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. :)
@fallingupart: Ahh, I need to enunciate better. The last verse is supposed to go "But the fire came to rest/In your white velvet breast/So I somehow know/That it's safe."
Also, the other verse you mention goes "I forgot all my songs/The words now are wrong." Thanks for lending another ear so I can clarify the words better.
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!
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!
Comments on Tom's stuff
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!
better than the original, nice job.
I like the mood this song sets
Tom Browning channeling Dylan when Bob had something real to say. Heartfelt and real. Nice.
@fallingupart: Ahh, I need to enunciate better. The last verse is supposed to go "But the fire came to rest/In your white velvet breast/So I somehow know/That it's safe." Also, the other verse you mention goes "I forgot all my songs/The words now are wrong." Thanks for lending another ear so I can clarify the words better.
Comments made by Tom
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!
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!