Thanks Ken! I felt a little unsure whether to post this one as I could never get the guitar to not sound horribly out-of-tune. Nice to know that my singing sort of cancelled out the less than perfect guitar tone...
I'm more musician than lyricist, just so you know, but I'm def looking forward to hearing whatever you got for me to sing over. I'll give it my best shot!
I must have been replying to your comment about “Cinnamon Girl” at the same time you were commenting on this song.
I can’t remember which audio recorder I used for this particular song.
Most of the time I just have a cheap 20 dollar USB mic plugged straight into my desktop because I can manipulate the mix between voice and guitar easier by moving the mic closer or farther from my guitar (very lo-fi, I know!) However, I tend to record my electric guitar stuff on a Tascam DR-05, mostly because all my gear is in the living room and I’m too lazy to move it to the bedroom, where my computer is….
I will edit whatever recording I use with Audacity. Do you have any particular recording preferences, Ken, or is it completely dependent on song?
Ken, I agree that we seem to follow a similar muse and thus our favorites tend to mirror each other. I would love to hear your version of "Cinnamon Girl." It could be fun to one day jam to your version! Maybe even a collab w/ each of us trading solos/vox? :)
A true lover of the art of music takes the time to not only work on their own art, but support the music of other artists. I respect and admire the time you've invested in listening and commenting on so much music here. Additionally, I'm very honored that you would devote time to listening to anything I post here. Thanks again, Ken!
Oh, wow...I don't get much feedback these days, so your kind words are much appreciated, Ken! I hope you keep creating and posting your music as well - I'm really enjoying it. :)
Inspired by a large stone I saw in the Ortspark in Munich, which somebody had carefully engraved with the name Mabel.
No loops used this time, all virtual instruments played by me. Cymbal, guitar, acoustic guitar, violin.
A thoughtfully constructed and genuinely performed song, Steve. I particularly appreciate that way the violin and acoustic guitar interweave throughout. Nice job!
I'm glad that my recent run of Beck songs resonates with you, Steve! There's a therapeutic quality to them and I think that aspect manifests in the way I translate Beck's vocals. It's a nice bonus that it's somehow enjoyable for others, such as you, to listen to.
As my old Algebra teacher used to say: Keep It Simple, Stupid! I've found that some of the best songs are the most simple. Glad to hear that this approach has translated well to your ears, Steve. Thanks, as always, for listening.
Indeed, the chord changes were sometimes a bit tricky, but I think I managed to practice them well enough to get a finished product out there without too much trouble. Thanks, as always, for the kind feedback, Steve!
Love the funky bass in this one, Steve! My only "complaint" (if you want to call it that) is that I wish it were a little longer. That said, what you've made here sticks in the listener's mind far longer than its 1 and half minute run time might suggest, so I can see how one could argue the length is perfect.
Spot on insights, Steve! I think the author of the song was drawing on Thomas Mann's "Magic Mountain," particularly its meditation on the subjective nature of time. For example, time sometimes can seem to stand still when spending time with those we hold most dear.
Vs and Js
are difficult
Don't you know
who's W?
Can't you see?
I'm in the dark
Palindrome
Misses the Mark
CHORUS:
Lost in translation
from a different nation
So confused at the station
when you're on vacation
Now you're in a…
Thanks for listening and for your feedback, @TheProods. Calling this a Peanut Butter Cup is a good summation of my collaborations with DoktorDoktor. From a distance you might think we wouldn't be compatible, but, once you get past any initial reservations, you realize we make a surprisingly good combination, haha!
Thanks, Steve! It's been really therapeutic to play around with these Sea Change songs and it's cool you're enjoying listening to that catharsis (not everyone would be so keen on listening to the more emotional stuff, so I appreciate you taking the time to listen!)
You me and infinity
Time slows down and then we see
Hands of God and synecdoche
No ground
Rendezvous and longing stares
Apocalyptic, no more pairs
Epileptic swirling flares
Deconstruct us
Doctors of divinity
Lives within you and me…
Cyborgs conquer the planet, crushing resistance and enslaving the human race. The cello represents the people who ignore the destruction and carry on as normal, like the orchestra playing on the deck of the Titanic as it went down.
