A Song Each Day

Well, I only made it through 19 songs. Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings definitely put the brakes on things but the real truth is, writing and recording songs at this pace will drive a person mad. The first week was exciting, the second obsessive, the third just plain crazy. I decided rather than go crazy over it all that I would go ahead and admit that writers block had set in. Not that there were no ideas flowing, it was more about the quality of the ideas. To write a good song I always like to have that improvisational enlightenment thing happening. Without that feeling the melodies just are not as good and the words become lame. I have written songs at a fast pace in the past but doing it day after day without a break is draining. I must say that Eric and CJ pulled off something incredibly difficult and deserve a hand for finishing the insanity.

For those who took the time to listen, Many Thanks! I want to also thank CJ for putting forth the effort to keep something like this going, i do not take that for granted. This process definitely offered me a much needed kick in the butt. I am looking forward to hearing music from the next victims. Until then I don’t think I want to hear music for a few days.

With this one I just played a little guitar then wrote some passive aggressive words.  Another short little idea in the spirit of Instrumental #18.

Instrumentation:
Guitar, Vox: Andy King

Lyrics:
I’ll sharpen that old pencil,
sharp enough to use in a fight.

Write down some fightin’ words,
then erase them before they’re heard.

I’ll write down a thousand words,
bear down real hard.

When I erase the words they can still make them out,
then maybe they’ll hear me out.

My dad used to make these tapes with one guitar where he would run through the form of a song twice.  Each tape had about 25 songs on it.  This reminds me of those tapes.  This will turn into something more grandiose in the future but for now its just nostalgic.

Instrumentation:
Guitar: Andy King

Lyrics:
N/A

Lots of ground loop noise to deal with on this one… so I compressed the hell out of the telecaster to get what I could out of it… maybe next time. Dealing with the bad signal/noise ratio made me do some things I would have never done otherwise. So maybe I learned something. Telecasters ain’t easy but always sound really cool.

Instrumentation:
Drum Programming, Bass, Guitars, Background Vox: Andy King

Lyrics:
N/A

This one wasn’t easy… I had the block today big time!

Instrumentation:
Drum Programming, Basses, Guitars, Vox: Andy King

Lyrics:
See that falling light.
As it walks across,
Across the sky.

I could write a perfect letter.
I could paint myself the fool.
Say how we were lost.
That there’s nothing new.

See that falling light.
As it walks across,
Across the sky.

I could write a perfect letter.
I could paint myself the fool.
Say how we were lost.
That what we had is gone.

Once I played with a bad guitar cord. It made the guitar have a strong high end sound. After I replaced the cord the sound became warm again and I was bummed because of this. On this track I was trying to get that sound again. In the next few days I think I will try to write a few songs that feature this sound.

Instrumentation:
Guitars, Vox: Andy King

Lyrics:
Turn off the bad dreams,
I don’t remember, I won’t remember them.
Turn off the bad dreams,
I won’t remember, I won’t remember them.

Forget all the bee stings,
I don’t remember, I won’t remember them.
Turn off the bee stings,
I don’t remember, I won’t remember them.

This is my body this is my soul.
This is my body this is my soul.

Forget all the bad things,
I don’t remember, I won’t remember them.

I always enjoyed movie soundtrack music and thought that Tim and I could record a short piece in that mindset.  This reminds me how much I love checking out early electronic music.  If you have never looked into this stuff you should check it out.  Pretty cool stuff!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_music

Instrumentation:
Assorted Keys: Tim Delaney
Assorted Keys: Andy King

Lyrics:
N/A

This song is another international instrumental.  This song is influenced by Femi Kuti.  I saw Femi twice live at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta Georgia and thought the shows were amazing. If you have not had a chance to listen to Femi you should check him out at http://www.myspace.com/femikuti

You may also like to know that Femi’s father is famed Nigerian musician and performer Fela Kuti.  you can learn more about his father at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fela_Kuti

Instrumentation:
Bass, Guitar: Tim Delaney
Guitar, Drums: Andy King

Lyrics:
N/A

Another instrumental pass at the covered drums…

Instrumentation:
Bass: Tim Delaney
Drums, Guitar: Andy King

Lyrics:
N/A

Wanted to make a really messy song that could hardly be understood but still have a leg in pop…

Instrumentation:
Drum Programming, Maracas, Bass, Guitars, Vox: Andy King

Lyrics:
What’s the commotion, doesn’t make sense.
Why all the vultures, making a mess.
What will you do with your bullet defense?
Taking something when nothing is left.

How do we start making a fence?
What do we do with our bullet defense?
It’s no good, when nobody’s left.
Devil know when we do it to death.

What is devotion, does anybody care?
What is so gripping about despair?
Well that’s easy nobody cares.
Everyone’s blinking they’re all too scared.