Song304_Future Eras (10 months complete!)

Today, the final day of April 2010, completes my 10th month of consecutive recording for http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/. Also, this past month of music was FREE to everyone on the Mailing List...hope you enjoyed the music.

Today was similar to yesterday. I woke up at 0530, mowed yards until 1300, took a 1.5hr nap, ate some cottage cheese, and then started recording today's song. I found a synth sequence that sparked the idea for the strumming guitar (section 1=E-D, section 2=C-A, section 3=G-B). Next, I added bass guitar and an electric guitar (with tremolo) that picks single notes. I took about an hour editing and mixing these tracks, took a break for dinner (around 2000), and I came back to finish the song around 2100. I spent another 2 hours adding keys/synth, re-arranging and re-editing the percussion sections, and doing a final mix. I completed this song at 2329.

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song303_Voices of the System

Today was another long/busy day. I decided this song was "complete" when I noticed that it was after 2300...not because I was through working on it. This project dictates that each song is written and recorded within a 24hr period...even if I only have 6 hours to record on a particular day.

I woke up at 0530, mowed (overgrown) yards until 1400, took an hour nap, and starting writing today's song around 1530. I started this song by inserting a 'scratch' drum rhythm (100bpm), and then I wrote the guitar progressions on the distorted guitar (Verse=G-A#...G-A#-A, Chorus=G-F-C-G). Next, I added bass guitar and structured the percussion section. I decided not to get too involved with layering additional tracks until I had mapped out some vocal ideas. I spent over an hour trying different lyrics and melodies. I eventually kept 3 of these tracks, but I wasn't 100% happy with them, so I took a break, went to the gym, ate dinner, and I came back to the song around 2100. I 'muted' the vocals and layered 4-5 synth tracks in various places. These tracks gave the song lots of depth and texture, but they didn't fit the vocals as expected. I spent another 30-minutes editing and mixing, and then I realized that it was after 2300! The synth tracks gave me a few new vocal ideas, but there wasn't enough time to re-record vocals and still have the song uploaded by midnight. Fortunately I didn't even try because it took 4 tries to get the mix right. Today's song was uploaded with 10-minutes to spare.

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song302_Machine-Like

Today's song begins a new album, Week44_Future Eras.

I wrote this one by first recording a few chord progressions at 112bpm (first part=A-E-D-E, second part=A-F#m-Bm-E). Next, I added a ('scratch') drum track to assist with timing while recording the bass guitar. Then, I deleted the strumming guitar and recorded the two solo/melody guitars. There are also a few tracks of strings, but this song is only 7-8 tracks total.

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song301_Channels

Today's song (Song301_Channels) is the final song on the newest album (Week43_Sense), which is now available for sale at http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/.

I went to sleep last night after midnight, woke at 0530, and mowed yards from 0700 to 1300. I started writing today's song around 1500, recorded until 1900, took a break to eat dinner, and returned to the song around 2100...completing it around 2250. I uploaded the song, updated the website, uploaded the new album to the online retail store, created the weekly email, backed-up the hard drives, etc, and I finalized another week of recording at 2344...just in time to prepare for another day/song.

I didn't start today's session with any specific ideas. I set the metronome to 110bpm, found a guitar pre-set/tone that I liked (which almost sounds like a rotary organ), and I recorded the main strumming guitar progression first (first section=E-A, second section=F#-B). I like how each chord has it's own unique strumming pattern. Next, I structured the rhythm section. I found one drum sequence that fit the style I wanted, and I used that rhythm to write the bass guitar track. I also added 2 electric guitars (picking solo notes) and 2 synth tracks. I took a 20-minute break and wrote a half-page of lyrics, but I liked the textures and the combinations of instruments without vocals interfering.

Another album begins tomorrow.

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song300_Sleight of Hand

300!

Today's song took a little over 5 hours to write/record. I had other work things going on so I started writing this one around 1400, and it was recorded in two sittings. I had the majority of the song complete by 1800, but I took a break to spend time with family and prepare for work tomorrow. I came back to the song around 2200, and I uploaded it around 2333.

Work projects have been slow this week, so starting tomorrow I've agreed to help a few friends mow yards for extra money. The three of us will be mowing 112 yards between tomorrow (Tuesday) and Friday.

A new album will be available tomorrow (Week43_Sense).

