YOUR QUESTION

01/12/2021 doctor fiu-ci-vohi

Trevor, first of all let me thank you for the music. Bungle's debut record literally changed my life when i was a teenager, but your later ventures (MadLove in particular) are lovely - if this is the right word for some of them ;) - as well.
i'd like to ask what is your favourite chord change or/and whole progression? both as a listener, composer and instrumentalist (because it may vary, as it does in my case)? my bet would be on something with at least one tritone interval :)
a side question: what is your opinion on Metheny/Mays collaborations? i know they have a bad rep for being a smooth, cafe jazz, at least here in Poland, but i think there's a LOT of substance to be found beneath the thin genre surface.
stay cool and be well in these tough times!

MY ANSWER

I don’t have one favorite chord change, it really depends on context — setting up surprises, creating tension. Tritones are, of course, a fundamental part of traditional tertian harmony. Some of my favorite progressions happen in Elliot Smith and Alan Parsons songs.
There is definitely substance in Metheny/Mays collaborations. Both musicians are brilliant and their pop references are finely crafted. Sometimes people get distracted by the packaging and forget to hear what is really taking place. You could re-orchestrate that smooth jazz into something less cheesy and those haters would loose their shit.