Rolls right along. I like it!

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Thanks for getting in early James - glad you liked my first foray into "the
blues" : )
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19541"> Ship Of Fools </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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Blues with the "jiguma" twist. Neat! The reality of the world can really put
the kangaroo in the vegetable patch (or, here, deer) and the everyday
blues in perspective. Great lyrics, an interesting mix of styles and sounds.
You'll have to come play in a good old Mississippi blues festival some
time. :D

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Cheers Joseph - I suspect my version of the blues might be a little out of
place in Mississippi! I've often looked at deer and kangaroos and seen many
similarities - especially in the head (but more especially in their ability to find
things you've looked after for months for yourself - and eating them!). Both
make a good Sunday lunch I'm told : )
My day to day downs are incomparable to those being experienced by others.
"I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes - until I met a man with no
feet" just about sums it up.
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19541"> Ship Of Fools </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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Blues with the "jiguma" twist. Neat! The reality of the world can really put
the kangaroo in the vegetable patch (or, here, deer) and the everyday
blues in perspective. Great lyrics, an interesting mix of styles and sounds.
You'll have to come play in a good old Mississippi blues festival some
time. :D

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You got the jiguma sound, too, again...

I like the lyrics on this one; I think a lot of whatever mental health we
might hope for in this world comes from developing some healthy
perspective, and this song is all about perspective...

I continue to admire the way you play bass and mix it in with the
acoustic...

Ed

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Thanks for visiting this one Ed - part of the reason for posting was to get the
pronunciation of "jiguma" out there. I'd heard Blaine Transue pronounce it
"jigooooooooooma" and thought I needed to do something about it : )
Perspective may not be everything, but it's way up there, that's for sure.
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19541"> Ship Of Fools </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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Then again, if Blaine wants to play this on VG he can pronounce it any way he
likes!!
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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nice. The pulse of this blues is interesting, the way you play it in 16th notes as opposed to the usual swing or 8th note feel. I like that. And the lyrics can't be beat, I think you've got a good knack for that. I've only seen "Skippy" in zoos, so it busts my paradigm to think of kangaroos wrecking the garden. I like that too.

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David, busting paradigms sounds painful - do you need a lift to the hospital?
Thanks for stopping by - 16ths eh, never was good with all that timing stuff,
but I certainly enjoyed doing this. Speaking of paradigm busting, if the
kangaroos don't get the garden here, the possums and wallabies are in there
- more like a moveable zoo than a garden at times.
Thanks for the listen, Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19541"> Ship Of Fools </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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Round here it's white-tail deer... jump the fence, step delicately, and leave you
dozens of zucchini with a bite or two taken out...

Hey, it just struck me that you guys are heading towards winter...

Apropos of nothing in particular....

Ed

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Heheh, don't worry; paradigms heal easily. In New York it was the
woodchucks that would come eat our garden, a few veggies at a time.

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20001">Ruins of Earth</a>

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When I said, 'maybe consider a whisle to exprss the *fun factor* in
this', what I was thinking was a kazoo, but I couldn't remember the
name of this fine instrument at the time - And I didn't think you were
gonna run out and buy one to learn to play just for this tune -
However, your spicing this up was w/ the geetar - and get this, it
sounds not unlike a kazoo, to me. That's what's funny... - And I like
the rework on the vox and everything is much cleaner - And yer gonna
wanna smack me for this comment but I'm still w/ Jan on this, it's still
cute. But it certainly does put things into perspective. And perspective
as I understand it, it IS everything...

Good job Neil -- Cheers! Dion

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Dion - what's the point of asking advice if you can't sometimes ignore it?! : )
After your email I thought about whistles, then kazoos (even paper and
comb!), but the slide guitar was the closest thing I had here, so that's what I
used (and it does sound like a kazoo a bit doesn't it). It's just a bit of fun
anyway - hadn't even planned to do anything with it really, so I guess it came
out fine.
Thanks for your comment Dion - appreciated as usual!
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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this went soo well with my coffee - i loved it - i've taken a copy - thank you! xoxox

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You are most welcome Caro - but I'd suggest something extra for breakfast,
you'll be starving by 11!
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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This would've gone so well with my coffe - if I drank coffee, that is.
Flows very well - really like it. (the song, not coffee)

Very nice.