LYRICS: "I know it's strange. I know it's hard to explain. Never seen this before. A clever trick with mirrors and motion. Ugly and gray, the falling sky, the eminent downpour. Never seen this before. One switch that could turn off the whole world. Next time around let's stick together. This time around could be much better with one quick sleight of hand. Try harder today. Yesterday has already gone away. This 300th try is a formulaic attack on the airwaves. Next time around let's stick together. This time around could be much better with one quick sleight of hand."

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song299_Signs of Life

I built today's song by first structuring the rhythm and bass sections (90bpm). The main chord progression was played on the keys using a classic organ tone. Next, I layered a variety of guitar melodies: one e-bow guitar, one distorted guitar picking solo notes (during the 'Chorus' only...it mimics the e-bow melody on the opposite side of the stereo-field), one clean picking guitar (during the 'Verse' sections), and one choppy/muffled guitar hitting the main chords on each downbeat. Additionally, there are 4-5 synths and a piano track. The lyrics and melody were both last-minute, but they fit.

LYRICS: "Sometimes the chemicals misfire, but the heartbeat says you're alive. We are just bundles of nerves, but the heartbeat says you're alive. The sound of these thoughts of mine stays inside, but the heartbeat says I'm alive."

299 songs complete!

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song298_Sense

I went flying with a friend today, so I didn't start today's song until 1500. We flew out of Northwest Regional Airport...the busiest uncontrolled (i.e. no tower) single-runway airport in the country. However, it wasn't that busy today due to high winds (19mph ground winds with gusts up to 25mph). We flew over Texas Motor Speedway, did a few touch-and-go's at Alliance Airport, and then came back. Good times! Thanks, Mike!

Today's song is an instrumental. I created the rhythm section first, which consists of 3 separate drum sequences (160bpm). I added synth bass next, which contains the main chord progressions. Next, I added the only electric guitar in today's song (part picking, part strumming). Additionally, there are about 8 synth tracks that provide the filling/icing. I tried to arranged the synth tracks so that different sounds play each time a section repeats. I completed and uploaded today's song around 1920.

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song297_Villains and Dinosaurs

A took a slightly different approach to writing today's song, and I had better results than the past few days (which were somewhat of a struggle). I'm not saying that I don't like the past few songs, but they were a challenge to write/record, and it was because I needed a more strategic approach. So, I built the rhythm section first today: drums (90bpm), bass guitar, and the fuzzy synth bass. I took about 30-minutes to write some lyrics and melodies, and then I spent the next hour recording the vocals. From there, it was easy (and fun) to fill in the blanks.

LYRICS: "Shipwrecked on a distant island. I'm stranded with the fallen. I'm surrounded by open waters, so I'm building a wooden submarine. Can you hear the voices say, 'Hey!'? Cool like a dinosaur. An interesting, irrelevant animal. A villain on holiday, looting as his god looks away. I'm cool like a dinosaur. An interesting, irrelevant animal. Can you hear the voices say...? Speechless, (like) a tree stump in the forest. I'm always sitting in 'standing room only.' Restless, (like) a once-each-decade comet. I'm building ancient melodies. Can you hear the voices say, 'Hey!'? Cool like a dinosaur. An interesting, irrelevant animal. A villain on holiday, looting as his god looks away. I'm cool like a dinosaur. An interesting irrelevant animal. Can you hear the voices say...?"

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song296_Rise Up

The songwriting formula for this week is still taking shape, which was very evident today. I got home last night around 0010, so I recorded some foundational tracks for today's song until 0200. I continued work on this session for another few hours (after a long nap), but at 1300 I decided to start over. The second effort, which is today's song, also took some time before it starting taking shape. I came close to setting this session aside also, but there were a few tracks that changed my mind. At 2100 I was tired, I wrote and recorded the vocals in about 45-minutes, edited the final tracks, finalized the mix, adjusted the Master EQ and levels, and uploaded it by 2230.

LYRICS: "The traffic lights blink red at night. The open road's too short to speed. In the time it takes us... Others see the light, put on their wings and fly. Come on, rise up tonight. We were born for life. The earth and body will expire. The hour glass will run empty. In the time it takes us... Others see the light, put on their wings and fly. Come on, rise up tonight. We were born for life."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song295_Temperature Steady

Today's song begins a new album, Week43_Sense. By the way, it's not too late to join the Mailing List (www.anewsongeveryday.com) and receive every song this month for FREE.

