Actress (Original)

"Actress" has probably been redone more than any of my songs. This "original" isn't even the real original. I'm not even sure where the real original is -- I think it was so bad that it ended up getting deleted from my 8-track. As far as I'm aware, there were at least 5, if not 6, attempts at this song. Some are fast, some are slow, some have different bridges...some have no bridge at all. I think the reason I've tried re-recording this song so many times is my affinity for the lyrics. "I hear what you're saying it feels like were staying I hope you keep praying for me to forgive me I scream at the mattress you are the actress show me with practice you pray with exactness, while I... I'm so vague becuase I get misplaced I try to keep records of my life gone backwards the times that were awkward I'm trusting you've no heard How much I wish I woke absent of this trial each day is the same I think it would be easier if I... I was vague because I get misplaced." One of the subtle things that I enjoy in this versions production is the echo on the harmonica and the very quite fuzz distortion at the end of the song. The fuzz is so obnoxious and the song is so delicate -- but becuase the volume on the fuzz is so low...it doesn't disrupt. "These Lonely Pines" is the instrumental reprise for "South California." I use the same melody but I change the tempo and time signature. My favorite part of the recording is the Asian-like instrument sound I got from my guitar/effects program. I have lots of strange preset effects on my 8-track -- most of which never get utilized because they are so odd. This "Asian" present (which I think is the actual name) never works for anything (except this song). For this song...it was a perfect fit.