More chats with CDO

I had the distinct pleasure of getting back in touch with Chris Dane Owens once I bought his CD through CDBaby. Remember the advantage of buying the physical album is that you get another disc which has the video for "Shine On Me" on DVD. Now if only I knew how to make awesome .gifs. NO MATTER. On to the Q+A! Just a short one this time around.


S: How soon will the new video be out?

CDO: Hang in there with us on video #2 Sarah. We have quite a few things we are trying to accomplish first before we release the next installment. We really appreciate everyone’s patience. Hopefully it will be worth the wait..


S: I've seen those stills and they are amazing. Any hints as to what happens next in the saga?

CDO: Thanks so much...We have had a lot of fun so far.. I think video 2 will be a bit darker in tone, and I know we will have more battle-action, magic, romance and spiritual themes.

S: After the second and third installments, what next? A tour? A second album? I would love to catch your live act.

CDO: I really don't know how this is all going to play out, and that's rather exciting to me. We never could have anticipated all the things that have happened in the first 7 months of this project so I have the feeling that the unexpected twists and turns will just keep coming.

I've been wanting to tour for the album from the beginning, so that is definitely a goal, and I really want to incorporate original film footage into the live show. Stay tuned..

Perhaps a few new singles will be coming out before too long, and that will keep my studio chops up, until the next CD.

S: Just wondering, have you been hearing from your fans? As a fan, I love it when I can interact with talented people and I'm sure others feel the same way.

I have to say, that has been the coolest part of all of this. Wonderful people have reached out from all sorts cities across the US, and countries around the world. I have felt very blessed to meet really cool people I would never have known otherwise.

A few weeks ago, I was invited down to the "Family Guy" production offices where I was introduced to about 25 people who all have become fans of my work. They're wildly creative artists and producers, and it was just a great time (and very humbling) hanging out with everyone.


AW YISS, possible CDO tour. I'd street-team for this dude and that's a huge compliment because I street-team for no one.

Album review: Blue Stone by Chris Dane Owens

Yay, I've finally taken the time to do a listen through of CDO's Blue Stone. Very delinquent of me, I know.

Blue Stone is, to put it very simplistically, a collection of non-offensive pop in the classic 3 min. + change variety. It's reminiscent to some degree of nineties pop. It's a bit like Bryan Adams, but cutting back on the syrup. The songs contain a solid, but fairly conventional rhythm section. Kind of formulaic in song structure, "Verse/Chorus/Middle eight/Break, fade/just listen", to quote Morrissey, but I like that. In fact one of the reasons I don't like Mariah Carey's "Obsessed" is because the verses just roll into the chorus and it bothers me. Also, auto tune.

BAM, lightening round!
The opening "Light Speed" is a fast-paced opener going on into the slightly rockier "World Turns Round".

"Do You Believe in Miracles?" I freaking love this song. I'm a sucker for lines like "Catch your breath/and hold on tight." I don't care how much cheese was used in the manufacture of this song. Also, the repeated "I feel you" makes me contrast this song to Depeche Mode's song by that name.

"Here She Comes" - GLOCKENSPIEL? or am I imagining things? Either way cute.

"Shine On Me" stands out because I know almost every note and frame from the song and music video. Also stands out because there's some funky elements, whoo.

"Superhuman" - 1 of 2 techno songs. Nineties-flavored techno. Vaguely reminds me of a track off this compilation. WEIRD.

"Lost At Sea" like the first song on Side B if we still thought of albums like this. Reminds me of "Sailing".

"Love Is Blind" - I tuned out a bit on this song because it's past my bedtime, but there's a "crown of thorns" mention so I'm going to say this song is about Jesus. Apologies if I'm way off.

"Pure" I always sing along with "Now you take your first step/like it was your last breath" but I don't know the rest of the words.

"Wicked", techno part 2 - vocalizations and a "chunga-chunga-chungetty-chunga" guitar riff. I used to like "Superhuman" but now I prefer this one.

"Bleed" I'm a bit unfamiliar with this song because by this point customers come in and I have to help them so I always miss it. No opinion.

I give this album a 3.5 out of 5. It fills a niche for feel good music that's not challenging in the slightest. Great for homework, chilling, and possibly knitting. It would have higher marks if it was more cohesive in style, tone, but I don't fault Owens at all because it's all good stuff and I assume he's still working on a songwriting style.

Blue Stone on CDBaby
CDO's site
Also available at itunes and Amazon

Tomorrow I'll post my interview with CDO!

Bits and Snippets

Hooray, the vaguest of details about something I already knew would happen! Depeche Mode releasing DVD of live performances from their Tour of the Universe early 2010. They've been doing this since their tour for Songs of Faith and Devotion, barring their tour for Ultra.

And now for something completely different. Vitas came out with a new music video on the first. Erm. Not my favorite video.

click!