Week 21/Songs 18 and 19 - Bourbon Inspired

Song 18 - "Nightmare"

Song 19 - "We Were Dying"

Posting a little earlier than usual for my overseas friends. These are two promising numbers. The pieces are there, just still a little jumbled.

"Nightmare" rambles a bit. I don't know that I would want to change that, since most nightmares do anyways.

"We Were Dying" is more prototypical of what I have been doing; it's more upbeat and subversively optimistic. Came up with the riff at Nola's Cafe on Friday.

And no, they aren't dance numbers like I had hoped last week. Feel free to dance though, should you be inspired to do so. :)

Week 20/Song 17 - Emergency Rooms

Song 17 - "A Pretty Lie"

Apparently, I am destined to live in the emergency room. Had to take my mother there tonight, so this week's song is, by all means, completely raw.

I rally rally(misspelling intended) want to do a dance number next week. Maybe we can make that happen.

Also, check out the song by Patrick Watson on this episode of All Songs Considered. It's the first song, so you don't have to listen to the whole show. Very ethereal, and the drums drive and drive and drive.

Week 19/Song 16 - For a Friend on a Journey

Song 16 - "Down to the Desert"

I have a friend who is traveling Tuesday to the Middle East. This song is for that friend.

I was running around all weekend, so I had to come up with this one and record it late tonight, hence the whispering into the mic. It certainly rambles on and is loosely put together, but it is one I will keep.

Week 18/Song 15 - Rambling

Song 15 - "Loophole"

I bought a looping deck this past Friday and have been lost in a black hole of fun ever since. In case you have never heard of a looping deck, it basically lets you record loops and build layer on top of layer of audio. The song is far too long, but I could definitely cut it down. Or, I could leave it at its length, work on details and try to achieve a sort of acoustical Mogwai thing. Never heard of Mogwai? Don't know how good their website is but here they are.

Happy Belated Birthday America!

Week 17/Song 14- For a Friend

Song 14 - "A Birthday Song for Summer"

An idea for a birthday present I'm working on. A very upbeat song for an upbeat person. They like trees. Didn't really get the chorus like I want it until the third time it comes around in the song.

Ran across some Of Montreal music videos. I've never seen one before, and they certainly are visually delicious. Click here to check 'em out.

Week 16/Songs 11, 12, and 13- Lucky Thirteen

Song 11 - "Again"

Song 12 - "Hellven and Snobbes"

Song 13 - "Surely to Grey"

In posting Week 17's song, I managed to make my first grievous error and posted over Week 16 instead of creating a new one. I don't remember what was on my mind last week, but here are the songs:)

Week 15/Song 10 - Wow. Already at Ten Songs

Song 10 - "Famous Face"

First order of business: My really good friend launched a website today that you must check out and promote avidly. It is called Speaksake. It is a rather ingenious idea. Something that is almost as good as "Kitty Does Laundry".

Second order of business: A comment on the phrases I will hear about my upcoming week from co-workers when I ask them how they are doing. Monday: It's Monday. Tuesday: At least it's not Monday. Wednesday: It's hump day! That much closer to Friday! Thursday: I wish it was Friday. Friday: At least it's Friday.

I learned tonight that if I wait long enough after posting on the archive, the home page for the song will become more intricate with a player and the ability to download in mp3u format.

This song is based off of a riff I came up with months ago but never fitted with a melody. It worked out alright. I know that I promised multiple postings last week. I will no longer be making such false promises.

Week 14/Song 9 - Catching up and Falling Behind

Song 9 - "Eroding"

So much of this project, thus far, has circled around the endeavor of posting on a consistent basis. I have come to realize that I need to focus on this aspect of the project and not "writing good music". Point being, I have to post every week, even if it is garbage. I have skipped some weeks because I didn't want people to have to listen to crap. And when I say crap, I am focused more on the production quality than anything else. Songs kinda form themselves I think, but making them worth listening to is a whole different task. In any case, I was reviewing some of the stuff from the previous weeks that I recorded, but didn't post, and I decided I will focus on revamping them this week and do another multi-posting next week. So here's to succeeding at this project, even if I fail along the way:)

Week 11/Song 7 and 8

Song 7 - "All is Done"

Song 8 - "My Poor Friend"

In an effort to surpass the results of my procrastination, I'm putting up two songs this week. I'll try to do it again next week and that should pretty much catch me up. The first one is more of a "song" than the second, but the idea of the second one is definitely worth something.

A couple interesting things from my week:

1. I read an article in Rolling Stone about Bob Dylan, and they describe the president of France meeting him backstage and how excited Mr. Sarkozy was to meet Mr. Dylan. It was a great argument for the support of the arts. Even presidents look up to artists. It made me understand who truly occupies the throne in this world. After all, even artists look up to artists.

2. I found out I have a ruptured disc in my neck, which explains all the weird feelings in my back and left hand. It was soul crushing news though, because in all likelihood, it will get worse and, as you all know, playing the guitar requires use of your left hand. Of course, only time will tell, but it has me worried about enjoying the pain free/guitar filled present as much as possible. It's okay though, I'll just have to learn to do this.

3. This video on Juana Molina. Can't wait to see her live

Week 9/Song 6

Song 6 - "Blue Ridge Luv"

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy . . . Did I ever have the best weekend ever. Fun after fun after fun.

In customary fashion, I made up the words as I went along. I think I'm actually getting the hang of on the spot rhyming and phrasing. Someone said I was holding back. Clearly, that's still the case. However, the beat is a little happier. I know, that doesn't mean anything. It does mean I can sound a little less sorrowful.

"One day I'll learn to write happy songs" - Elliot Smith