OK, I guess my last post made me sound like a rabid fan.. So I'll do the longer version.

Tory Amos. Both Tory and Trent Resner (NINE INCH NAILS) reached me at the same time, so I put them in the same influence basket. Before hearing Tory and Trent my lyrics were cryptic. My lyrics were much like Jim Morrison (Doors) and Billy Holliday. The problem there was that I grew tired of folks saying this person really meant this or that, with almost no one person agreeing. I was afraid to attack dark and taboo subjects exactly the way I presieve them, and in the words I wanted to use. These folks influenced me to say exactly what I wanted to say in exactly the manner I wanted. After all, nothing quite says it like "I want to f**k you like an animal" (Trent). Can't mistake that for anything other than exactly what was said!

Nora Jones. While a new influence on me (no I never stop growing musicaly) Nora has had a profound impact, and influence on my music. Before Nora I was always striving to make complex l music, much like the impact Charly Parker had with Billy Holliday. Nora made me realize that I would be better served having fun creating simple, yet fun inergetic music. Instead of spending hours comming up with that killer secondary melody, I have fun, and enjoy what Im doing. Like I said.. "Simplicity.. what a consept!".

http://www.myspace.com/chuckrudder