The music this week will have a different formula than the past few weeks. The songs on this album will be more synth and rhythm based with simple melodies and off-beat lyrics. Today's song was step one in achieving this sound, but I think I can do better. This one is a 2-chord progression that has 2 main sections. It's fairly repetitive, but there are a variety of sounds (and hopefully enough rhythm) to keep the ears occupied. I was pressed for time today. I had a 5-hour window to write and record this (20-track) song.

Thanks to Brandon Arnold for helping me capture footage for a video idea that I am pursuing. He filmed me walking backwards as airplanes landed over my shoulder. I'll post the link when it's ready.

LYRICS: "I'm climate-friendly. Body temperature: Steady. A reward's been posted for the truth. 'Dead or alive.'"

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song294_Broken

Today's song (Song294_Broken) completes another album (Week42_Common Denominators). The newest album, which consists of 7 songs plus original album artwork, will be available for sale later today at www.anewsongeveryday.com.

I started today's song with a drum sequence, and then I layered the violins, electric guitar (picking along with the chords: Verse=C-Dm, Transition=Bm-A-G-A, Chorus=Am-G-C), and synth bass. I also added: 3 vocal tracks, 3 additional electric guitars, and 2 additional percussion tracks.

LYRICS: "I was far from hopeless, but strong winds buried my ship. I control the rudder, not winds or other factors. You are not alone. I'm broken, but for what it's worth it was worth it all."

I took about 1-2 hours early this morning to create the album cover for this week (Week #42). Everything is complete now, so I should have the new album uploaded and available within a few hours.

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song293_Cornerstone

I started today's song with the rhythm section (drums and bass guitar), and then I added 2 electric guitars (picking solo notes), one e-bow electric guitar, and a string section. The chord progression is a little odd, and it loops instead of resolving (Em, D, Em, C, D, Em...). I experimented with a few vocal melodies, but lyrics would've distracted from this songs ability to make the mind wander.

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song292_One Step More

I woke up early today, ran 3 miles in a light rain, then started writing today's song. Once again, I started this song by writing some chord progressions on the electric guitar. Then I added bass guitar, drums, one e-bow electric guitar, and two electric guitars picking single notes. There are no synth/keys in today's song, which is rare. I liked the grittiness of the strummed electric guitar, so I decided not to smooth it over with any synth sounds.

I enjoy endurance events (running, cycling, hiking, recording a new song every day for a year, etc), and I hope to continue improving in these areas as life goes on. Life is also an endurance event. It takes lots of focus to do it right, and the mind truly can make-or-break the body. Today's lyrics reflect that thought.

LYRICS: "In the time it takes for you to form complaints, you could've made up time...could've come from behind. You're halfway done, tongue stuck to the floor. You're out of breath, now take one step more. You've made it far, but so have ones before. You can't stop now, keep taking one step more. Don't just get through life. Winning is a state of mind. You can still make up time. You can still come from behind. You're halfway done, tongue stuck to the floor. You're out of breath, now take one step more. You've made it far, but so have ones before. You can't stop now, keep taking one step more."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song291_Frayed

I started writing today's song around 1100, and I had the main guitar, bass guitar, and drums recorded and edited within an hour. I wrote and recorded the vocals next, which is earlier in the process than usual. Only about half of the lyrics that I wrote ended up in the song, but I like that the vocals have sparse appearances. Other instruments include: 2 e-bow guitars, 2 electric guitars picking single notes, cymbals, tambourine, 3-4 synths, and 6 separate vocal tracks. I completed this song around 1750.

LYRICS: "Some things can't be bought or sold. Your 'ups and downs' are in vein, but you need to feel in control and have balance in every day. But having faith is not the same as a relentlessly positive attitude. God's love for you is not measured by your degree of happiness. Some things can't be bought or sold. Your 'ups and downs' are in vein, but you need to feel in control and have balance in every day. But having faith is not the same as a relentlessly positive attitude."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song290_Common Denominators

Today's song is an instrumental, 18-track song that's upbeat and repetitive (yet changes often). Once again, I started today's session by writing chord progressions on the electric guitar. After adding percussion and bass guitar I added 2 e-bow guitars in the 'Chorus' sections. Next, I added 4-5 synth parts and 2 additional electric guitars (which added meat to the bones).

I didn't have any specific ideas before starting today...this song is just a product of writing one instrument at a time, then using the inspiration created from each track to write and layer new parts.

I had to work on other things today from 0900-1300, took an hour break to run, then I recorded from 1400-1930.

