In the Key of K

The new album, Out of Time Out of Tune, will be streaming everywhere on April 17th, 2026. However, you can buy an advance copy right now here. Also, you can buy or stream it on Bandcamp.

This was the opening song for Out of Time Out of Tune, my second cassette tape that was originally released in 1998. I think I placed this song first because the singing wasn’t as bad as on some of the others and because the music was fun and interesting. In those days, I thought I was hot stuff because my clever drumming on this piece uses opening and closing the hi-hat and double bass pedals all in the same line. Looking at some of the incredible talent, drive, and determination of some of the internet drummers today makes me realize I could have tried a lot harder. 🙃It’s super inspiring but I don’t have the time or energy to keep up with that stuff. I’m just going to keep trying to be creative in ways that suit my strengths. 💪

What is this song about? It has two verses. More self reflection and a healthy dose indignation at people who are closed minded and/or dishonest with themselves. The title refers to loud opposition of things oppressive and authoritarian. Lyrically, I think the first verse is very prescient considering I wrote most of it 30 years ago but the second one is a little dated–maybe a bit too egocentric–but I still love it.

//
Dissident Forte

The echo chamber is so great
No one makes a mistake.
One point of view just to blur their minds,
Can’t even question their own lies.
Justifying destroying lives when what they do is just wrong.
Dreaming up ways to make things feel kind.
Stop spinning. You’ll be better by beating the lies.

My paranoia says it was their plan.
I think I go this way because I can.
And then a joyful life evolves from hate
I tried to stop it  but there was no other way
and then we find a way to mend our minds
but we found out that it would be our demise
They never wanted a piece of my mind.
Give me all your secret thoughts and I will give you mine.
and I will give you mine

//

Want to play it? There are three sections. The form is :A B A C B A C. The bass plays mostly the same stuff for the A and C sections.

The A section has a lot improvisation. There is the lick below and then improvised fills. The bass improvises around this line too for both A and C sections.
————–
————–
————–
-5-3-0-3-5-3-
————–
————–

The B section is the same for both verses.
E5___| G5____|
A5___| C5____|
There are also three groups of touch harmonics, I think I played them at VII, V, and IV. If my memory is correct, it was VII for after the E5/G5 chords and then, for the A5/C5, play them at V first and then IV. Always on the first three strings.

The C section: the bass plays A section stuff while guitar plays this little thingy (this tab seems to be off on mobile devices—everything except the harmonic is played off the fourth string):
—————————————————h5
————————————————–
————————————————–
-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-7-7-7-7-7-12-12-12-12-12-12-10-8–
————————————————-
————————————————-
In between sections there are drum fills that add a couple measures of 5/4. That is also how the piece ends.

I might have a few of the details wrong above but I think it’s pretty close. This is song that I never played again after recording it. Not bad but not my best work. Still, I love it!