplay, the other a proposal for a TV series. She's gonna give me some more on the screenplay, but she gave me enough on the series proposal that I can start revising that. She really dug the series idea, and I value her opinion, so I'm excited about it, too. Anyways, rewriting the proposal is moving up the to-do list. Then I'll probably have more detailed feedback from her on the screnplay and can rework that. I've got a little more I want to add to it now, anyway.

But first I want to finish this song cycle, Ashes and Bone. Got two more tunes for it. I'm maybe two-thirds of the way through the third tune, "Walks Like a Man." I'm hoping to be done with it in the next few days. I'll be doing the vocal today, and maybe some lead guitar work. I know there will be more guitar tracks. Whatever else it needs. I'm digging it, so far, and the further I get into it the more excited about it I am.

After that will be an instrumental piece, "Said and Done," (title may change later). That will close out the Ashes and Bone song cycle, with four tunes. That's when I'll revisit my screenplay and re-enter that world. (The proposal is much shorter and won't take nearly as long so I can fit that in while I'm working on other stuff.)

The next song cycle I'm calling Cold Iron, and it'll be composed of extremely heavy stuff. Like, Black Sabbath inspired tunes, heavy, slow backbeats, thundering, menacing guitars, that sort of thing. I'm realy looking forward to doing that, too. It's the music I love, and while I know I'm weird I also know I'm not the only person in the whole world who digs that kind of music.

So, keep your ears open for "Walks Like a Man," coming up in the next few days! Busy, busy . . .