2025 RPM Challenge song idea number two becomes finished song number four.
You know, I was a music major in my past. 1989-1991 I attended the University of Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts (it changed its name to UMass Lowell during my last…
2025 RPM Challenge song idea number one becomes finish song number three.
Dumb rocker with a not-so-terrible chorus, I guess.
The rhythm guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Custom coming out of your left speaker and a Gibson Les Paul Standard…
2025 RPM Challenge song idea number one becomes finish song number three.
Dumb rocker with a not-so-terrible chorus, I guess.
The rhythm guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Custom coming out of your left speaker and a Gibson Les Paul Standard…
Written during the 2020 50/90 Challenge (I think... wasn't it?) and now re-recorded for Quarantine Tunes Volume Eight. The Great 2015 Re-Recording Project continues... forever.
We're scraping the bottom of the barrel in a big way now.
The…
2024 50/90 Challenge song idea number 45 becomes finished song number 43.
I have a lot of songs that sound similar to a lot of other songs this year, and this one is no exception. It is, however, a song that I kinda like. If I decide to make…
2024 50/90 Challenge song idea number 26 becomes finished song number 44.
This is okay but sort of blah. The groove is okay and the melody is okay and really everything is okay, but it's not really doing much for me.
Rhythm guitars are…
2024 50/90 Challenge song idea number one becomes finished song number three. Only 47 more to go!
My morning routine got messed up and it became a song. Fascinating source of inspiration, eh?
I like the chorus in this one. Well, I like…
2024 50/90 Challenge idea number 10 becomes finished song number four.
I kinda like the verse. I don't like the mix. The hook is kinda meh. I like the random key changes. I should have done more with the dynamics in the outro. I dropped…
2024 50/90 Challenge idea number 11 becomes finished song number 1.
One song down, 49 to go, but at least I won't be shut out this year.
This song is overly simple. The vocals are pretty bad and the lead playing is worse, but it's a decent…
Song idea number one for the 2024 RPM Challenge becomes finished song number one.
This might be the only song I like for this year's RPM Challenge. We'll see. Is the mix too reverby? Probably. I like it today but I might not like it tomorrow…
Song idea number one for the 2024 RPM Challenge becomes finished song number one.
This might be the only song I like for this year's RPM Challenge. We'll see. Is the mix too reverby? Probably. I like it today but I might not like it tomorrow…
Song idea number 20 is finished song number eight of 50 for the 2023 50/90 challenge.
I really like the vibe of this one, simple and basic with a cool groove, but I HATE the vocals. The melody, the lyrics, and most of all the performance…
Song idea number 12 becomes finished mix number ten of 50 for the 2023 50/90 challenge.
I don't hate it, but the lyrics are laughably bad and there are some really bad pitches in the vocals in the chorus that were copied and pasted all over…
2022 RPM Challenge song number 18.
I still have two more songs to mix but as of right now this is hands down my favorite of the batch (spoiler alert, I think I might be saying that about the two songs that are left as well). Usually when I…
2022 RPM Challenge song number 15.
Not too bad. I can live with most of it. The vocals are kinda spotty and I don't think I'll ever use the setup I used for the first guitar solo again (vibe after fuzz? Not this red head!) but I'm mildly…
RPM Challenge 2022 song number 3.
This one is okay. I have a feeling that anytime I work in 6/8 time I come up with exactly this song. I knew the lyrics in the chorus (the second line) were bad but I thought I could live with them. Now…
Yeah, this way of doing the guitars is paying off for me, big time. I always love your rhythm playing, but these are shining even more. And the lead on this - NICE. Your comment on the 2nd chorus line made me laugh. I'd heard it a couple of times before I read the comment, and I'd thought "cool line!"
The second song started for the 2022 RPM Challenge is the second song finished. I'm sort of working off a first in first out queue this year. I didn't plan it that way, but that's how it's going.
I'm disappointed in this one. It's not a…
Actually, I think it works (I've been getting some of that - I'm disappointed, but the listeners think it's mighty fine - so I kinda know what you feel like now!) .... anyways, love the groove and riffing on this. The chorus is cool, but it's maybe not standing up to the job it's being asked to do nearer the end? Maybe that's what's leaving you feeling flat about it? I'm still digging it, though.
The first song worked on and the first song finished. The 2022 RPM Challenge is well underway!
I had a few gimmicky ideas for this year's challenge and this song hits on some of them. First, I wanted to get away from the small room reverb…
The first song worked on and the first song finished. The 2022 RPM Challenge is well underway!
I had a few gimmicky ideas for this year's challenge and this song hits on some of them. First, I wanted to get away from the small room reverb…
Wooo yeah, liking the two gimmicks - I think it's the different guitars for tracking the rhythm makes the biggest difference, but I'm useless at picking and evaluating reverbs... so it could be that? Anyway, bigger, more spacious sound. And it leaves a better space for the vocal to sit in. Love that lead.
Another song for the 2021 National Solo Album Month.
What do we think of this cat? I have an urge to get proggy right now and generally that requires a level of talent that I don't posses. I'm not putting myself down when I say that, it's…
Oh yeah, I'm with JMT, I really like this. I haven't been doing much, if any, listening on here for ages... popped in for a moment, saw his comment and hit play. Really glad I did
So, what do you think... could it use more wah-wah?
This was written for the 2014 RPM Challenge. The chromatic thing at the beginning had been rattling around in my head for years and years but had never found a home.
The lyrics here…
That plinky little sound in the verses is an organ with some distortion on it. I wanted Jon Lord to play the part but he wasn't available. It's playing eighth notes in the verses and a sustained pad in the chorus. If I remix this I might bring it up. I haven't decided yet.