I really like the mix of sounds you have going on here, Steve! The highest complement I know to pay is to say that it reminds me of a mix of AC Newman's "Town Halo" and Buckethead's best album, "Population Override" (which also tells a sci-fi story across several instrumentals). That said, you obviously have your own muse and it's one I appreciate.
Cool experimental sounds you have here, Steve! I really appreciate how you never rest on your laurels by relying on a formula. Instead you push your sounds in new and exciting ways--it's quite inspirational. So what's this one about? Does h/phones suggest we should be listening to this with headphones to get the desired effect? I can def see how this would be even more impactful w/ headphones!
Yes! Brings back a lot of childhood memories of playing video games late into the night. I'm not afraid to admit I rocked out to video game songs when I was a young kid. Eventually I discovered guitar based music when I was 12 and went down that rabbit hole, but I still get big time nostalgia when I hear stuff like this.
As a side note, I hear echoes of Anamanaguchi in what you have here, so you might check them out for similar vibes (if you're looking for further inspiration in this direction).
Thanks for listening to my Beck covers, Steve! I've been listening to a lot of his Sea Change album lately and I've set up a goal of learning the whole album. I've been pretty busy lately and so recording them has been a slower process than I had initially hoped, but I'm glad you have enjoyed the few songs I've posted so far! Thanks, as always, for your encouraging words!
That beer on the table yours or mine?
I only left the room for a short time.
If you've gone and switched them I'm gonna be sad,
Cos that beer was the best one that I ever had.
Don't drink my beer, you hear?
I'm counting to 4 just to make…
Fun song, Steve--found myself doing some air guitar on this one! Would love to see the lyrics displayed somewhere because it was harder to make out some words and I'm always interested in lyrical content whenever you step outside the instrumental realm. Looking forward to more songs!
Thanks for the kind words, Steve! These last three songs ("Golden Age," "Memory Lame," and "Therefore I Am") are all different kinds of songs for me and I wasn't sure how they'd be received, so I'm glad you liked them!
Comments on Tom's stuff
Thanks Ken! I felt a little unsure whether to post this one as I could never get the guitar to not sound horribly out-of-tune. Nice to know that my singing sort of cancelled out the less than perfect guitar tone...
Good one Tom ... like it.. nice playing.
Nice singing Tom!
Great vocal....Nice song....
I'm more musician than lyricist, just so you know, but I'm def looking forward to hearing whatever you got for me to sing over. I'll give it my best shot!
I like it! Nice singing on this. I'll see if I can send you something to sing on soon...
I must have been replying to your comment about “Cinnamon Girl” at the same time you were commenting on this song. I can’t remember which audio recorder I used for this particular song. Most of the time I just have a cheap 20 dollar USB mic plugged straight into my desktop because I can manipulate the mix between voice and guitar easier by moving the mic closer or farther from my guitar (very lo-fi, I know!) However, I tend to record my electric guitar stuff on a Tascam DR-05, mostly because all my gear is in the living room and I’m too lazy to move it to the bedroom, where my computer is…. I will edit whatever recording I use with Audacity. Do you have any particular recording preferences, Ken, or is it completely dependent on song?
Ken, I agree that we seem to follow a similar muse and thus our favorites tend to mirror each other. I would love to hear your version of "Cinnamon Girl." It could be fun to one day jam to your version! Maybe even a collab w/ each of us trading solos/vox? :)
Good one Tom, love the vox, nice playing. What recorder are you recording with?
Going through your list, I see we have similar fav.'s. I like what you did here. Love the vibrato, awesome!
Another of the classics, great choice Tom. I may do this one too one of these days!
A true lover of the art of music takes the time to not only work on their own art, but support the music of other artists. I respect and admire the time you've invested in listening and commenting on so much music here. Additionally, I'm very honored that you would devote time to listening to anything I post here. Thanks again, Ken!
Thanks Tom... i'll go through your entire track list in time. Good entrance song from Dec. 2011
Oh, wow...I don't get much feedback these days, so your kind words are much appreciated, Ken! I hope you keep creating and posting your music as well - I'm really enjoying it. :)
I did this song once, the file is lost, but your version kills mine anyways....
STP!!! Fav. song . Cool job on this.
Love this song!
Keep singing Tom, she's a beaut!
