Hey, I am super excited to announce the release of my new album, “Positivity”, which is very funk-rock driven, with lots of punk rock and alternative rock influences … and lots of rad guitar solos. I will state up front that the album is heavily influenced by music from many eras of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The vocals are all over the place. Likely vocal influences I think I have identified this time around include Anthony Kiedis, Henry Rollins, HR, Glenn Danzig, Jello Biafra, Gibby Haynes, Darby Crash, and Billy Corgan. I guess those are pretty high-profile names…

It’s a good mix of mostly upbeat, fun music that will make you want to rock out, dance, and listen. The lyrics poetically deal with serious subjects in a thoughtful and grounded way without weighing down the songs. This album is meant to be a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude – which has deep roots in hardcore punk and elsewhere) experience, which will make you think and feel good.

This album is a bit different from the hardcore punk you may have expected. On future albums, I intend to expand further into the funk, pop, and rock genres, in addition to hardcore, punk, thrash, and metal. I will take a moment to introduce and describe each of the eleven songs on the album (scroll down to hear it!):

POSITIVITY
As soon as I came up with the opening/main riff, I was pretty sure this would be the first song on the album, and it also sounded like the most clear example of the tone I wanted to set for the rest of the record. I also thought it would be good to have the weird chorus vocals on the first song, so the listener would know they shouldn’t expect to know what to expect…

PREPOSTEROUS
To me, this has RHCP all over it. It has a simple funk-punk riff in the verse, and then a chorus with cool twin lead guitars over funk vox. I like this one more all the time.

PUBLIC INTOXICAN’T
Building on the sound of the previous song, this is the third of the three opening fast songs that begin with the letter “p”… It may have a little bit of The Dead Milkmen in its style, and it has some pretty intense “soul music” vocals

CROWD SORES
You can sit back a bit on this one. Mid-paced. Funky pop-rock. Like most of the solos, this one was improvised without a plan, and it is a single take… Lots of puns in the lyrics on this one…

YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG
I think it has kind of an Alice in Chains sound, though it was originally intended as a reggae-dub song…
* End of Side 1 *

IN THE CITY
* Start of Side 2 *
As noted, the first song on side 2 when it is put on vinyl or cassette… Very funk-rock, with at least 3 vocal styles. The bass is pretty strong on this one, especially at the end of the bridge.

LIFE AS A GHOST
When I finished recording the improvised lead guitar on this one, that’s when I knew this had to be a good record. That’s when I really got excited. This song’s lyrics compare having to keep your mouth shut about all the B.S. around you to how ghosts supposedly are always dwelling on important and unfinished things from their lives. I thought it seemed like a cool, poetic idea, so I made it. Oh yeah, it’s a really mellow song…

MODEL CITIZEN
Now that you’re all rested up, you get hit with what is probably the hardest rocker on the album. It is also a sort of tribute to The Germs, which you may be able to hear in the vocal style used.

LITMUS
It is a nice transition into this song, which is the second “chill” song on the record. The metaphor works pretty well throughout the song.

THE CAUSE-HEADS
Have you seen PCU? If not, you need to! This song was born from the frustration of seeing these people who express their feelings of desperation to stand for something by standing for anything they are told is good, particularly when they cannot and refuse to see that the people directing them are bad… Much like the PCU film, the song has a hopeful and positive vibe to it… I love that driving chorus beat…

OVER THE HORIZON
Okay, this actually kind of sounds like an upbeat Cure song. Let’s hear it for poppy distorted bass! The lyrics tell the listener to focus his vision, to recognize and find strength in the fact that those around him have made similar mistakes, and to have the courage to do what’s right – with a positive attitude. The song is on the cool, mellow side, but it has a driving aspect to it. I think the song and album finish strongly.

You could loop it right back to the first song and listen to the whole album again. I do think that despite the diversity of sounds explored, it sounds like a single, complete album. I also believe I succeeded in tackling somewhat serious topics in an upbeat and artful manner while promoting a positive and upbeat perspective, which is the theme and what I set out to do. Thank you for reading/listening, and I would like to hear what you like about the album.