The Reset Button

I've been doing things all wrong.

I haven't been considering my vocal range when writing songs.  I've been trying to hit notes I can't hit.

I figured out why I change band names so often.  Every time I change names, I feel refreshed.  It's a new start.  It's a reset button.

I need that right now.  I need to start over.

But I'm taking old songs with me.  "Smile, Feral Child" I'm knocking down three half-steps. (from G to E) and "Three Minute Mile" is also going down three half-steps (from F to D).  It changes the feel of the songs a bit, but my singing is more confident.  Because I can hit the notes.

Every time I use a name, it gets old after a few months.  I'm getting tired of James Read Hunter, and it's the name I was fucking born with.

I heard that once someone switches names, they start new lives.  They're new people with clean slates.

Sometimes, it's fun to start from scratch.

track nine

9. Faces of Death

Johnny's a boy, a teenage boy

but he doesn't act quite like the others

besides the Playstation and long masturbation

Johnny's a strange boy indeed

he wanders the suburbs at night all alone

he only eats Waffle House and Twinkies

the strangest by far is in his VCR

Johnny's a strange boy indeed

he likes to watch people die

faces of death, faces of death

he lost the power to cry

faces of death, faces of death, faces of

he don't look both ways when crossing the street

he don't care if a car's a-coming

no he's not afraid, death come she may

Johnny's a strange boy indeed

he likes to watch people die

faces of death, faces of death

he lost the power to cry

faces of death, faces of death, faces of death.

track eight

You've heard this one too.

8. My Own Little Sun

You told me your racing car was way too slow

I think that your confidence is way too low

so drive drive drive as fast as you can

and if you don't win you know I'll understand

the rain may spit on everyone

but me I've got my own little sun

you told me your dress made you look too fat

how can you believe in something stupid like that?

we're going to the party and we'll dance all night

does it really matter if your dress is tight

the rain may spit on everyone

but me I've got my own little sun

you've always been an anxious girl

I can tell by the really bad poetry you write

worried 'bout your mental and your dental health

there's marks on your pencils from where you bite

you don't need medicine

you just need someone to hold you tonight

I'm gonna be your zoloft, girl

you know I'm gonna treat you right

don't worry baby it will be alright

I am gonna be with you tonight

the rain may spit on everyone

but me I've got my own little sun

I've got my own little sun

I've got my own little sun

track seven

7. Lay Back Down

What do you think I did wrong?

was there something I could have done?

we lost the fight is it my fault?

how am I supposed to live?

Lay back down

I know you did everything that you could

Lay back down

you're alive that's all that matters to me

my weary arms are marked with scars

salt from my tears makes them sting

my legs are sore my body's tired

and yet I cannot sleep a wink

Lay back down

I know you did everything that you could

lay back down

you're alive, that's all that matters to me

track six

6. Your Feelings

Feelings

you think you're walking on the ceiling

Feelings

your skin is numb, your brain is peeling

Feelings

the days are dark the sky is falling

feelings

you hear that sound the wild is calling

I know it's been awhile

since you erased the messages I left when you call

you deleted all the files

and all my posts on your facebook wall

you blocked my screenname too

you burnt the letters but no matter what you do

you can't get rid of all your feelings

feelings

you don't wanna hear my cardboard insight

feelings

you can't even sleep with a goddamn nightlight

feelings

the sun is blue the sky is golden

feelings

you can't even taste the wine you're holdin'

I know it's been awhile

since you erased the messages I left when I called

you deleted all the files

and all my posts on your facebook wall

you blocked my screenname too

you burnt the letters but no matter what you do

You can't get rid of all your feelings

more

5. Self-Conscious

I'll put green paint on my face

and climb a big oak tree

and I'll throw shit on unsuspecting

people who piss off me

I'm not gonna be careful

when I go out on a limb

they will shout "get down" and I'll just

laugh and fire again

I tell 'em I don't care

but secretly I do

the way people stare

makes me nervous

I tell 'em I don't care

but secretly I do

I'm not gonna live this way forever

I just wanna be free

and do what I wanna

and who cares what say you

this is my life, live your own

if you read these lyrics

and tell me that they suck

I wish I didn't give a fuck

but you hurt my feelings

I tell 'em I don't care

but secretly I do

the way people stare

makes me nervous

I tell 'em I don't care

but secretly I do

I'm not gonna live this way forever

it would be self-conscious of me not to admit that I get a little self-conscious after all

I posted this one before.  I wanted to put it here again, though, so the two people who read this blog can see them in order.

more lyrics

Here's some songs you probably know.  If not, check them out at http://www.myspace.com/buttermusic

3. Three Minute Mile

I'm a pretty crappy athlete

every sport I tried been badly beat

except a green ribbon for fifth place

at the 4 by 400 track relay

I could never give my all you see

nothing ever motivated me

until I met this girl she looked so sweet

then I had the motivation to complete a

(Three minute mile) three minute mile

(three minute mile)

I could run a three minute mile

if I knew she was a mile away

she told me she was a lesbian

I guess I was some kind of exception

she insisted she was not a bi

she could never love another guy

but now that she's gone I feel so low

my heart is colder than an eskimo

I haven't got the motivation

to do anything at all, let alone a 

(three minute mile) three minute mile

(three minute mile)

I could run a three minute mile

if I knew she was a mile away

4. Smile, Feral Child

Me, I was a lonely kid

Nintendo 64 was my only friend

and Paper Mario

I wasn't sorry, no

and when I knew you

I believed that you were a feral child

cause like a feral child you never ever seemed to smile

You were just a love affair

I imagined flowers in your hair

and sunshine in your face

your light and lovely face

but on Valentine's Day

I gave you a little box of chocolates

you said thanks, but I could tell you didn't give a shit

(oh no please forgive me)

