6 posts tagged “song”
I'm happy to report that I've got a new song! I'm especially proud of the piano playing on this one. Though I'm definitely NOT a pianist, I enjoy playing, and I'd like to work on this bluesy, honky tonk style.
And, continuing in my series on obscure sources of inspiration, this song began its life as my attempt to rewrite "Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad" by the Clash -- go figure!
As always, if you don't want to listen on the site, you can download an mp3 here.
And, continuing in my series on obscure sources of inspiration, this song began its life as my attempt to rewrite "Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad" by the Clash -- go figure!
As always, if you don't want to listen on the site, you can download an mp3 here.
This was a strange one. I was listening to a lot of girl groups on Rhapsody, especially the Shangri-Las, and I decided to up and write me my own girl-group number. Well, I don't know if it sounds ANYTHING like the Shangri-Las, but I swear to you that's how this song began life . . .
Oh my goodness, it's the first collaboration between me and Jill! I wrote the song and put together the drums, guitars, and bass on this recording, and Jill took care of the piano and, most important, the beautiful vocals.
This is also my first recording using Apple's GarageBand program, which is really quite spectacular. When you have the right tool, your creative energies just flow. I can't wait to make more songs using this excellent application.
The final product here surprised me. I always thought this song was going to be a small, intimate folk song, but now it's a Neil Young/Gillian Welch-type rocker -- and I couldn't be happier! It's fascinating and wonderful what happens during the creative process. So long as you can go in with an open mind and let what happens happen, some special surprises await.
This is also my first recording using Apple's GarageBand program, which is really quite spectacular. When you have the right tool, your creative energies just flow. I can't wait to make more songs using this excellent application.
The final product here surprised me. I always thought this song was going to be a small, intimate folk song, but now it's a Neil Young/Gillian Welch-type rocker -- and I couldn't be happier! It's fascinating and wonderful what happens during the creative process. So long as you can go in with an open mind and let what happens happen, some special surprises await.
This song has taken a long road to its current state. I've been wrestling with bits and pieces of this song since January, trying to figure out a structure, rhythm, mood, and texture that worked. I pictured something much louder and intense, but in recording a demo version for my friend Brad, I wound up doing it dark and spooky -- and I would up really liking it.
Brad had suggested Otis Redding-style horns to go with the funeral-march drumbeat, and I threw that together on a keyboard -- while the tone isn't great, I think it's interesting. When I do this one in GarageBand, I really want to try and get a real horn sound, very warm, very present. We'll see . . .
The version here is VERY rough, but I can't help but share, because I like the song so much! So please to "listen through" the bad recording for the song underneathe.
Brad had suggested Otis Redding-style horns to go with the funeral-march drumbeat, and I threw that together on a keyboard -- while the tone isn't great, I think it's interesting. When I do this one in GarageBand, I really want to try and get a real horn sound, very warm, very present. We'll see . . .
The version here is VERY rough, but I can't help but share, because I like the song so much! So please to "listen through" the bad recording for the song underneathe.
"Because of You" has been lingering inside of me for a long time. I've been playing around with the verse guitar riff for years -- it was only a few months ago that I figured out a song to built around it. I'm really happy with the lead guitar on this song -- when I re-record it, I want to strive to keep that mid-1960s, Kinks-style simplicity.
Jill thinks this song is a bit odd because I keep on referring to my higher power as "honey" and "sugar." What can I say? It just felt right!
Jill thinks this song is a bit odd because I keep on referring to my higher power as "honey" and "sugar." What can I say? It just felt right!
"The One Thing" has a special place in my heart. I wrote this song a few months ago, and it was the first I had worked on in a LONG time. It was inspired by a Bright Eyes song ("Waste of Paint" on Lifted), and I strived to keep the emotional rawness with which he's able to infuse his music.
Now that I've got a Mac (with the excellent GarageBand program) I plan on re-recording this puppy, but I think there's something captured in this recording -- a certain enthusiasm, a certain joy. To anyone who knows me it's no suprise that my favorite bit is at the end, where the guitars and vocals and pianos get all crazy and frantic and exurberant. I hope you have as much fun listening to it as I had making it.
Now that I've got a Mac (with the excellent GarageBand program) I plan on re-recording this puppy, but I think there's something captured in this recording -- a certain enthusiasm, a certain joy. To anyone who knows me it's no suprise that my favorite bit is at the end, where the guitars and vocals and pianos get all crazy and frantic and exurberant. I hope you have as much fun listening to it as I had making it.