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song289_The Slow Fade

I wrote today's song on the electric guitar (Verse=E-A-E-B-E, Transition=A-B, Chorus=E-A-C-B, Bridge=A-B...E). Next, I wrote and recorded the drums, bass guitar, and the e-bow guitars (i.e. the smooth, continual guitar notes that sound like a bow is being raked across the strings). There are about 12 additional layers (6 of them are vocals), which gives the song around 20 tracks total. I recorded today's song in 2-3 separate chunks of time that totaled around 5 hours.

The lyrics today are about aging, which we all experience. I hope to live a long life with my wife. And, although I am enjoying my youth, I don't fear being an old man. Every birthday is an accomplishment. Every day is a gift.

LYRICS (taken from the Bible: Ecclesiastes 12): "Before the silver chord is severed. Before the golden bowl is broken. All is meaningless. Before the pitcher is shattered. Before the wheel is broken. All is meaningless. When the street door's closed and the keeper goes inside, and the sound of grinding fades out with the light. When the keeper comes. When the song grows faint. When the strong all kneel to accept their fate. As time goes on we need not be afraid. We all move on as time goes on. Before the dust returns to soil. Before you finally reach your home. God gives, and God takes. When the street door's closed and the keeper goes inside, and the sound of grinding fades out with the light. When the keeper comes. When the song grows faint. When the strong all kneel to accept their fate."

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song288_Normal's Relative

Today's song begins a new album, Week42_Common Denominators. In some ways, this week will be a continuation of last week's style. However, I am altering a few things such as: guitar settings, types of percussion, adding more e-bow guitars, more synth sounds, and smoother (more cohesive) transitions than last week. This song is a pretty good example. Hopefully I can continue this theme without being repetitious. The lyrics today are slightly goofy, but they're fitting. After I had recorded 97% of the instruments I sat down with a blank sheet of paper, and 20-minutes later this is what I had.

LYRICS: "We all wait in lines and struggle with traffic and loneliness. We all want more time, money, freedom, and happiness. We're so much the same. A little like distant relatives. Take it day by day. We're all strange. Normal's relative."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song287_Pulling Stranger's Teeth

Today's song completes another album! The newest album, Week41_Pulling Stranger's Teeth, is now available at http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/ for only $5. Or, you can join the Mailing List and every song in April is FREE.

I kept today's song simple...purposefully. I wanted to see how much noise I could make as a 4-piece band, but then I added a few extras at the last minute (it's only about 10 tracks...including 4 separate vocal tracks). I'm happy with the outcome...fast, full, rhythmic, and melodic. The lyrics were intended to be about groups of humans with a common cause (i.e. a "higher purpose") that let smaller issues distract them from the larger goals.

LYRICS: "Time has come to measure up. Shave your head, join the line-up. I try to love you, but it's just like pulling teeth. We act like strangers even though we're family. We're both at fault here. (There's) Lots of noise, finger-pointing, silent treatments, and hesitance towards reuniting. Something's lost when we misfire. Let's try again. There's no 'last try.' I try to love you, but it's just like pulling teeth. We act like strangers even though we're family. We're both at fault here. (There's) Lots of noise, finger-pointing, silent treatments, and hesitance towards reuniting."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song286_Tongue-Tied

I got to play 9 holes of golf early this morning. I had great company and great weather, so it didn't matter that I can't play. I came back and worked on a Freehand project, then I started working on today's song around 1500. That's later than usual, but nothing compared to yesterday (in which the bulk of the song was recorded between 2200 and 2350!).

I wrote the initial chord progression for today's song on the electric guitar (Verse=G-D-C-D, Transition=Bm-E...C-D, Chorus=G-A-Em...C-Em-D). Next, I added drums, then bass guitar, and then acoustic guitar. Then, I created two synth sequences to accompany the 'Verse' and 'Chorus' sections. The song had a full sound at this point, so I decided to complete the vocals before adding any other instruments. The lyrical message today deals with those select people in your life that truly keep you grounded, and the difficulty (at times) with finding the right words or actions to equal the thankfulness you have for them.

I completed this one around 2100, but I had taken an hour break to work on lyric/melody ideas and an hour for dinner (so around 5 hours to write and record this one?). Tomorrow's song will be the final song on the next album (Week41_Pulling Stranger's Teeth). I'll be working on album design ideas until I fall asleep.

