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Thanks for wandering over to my Music Page. Available recordings are listed below but for the "latest and greatest" it's best to see one of my live shows, since I'm frequently composing new material. Send an email if you'd like to be included on my mailing list for upcoming shows. With each new batch of songs, I learn more about effective song structure, ways of fine tuning a song's meaning, and the nuances of songwriting. So as long as they keep getting better I'll continue to write. For recorded songs, you'll find my "official releases" listed below. Instructions on how to get copies of each recording are provided in the listings. I have a large backlog of songs to record so look for a new release in the coming year or so. For the time being, check the SONG OF THE MOMENT feature toward the end of this list; that's where you can download a brand new song - on the house!
SONG(S) OF THE MOMENT Cathedral.mp3 is a portion of the soundtrack I composed for the Mark Mendoza film "CATHEDRAL". More of the soundtrack is included on the "Foreverywhere" Bonus Disk. Enid.mp3 is a new song recorded direct to 2-track. The "SONG OF THE MOMENT" changes periodically so check back often. I hope you enjoy the music.
A note about my song themes...
Such songs are often called "social criticism", "protest songs", or "social statements". I guess, of the three, I like the term "Social Statement Songs" the best. The others have too many negative connotations. Most of my Social Statement songs are pleas for positive change. Some of the songs, I'll admit, are hopelessly pessimistic, but that is how I feel sometimes. But I feel that a song isn't an end in itself; it has life and, hopefully, purpose. For someone who writes such songs, the present day lends itself well - providing no shortage of topics. One pitfall when writing such songs is that an artist can become alienated. Another pitfall is contradiction, but any artist with integrity will tell you hat to be an artist is to be in a constant state of flux. I'm willing to take risks if it means that I can keep an open mind. Now that I think of it, I guess that's how I've always defined being human. Bob Dylan, Harry Chapin and others have commented on how difficult it is to write a Social Statement song without sounding "preachy". I don't claim to be in the league with such people, but I find that what they say is true. As I grow as a songwriter and as a person, I hope to overcome these difficulties by writing songs that offer the listeners something universal to identify with and at the same time putting across messages that get people thinking. I keep in mind that criticism is part of a healthy human dialog - a dialog that we are in danger of losing in this country, in my opinion, as people become more and more polarized and intolerant. In a healthy society, unpopular opinion and individual perspective are welcome. A healthy society doesn't limit itself to only two colors. I certainly take my place in the target zone with the rest of humanity in my social statement songs. Just because I stand back and objectify what I see as problems, doesn't mean that I don't see my own contribution to those problems while I'm taking that proverbial step back. Music has always been my spirituality and my connection to the infinite. I don't consider it just another form of mindless entertainment. Perhaps my days in cover-song jukebox bar bands are over; although, heaven knows, I've played in my share and it certainly was fun. No, the immediate road ahead for me with regard to performing will be personal storytelling, emotional communication, and an intimate dialog with my listeners... ...I hope you'll be there to hear.
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Copyright © 2001-2007 Neil LoRé. All Rights Reserved Created & Maintained by B&D Technologies |
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If you listen to my songs, over time, you may notice that I tend to revisit
certain themes. Criticisms of organized religion, politics, the status quo,
social mores, accepted norms, even anger towards the gods themselves appear
in my songs. This is because the seemingly endless list of injustices in the
world tends to weigh on me. And usually a song is the result of that weight.
Just as disturbing is the smug and arrogant indifference to these injustices,
especially toward environmental issues, that seems to be chic these days.