I was only trying to make you smile

feral child, why do you look so down?

a little smile once in a while

feral child, things would look a little brighter now

ooh, ooh baby

they say feral children

don't smile cause they weren't exposed to smiles

but that isn't true

blind people smile too

so why not you oh

we are higher than animals you know why

we can do more than breathe and eat and sleep and fuck and die

(oh no please forgive me)

I was only trying to make you smile

feral child, why do you look so down?

a little smile once in a while

feral child, things would look a little brighter now

ooh ooh

if you smiled, I wouldn't feel so crappy

but at least I make an effort to pretend I'm happy

(oh no please forgive me)

I was only trying to make you smile

feral child, why do you look so down?

a little smile once in a while

feral child, things would look a little brighter now

You know what?  I just realized those are both damn good songs.

Lyrics to track 2

Not Jim-Beaux Hunter anymore.  James Read Hunter.  I don't care how plain it is anymore.  It's my name.  I won't hide behind band names and pseudonyms anymore.

Anywho,

2. Christmas In July

Let's go caroling

sleigh bells, everything

I just wanna close my eyes

ooh

Need no reason why

Christmas in July

I just wanna close my eyes

ooh

ooh

April Seventeenth

time for Halloween

I just wanna trick or treat

ooh

Dusk turns into dawn

life keeps dragging on

I just wanna close my eyes

ooh

ooh

They look stupid on paper, but I swear they sound good when sung.  At least I hope so.

I have finished writing lyrics for the new album

1. That Sound

What's that sound I hear

it's lovemakin' for the ears

Can't get enough of that sound

play it again

I don't care how it's made

I just wanna hear it played

Can't get enough of that sound

play it again

Can't get enough of that sound

enough of that sound

play it again

play it again, yeah yeah yeah

It sounds like a summer breeze (like a summer breeze)

swayin' all the trees (swayin' all the trees)

can't get enough of that sound

play it again

can you catch it in a jar? (catch it in a jar)

can you play it on guitar? (play it on guitar)

can't get enough of that sound

play it again

can't get enough of that sound

enough of that sound

play it again

play it again, yeah yeah yeah

Yeah, it's stupid, but the music is really catchy.  I'm going for simple with these lyrics.

Jim-Beaux Hunter

The name is either Jim-Beaux Hunter or James Read Hunter

The album will be named either The Delight Machine or Shamelessly Delightful

The tracklisting will be as follows:

1. That Sound

2. Christmas in July

3. Three Minute Mile

4. Smile, Feral Child

5. Self-Conscious

6. Your Feelings

7. Lay Back Down

8. My Own Little Sun

9. Faces of Death

10. I'm Gonna Teach You How To Smile

11. Protest Songs are Lame

12. The Monster

13. I Won't Stop

All songs written by James Read Hunter (credited like that whether I'm Jim-Beaux or not.)

All tracks produced by Jim-Beaux and Drake Kennedy

All tracks engineered by Drake

Vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, drums, keyboards and harmonica performed by Jim-Beaux

Upright and electric basses performed by Drake

Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Ali, Drake's dad, Sean Thompson, Nick Elward, Chris Hermecz, OniChicken, Matt Lyons, Sarah Prewoznik, the foks at the adriandenning.co.uk message board, Taylor Morris, Lauren Barron, Erich Beasley, KLSU, the guy at the Baton Rouge Guitar Center who gave me a huge discount on a Big Muff Pi, Steven Baumann, Miggles, Tim Olsen, Jon DeCuir, Sean Murphy, Victor Tokunboh, John Milligan, Alejandro Arguello, Giselle Eastman, Les Miles, LSU Football, McIntosh Drumline, Mary Jane Server, everyon who inspired me, Brian Petrivelli, Stillriver, Eleven Paces, Rigawestie, and many more.

Doom Metal and Me

Ever heard of a band called Sleep?

They are awesome.  They're like Black Sabbath but thicker and more ridiculous.  I wish I could pull off Doom Metal, but my sense of melody makes everything sound like pop, which can be good sometimes, but sometimes I want to be like an awesome doom metal.

The album is "Dopesmoker".  The title track is an hour long, and it's about the "Weedian" people on a pilgrimage to the "riff-filled land" and it's awesome.  "Sleep's Holy Mountain" is on right now, and it's even better 1. because it's faster-paced, 2. because it's more diverse and... well, I can't think of a third.  Everything sounds better in threes, but two reasons will have to do.

LSU baseball hit 23 wins last night.  Unbelievable.  The Bayou Blaster Brothers Blake Dean and Matt Clark are incredible.  44 home runs between them this season, and I'm sure there's more to come.

Self-Conscious

I'll put green paint on my face

and climb a big oak tree

and I'll throw shit at unsuspecting

people who piss off me

I'm not gonna be careful

when I go out on a limb

they will shout "get down" and I'll

just laugh and fire again

I tell 'em I don't care

but secretly I do

the way people stare

makes me nervous

I tell 'em I don't care

but secretly I do

I don't wanna live this way

forever

I just wanna be free

and do what I wanna do

and who cares what say you

this is my life; live your own

if you read these lyrics

and tell me that they suck

I wish I didn't give a fuck

but you hurt my feelings

I tell 'em I don't care

but secretly I do

the way people stare

makes me nervous

I tell 'em I don't care

but secretly I do

I'm not gonna live this way

forever

It would be self-conscious of me not to admit that I am a little self-conscious after all.