The sound at the end is actually a grunt of frustration. This is the easiest song every written in all of the history of music and it took me 700 takes to get the rhythm guitars right. I was going to cut it out but when the time came I thought it was funny so I left it there.
The first song completed for the second round of re-recorded Quarantine Tunes. This one was written on the last day of the 2016 RPM Challenge. I had written a bunch of songs saying that people who think the Earth is flat are somehow defective…
It's not a cocked wah, all of those mids are coming from the Klon pedal. I was a scooped mids guy for 30 years before I finally figured out that if I just boost the mids a little the rest of the band can hear me without me cranking my amp until it hurts. Now I overdo it in the other direction. heh
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here we go - Edith FINALLY gets it...
Actually, she's been getting it ever since I wrote it on the 29th May. I thought it would take a week or so, but it proved to be more of a fight than I was expecting.
On…
RPM 2k15
vocal by Gregg Todt
is it the medication
that makes her stare off into space?
those little pills in the bottle
grab your collar
smack you in the face
i want to make an appointment to see
that drug, so he will give her back to…
I thought going into 50/90 that I would need to do some quick recordings of really simple arrangements. Maybe just acoustic guitar and voice. Nope, not really.
This isn't meant as filler. This idea is something I noodle on almost every…
So 50/90 is an unnatural forcing of a crap ton of songs in a relatively short period of time. We're half way though and I've learned one thing. I've learned how easy it is to repeat something you've already done. This one sounds a LOT like…
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals!
I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else.
In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
Opening song by Kent Good. We played pretty good in Feb. We are not "chops" players, but i think we rocked this one pretty good.This song will evolve a bit as we break it in live.
Apologies to Peter and the rest of Genesis - from back when they were good - 1974
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
Early morning Manhattan,
Ocean winds blow on the land.
The Movie-Palace is now undone,
The all-night watchmen have had their…
"Stupid Punk Song" is... well... stupid. I woke up one morning and the entire song, lyrics and all, was stuck in my head. I let it rattle around for a few days before putting it down on my new 8-track. I played it for Break Even once but they…
This is a pre-release of a song from my new album. The song still needs some polish and rubbing. I will change it out once i get done with the final version. The lyric was written a long time ago, of what could or couldn't have been:) Thats the…
Comments on Robert James's stuff
I like it !
Nicely done. Really clean, lots of power.
nice tune like tune , superb drum work and vocals ........cheers tony cee
sounds a great song ,superb listen .......cheers tony cee
nice rocker superb mix .....cheers tony cee
sounds good , like it ......cheers tony cee
another great tune again brilliant drums and guitar work .....cheers tony cee
sounds really good , love the drums .....cheers tony cee
nice tune like it ......cheers tony cee
Reverb and overall mix sounds good to me. Good job!
song sounds great! looking forward to hearing the whole album!
tight chops
put down the bat. great levelling and sonic escalation
Rockin feel to this one.
This might be my favorite song on the album. Really first rate production, this collection of songs.
Yeah, this way of doing the guitars is paying off for me, big time. I always love your rhythm playing, but these are shining even more. And the lead on this - NICE. Your comment on the 2nd chorus line made me laugh. I'd heard it a couple of times before I read the comment, and I'd thought "cool line!"
Actually, I think it works (I've been getting some of that - I'm disappointed, but the listeners think it's mighty fine - so I kinda know what you feel like now!) .... anyways, love the groove and riffing on this. The chorus is cool, but it's maybe not standing up to the job it's being asked to do nearer the end? Maybe that's what's leaving you feeling flat about it? I'm still digging it, though.
Cool song too.
Wooo yeah, liking the two gimmicks - I think it's the different guitars for tracking the rhythm makes the biggest difference, but I'm useless at picking and evaluating reverbs... so it could be that? Anyway, bigger, more spacious sound. And it leaves a better space for the vocal to sit in. Love that lead.
Oh yeah, I'm with JMT, I really like this. I haven't been doing much, if any, listening on here for ages... popped in for a moment, saw his comment and hit play. Really glad I did
Comments made by Robert James
That plinky little sound in the verses is an organ with some distortion on it. I wanted Jon Lord to play the part but he wasn't available. It's playing eighth notes in the verses and a sustained pad in the chorus. If I remix this I might bring it up. I haven't decided yet. The sound at the end is actually a grunt of frustration. This is the easiest song every written in all of the history of music and it took me 700 takes to get the rhythm guitars right. I was going to cut it out but when the time came I thought it was funny so I left it there.
It's not a cocked wah, all of those mids are coming from the Klon pedal. I was a scooped mids guy for 30 years before I finally figured out that if I just boost the mids a little the rest of the band can hear me without me cranking my amp until it hurts. Now I overdo it in the other direction. heh
Love the slide! What a great song. No one warns us that vowel sounds matter when writing lyrics, but you nailed it.
Damn it man, each song is better than the one that came before. Nice work. Really loving it.
The acoustic bass sound comes from GarageBand. I haven't been using it much lately, but every once in a while I feel the need.
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals! I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else. In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
I love everything about this song.
Live music! Sounds great.
Have I mentioned that this is the BEST! SONG! EVER!!!!? Because it clearly is the BEST SONG EVER!!!
BEST! SONG! EVER!!!!!
Syd would be proud. Thanks!
Put on a fox head mask and channel Peter Gabriel. Nice!
Hey Steve, I don't think you were there that night. I know i played it for at least Jeff and Dave and they both sort of looked at me funny.
I like both of these songs a lot. Thanks!
Great song! Here's to hoping you add some more.
Some excellent guitar playing! Thanks
I'm so impressed that I can't think of anything complementary to say. Thanks!
Wow!