January 25, 2005
Chasing clients
Being one's own accountant is the bane of many consultants. As a consultant myself, I can't stand hounding clients to pay months-overdue invoices.
Strangely, the clients who don't settle invoices until the paper starts to yellow are the ones that expect my work to begin the minute they call.
Posted by garyduke at 10:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 21, 2005
Vocalists
Music is such a great source of inspiration to me. I am compelled to write, make and perform music. Yet a great pleasure for me is listen to and appreciate the progressive works of others.
The voices of two singers have seized my mind lately... Sharon den Adel (of orchestral/gothic rock band Within Temptation), and Lenny Wolf (of melodic rock band, Kingdom Come fame).
I love the Kingdom Come album, Hands of Time (1991). The track "Should I" is incredible. And "What Love Can Be", from their breakthrough self-titled album (1988) is surely one of the best sung melodic rock ballads.
Kingdom Come's new album, Perpetual, is a break from their usual sound. It's kind of cool too, with an ultra-saturated fuzz that makes it sound cranked even at low volumes. The only thing I don't like about this new album is that Lenny's trademark fluttering vibrato is missing from most of his vocal phrasing. Not sure if this is intentional...
As for Sharon, I'm blown away by Within Temptation's latest release, "The Silent Force". The songwriting is a little more accessible to the masses than their previous, more gothic efforts, but that's OK because the production values are incredible. The choir and wonderful orchestration mix wonderfully with the crisp guitars, drums and percussion. This is definitely a 'headphone album'.
Sharon den Adel's crystalline voice changes slightly to suit each song, and the lyrical content on "The Silent Force" is also nicely varied. I love the song, "Forsaken" for its haunting storyline, and Sharon sings about her heart's lost paradise in the song, "Angels" with supernatural beauty and clarity.
Finally, I have to mention in small tribute, the amazing Eddy Grant, whose songs, "Don't Talk To Strangers", "I Don't Wanna Dance", and many others are forever stuck in my head and as always are imbued with a great love for life and music. He is in my mind a consummate rock and roll singer/songwriter with that wonderful pinch of calypso he adds to his vocal phrasing and composition. He is also a cool guitar player, making every sparsely phrased note count. Thanks Eddy!
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January 20, 2005
Cells
You are a cell within the Body.
I am a cell as well.
The Body will outlive us, yet is no more conscious of its destiny--
Than us.
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January 19, 2005
Hello There
Here is my first blog entry. Groan. Oh. Everybody... Look at me. I am writing oh-so-important blah-blah-blahg stuff every day. Sometimes twice a day. Everyone look at me. Love me. Read me every day. More than once a day! Check back obsessively for updates. I am your hero.
Posted by garyduke at 04:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack