Is there a science to musical hooks?

All morning, I've been singing The Decemberists' new single, Calamity Song. Here's the thing: I don't even like this song. It annoys me. But it gets so stuck in my head, that at a certain point, I'm actually craving hearing it.

I'm sure you've all been here..... The Proclaimers' 500 miles... Cee-Lo's Crazy (yes it's a great song, but overplayed)... anything by Adele right now.

So I've been wondering What Makes a Hook?

   Now I know you can't exactly program a hook... good music is art, meaning it gets its power from life experience, spontaneity, there's an X factor. I know hooks come from a greater purpose than making some fat-cat artist, record exec, or radio promoter a shit ton of money. How else do you explain all those songs that technically have hooks, but make you feel nothing?

Still, I remember a Rolling Stone review of Tristen, one of my fav rising arteestes, that said she'd spent a year dissecting her fav old pop songs before writing her record. (Her song Baby Drugs has got it!) And I bet scientifically, according to the laws of music theory -- which is really just the math of music -- you can find some common elements to hooks.

The Decemberists' hooky Calamity Song -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJpfK7l404I

Cee Lo's Crazy-- http://youtu.be/bd2B6SjMh_w

Has anyone seen any stuff out there breaking down hooks?

        Stuff that examines the intervals they use, what chords they start on, or what notes in a chord tend to be the sweet spots. And let's not forget rhythm -- most of my hooks have a swagger to them that ain't about the notes but where you place them.

I did not go to a music conservatory, but I am constantly finding ways to learn this shit -- and right away, I know the first three notes in Calamity Song land in a cool, weird place. (i'm guessing the 7th, but need an instrument, not just my head to confirm this.) I bet you can't find a tonic note in that whole verse melody.

And don't worry, I am not going to use this information to try to generate some great pop machine. More so that, when I am knee-deep in a half-written song & chasing a feeling, I can stay on track better... I can find my way back faster when I start to get stuck.

How do you know a hook? When you hear it.

To quote another pop guy, our own Bob Schneider.... None of it matters, "'til someone catches a feeling." Bob Schneider, 'Til Someone Catches a Feeling -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O991CGNvCfc

If you find any resources, hit me! thanks. 

~jessie 

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Back in Texas with a Vengeance

First off... I'm back.

Several successes to report.

1) My article about the Song School in Colorado was published in the LA Times.
read it
Song School & the Rocky Mountain air seriously kicked ass... stayed tuned for more on my new talented friends & my quest to write a song in 20 minutes twice each week.

2) It is no longer 100 degrees & doomsday hot by 10am every morning.

3) My new band is kicking Texass ass.
Enter Alissa Schram, the light cello, Rob Jewett, the dark cello
Josh Halpern, wonder kid drummer, & Carley Wolf, serious upright bassist & songstress

We opened for Bob Schneider at the Saxon last week; my mom flew in *for a surprise* from Philadelphia (serious mom points!)...

To commemorate the occasion, for the first time since I moved to Austin, my name was spelled correctly on a marquis. Two R's, One S, damn straight.

Every Wednesday in September, we'll be rocking it at Momo's, 11pm.
Kacy Crowley, Suzanna Choffel, Drew Smith before us. Can't beat that.
Come one, come all.
And thank you David Cotton.

I must admit, I am feeling a lotta love for Texas these days. If you have a favorite Texas song, send it my way.