I'm not too sure that my forays away from music were beneficial to this site, but I'm sure it will happen again.
This is another Songfight entry. There were a scant 4 days to work with the title "They control the weather". I went with "They (don't) control the weather" and in 2 hours came out with probably the weirdest song I've made. It's a loosely anti-conspiratorial rant that just doesn't make much sense, kind of catchy though, and dreadfully short. After the deadline I went on for another 2 hours and got this final mix.
They (don't) Control the Weather
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I think I'm taking a Songfight break for a while. I feel the songs that are coming out of the process just aren't mine. I've written and started recording quite a few of the entries, but missed deadlines and scrapped the songs for this reason.
The trick for me now, is to pursue my own songs with the deadline mentality of Songfight. I've got piles (and piles) of songs (one verse, a beat, chords) in stacks of notebooks, minidiscs and folders on the hard drive.
Now Do...
...and now, back to the music
Don't cry for me...
Here is my second Songfight entry, "and counting" (Songfight's 500th title). I'd actually call this one "1000 Tears". I really like the song that this could be, but the deadline came and I submitted the entry below.
I'm going to continue to work on this song, so I'll post versions here to track the work in progress. I usually wouldn't do this, but the song is already out there with its' undergarments showing, so what the hell.
It's a fun song. I'm going for a 60's soul review vibe, with fuzz bass. On my todo list for this tune:
- fuzz up the bass more
- background vocals (of the stylized vintage variety–any volunteers? please comment with availability)
- fill out/flesh out piano
- strings, maybe (mellotron?)
- drum livening
- maracas and/or tambourine
1000 Tears (Songfight 'and counting')
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I am a Songfighter
Here is my first entry to Songfight.
They post a title, and there is a deadline for writing, recording and posting a song to the site. Then everyone gets together and talks about what a silly snare drum sound you've got. (actually there is reviewing and voting involved and this entry received exactly 0 votes, but the comments about the song were generally favorable)
Everyone is starting from the same (starting) place, so the skills really come out. I'm trying to approach it in a Brill Building, sort of 'I need a hit by lunch' way (but with my own brittle sonic tendencies).
There are technical things I would do to change the final mix of this song, but the assignment is over (the assignment was 'Night Terrors', it was Halloween-time) and I'm not in love with the song enough to do more work to it. The big accomplishment is finishing, and doing something with outside inspiration/influence.
Can you find the Bee Gees and Ipanema references?
Night Terrors
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Taken, take 2, now 'So Alive'
Vintage '04
Two from a real productive winter. I had a pretty big room to spread out and leave a mess in. That was the only room I've been able to have all of the instruments I own out for use.
Introduction to Recording
Part one of an unrealized audio mockumentary.
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System
somehow this is only 1:40, I've been working on it for 2 1/2 years.
For the first time in my computer recording career, I spent some time on the mixes, automating etc. In the 4Track era, mixing was bone-head simple.
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4 on the floor
Stomping on the floor actually, recorded a bunch of times-and clapping a bit.
BoomKrak c. 2004-5
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These other 3 are synth improvisations (Native Instruments Reaktor)
Doon. 2004
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Rabid (stick around, it changes). 2004
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Wash. 2004
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If anyone can tell me how to get Comments to show up (you can still click on the entry and comment there, but 0 COMMENTS isn't on the main page) I'd be very appreciative. Everything appears right in my settings, I even compared settings and HTML to someone whose comments show up. Thanks.
EDIT: This kind soul solved the commenting issue. The fix is painfully simple, but excruciatingly difficult to find.
2 minutes flat
MmmHmmmm
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a 'learning to use Tracktion' jam. I had a nice apartment with enormous peaked ceilings (20'+), but the reverb here is Ambience by Magnus at Smartelectronix. c. 2004
New (old) Audio
...and it is
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an older song, sounds like Brooklyn (c. 1997-2004), recently mixed from 4track.
