so, i decided to throw this up after all. it's the last track on the second demo tape (1997), cut up mildly.
it's just that most of the material from the second tape is going to link to redone versions. there were previously 6 tracks up, 3 of which were reversions. this at least takes it up over 50%, putting a bigger emphasis on the tape itself.
there's also a little bit of foreshadowing in terms of genre. most of the stuff i was doing at the time of the first tape (96) could be roughly categorized as 90s emo. this is a little revisionist, in that i didn't know what emo was, but if you listen to 90s emo (i'm talking about the post-hardcore genre) the reality is that it's really mostly footnotes on nirvana, anyways, and that's largely what i was doing. i actually think the bulk of it stands up relatively well in comparison to most 90s emo, which isn't known for it's high level of quality. these early tapes are a little proggier and a little more abstract than the norm; i was a better guitarist, basically, so i had the ability to delve deeper into grunge guitar playing and pull out more technical influences. there's also a more developed industrial aspect, coming mostly from nin. but, it's been an interesting experience realizing that i was connecting to some kind of zeitgeist in my basement by myself without having any remote awareness of it - as was probably the case with the other kids (maybe roughly five years older than i was) doing roughly the same thing i was. so, i can look back at the first tape and, despite having reservations as to the total quality of the material, realize i was legitimately on the forefront of something.
the second tape was a little more expansive in terms of sound, tilting a little more towards the electronic. i didn't have a computer yet, but i started sneaking into my sister's room when she wasn't there to use her keyboard a bit more regularly (there's some minimal keyboard on the first tape). doing so gave me a bit more flexibility in terms of writing and allowed me to explore a few different genres. there's some foreshadowing of the kind of post-rock that exploded about '98 in screwed up (97). i'm also reaching towards the post-punk revival rather substantially.
but the interesting thing about this particular track is that it's _very_ mid 00s indie rock - think man man or maybe xiu xiu as the artier expanses of something that's seen countless mostly forgotten purveyors over the last ten years. i was thinking in terms of modernizing some kind of billy joel or elton john track, which is probably exactly what man man was thinking a few years later. well, man man has major beefheart tendencies, too, and i wasn't quite into that yet. my dad was pushing it, but beefheart took me a bit more maturity to get my head around.
so, i feel i should post this for that reason, as well: this is something that sounds very much like a lot of 00s indie rock, and it's certainly the most "indie rock" thing i've ever done, but it was recorded back in early '97.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ37S6tpDJ4
well, that and i like the guitar solo :)
