Nice song, new to me. Like the live sound and fretboard squeaks, creates a mood and an atmosphere. Great vocals! The chord syncing sounds tricky, but you've made a very special performance here Tom. Excellent!
Intro sampled from Buckethead's "First Master." Music by DoktorDoktor. Lyrics by Lao Tzu & Tom Browning
Approach it and there is no beginning
Follow it and there is no ending
You can't know it but you can be it
Just realize and stay…
Intro sampled from Buckethead's "First Master." Music by DoktorDoktor. Lyrics by Lao Tzu & Tom Browning
Approach it and there is no beginning
Follow it and there is no ending
You can't know it but you can be it
Just realize and stay…
I definitely tried to go for a natural approach and that has its pros and cons. There are a few word salads in this song that I stumbled through but at least it's authentic and authenticity was key with this one. Thanks, as always, for listening and providing the kind feedback, Steve!
Thanks, as always for listening and for the kind feedback, Steve! It's kind of scary to strip everything away and really expose one's voice and playing. So it's kind of a relief that what I did here still turned out sounding okay.
Thanks, Steve! I tried to go real lo fi on this one -- no overdubs. I figured I was due for some optimism in my song choices after recording all of Beck's Sea Change.
I felt downright awful as I was recording this song, "Already Dead," and "Side of the Road," so maybe my state of mind and body at the time added an additional charge to these songs? Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed them and I appreciate your ongoing encouragement, Steve!
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.
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
Had to revisit this one…your best!
Nice song, new to me. Like the live sound and fretboard squeaks, creates a mood and an atmosphere. Great vocals! The chord syncing sounds tricky, but you've made a very special performance here Tom. Excellent!
Thank you for listening and for the kind words, @sistersavage!
Very nicely done. Great energy in that music.
I definitely tried to go for a natural approach and that has its pros and cons. There are a few word salads in this song that I stumbled through but at least it's authentic and authenticity was key with this one. Thanks, as always, for listening and providing the kind feedback, Steve!
Nice song, Natural and stripped back, it's very well performed Tom.
Thanks, as always for listening and for the kind feedback, Steve! It's kind of scary to strip everything away and really expose one's voice and playing. So it's kind of a relief that what I did here still turned out sounding okay.
Cool. You can perform very well without a bag of tricks Tom, and I think that's proper talent. Excellent!
Very sweet and good tempo Tom.
Live and natural sounds. Great singing with some very high notes in there. Well done!
Thanks, Steve! I tried to go real lo fi on this one -- no overdubs. I figured I was due for some optimism in my song choices after recording all of Beck's Sea Change.
Like it. Nice and clear sound and a charming view of the future!
Another good choice.
I felt downright awful as I was recording this song, "Already Dead," and "Side of the Road," so maybe my state of mind and body at the time added an additional charge to these songs? Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed them and I appreciate your ongoing encouragement, Steve!
Simple but effective lyrics. Good song that you express very well Tom.
This is cool. Chords are nice and I wish I could sing this high!
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.
Another new one on me. Your voice suits the Beck songs very well. Good job!
Nice song Tom!
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.
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.