Robert James

The First Day

My plan for the 2009 RPM Challenge was to get up a couple of hours early every day and take care of business before the business day started. I didn't want to take any time away from the family so... (more)

Underground

One of three songs with lyrics written about my RPM 2009 strategy. Something about this song appeals to me. I think it's my favorite one out of the ten.

Early morning
no sun in the... (more)

Pathway

Just a dumb rocker. I like those now and then. The lyrics were pulled from two discarded ideas. One is about being nuts about my fiancé, the other... I have no idea. Donald Fagen maybe? No clue.(more)

Follow the Leader

The riff was inspired by an electronic device that has two speeds. I kept switching back and forth and listening to the hum popped this into my head. The lyric was supposed to be George W Bush... (more)

I Belong Here

FAWM suggested we write something with time signature changes. I wanted to try it without messing with the 8 beat format I use to program my drum machine. This piece of crap was the result. I didn... (more)

Dearly Departed

This is a track of serendipity (is that how you spell that?) I was hours from deadline, lots of mixing left to do, and this track was FAR from done. I love the congas in this one. In general, this is a... (more)

Selfish

Knock Wood

Simple Things

this was the sole song written before the RPM project commenced. all on cassette 4 track, it's acoustic, a couple electrics, and vocals. i wanted to end the album with a nice tune.

Sick Days

It's tough to hear you when you're speaking in the key of A

Dearly Departed

This is a track of serendipity (is that how you spell that?) I was hours from deadline, lots of mixing left to do, and this track was FAR from done. I love the congas in this one. In general, this is a... (more)

Dearly Departed

This is a track of serendipity (is that how you spell that?) I was hours from deadline, lots of mixing left to do, and this track was FAR from done. I love the congas in this one. In general, this is a... (more)

I Don't Believe

Wanted to make this one drive. It's meant to be listened to as loud as possible.

Break Even - The Right Place

Bassist Dave Gammon wrote most of this one. I added the little 2 bar break in the middle of the verses and some how ended up with a writing credit. This is the best song of the bunch... (more)

Prime Meridian - Accidently

A very sloppy attempt at a demo. We all liked this song a lot back then. Now that I listen to it again I can't figure out why. Enjoy!

The First Day

My plan for the 2009 RPM Challenge was to get up a couple of hours early every day and take care of business before the business day started. I didn't want to take any time away from the family so... (more)

A Matter of Time

Written while working at Northeast Broadcasting School. Started out as a piano/bass/drums groove and sort of evolved into this forgettable number. The lyrics took about 4 seconds to write.

Thursday

Written during Spring Break 2001. Can you guess which day it comes from? The lyric is about how I was on day 4 and had already run out of ideas. Kinda typical.

The Sun

Written at Northeast Broadcasting School as an experiment in replacing recorded sounds with samples. It was played pretty much as is by Prime Meridian in about '99 or '00 or so. It was heavily reworked... (more)

Thursday

Written during Spring Break 2001. Can you guess which day it comes from? The lyric is about how I was on day 4 and had already run out of ideas. Kinda typical.