August 22, 2003

Partially Obscured by Paranoia

Hey, I really appreciate the latest wave of "eight little songs" orders. (I guess it was spurred by the Lookout site and maybe a bit by the Lileks link.) I'm going to mail out all orders I receive through the end of today on my way to the airport on Saturday; after that, though, you'll have to wait around till I return from England on Sept. 6. Anything that comes in during that time will be sent out immediately on my return. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I just can't think of a realistic way to do it from overseas.

If you're local, you could stop by the show at the Gaslighter in Campbell CA tonight-- they're only 5 bucks when you get them in person.

I've got a studio update coming, if I end up having the time to finish writing it. No matter how well prepared you are, or how well you do, it usually ends up getting complicated and weird and confusing around this time, and this is no exception. I can see around four or five radically different directions the finished product might go, some coldly realistic, some quite clearly based on the worst kind of paranoid/neurotic distortion, some that seem to span both categories if such a thing is possible. I can (I think) rank them in order of preference (I really hope we manage to avoid four and five.) But at this point I'm not totally sure what's going to happen. It's strange how you can work on something pretty constantly for, like, three years and, once the smoke clears, still not really be clear on exactly what it is you've got standing before you. I usually end up poking it with a stick till it's almost all holes; then wallow in regret forever thereafter. Of course, the smoke never really clears all that much, and right now, there seems to be smoke everywhere. More later.

Posted by Dr. Frank at August 22, 2003 03:40 PM | TrackBack
Comments

"Poking it with a stick."

Ha!

Posted by: Ben at August 22, 2003 04:24 PM

I would have never guessed being a rock star was such an emotionally taxing ordeal. Which Dr. Frank will take the stage at the Gaslighter (400 E Glen Campbell Avenue, Glen Campbell, CA) tonight? Will we see the quirky, neurotic perfectionist who has been trapped in a smoke- and anxiety-filled Oakland studio? Or will we see the happy-go-lucky, witty, endlessly talented, equally charming (and evidently sexy) rock god we’ve grown to adore?

I think the last American to endure such self-inflicted torture for the sake of his art was Chris Burden…but that was the 70s.

Bon voyage, Dr. Frank. Have a great time in England. Let go of the record for a couple of weeks.

Posted by: J. Francis Gretchen at August 22, 2003 06:15 PM

Yeah, J. F., there is a C. Burden-like quality here. I think I'd probably be able to handle being shot in the arm with a little more dignity/less hysteria, however.

"Let go of the record for a couple of weeks." I'm sure you realize just how unrealistic that advice is, but it's probably a good idea.

Posted by: Dr. Frank at August 22, 2003 06:39 PM

It is a good idea. And get a good massage while you're at it. Can you get those in the UK? ;)

Posted by: JB at August 22, 2003 07:25 PM

I just got my cd a few days ago. Great stuff, Dr. Frank. My wife digs it, too.

Posted by: Michael J. Totten at August 22, 2003 08:58 PM

Pardon my unsolicited and misguided advice. It was a careless postscript and wasn’t intended as a serious mental health tip. Asking Dr. Frank to “let go of the record for 2 weeks” is tantamount to asking a woman who is 8 and a half months pregnant to ignore the kicking and squirming in her swollen belly. I just hope there is room in Dr. Frank’s belly for the forthcoming record and whatever it is they eat in post-Mad Cow England.

Posted by: J. Francis Gretchen at August 22, 2003 10:20 PM

you are my inspiration....we all love you dr. frank!

Posted by: zach at August 27, 2003 05:34 AM