LYRICS: "In some lights you can't hide. We all get tongue-tied. Sometimes tongue-tied. I can't lie. I need you tonight. I've been lost and alone, and your love brings me back home...back on my way. Stretched thin, you need a 'win.' But we all get tongue-tied. Sometimes tongue-tied. I can't lie. I need you tonight. I've been lost and alone, and your love brings me back home...back on my way."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song285_Cyberville

I barely completed today's song before midnight! I started writing lyrics around 2300, and I completed the final mix at 2350! That means it's time to start writing a new song!

The lyrics today (which were intended to be sarcastic and humorous) are about "Cyber Sociology." I don't know if that term exists, but I think you know what I mean. "Social networking" has been around for ages, but human interaction online is still fairly new and has its own unique set of social challenges, rewards, and consequences. Technology has given us knew ways to communicate, and it has its obvious benefits. However, it has also revealed new problems such as: Internet addiction (the US now has in-patient facilities that cater to this problem) and legal issues (note the recent case in which a son is suing his mother for altering his Facebook profile). Also, it currently seems like most people are in a (secret?) competition to be the wittiest human ever. Clever is the new normal, right? Then there are those that post factual information in 'tweet' form such as, "TGIF...I'm glad today is Friday!" Or, "I'm at the park, going to eat lunch after, then going to store." What inspires someone to log into an online account and share that kind of information with large audiences? I'm being purposefully sarcastic, of course, because the irony is that I participate in this madness (to a certain extent). Every day after completing a new song I add to this online journal and send a tweet. And, although I tell myself it's for documentation/posterity, I could just as easily be keeping an off-line journal. I understand that everyone thinks they're interesting, and that's okay. But I also think it's healthy to realize that far more people write about themselves that read about others.

LYRICS: "Online with the masses 27/7. My online followers and friends, waiting for wisdom, let's meet again. Everybody wants to hear what I say. They haven't said so, but I know that they want to. Everybody wants my thoughts on today, but they haven't said so 'cause they're busy doing the same thing. The safety and comfort of a password 24/7. The Home page makes me feel at home more than my home does, so let's meet again. Everybody wants to hear what I say. They haven't said so, but I know that they want to. Everybody wants my thoughts on today, but they haven't said so 'cause they're busy doing the same thing."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song284_Transformer

Today's song is an instrumental that evolves as it goes...never returning to previous sections. There are 4 main progressions that somehow or another slur into one another (sometimes abruptly, sometimes eloquently). I wrote the foundational chord progressions on the electric guitar, then I added drums and bass guitar. Next, I added 4-6 synth sounds in various sections. There are also 2 e-bow guitars and 2 picking electric guitars (added last).

More tomorrow...

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song283_Captive

Today's song is an instrumental, and it came together quickly. I didn't have any specific ideas before starting this session, but I found the initial part by experimenting on the electric guitar (the guitar that picks 3-note patterns throughout the song). The chord progressions are simple, but they fit together well (Verse=C-Am-Em, Transition=D, Chorus=C-D-G). Next, I wrote and recorded the bass guitar, drums, and distorted guitar. These tracks were completed, edited, and mixed in about 2 hours. Additionally, I added 2 other electric guitars (picking solo notes) as well as 4 individual synth parts (about 10 tracks total). I tried out a few vocal melodies, but I liked this one better without singing.

I hope you enjoy today's song. Join the Mailing List and you'll get a FREE new song every day in April.

I always appreciate comments, questions, suggestions... matthew@anewsongeveryday.com.

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song282_Storm the Gates

Today's song was also written on the electric guitar. I chose 4 sets of chord progressions (Intro/Chorus=E-Em-D-Dm-A-A#-E, Verse=E-B-A-B, Transition=A-E-B, Ending=D-G), and a few of the chords were played using non-standard formations. This song could've worked as a 4-piece song, but it layered well...about 18 tracks total. I am enjoying this style of writing, and I like the new guitar sounds for this week.

The lyrics today are about people overthrowing governments. This actually happened yesterday (on the other side of the world)...though this song is not about that particular situation.

LYRICS: "All these fences must come down now. No more order, we want out now. You gambled to get it. Now this is your time. But what will you do when it becomes you on the run? Sometimes patience doesn't fix 'now.' You gambled to get it. Now this is your time. But what will you do when it becomes you on the run? A pinch of salt, a stitch in time. Storm the gates, what's left is mine. A carrot stick, a children's rhyme. An overthrow will undermine."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song281_A Well-Known Face

Last week's album, Week40_Permanent Records, is now available at: http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/.