@KnD thanks for your enthusiasm and encouragement! The song is directed at a very important woman in my life. I hope she likes it. :)
Cool! Hope you get some!
Comments made by Tom
A thoughtfully constructed and genuinely performed song, Steve. I particularly appreciate that way the violin and acoustic guitar interweave throughout. Nice job!
I'm glad that my recent run of Beck songs resonates with you, Steve! There's a therapeutic quality to them and I think that aspect manifests in the way I translate Beck's vocals. It's a nice bonus that it's somehow enjoyable for others, such as you, to listen to.
As my old Algebra teacher used to say: Keep It Simple, Stupid! I've found that some of the best songs are the most simple. Glad to hear that this approach has translated well to your ears, Steve. Thanks, as always, for listening.
Indeed, the chord changes were sometimes a bit tricky, but I think I managed to practice them well enough to get a finished product out there without too much trouble. Thanks, as always, for the kind feedback, Steve!
Love the funky bass in this one, Steve! My only "complaint" (if you want to call it that) is that I wish it were a little longer. That said, what you've made here sticks in the listener's mind far longer than its 1 and half minute run time might suggest, so I can see how one could argue the length is perfect.
Spot on insights, Steve! I think the author of the song was drawing on Thomas Mann's "Magic Mountain," particularly its meditation on the subjective nature of time. For example, time sometimes can seem to stand still when spending time with those we hold most dear.
Thanks for the comments, Guest. A log cabin sounds lovely - I hope it is everything you hope it is.
Thanks for listening and for your feedback, @TheProods. Calling this a Peanut Butter Cup is a good summation of my collaborations with DoktorDoktor. From a distance you might think we wouldn't be compatible, but, once you get past any initial reservations, you realize we make a surprisingly good combination, haha!
Aptly titled--I definitely was stomping along to the rhythm of this song. You mix a nice contrast of styles here. Well done, Steve!
Thanks for listening so closely, Steve! I was definitely going for something more emotional here, so it's cool that you caught that.
A really cool contrast between crunchy verses and catchy choruses, Steve! Big thumbs up!
Thanks, Steve! It's been really therapeutic to play around with these Sea Change songs and it's cool you're enjoying listening to that catharsis (not everyone would be so keen on listening to the more emotional stuff, so I appreciate you taking the time to listen!)
Thanks @theProods! This was a fun collab with Dokdoktor, so I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing stuff, Steve! You have a real knack for combining catchy beats with creative soundscapes. Looking forward to hearing more!
I really like the mix of sounds you have going on here, Steve! The highest complement I know to pay is to say that it reminds me of a mix of AC Newman's "Town Halo" and Buckethead's best album, "Population Override" (which also tells a sci-fi story across several instrumentals). That said, you obviously have your own muse and it's one I appreciate.
Cool experimental sounds you have here, Steve! I really appreciate how you never rest on your laurels by relying on a formula. Instead you push your sounds in new and exciting ways--it's quite inspirational. So what's this one about? Does h/phones suggest we should be listening to this with headphones to get the desired effect? I can def see how this would be even more impactful w/ headphones!
Yes! Brings back a lot of childhood memories of playing video games late into the night. I'm not afraid to admit I rocked out to video game songs when I was a young kid. Eventually I discovered guitar based music when I was 12 and went down that rabbit hole, but I still get big time nostalgia when I hear stuff like this. As a side note, I hear echoes of Anamanaguchi in what you have here, so you might check them out for similar vibes (if you're looking for further inspiration in this direction).
Thanks for listening to my Beck covers, Steve! I've been listening to a lot of his Sea Change album lately and I've set up a goal of learning the whole album. I've been pretty busy lately and so recording them has been a slower process than I had initially hoped, but I'm glad you have enjoyed the few songs I've posted so far! Thanks, as always, for your encouraging words!
Fun song, Steve--found myself doing some air guitar on this one! Would love to see the lyrics displayed somewhere because it was harder to make out some words and I'm always interested in lyrical content whenever you step outside the instrumental realm. Looking forward to more songs!
Thanks for the kind words, Steve! These last three songs ("Golden Age," "Memory Lame," and "Therefore I Am") are all different kinds of songs for me and I wasn't sure how they'd be received, so I'm glad you liked them!