Oblivion And The State Of The Rock Album

We did it.  We made a full length "story album" that clocks in at 57 minutes or so.  The story is called The Beginning Of The Endless Search For Oblivion and I'm really proud of it. It was NOT easy to make.  I think part of the pressure was that it had a format and structure throughout that hour long period that needed fierce attention or run the risk of being a weak link in a nice looking chain.  Now in the making of this album, or maybe even before, it dawned on me how dead the album format itself seems and how individual works seem much more practical for many reasons in the current day.  This is convenient as the next record I was planning was consisting of a bunch of songs anyway.  Now, instead of pressuring myself, locked into the need to put 12+ songs together, I can just release all sorts of different things periodically as they get finished. I never run out of ideas and at this point couldn't imagine stopping recording and creating...There is now enough material in the bucket to play a 2 hour + rock show of all original music.  By the time a few new songs are recorded, some songs would have to be dropped in order to make it in time.  Anyway, there's been no urgency in booking the band so I'm still sorting out who will play what in a live scenario and will continue to rehearse with whoever's around....on Wednesday nights.  Have been offered some cool playing opportunities where I can do original music only, which is my deal.  More on that to come.  It will be original Carribean flavored music played on classical guitar. Another project I have planned includes mainly drumming and singing.  By the way, don't get it twisted, there will be more albums that I will do, but while the state of music consumption is in such flux, best to stay loose, certainly as a drummer!  Leibowitz will be featured in next month's Rocktologist with an interview Tony and I did last week and some other stuff.  Aside from that, the record will be played in its entirety, by a soon to be named DJ at a soon to be announced time. The album will be available in a week or so and will be available at www.leibowitz.bandcamp.com .  You can check out Guitar For Money, our 1st LP while you're there. For even more news and clips, or to just become a supporter by being a "fan" you can visit www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic .  Thank you so much for your support and friendship.

Leibowitz

Happy 2012, Now Where's Oblivion?

I don't feel like a rock star anymore...not like I ever was, but it felt that way in 2011 at some times.  We finished and released Guitar For Money, which has been an experience.  I have a stack of albums to send out this week as I type this.  It has been entirely a web and word of mouth thing.  As far as results, I've done zilch on Bandcamp thus far but just by understanding a bit more of how sites like that and ReverbNation, SoundCloud, etc. work none of the effort has been in vain.  It's simply a starting point or a mile marker if you're in the Florida Keys!  There has been TONS of encouragement by other artists that I admire as well as from my friends, who can be the toughest critics of all---which I do appreciate.  The music is out there and not for everyone but it takes guts to say that to me face to face but people do have their favorites.  I think until I completely satisfy my musical urges I'll continue.  There are new instruments I am considering really digging into. I've been practicing like crazy as Tony and I have taken a holiday intermission and then some before tying a lasso around the rest of the new album.  I'm extremely excited about it and can't wait until it is done to our satisfaction.  Tony will be in Los Angeles for the next month focused on his band Brass Knuckles, who are really doing great. He's one of the most natural musicians I've ever been around so I'm lucky he's in my band in the first place and has become a great pal as well. As for the concept of The Beginning of the Endless Search For Oblivion, this is the most structured and thought out work I have ever produced.  We even have "guest stars" on it from another country on 1 track so far.  Great ones at that! During this time now, I've been practicing electric guitar and its relationship within my rig, syncing up with numerous effects and the like.  I'm preparing to play live when I get the right gig so this is quite important but just as important for studio time in terms of practicality.  It sure helps to become a good techinician and electrician if you play any instrument....It's also been month after month of getting my drumming up to snuff as well which has me so sore and hopefully a better player!!! I've been exercising and strengthening my voice too so when we do final versions I'm handing it out like I should.  If this was a football game it's the 3rd quarter with 1:56 on the clock and I don't plan on this going into overtime since the story is set, as is the music.  The 4th quarter looms and since I write the script, keep the beat and so forth, I've saved the most exiting and radical stuff for last.  Hey, I put up stuff on ReverbNation but those are teasers....I have lots of extras in the vaults too.  Oh, we need reviews for Guitar For Money as we only had one done..a great one at that.  We even were featured on the Rocktologist in August so we know people are listening and some even love it.  Please blog up if you have the slightest interest in doing so, no matter how negative your comments are. Haven't been blasted yet and it would make me laugh and I'd like to get the 1st bad one out of the way as well! Well anyway, enough about me, I wish you and yours an amazing 2012...a safe, healthy and prosperous one at that.