Today's song begins a new album, Week41_Pulling Stranger's Teeth. I woke up early today, Carly and I went for a long bike ride, then I changed the strings on my electric guitar while deciding the best way to approach the songwriting/recording this week. It helps to have a genre in mind before approaching a blank session. Also, it helps to decide on a common starting point for each day. Last week I wrote the initial part on the acoustic guitar, but other weeks it has been the piano, a synth sample, the bass guitar, a vocal melody, or a drum rhythm that creates the starting point. This week it will be the electric guitar. I like finding unique strumming rhythms and chord progressions on this instrument. It also helps to consistently use the same instruments/pre-sets each week so the music has a consistent sound. The instruments still vary, but I choose a few foundational instruments to be the same. I know that each song this week will have: rhythm, bass guitar, clean electric guitar, and distorted electric guitar. However, before I started recording I auditioned many new guitar pre-sets (in Guitar Rig 3) before deciding what the main sounds would be this week. I chose two pre-sets that I haven't used so far, and then I altered each one slightly to make it my own.

The strumming on this song is quick (140bpm), and the chord formations are odd. Actually, the chord progressions are pretty odd too, but they seem to work for this style of music (Verse=A#-B, Transition=C-F-Fm, Chorus=G-A). After tracking the electric guitar I completed the drums, acoustic guitar, and bass guitar. Next, I worked on the lyrics and the melody...testing each part in "record" mode. I got all 6 vocal tracks written and recorded within 45 minutes. The melodies, purposefully dissonant, remind me of the The Swirlies.

The lyrical theme this week is broad, but each song will have something to do with social interaction. This one was going to be about angry drivers, but it's also about people with status that abuse their privileges (these people act the same at times).

LYRICS: "A gift to your race. You're a well-known face. Like on library walls, (or) militant memorial halls. Come on, and pull over the car. We all know who you are. Don't pretend to be bitter when you get what you want. Hello, welcome. You got the pick of the room. You're 'on.' Idiot drivers annoy idiot riders. Who throw things from your window as a moronic symbol. Come on, and pull over the car. We all know who you are. Don't pretend to be bitter when you get what you want. Hello, welcome. You got the pick of the room. You're 'on.'"

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song280_Permanent Records

Today's song completes another album, Week40_Permanent Records. This album will be available for sale ($5) in a few hours at: www.anewsongeveryday.com. Or, you can still join the Mailing List and you'll get every song recorded in April at no charge.

I took about 5-10 minutes to strum through ideas on the acoustic guitar (Em-F-C...G), but I actually recorded the electric guitars (distorted electric, clean/reverb electric, and bass guitar) before tracking the acoustic guitar at 100bpm. I thought this instrumental was a nice way to end this album. This song is not very complex (maybe 10 tracks), but it has some subtle characteristics that I like such as: the repetitive progression (that starts with a minor chord), the choppy/muffled distorted guitar that never breaks into a full strum, the long fade-out, etc.

I'm going to change up the music style for next week's album, but I don't have a definite plan yet. I'm going to use the next 6 or so hours to rest my brain, then I'll probably make some decisions before bed (or early in the morning). Mandatory decisions before tomorrow include: album title, musical style, songwriting approach, lyrical themes, and song title (for Song #281).

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song279_Promises

The foundation of today's song was written on the acoustic guitar around 1300 (Verse=F#-B, Transition=G-F#, Chorus=E-F#-B). I was able to write and record the other foundational instruments within the next hour (bass guitar, drums/cymbals, clean electric guitar strumming, and distorted guitar). The song was pretty full at this point, so I focused on writing lyrics and melodies for about an hour. I wanted to have the vocals in place before adding a few extra synth and guitar parts (to fill in gaps, enhance vocals, etc). This song ended up being about 20-24 tracks, and it took about 4.5 hours from start to finish.

LYRICS: "Words and promises seeded deep inside. Carry a single order out to the letter. Orders are: follow-through. All that you say. All the promises you make. Whatever happened to 'always?' All these promises you make. True, we argue, (and) build forts to hide. Carry a single order out to the letter. Orders are: follow-through. All that you say. All the promises you make. Whatever happened to 'always?' All these promises you make."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song278_Take Note

I decided not to use any drums today, so this song centers around the acoustic guitar, electric guitar (heavy with reverb and filling the stereo field), and bass guitar. There are a variety of other instruments that appear throughout this song such as: 3 additional electric guitars (picking single notes), a synth choir, a string section, 2 sequences (that provide a certain amount of rhythm to that section), 3 tracks of vocals, and...well, a few other things that I can't think of right now. This session ended up being 14-16 tracks, and it took about 5 hours to write and record.

