Looney Tunes...

I am such the music buff that I had to devote it a whole page!

How to describe what I like to hear? In general, in terms of listening, I am quite open minded, with my preferences leaning toward various categories of rock, blues, and jazz.

Rather than listing each individual band/artist/song I like, why don't I list my 10 favorite albums and songs, in no particular order? NOTE!!! This is subject to change on a moment's notice and is only current for NOW, 1/13/99...

Favorite albums:

Misplaced Childhood, Marillion
Splendido Hotel, Al DiMeola The Essence of Dave Brubeck
Permanent Waves, Rush
Counterparts, Rush
Falling Into Infinity, DreamTheater
Awake, DreamTheater
Brain Salad Surgery, Emerson Lake and Palmer
A Pleasant Shade of Gray, Fates Warning
Gretchen Goes to Nebraska, Kings X
I need to buy some new music! :)

Favorite Songs:

Fountain of Lamneth, Rush -- the lyrics tell quite the story, an allegory of life itself.
Carry On Wayward Son, Kansas -- admit it, you think this song ROCKS just like me!
Strip and Go Naked, Victor -- a great instrumental written by Alex Lifeson, guitarist from Rush
Natural Science, Rush -- this song just RULES.
Lifting Shadows off a Dream, DreamTheater -- a bright melody along with a bright guitar solo...
Time, Pink Floyd -- oh, do the lyrics speak to me in this stage of my life!
as the world, echolyn -- some of the BEST vocal harmony I've ever heard in a band.
Ishtafan, Al DiMeola -- very unusual instrumental encompassing both slightly Spanish sounding guitar as well as choral vocals and a VERY unusual melody. Good stuff!
Making Memories, Rush -- a real feelgood song, bright lyrics and melody, also easy to play on the guitar!
Dinosaur, King Crimson -- I also really like this song! Thought-provoking lyrics and unique sound.
Karn Eval 9, 2nd Movement, Emerson Lake and Palmer -- a really piano jazzy instrumental which I find awesome!
Ok, this puts me beyond 10... oh well. :)
Open Secrets, Rush -- OK, another Rush. Can you tell my favorite band yet? I really admire their poetic lyrics (give the credit to Neil Peart for most of them) which speak to me metaphorically...
Take Five, Dave Brubeck... yes, that song you've heard for years on car commercials. Hey, I like it!
Four Brothers, Manhattan Transfer -- more happy music, with incredibly tight harmony... and this song takes a lot of articulation to sing at their speed!

I also have to put in a few special plugs for musical groups to which I have a personal connection...
1. Endo, Xico Productions. The producer and mixer is none other than my friend Frank Rosa. Check out their web site... their first CD, I Will Not, was recently released. All instrumental rock-jazz fusion influenced by Rush, Led Zeppelin, and the like.
2. M-PACT... what to say about these guys except that they're awesome? This 5-piece all male a cappella group is like no a cappella you've heard before; they're far from your standard barbershop quartet. (Seinfeld reference: "not that there's anything wrong with that!") They just released their second CD, and I urge you to check out their web site to listen to what they can do! Not only are they multi-talented, but they're 5 really sweet guys...

So why do I love music? Well... I've literally played the piano for a majority of my life... since I was 5, the earliest I can remember. I'm also a budding guitarist... and I can sing now and then, too. I was part of various choirs in my early college years (90-92) but haven't sung much since then. And... I'm looking to get into a group or two these days; I recently started singing with the Marin A Cappella Singers, a small casual group of us who love to sing. While I was a decent lyricist, I could never really write decent music, so I decided to keep my day job. :)


Homeward bound! 1