Thanks, Ken -- I know my voice is not everyone's "cup of tea" so I appreciate it -- high praise coming from another musician such as yourself!
At some point I would like to do something studio proper, but that might not be for another few more years as I will probably be pretty busy with school for at least a little while longer. There’s a nice studio in town that is relatively cheap, it’s just a matter of me sitting down and putting together some songs worthy of investing that kind of energy into it. I suppose if I were collaborating with someone it would kind of force me to take it more seriously, but either way it’s on my list of things to do, for sure!
@thetworegs: Thanks! This one is one of the few I have recorded that turned out better than I could have hoped. Glad to hear that someone else enjoyed it.
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. :)
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!
Synths are meant to represent the fast beating heart of the technological city, with its busy trains and industrious people. The breathing is life, and the cheerful keyboard is supposed to be the fun and excitement of life in a city with a flourishing…
I've been pondering which part of this song to single out as my favorite, but what I think like more than anything is how well it all combines to be more than the sum of its parts. Great job, Steve!
@sistersavage Thanks so much! I was kind of going for the sort of song you might listen to on your headphones in the dark -- so I'm glad it was received that way.
Thanks for the kind feedback, Steve! I enjoyed playing around with lyrics to this one to suit the sentiments that were floating around in my head at the time, so I'm glad that it turned out suiting me 'cause that is what I was going for!
Thanks for the kind words, Steve! I'm glad you appreciated the backing vocals at the end of the song--I was trying to replicate a tension of ideas (and impulses) so I wasn't exactly sure how that part was going to be received. It's cool that you noted that part and thought it enhanced the song (which is what I was going for!)
It was tricky to figure out how I wanted to strum it because the Dawes version has several layers and that forced me to do my own direct version, which, to my surprise, ended up sounding better to your ears. High praise--thanks, Steve!
He can't play nicely or share his toys
He always takes from the other boys
Got no time for music or vids
Doesn't act like the other kids
Does Donald
Don't let Donald play
He's gonna spoil your day
Believe his words if you must
But only…
A nice Talking Heads-esque biting commentary on The Donald. I consider myself a guitarist first and so my ear is always initially drawn in that direction and I like what you have going on here on that instrument. I also think the drums, vocals, and bass are nicely intertwined and complement each other well. Another fav, Steve!
Thanks so much, Steve! The chorus was particularly tricky to pull off, but I'm reasonably happy with the way it turned out and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks, as always, for all the kind words, Steve! I'm not a 100, though sometimes I feel that way, haha! I've spend the last two decades almost constantly listening to and learning about music. I don't have much of a "life" outside of school and music and so that's probably why my musical interests seems so varied.
Thanks, as always, for the encouragement, Steve! I thought about making this song longer, but I decided to take a page out of one of your books (cuz you are versatile enough to have many metaphorical books) by going with something short, sweet, and straight to the point. That said, next time I suspect I'll do something longer.
Comments on Tom's stuff
Thanks Ken!
Good one Tom.
Thanks, Ken -- I know my voice is not everyone's "cup of tea" so I appreciate it -- high praise coming from another musician such as yourself! At some point I would like to do something studio proper, but that might not be for another few more years as I will probably be pretty busy with school for at least a little while longer. There’s a nice studio in town that is relatively cheap, it’s just a matter of me sitting down and putting together some songs worthy of investing that kind of energy into it. I suppose if I were collaborating with someone it would kind of force me to take it more seriously, but either way it’s on my list of things to do, for sure!
Another nice one Tom. I would love to see some strings added to your music and a little fuller production as you have an awesome voice.
@thetworegs: Thanks! This one is one of the few I have recorded that turned out better than I could have hoped. Glad to hear that someone else enjoyed it.
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....
Comments made by Tom
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!
I've been pondering which part of this song to single out as my favorite, but what I think like more than anything is how well it all combines to be more than the sum of its parts. Great job, Steve!
@sistersavage Thanks so much! I was kind of going for the sort of song you might listen to on your headphones in the dark -- so I'm glad it was received that way.
Thanks for the kind feedback, Steve! This one was a bit of challenge as the chords are a bit obscure, but it was a fun one to record nonetheless.
Thanks again for offering the opportunity to collab on this song with you, Steve!
Fun stuff, Steve! This one really has an inspiring edge to it, kinda like a "We Will Rock You" by Queen.
Thanks for the kind feedback, Steve! I enjoyed playing around with lyrics to this one to suit the sentiments that were floating around in my head at the time, so I'm glad that it turned out suiting me 'cause that is what I was going for!
This is astonishingly good! I think you are being too humble in saying you *just* patch a few sounds together.
Thanks for the kind words, Steve! I'm glad you appreciated the backing vocals at the end of the song--I was trying to replicate a tension of ideas (and impulses) so I wasn't exactly sure how that part was going to be received. It's cool that you noted that part and thought it enhanced the song (which is what I was going for!)
Flawless -- you're really starting to hit your groove with songwriting, Steve!
It was tricky to figure out how I wanted to strum it because the Dawes version has several layers and that forced me to do my own direct version, which, to my surprise, ended up sounding better to your ears. High praise--thanks, Steve!
A nice Talking Heads-esque biting commentary on The Donald. I consider myself a guitarist first and so my ear is always initially drawn in that direction and I like what you have going on here on that instrument. I also think the drums, vocals, and bass are nicely intertwined and complement each other well. Another fav, Steve!
Thanks so much, Steve! The chorus was particularly tricky to pull off, but I'm reasonably happy with the way it turned out and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks, Bookey! Every passing year I grow in my appreciation for Elliott Smith. I recorded another song of his recently, so check it out if you like.
Thanks, as always, for all the kind words, Steve! I'm not a 100, though sometimes I feel that way, haha! I've spend the last two decades almost constantly listening to and learning about music. I don't have much of a "life" outside of school and music and so that's probably why my musical interests seems so varied.
Thanks @GregConnor!
Thanks, as always, for the encouragement, Steve! I thought about making this song longer, but I decided to take a page out of one of your books (cuz you are versatile enough to have many metaphorical books) by going with something short, sweet, and straight to the point. That said, next time I suspect I'll do something longer.
It's really impressive how you have so much going on here and yet it all fits together nicely. Def another one of yours that is a fav of mine!
Glad you loved it, Steve! I about strained my vocal chords singing it, but it was definitely worth it to do justice to such a classic.