I've Been Thinkin

Anyone that knows me well enough, knows that while I enjoy listening to music, in no way do I ‘study’ it. Its probable that half way thru a song, if the beat gets to me deep enough, I’m so lost in my own thoughts that I have no clue what the words are. If you think that attention deficit is significant when it comes to just a song, then you can understand why I don’t typically buy albums. The idea of an entire compilation of songs relating to one another and telling a story has always been a mystery to me. Combine that with my motorcycle riding and fact that the radio in my truck died over a year ago and you can understand that listening to recorded music doesn’t play a large part in my life. The fact that I like to sit alone in the woods around a campfire is another indicator of my enjoyment of silence (and the voices in my head).

So, for me to ‘review’ a song, much less an entire CD is out of character. But over the past couple days, I can’t help but to sit down and write. A friend gave me a CD she burned (yes, boot-legged, but I’ll justify that by the end of this piece) of some music. Other than having heard the name of the artist from her (local to her blues scene), there was neither endorsement nor encouragement to listen to this particular CD (as a matter of fact, she gave me 3 to listen to, in no particular order).

Well, when I put this CD, marked only with “Gino Matteo”, into the player, my short attention span came into focus. The lyrics of the first song brought me a sense of connection with the artist

I been a full blown sinner, I been a liar’s son

I been a losers winner, I’ve only just begun

I used to live for fire, come quick out of my mouth

Where was he going with this? Is this another ‘to hell with the world and the rest of you’ song? You know, the type that talks about how bad he is and be damned with the rest of you? That was quickly answered

I been a full blown sinner, I been a liar’s son

I been a losers winner, I’ve only just begun

I used to live for fire, come quick out of my mouth

‘Til I got some holy water and slowly put it out

Chased a few dragons, knocked closed some doors

Now you don’t see me chasing any dragons anymore

Now I’ve gotta warn you first off, the lyrics alone are not nearly as powerful as when you hear them. The power, soul and ‘back beat’ as one reviewer put it helps to capture the emotion.

So, I start to want to know this guy’s story. A sinner, that’s gotten the taste of holy water and isn’t chasing dragons no more? I can relate. Probably older, weathered, seen some things in life. Keep in mind I’m drawn to Delta Blues, most of which comes from the trials of slavery, indentured servitude and “life sucks but with my music and my friends, I’ll make the best of it”.

I get up every morning and this is what I do

I thank the Lord above me, for helping get me through

I walked so many valleys, alone in the dark

‘Til I got some company and put ‘em in my heart

Chased a few dragons, knocked closed some doors

You don’t see me chasing any dragons anymore

Well the next song starts out

That woman took everything and left me for dead

Took me to the courthouse just to mess with my head

Left me blinded, beaten down and bloody on the floor

And I just KNOW this guy is older, till the next line tells me

“Well there's too much going on now, I'm only 24"

I’m sure this isn’t coming from someone that young. The songs have such a feeling that you just know this guy has lived it, and isn’t just writing some bluesy songs (by the way, this is not really a true blues album. I learn later when I look him up, that his influences run the gamut of blues, rock and a lot of N’awlins!) But I’m feeling from these songs that there is a certain emotion, a thread if you will, that ties all the songs together.

This might be a good point to give you a little background of where my mind was when I was listening to this CD (in case you didn’t notice, this isn’t so much about the CD as it is about ME! LOL). I had just come back from one of my little wanderings, this time on an airplane rather than the bike; and I was in my typical ‘return to the real world’ funk. That’s when I get mixed up in my head about living in the woods versus society. The idea of regular communications with people (and pissing them off if you don’t) and having to be places at certain times. Thinking about life; where I really want to go; where I am; and what I’m doing (or not doing) to get there! So I find myself getting up later, getting to the SoupMobile later in the day. Leaving earlier and not having a focus on anything longer term than the next hour. Like I told one concerned friend – some people need a good cry now and then. For me, I need a good funk now and then. I get all reclusive and listen to dark music. I didn’t expect this CD to be dark, but God has a way of bringing us into what we need.

So, boy was I slapped upside the head when I heard the title cut to the CD – “I’ve Been Thinkin”, about people not having it so good, and then he hits me with

Well I was so selfish, but now I can see

That some folks maybe got it a little bit worse than me

Started thinkin, yeah, I’ve been thinkin’

WHAT! I’m supposed to acknowledge that others have it worse? And I’m supposed THINK about it? Of course I’m being facetious here, but wallowing in my pity is part of the funk! My life sucks – I’m not living in the woods. I’m expected to answer my phone and even login to the computer. I’m supposed to go to the SoupMobile and support their mission of feeding, clothing and sheltering the homeless. I’m supposed to be building my personal business to support me in the future. All these things are not in direct line with my desire to sit by a fire and answer to no one! And here this 25 year old ‘kid’ has ME thinkin (and again, the WAY he sings it, especially when the instruments go quiet and it’s just his voice, is so powerful).

So powerful that I did something I don’t normally do – I got online and checked out Gino Matteo! With the CD in the player, I followed the lyrics of all the songs. I read his interviews (yep, he apparently really is only 25!) and got just a little feel for his influences. Not much about his life. That bit I’ll defer to the songs on his CD. Songs like “Chocolate Jesus” (a Tom Waits remake, but with Gino’s touch and placement in this CD), “Liquor Store Man”, “Hopeless Sinner” and “Fat Cat”, that I was sure had to be about something different than a fat cat. Or is it?

Well, after listening to this CD a half dozen times, which is REALLY out of character for me, I went for a motorcycle ride and pulled myself out of my funk. After all “some folks maybe got it a little bit worse than me”.

Perhaps you had to be in a funk to appreciate this CD, but I don’t think so. I really like his sound, and the way he doesn’t follow the normal rhyming of songs (see, I’m not a song writer or musician, or I’d know what his ‘style’ is).

And yes, while I was listening to a boot-legged CD, but I stepped out of my funk and got online and purchased the CD. Yeah, it was that good.

http://www.ginomatteo.com/music/

So, maybe I become a reviewer? Nah, too much stress. I’ll just continue to groove what sounds good, and share it on occasion.

Life is good, enjoy the music.