Archives for June 2009

This is post 7 of 30 featuring live, single-take demos of each of the 30 songs I’m considering for my upcoming studio album. Each potential album tune is accompanied by a B-Side, to make each post a virtual 45 single (remember those?).

This pair of songs have always been as easy to play as they were to write. I wish I could say the same for the remaining 46 songs I have to capture.

Also, the fingers on my left-hand are completed shredded, which – given my decade-plus of guitar calluses – is a pretty impressive feat.

Song #174: Granted (live demo)
Last recorded the night it was written in October of 2003.

Granted was perhaps the first time a song woke me up from a dead sleep. I’ve been listening to its original early a.m. demo for so many years that I didn’t realize the subtle changes in how I perform it. Today it is for Sandra.

Song #141: So Hard (live demo)
Last recorded for Trio in February of 2003

This song began in an AIM window in January of 2002. I was talking to someone who was perpetually at odds with life, trying to explain that he should anticipate what he’d think about some of his decisions in hindsight. The rest of the song emerged in short order. Since he’s long since been forgotten, I tend to perform this as if it’s about myself. It’s a particular favorite of E’s and mine.

If you dig one (or both) of these songs, please leave a comment – your feedback will have a big effect on the songs I ultimately choose for the album.

This is post 6 of 30 featuring live, single-take demos of each of the 30 songs I’m considering for my upcoming studio album. Each potential album tune is accompanied by a B-Side, to make each post a virtual 45 single (remember those?).

This was definitely the hardest pair I’ve yet to tackle, but for different reasons – I know exactly what one of them should sound like, but I don’t have a clue about the other.

Song #228: Tattooed (live demo)
Never previously recorded

Last summer I found myself watching a very young, vaguely Christian rock band cover Death Cab For Cutie’s “Soul Meets Body.” I was fascinated by the lead singer – I felt like he was a flamboyant ambisexual rocker hiding beneath a godly image and a wedding ring. That’s where the chorus came from (hopefully not verbatim enough that Ben Gibbard needs to sue me). The rest of it came a little later, about having an affair with the love of your life.

Song #120: Colorblind (live demo)
Last recorded for Trio in November of 2001

You should get at least three songs out of every breakup. In 2001 I got nine. Does that mean the breakup was three times as severe as the norm? This song almost got discarded for having one too many metaphors, but Rabi’s continued attention has kept it around (and lead to this major update of the arrangement).

If you dig one (or both) of these songs, please leave a comment – your feedback will have a big effect on the songs I ultimately choose for the album.

This is post 4 of 30 featuring live, single-take demos of each of the 30 songs I’m considering for my upcoming studio album. Each potential album tune is accompanied by a B-Side, to make each post a virtual 45 single (remember those?).

Thankfully, my voice was back tonight. Also, I actually managed to improve some of my engineering. Woot.

Song #205: None of These (live demo)
Originally recorded as an instrumental on 7/31/06

A rare instance of my noodling in a peculiar alternate tuning winding up as an actual song. The tuning is DA#DDAD, and after choosing the title I decided the song would be my version of Gina’s “Fisher Price.” And it is. Some bits of it are incredibly hard to play – not to mention singing them at the same time (me and my damned overly-literate lyrics).

Song #149: Spin (live demo)
Last recorded for Blogathon 2003

“Spin” was written in 2002 as the result of perhaps my first serious fight with Elise. I have always used that as an excuse for why it is so unapologetically emo. We both have a bit of a soft spot for this song. It was maybe the first time I had ever intentionally used a diminished chord.

If you dig one (or both) of these songs, please leave a comment – your feedback will have a big effect on the songs I ultimately choose for the album.

This is post 3 of 30 featuring live, single-take demos of each of the 30 songs I’m considering for my upcoming studio album. Each potential album tune is accompanied by a B-Side, to make each post a virtual 45 single (remember those?).

I don’t have too much voice after my night of covering over an hour of open mic time, so tomorrow’s foray should be pretty entertaining. But, first, tonight’s.

Song #208: Real You (live demo)
Never previously recorded

In spring of 2007 I got the idea that I was going to write a song about each person I knew, but when this one came out first I realized it might not be such a great idea.

Song #182: Let It Be (live demo)
Never previously recorded

I wrote this perfectly serviceable, sweet song in May 2004 – two weeks before writing “A Little Bit.” Considering that I wound up quoting that song in my wedding vows, it isn’t entirely surprising that this one fell by the wayside. I’m happy to finally hear it.

If you dig one (or both) of these songs, please leave a comment – your feedback will have a big effect on the songs I ultimately choose for the album.