perhaps that was it, basically by friend felt that the extra busy-ness watered down the groove.

Mac, I agree on your reflection of human nature.

Writing something that feels/sounds good to one's ear drives one's creativity and carries you usually further towards some sort of output. When I try to do something more formal , it always seems to come out weaker, stranger although I think these are valid exercises as well. I'm a guitarist and although I have some background in music theory etc , I'm most used to coming out with stuff as a result of improvisation, often that leads to busier stuff , so I have to sit back. The idea of melody first is still a hard thing for me, lamentably I often get line ideas in my head also. I'm particularly week in harmonizing and especially in the context of imposing a genre or fusion of genre's. I do better with grooves and pre-set progressions , anyhow I digress. I did want to do something with that groove but I still waver a lot and I guess opinions do influence me. I should just crank out material clobber idea segments together into some sort of semi-unified package i.e. a song, and let things be what they are, after doing a zillion of these , maybe I'll get it together .

Charles A. Monteiro
Monteiro's Fusion site