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Thanks for dropping by Einar - glad you enjoyed my little foray into the
blues : )
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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especially if Neil Porter writes a song about it. I love this. I liked the
allusion to the Lovin' Spoonful in the beginning. I had no problem with the
slide work (all is forgiven) it gave the piece extra texture. Good mix. Nice
flow.

Be well!

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Thanks Mike - Summer In The City was always one of my favourite
songs, so why not! It really is all about perspective and relativity isn't it!
Thanks for the positive on the slide - I needed that!
Cheers,
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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You have a highly evolved signature sound. I know I am in good hands from the first moment I hear the opening bar. Someday perhaps you will ask me to contribute some really sick guitar.

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I like the idea of having a "signature sound" Rene - I don't expect anyone
will be trying to copy my style real soon. It's really about doing what you
can with what you've got - once I realised this I got much more
comfortable with music again.
Next time I need sick guitar I'll give you a shout!
Thanks for the listen, appreciate your comment,
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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im tunin up the rock lobster as i write this.

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it's sort of catchy with the way you sing it at a sort of fast pace. i think it would sound cool if you sometimes changed up the vocal so the singing wasn't so quick together in places just to make different parts sound different. i like the repeat at the end, a nice song.

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Hey Chance, haven't seen you around recently. Thanks for listening and
commenting. I know what you mean about the cluttered nature of the vocals
- so much to say in so little time! If you think it's hard to listen to, you
should try fitting all those words in : )
Cheers,
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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Great phrasing. Nice guitar.

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Thanks for the succinct comment Doug - appreciate it.
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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i am a historian of blues music... a little bit anyway...and i was
interested to see if this is a first...

there are blues songs about the rivers being whiskey...mean no good
(wo)men...mean boss men....meetings with joe death down at the
crossroads......

this is the first blues song about a kangaroo destroying lettuce.

congratulations!

nice, fun blues too, by the way.

deep bow
z

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lmao! So THAT's how you make blues history then! I was a little worried
how afficionados like yourself might respond to my rather
unconventional blues Fran, and am somewhat relieved that you approve
: )
Thanks for stopping by,
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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Quite a solid production here. It's got a nice signature chuckle attached,
hardly blues by pain a suffering. This is some easy goin blues.

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Cheers Dale - I've always avoided blues because I felt unworthy. Life's been
pretty good to me in lots of ways and I guess I thought it would be irreverent
of me to "play the blues". This song is a sort of "third person blues" with a
liberal dose of Aussie irony. "Easy goin'" hits the nail pretty much on the
head.
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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Sorry Joel, I meant "Joel".
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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This blues is a little different from the one of the northern hemisphere.
The blues of Australia.
Magnificent, as sea transparent the blues.

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Hi Tadashi - this is deep south coast coastal Australian blues. We have some
heavy blues bands too. I wouldn't take this as being a good example of
Australian blues.
Thanks for listening and commenting my friend, I am honoured as usual!
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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As Johnny K would say this had a cool vibe. Only complaint was I kept
waiting for you to say alright guitar play it and then come in with a
scorching solo. Wonderful feeling to the tune though. It just amazes
me that the old swamp music from my part of the country can travel
around the world and find acceptance and folks doing their own
versions everywhere. Your down under version was definitely alright!

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Oh yeah, and I really enjoyed your allusion to the great but forgotten and
unknown Lovin Spoonful. Always thought that back of the neck line was
great! Not exactly a part of the anatomy that we think of when we
contemplate beauty.

