The Post-New-Album Blues (The Next Album Journal #1)
Since I started some version of this songwriting journal back in 2022, one thing that I have wanted to include (but forget to in real time) is some type of "as it happens" angle about new songs or albums. Once a new album reaches your ears, you can bet endless thought has gone in to almost every element, including the top-level thoughts of whether or not what is being released is any good.
I more or less believe in an album once it's done, but not always, and not in equal measure song to song, or album to album. A song that I was excited about it the beginning might be a weak link in the final product. Another song that was a real dark horse might become my favorite --either in studio, or just late in the writing process. And that's to say nothing of the transformations songs go through in the weeks, months, and years after their release.
Only a few months since Rift, this entry can serve as some introductory thoughts on the next album, which is logically very much in its infancy. The purpose here is provide a sort of real-time update as an album develops, complete with vibes and feelings, and see how those evolve over time. The most compelling parts of journals like this one isn't to just talk about the final products; I'd rather talk about how things are along the way, even if that ends up being only for my edification. A bit intangible to other readers at this stage, my hope is that this writing acts as a ground-level memoir for the ups and downs as projects develop from weird, ethereal things, to concrete creations that feel like they were always meant to exist in some way. In that moment or realization, I hope these writings become retroactively validated and valuable.
There is a bit of a vacuum created after releasing an album. For one, you mostly rob yourself of all your content --like raiding your minor league system and then having no quality prospects left to call up to the majors. Second, there is an exhale of sorts. Few people are waiting on my next record to drop, but I have an internal expectation that something gets released about every two years. Once I've made good on that, it can feel like I've checked a huge box off of my to-do list. And third, you're just kind of tired. It's romantic to envision yourself hunkered over your notebooks, pumping out dozens of songs and whittling them down to their best selves, and then selecting only the best to move forward, but I have come to find that to this point in my work, I just don't execute at that level. It's not as romantic as people try and make it sound; it's just really, really hard.
Only a few months since Rift, the feelings about the next album are perhaps a tad negative. Maybe that's from all of the unknown, hypothetical work that is yet to be done, or that I just don't have a center from which to venture out. It's mostly a resting heartrate sort of negativity, rather than being specific feelings about the viability and direction of the project. There just isn't anything to get excited about yet.
I have an Open-E-tuned song called "Sunny Side Road" that was thinking about joining Rift but just didn't quite have the polish ready in time. It is possible it finds its way onto the next album, but could also end up on my next Alternate Histories. "Sunny Side Road" feels a little rudimentary at this stage, as I only know so many chords and fingerings in that tuning. And since I have nine other songs in that tuning, it feels like I might be repeating myself more than I usually do.
I have had a few in-between-albums songs before. "Carolina Mountain Girl" took three years to end up on an album; "Call of the Trumpet" had the same three years but ended up on a b-side EP. At this moment, I'm leaning more b-side than album, though a lot will depend on the kinds of songs that emerge in the coming months.
I also have a piece called "Recurring Dream" that I think will work nicely as a spoken word. I haven't put any music to it yet, but it feels like it might have potential. After not despising my first full attempt ("Crickets"), I'm anxious to keep working in that direction and see what comes out.
The goal is to keep a running journal as this album comes together. I imagine that will mean monthly updates, but might be more often if I decide there is something to say.