Song130_Moatless Castles

Today's song/instrumental was pieced together in a unique way. I started with 2-3 drum sequences that I liked, and then I recorded a few bass guitar progressions. Then, I recorded two electric guitars, but I didn't like the flow of the song. I finally decided that it was the chord progression that was holding things back, so I deleted the guitars and re-recorded the bass track. I don't like moving backwards like that, but taking the time to ensure a good foundation always makes the final tracks easier (and more worthwhile) to record. I didn't have any good lyric or melody ideas for this song, so I focused on introducing a new instrument or sound into each repeated section (to keep it interesting).

I like the title "Moatless Castles." Viewed from an "Everything's Extra" standpoint, it makes me think of a castle salesman politely explaining to his customer that moats are not a standard feature, but rather an "optional add-on." It also stands for the physical and mental barriers that we use daily for personal protection. Education, firearms, medication, martial arts, reading, pepper-spray, forgiveness, bitterness, etc...just a few examples of modern-day moats.

-Matthew

Song129_Retrospection

I struggled with this song. The drums and bass were created quickly, which gave the song a good foundation. I heard some vocal melodies, but in the end I just couldn't find the right words. I had hoped to build the remaining instruments around the vocals, but after hours of trying to get it right I decided to move on. Ironically, the remaining instruments were created fairly quickly. The two guitar parts (one clean and one distorted) were easy to place, and I always find melodies easy to create with the fuzz/synth sound. I wasn't feeling very inspired today, but I still like how this instrumental turned out.

-Matthew

Song128_Everything's Extra

I didn't have any specific ideas when I sat down to record today. I decided to focus on a guitar track first, but instead of building the idea around a chord progression I took a different route. I found a guitar effect that I liked and created a part that fit that sound (i.e. the picking guitar that plays throughout the song). I didn't, at the time, concentrate on the chords that would accompany the 3 different picking parts. When I went back to add additional guitars (bass, fast strumming electric, distorted electric, etc) I found that I really liked the chord progressions...especially how well (in a unique way) that they related to each other. These are not chords that I would've normally paired together, but it works in this song. (Verse=B-A, Transition=G-Am, and Chorus=D-C).

It's only 11:30am, which is nice. Carly has the day off, and I'm caught up on all of my work, so maybe it'll feel like a day off if I can complete this song soon. It's 90% ready, but I'm still considering adding vocals. I'll eat lunch, then take another listen. Either way, Song128_Everything's Extra, will be available soon at http://www.anewsongeveryday.com/.

-Matthew

Song127_Odd's The Standard

Today's song is the first song on the next album, Everything's Extra (Week #19). The album title was something that I saw on a menu once, and I thought it was funny for a few reasons. There was a small burrito shop in Erwin, TN (might still be there), and a group of us would eat there after a long day on the river. (I was a whitewater rafting guide on the Nolichucky River...big/fast water, long days, fun and challenging). The burritos were great, but a "burrito" was defined as beans on a tortilla. Period. "Everything's Extra." Meat was $1, lettuce was $.25, cheese was $.45, etc. By the time I was done ordering it wasn't a cheap burrito anymore, but "everything's extra" applies to many things in life.

This instrumental, Song127_Odd's The Standard, was written on the keyboard. I layered 4-5 tracks of keys before considering vocals. I started the day with a handful of random thoughts that I tried to corral (lyrically) into one song. It started by thinking about the struggle to create accurate (and non-offensive) terminologies. Example: I grew up hearing the term "Illegal Alien" when someone was referring to an immigrant that was here against US law. That term has changed a few times in the past few years. It was first changed to "Illegal Immigrant," but it finally became "Undocumented Immigrant." This isn't an opinion...just an observation that I find amusing. Also, someone pointed out to me that the term "African-American" doesn't always identify skin color. Ernie Els, the white-skinned PGA golfer that was born in Africa and has US citizenship, is an "African-American." Desmond Tutu, the black-skinned leader from Africa, is "African"...not "African-American." Interesting. At the root level, the above examples are irrelevant (and grossly generalized) titles, but again...amusing observations.

The other side of inspiration for "Odd's The Standard" deals with the challenges of having an original thought in a world of billions of other creative humans. I simplified all of these thoughts into the few phrases below...one of which I have heard many places (ironic, huh?).

LYRICS: "When odd comes standard it makes 'different' 'normal.' You're unique, girl. Like everybody else."

Originally, this song had 4 sets of sequenced percussion loops. They were all removed just before the final mix, which really changed the overall mood and sound of this song. And, not having any other drums really emphasized the cymbal swells that I added last.

-Matthew

Song126_Undone

I tried a few different guitar ideas early today, but I had trouble hearing beyond those parts...wasn't happy with the creative possibilities, so I started from another direction. I found the fuzzy synth sound within a software program that I haven't used much, created the simple (but moving) melody line that appears at the beginning of the song, and I continued from there. There isn't another bass sound in this song...I got what I needed from this synth part. The 2 electric strumming guitars (clean and distorted) are foundational. The 2 solo guitars stand out nicely, and I liked how the two work together (even though the parts are simple). (I especially like how the guitars sound in the "Bridge" section).