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Thanks for the comment(s) Tom - I would have loved to do a scorching solo,
but I'm afraid my slide work wouldn't cooperate! I thought about asking
someone to do it for me, but wanted this to be a very quick turnaround
(hence the sloppy vocals and slide) - colabs tend to take time. I've been
thinking about a longer version of this with a solo and an extension of the
"I've got the jiguma blues" section. I often think about doing better versions
of my songs, but rarely get around to it, so don't hold your breath.
Cheers,
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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Music is an interesting medium. Through it I can learn how things feels
(more than how they for example look). That is something than I can't
get through any other medium besides travelling.

Step by step I am learning a little more of Australia, (the opposite side
of the world from where I live). I have got most of this knowledge and
acquaintance by getting to "know" the Austalian McJammers during this
last year. In a song like this I am getting to know possible feelings, and
"weather-feel".

Now I'm learning about jiguma blues, (and how to pronounce jiguma
which I did all wrong before). And of course I am getting to know some
more of the person Neil Porter and his life from some kind of inside.
(And that is one aspect that makes your music and artistery so
beautiful and great Neil).

When I was young I had idols. Crosby, Stills, Nash and others. Then for
many years I had no idols, kind of got irrelevant.

Today I have noticed I am getting kind of idols again, but in another
way. I am meeting people that make music and whome I come to
admire for their craftmaship, artistery, creativity and more reasons. But
they are not "idols" only. They can also become my and friends and
brothers. People whom I can talk to, write to.

A great thing about MacJams is that here I can not only listen to the
products of these friends, I can also follow them in the creative process
and I can even comment in the midst of it. This is truely a new
dimesion to music life to music production and consumption! So much
more live than before when it was merely about consuming the final
products of unreachable people.

Johannes "Curry" Cori Ander


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And what did I want to say?

Maybe; Your music means so much to me Neil!

---
/Johannes "Curry" Cori Ander

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Curry, I'm touched by your words here - you are correct, MJ is a place where
you get to know people. Not everyone here of course, but those people who
somehow say something in a way that makes you connect - a bit like real life
of course. When I first joined MJ I had no idea that "virtual" friends could
actually develop into real friendships, and I have been pleasantly surprised
that this is in fact possible.
I am humbled that you, from the land of ABBA (sorry, I've been wanting to say
that for a while now!) and with such skill and feeling in your music, find my
songs say something to/for you.
My tentative testing of the MJ waters 12 months ago (on 9/5/05) has been
one of the better accidental decisions I've ever made. It's got me back in
touch with bandmates I haven't seen in 30 years (hopefully on a song soon),
as well as making new friends like yourself.
Thanks for your ongoing support Johannes, I appreciate it a lot.
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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A killer concept - singing about one's own personal blues, but keeping them in context compared to the rest of humanity.

Like many songs, this one could be recorded in a number of different ways, say, with a different tempo or a sorchin' guitar solo, but I like the way this one sounds. Especially the howlling slide guitar - it's just bluesy enough to give the song the edge it needs.

Okay - so maybe you try to cram a few too many words into some of the verses, but the way you extend the last line of the second verse ("it's too much for me to handle"), by drawing things out, at that moment there's a satisfactory resolve to the overfill.

I'm glad to hear no cats (first verse) no harmed in the production. ; )

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Thanks Warren - I can assure you that the cats are safe - don't know about the roos though : )
Appreciate your comment.
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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comments have been made and all the bases have been covered ... now I ALSO need to get the word "Jigooooooma" out of my head ..... my backyard blues consists of a giant kingfisher stealing all the goldfish out of my pond! This song reminded me maybe a little more of "Bluegrass" and I kept imagining the sound of someone blowing air into a Jug accompanying this one.

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Glad you dropped by Alannah. It's a kind of different blues on a few levels I suspect. The jug-band bass idea came to me too, but in the absence of a suitable vessel I stuck with what I know.
Neil

---
<a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/20419"> Jiguma Blues </a> & <a href="http://www.macjams.com/song/19990"> Too Many Ghosts</a>

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