www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic
www.leibowitz.bandcamp.com

\m/ \m/

Josh

Breaking The Musical Barrier...Updates

Hi there!  I hope everyone is doing well where this finds you and not far from a good time.  Perhaps maybe actually catching you while having a good time, while listening to Guitar For Money?  Well, I have to tell you, making an album is fun...or at least it could be and should be.  I'm annoyed as a gig I was hoping to get fell through as the place was sold.  Times are tough for many and music is intangible so it doesn't NEED to be for sale to be heard and enjoyed...but I'd really like to get out and play a full set of original music in front of people as planned...like real humanoid folks but it might have to wait.   This is kind of convenient as we are in the midst of putting together a monster of an album and I've never had more musical ideas to capture.  Lately, I've been practicing every aspect of playing guitars and drums, composing, arranging and recording...There is no end goal to practicing but to improve and there is always room for improvement.  That and I've got the time!  For the past 3 months I've been traveling so much that I'm still getting used to being in one spot.  Haven't been to the studio in a few weeks but that is because I am backed up with all sorts of things to sort out before throwing more paint on the canvas.  I've been recording to the IPad and getting used to practicing for sessions for even better time management.  This comes in handy as I try to make every take count.  Every time I can figure out an arrangement at home, it saves me an hour or 2 of directional confusion once I get what I want down in the studio.  Weaving a song together to have an interesting structure is a real art form and one that I'm trying to explore.  The best results always seem to come out from studio work but to be prepared for that work and simply go in and not think and feel it and knock it out is always what I aim for.  Tony and I have around 5 more songs in production and 5 more after that--I've written one more for it that fills out the story nicely and I was surprised about that as I felt the main set was in stone.  You have to make a concept album on your own to know what that feeling is like, I guess!

Still Lost In Oblivion-New Album Update

Ten down and 6 to go for the most part. That doesn't even give a hint at how much work is left to do on this 16 song record.  The damn thing is going to go over an hour and I'm going to spend endless hours pondering what to add, color/uncolor, arrange, remix, redo you know the deal.  I've taken more risks this time around and probably prepared 3 times as much as the first album.  The drumming has been fun and has come around to making me play the guitar a bit differently.  I have to admit, it makes my triceps and shoulders sore as hell but the muscles in my wrists seem to have beefed up which has helped with all sorts of possibilities with the guitar.  Fitness and exercise play a big part in what I do since I sing, play guitar and am doing all of the drums in the studio on this release.  There would be no way for me to do the things I'm trying to do without being in good condition.  A lot of it comes down to simply breathing correctly--as singing, drumming and playing guitar all require strict attention to this to get the job done.  And it gets done!  But I'll tell ya, at all points I've been enjoying creating the moments on the album that have been in my head and the more tracks that have been laid out, the better.  The writing and composition have been pretty easy this time out but there are definitely areas in my department that need housekeeping.  I expect that to be the case every time out as I try and do things differently, or I intend to, so it's par for the course.  The biggest challenge will be to sit back and look and listen to the whole thing and have that definite feeling that it is finished in a way that I'm 100% satisfied with.  That is the goal.  I've given myself reminders to not overlook plot points or their relevance for inclusion.  This is one of the challenges one faces when doing a concept or story album...Hey, I know from experience!

Hope you are doing well and thanks for joining me for the ride.

Leibowitz

www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic

What does it sound like?