LYRICS: "Take note of rising oceans. Unmanned planets changing courses, and love defeating forces too big for war."

Happy Easter.

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song277_Ruler of Undergrounds

Carly and I met some friends in Fort Worth last night (Rick and Brooke), ate some dinner, walked the streets, and ended up at a small tavern that played great (loud) music. I was inspired (must've been the Digital Underground), so I started recording today's song when we got home at 0020. I wrote and recorded the acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, clean electric guitar (the strumming that's heavy with reverb), and distorted electric guitar. I went to bed around 0340 and slept until 1000...returning to complete this song at 1600.

Fine-tuning this song took some time. I had tracked 4-5 synth parts, but I wasn't happy with the sounds, so I re-recorded each one. Also, I added the ending of this song (A-Adim-D-E) after everything else had been recorded. It took time to add those parts, and to blend them to the rest of the song. The lyrics were written around 0300...just before I slept, but fortunately I was able to find a melody and singing style that fit the pattern of each section. There are over 20 tracks in this song, and the mix took a few tries. I took a few breaks (one to eat, one to change strings), and I completed this song around 2100.

LYRICS: "You're an outcast's best kept secret...ruler over undergrounds. You're a stalemate's best investment. Money spent on growth. A pathway known by candlelight. An outlet drawn to us by sight. Never lonely. Never alone. A slave to motion. Born to roam. You're a lesson in forgiveness...the reason for the rule of law. You're an outcast's best kept secret...ruler over undergrounds. A pathway known by candlelight. An outlet drawn to us by sight. Never lonely. Never alone. A slave to motion. Born to roam."

-Matthew
www.anewsongeveryday.com
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song276_Spoken For

I had a limited amount of time to work on music today...only about 5 hours total, but I was able to get it done. This song is similar to yesterday's in a few ways: the initial idea was written on the acoustic guitar (Verse=G-C, Chorus=Em-C-G-D, Ending=Am-E-B7-E), it utilizes similar instruments, and each session has about 20 tracks. The repetition of recording every day has improved my ability to visualize and hear the entire song (as well as individual parts) as I record. Also, I've gotten much quicker at getting ideas from my head onto the hard drive. I think about songs before approaching the process, but I don't physically "write" music anymore unless the 'record' button is enabled. Also, 3 of the 5 guitar parts today were each recorded in one take. That helps since I spend a good amount of time doing detailed editing, mixing, creating vocals, etc.

LYRICS: "Take your time. You don't have to rush through life. This moment won't stick around. You are what you don't like. You want changes inside. You say this is your life. You need better advice. Down on love. The hurt is building up. Let's turn this train around. You are what you don't like. You want changes inside. You say this is your life. You need better advice. But love has spoken. The curse is broken."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com

Song275_Together Now

Today is April 01, 2010...the first day of my 10th consecutive month of writing and recording a new song every day! Today is also the first day of the FREE month. Everyone on the Mailing List will receive a daily email with the link to the newest song. It's not too late to sign up (http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/).

Today's song was written on the acoustic guitar (Verse=E-A-Am-E, Transition=C-E, Chorus=E-B7), and then I wrote and recorded: bass guitar, electric guitar (the 'washy' strumming that plays throughout the song), and a few other electric guitar parts (which didn't make the final mix). I had recorded a drum rhythm before tracking the acoustic, but the rhythm didn't fit the mood that I wanted to create. I deleted that track and added 5 separate rhythms plus cymbal swells (tracked with two mics and mallets). I started working on this song around 1300, and I had most of these things completed by 1700. I took a break to run, eat dinner, and spend time with Carly. I was fortunate that I found lyrics and a melody that I liked (since I didn't start writing and recording the vocals until 2145). I like the dynamics of this song, and I'm very happy with the final outcome.

LYRICS: "Crazy how much things change from one day to another. Great that you and I get to rely on each other. Come together now. Come together. Darkness in the distance, soon the night will take over. But nightfall means a new day waits around the corner. Come together now. Come together."

-Matthew
http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/
matthew@anewsongeveryday.com