This song completes the 7-song album for Week #18. EVEN STEVEN will be available within a few hours. I did an original drawing for this weeks cover, but I'm still making some final adjustments. I wanted something that fit the title, and I think I got it!

-Matthew

Song125_All My Days

This song was written on the electric guitar. I found 2-3 chord progressions that I liked, and then I gave each one a slightly different strumming rhythm. This song has a nice balance of guitars and synths...with one steady drum beat holding throughout.

LYRICS: "In the nick of time, through the needle's eye, we fly. Can't change your mind. The bush was set on fire, and it'll burn all night. Here comes the light. And if this storyline holds true. I'll live all my days with you."

-Matthew

Concerts I've Attended

In my journal a few days ago I mentioned that I've been to quite a few concerts. I've kept a list of the noteworthy bands that I've seen, and I just came across it today. For the sake of documentation I thought I'd go ahead and list them below (in no particular order)

CONCERTS: Guided By Voices (Trees/Dallas,TX), Ween (Gypsy Tea Room/Dallas,TX), Bedhead (many times), Tripping Daisy (many times), Home (The Argo/Denton,TX), Widespread Panic (Red Rocks/Colorado), Big Head Todd & The Monsters (some hotel ballroom in Jackson,WY), House of Pain (Deep Ellum Live/Dallas,TX), Acetone, Sixteen Deluxe, Blues Traveler (Deep Ellum Live/Dallas,TX), The Cure (Starplex Ampitheater/Dallas,TX), Orgin, Ice-T, Charlatans U.K., Jane's Addiction (at the first Lallapolooza in Dallas,TX and at Fair Park years later with Flea), Butthole Surfers, Pearl Jam (Starplex Amphitheater/Dallas,TX), Red Hot Chile Peppers, Fishbone, Jimmy Buffett, The Beach Boys, Tracy Chapman (Farm Aid/Texas Stadium), Living Colour, Indigo Girls (Red Rocks Amphitheater/Morrison,CO), Sun 60 (in Austin with Tripping Daisy), Grandaddy (Gypsy Tea Room/Dallas,TX), Death Cab for Cutie (Ridglea Theater/Fort Worth,TX), KC & The Sunshine Band (I photographed them before a Mavericks basketball game...they performed after the game), BTO, Phish (Red Rocks/Morrison,CO), Johnny Cash (Majestic Theater/Dallas, TX), Willie Nelson (many times...Billy Bob's Honkeytonk, Wyoming state rodeo, etc), Spiritualized (Showbox/Seattle,WA), The Samples (Trees, House of Blues, etc), Pavement (Trees/Dallas,TX), The Spin, The Flaming Lips, Sebadoh (Gypsy Tea Room/Dallas,TX), Built To Spill (Key Arena/Seattle,WA and other places), Crosby/Stills/Nash (Starplex/Dallas,TX), Billy Joel and Elton John (Starplex/Dallas,TX), The Grateful Dead (Las Vegas and Denver), Traffic (opened for The Dead in Vegas), Sting, Black Crowes (Bronco Bowl and The Bomb Factory in Dallas,TX), Fugazi (Bomb Factory/Dallas,TX), Sugarcubes (opened for U2 in Dallas), Public Enemy, The Pixies, The Sundays (Arcadia and Deep Ellum Live/Dallas,TX), U2 (I worked front-row security at the Pop Mart tour at Cotton Bowl/Dallas,TX), Luna (opened for the Sundays for first Texas appearance...Deep Ellum Live/Dallas,TX), Radiohead (at Fair Park Music Hall in Dallas...Spiritualized opened for them), Neil Young (Farm Aid/Texas Stadium), Lynard Skynard (1993 Farm Aid), John Melloncamp, Paul Simon, Yo La Tengo (Trees/Dallas,TX), Smashing Pumpkins (Texas Stadium), Stereolab (The Showbox/Seattle,WA and Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie,TX), Low (Gypsy Tea Room/Dallas,TX and Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle,WA), Souxie & The Banshees, G Love & Special Sauce, Toad The Wet Sprocket (Deep Ellum Live/Dallas,TX), Bob Dylan (Key Arena/Seattle,WA), Mercury Rev (Roseland Theater/Portland,OR), Rage Against The Machine (Deep Ellum Live/Dallas,TX), Amy Grant (Six Flags/Texas), Steven Curtis Chapman (Footloose/Euless,TX), Michael W. Smith (Reunion Arena/Dallas,TX), Van Halen (free outdoor show in West End Marketplace...downtown Dallas), The Moody Blues, Jars of Clay (Texas Stadium...before Billy Graham spoke), Delirious (Gateway/Southlake,TX), D.C. Talk (Texas Stadium), Cake, Psychedelic Furrs (Gypsy Tea Room/Dallas,TX), Nicole Nordeman (Gateway/Southlake,TX), My Bloody Valentine (Palladium Ballroom/Dallas,TX)...and some others probably.

-Matthew