If Mozart was ever asked this of his music, I wonder if he would have said something exotic, like "the sound of a waterfall hitting a cliff wall" or "tears on loaf of bread" or "kind of like Handel".  It is a fair question and a difficult one to answer, regardless of if someone is trying to play rock, metal or whatever. For an artist or composer to commit to making the comparison it puts them at risk of sounding more advanced or developed from a successful career standpoint than they are, yet it provides a reference point for the person asking the question to decide whether or not to give the music a listen, even if they don't outright say that.  I think if one dodges that question altogether it could ruin the chances of getting someone to listen so I always give a whack at it...even if it comes out as being borderline faux hipster like "it sounds like Sargent Pepper got Pet Sounds pregnant" or "it's like Jimmy Buffett meets Warren Buffett".  If you really have to give that one a straight answer I'd just say play the averages and be like...."Celine Dion" or "Guns and Roses"....or both!  Anyway, I guess it's human nature or force of habit to want to categorize things.  For an artist this serves as a benefit, if for no other reason, to know what direction to point potential long term listeners, your crowd, to find out how to access the music and possibly buy it or see a concert or both or neither, even if you don't outright say that.  There are no stupid questions.

www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic

Leibowitz Music Blog....Yep

Yeah,

I already write lots of things and work on a bunch of projects but it seems that a nice way to bring a lot of it to life beyond the material and performance itself--or what have you, is to share my thoughts and views on things that are of interest to me.  For the purpose of this page, it will largely focus on the music that I work with mainly because that is the most interesting aspect of my life.  Period.  I could talk about the business that I do and I'm sure I occasionally will as it does get interesting as some aspects of my work and play life overlap in funny ways.  This month has been interesting.  Equal parts work and play but I did get to record with a couple of new friends in person which is increasingly rare in my experience.  This took place in London and the results were really fantastic...the hospitality beyond welcome...and the efforts and fun factor was supreme as far as the making of the music.  That's the important thing about "play time".  When much of life revolves around stressful or potentially nauseating factors to most people I know, certainly myself it is important to get as much fun out of that free time as you can.  I think it comes through in the music.  This weekend, I'm heading back into Dae Dor Studios to work on the remainder of this album with Tony Livadas, the other half of the group and a huge part of the sound.  He mics, engineers and mixes EVERYTHING..Tony also plays bass, keyboards, sax and probably anything you could put in front of him...including guitar for upcoming live shows with our group and his other band..the wildly successful Brass Knuckles...He's in that band with Danny D'Brito, one of his very best friends who he also runs the studio with.  Just like those guys have been tight since childhood, so were Matt Stevens and Kev Feazey in London.  It's this kind of family element I really like to sense in where I work...or PLAY...and part of the positive vibe that keeps the spirit refreshed and able to create and move forward with all sorts of projects...no limits..keep an eye open for show announcements..if you want to see us live, please check out some of the music on ReverbNation and fan up and join the mailing list.

www.reverbnation.com/leibowitzmusic

It's been hard for me to get gigs doing the original work in the right forum but I won't quit until it is done to my satisfaction, and yours.

If you want to hear the 1st album, Guitar For Money without waiting forever for a $12 digipak or poster to be shipped (I'll be selling these at shows) go check it out at:

www.leibowitz.bandcamp.com

You can even download it for charity at Ethikool Tunes!

http://ethikool.co.uk/artists/leibowitz

Here is info on where the proceeds go (and I'm looking for other responsible charities in the US and elsewhere to work with):

http://wrightsbridge.com/solutions/

The sole review of the album (need a lot more of these--I'm a big boy and can handle and appreciate any review):

http://zacharynathanson.blogspot.com/2011/04/josh-leibowitz-guitar-for-money.html

A really cool feature on the Rocktologist in August, with my name listed under one of my favorite artists (Thanks to The Rocktologist and for Nik at Ethikool Tunes for setting this up):

http://www.therocktologist.com/contents-august-2011.html

They used the Guitar For Money track on their main page for a few weeks which was a real treat for me. I hope it got people fired up for all the music we have in the pipeline.

Bye for now,

Management