The 15th and final song written for RPM and FAWM. Fittingly the lyric is about the end of the process... even though there was still a ton left to do when I came up with it. I guess I was feeling optimistic, which is seriously unusual for me.
Song three of 15 for this year's RPM and FAWM. I wanted to put in something with just an acoustic guitar and a vocal this time. Actually, I have wanted to do it every year, but I get caught up in the arranging and the idea gets dropped. This…
Song three of 15 for this year's RPM and FAWM. I wanted to put in something with just an acoustic guitar and a vocal this time. Actually, I have wanted to do it every year, but I get caught up in the arranging and the idea gets dropped. This…
Well this is a funky little number to mix things up a bit! The laid back vocal melody gives the whole thing an air of (sorry mum) hash participation. ;)
I drove past Canobie Lake in Salem, NH the other day and I suddenly had this title for the RPM project pop into my head. Showdown at Canobie Lake Park. Think of it as 3:00 High only set in front of an awesome wooden roller coaster.
Song five out of 15 for RPM Challenge and FAWM. I can't play keyboards to save my life so when I try to write on one I usually just end up with music that is 100% rhythm orientated. This is an example of that.
Song five out of 15 for RPM Challenge and FAWM. I can't play keyboards to save my life so when I try to write on one I usually just end up with music that is 100% rhythm orientated. This is an example of that.
I drove past Canobie Lake in Salem, NH the other day and I suddenly had this title for the RPM project pop into my head. Showdown at Canobie Lake Park. Think of it as 3:00 High only set in front of an awesome wooden roller coaster.
"Four Walls" is the oldest song of the bunch. It was written early in 1992. I had been working with a drummer friend of mine for a while during the Fall 1991 semester. We'd get together once every few weeks and write and record to 4-track one…
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
Nice lead breaks. Like the screamin wha.
Nice one.
Excellent complete, cohesive sounding album. Some of your greatest stuff, IMHO. Kudos!
(Your vocal sounds a bit like Joe Jackson here.)
Love the acoustic guitar here! It just grabs you the second it begins! Great playing, fab rhythm.
Definitely an RPM anthem...but great double meanings in the lyrics!
...hanging out and enjoying the ride...
*holds lighter in the air* Lovely - tender use of light and shade.
My prog alarm just went off. Clever vocal lines - very dramatic guitar - super cool.
Gah! I hate it when my comments get eaten. Nom. I really like the keys here - the whole effect is very sparkly. This feels good and retro.
Well this is a funky little number to mix things up a bit! The laid back vocal melody gives the whole thing an air of (sorry mum) hash participation. ;)
There are super sweet guitar hooks throughout this album. (And you could seriously mosh to this. Just saying.)
Lovely use of keys of punctuate the guitar phrases.
Love that guitar! Fantastic attention to detail - the percussion on this track, again, is awesome.
Shades of ZZ Top in the beats of this very cool slinky track! And kudos on the mix!
Digging the keys!
Nice bit of crunchy riffage to start things off! Great vocal - hooky track.
cool track...well done
Very cool feel! Looking forward to the rest of your album! (It's never too early for a 12 bar.)
Who knew a missing member of the Foo Fighters was living in my childhood hometown of Methuen?
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!