Compulsive

Compulsive
(Morgan)

What might it potentially be like inside the mind of an obsessive-compulsive? Why, glad you asked. Here's a slice of audio verite, done up in post-post-garage-art-funk-wave. Mmmm...jittery!

Al: bleeps and yelps

Helen Wheels

Helen Wheels
(McCartney)

We have this tradition of mangling Beatles covers for our own amusement on a periodic basis...this may the pinnacle (or trench, if you prefer) of the process to date.

OK, this is solo McCartney (okay, yeah, "Wings", whatever) as opposed to Beatles per se, but the general idea applies. In this case we went for a distinctly post-apocalyptic vibe. Strap yourselves in and enjoy the next nine minutes. No, really, nine.

Plus: It's in SQ, baby! Crank up the surround!

Sook: Vox, SFX
Al: Drums, keys, SFX

Payback

Payback
(Nilsson-Morgan)

By popular demand, the mighty Cousin Eric returns. I tell ya, the lad knows how to ROCK in the old school way. Or maybe it's all that beer.

This is from the first Dave session back in '94. CE magnanimously lets me share the lead vocal spotlight, but the concept is all vintage Eric. Take it away, boys...

Cousin Eric: Vox
Al: Vox, drums
Dave: All guitars & bass

J'ai Un Valise Fourré Avec Dégoût (I Have A Valise Crammed With Disgust)

J'ai Un Valise Fourré Avec Dégoût (I Have A Valise Crammed With Disgust)
(Morgan-Sookman)

In which I pick up the gauntlet inadvertantly thrown down here. Quite frankly, a concept such as this deserves to be taken the extra step, so I have taken the liberty of translating it into (undoubtedly fractured) French.

Or: in which we find that the root of all things punk turns out to be Plastic Bertrand after all. Newly mixed into SQ Quad for you Punk Rock/Surround Sound Francophiles.

Al: Tambour, Vocals, Guitares

Yesterdays (Go On and On)

Yesterdays (Go On and On)
(Morgan)

Observations on the desire to have loved ones stay frozen in time as we might want them to be. Musically, I seem to want to split the difference between the Smiths and the Moody Blues, which you don't hear every day...

Al: voicesguitarskeysdrums

You're Worth More To Me Dead Than Alive

You're Worth More To Me Dead Than Alive
(Morgan-Wall)

Back to the 90's again for one of our Aerosmith...er, tributes. Inspired by a true event: the sparkle in my wife's eyes when I inherited a life insurance policy my dad had taken out for me some years prior.

I'm kidding, honey, really! I know you love me and would never wish me harm, and I swear I'll stop joking about it. Now please let me back in. It's cold out here and I hear wolves approaching...

Al: Vox, keys
John: Guitar
Dave: Lead guitar, bass, drums
Jimmy Powers: Harmonica

Plug: Buy the Osmium "Still Livin' at Home" CD here! Contains this song and loads of other fine music. We now return you to our regular blog...

Pretending To Be Cool

Pretending to Be Cool
(Hewitt-Morgan-Sookman-Wall)

We'll head back into the archives to 1995 for our salute to hipsters everywhere. Starting of as a parody of the "Friends" theme, we name-check the then-burgeoning neo-lounge movement (neo-swing was still waiting in the wings. Ah, the heady days of the mid-90's) and proceed with our usual parodic shenanigans. Where the faux-Latin breakdown in the bridge comes from is anybody's guess.

This SQ quad mix has a little gee-whiz guitar panning and fun vocal placement not found on the original. Enjoy.

Al: Vox, keys, drum programming
Sook: Lead hipster vocal, backing vox
Scott: Vox, guitar
John: Guitar
Dave: Lead guitar, bass

Second Cousin to Pain

Second Cousin to Pain
Bonus!: SQ Quad version
(Morgan)

Tip for the day, kiddies: tune the low E-string on your guitar down to D (the famous "drop D" tuning), and you can make sounds like a "modern rock" band, substance abuse and tattoos not necessary.

Al: Drums, chugging guitars, stacked Alice in Chains harmonies, usual snide lyrics

The Coldest Town on Earth

The Coldest Town on Earth
(Morgan-Sookman)

Such a clever boy, our Scott Sookman. When I brought the original guitar demo to the table, I had just moved to Chicago and meant the title literally. He reset the locale to L.A. and adjusted the lyrics to work metaphorically. Dave buffed it up and made it shiny, as usual. Thus does the rock continue...

Al: Lead vox, acoustic guitars
Sook: Backing vox, film director
Dave: Drum & Bass, Lead guitar

Door in the Darkness

Door in the Darkness
(Morgan)

Another 365MP original. Dashed off in the wake of recent readings about the forecasted end of the oil age. Between this, global warming, and the continued success of the Jerry Springer Show, there should be plenty of "fun" for us in the 21st Century. Me, I'll be in the basement.

Yes! It's also in SQ Quad. Aren't you lucky, you person, you?

Al: Vox, keys, percussion, drum programming

Mustang

Mustang
(Wall)

An early attempt (1992) to channel the Beach Boys magic. To be specific, the "car song" era BBs, and it sounds like we ran over 'em with one. John wants to redo this to make it sound "good", but I love this version. Too much goofy fun, man...

Al "Brian Wilson" Morgan: Vox, backing vox, "saxophone"
Scott "Mike Love" Sookman: Vox, backing vox
Scott "Dennis Wilson" Hewitt: Vox, backing vox
John "Murray Wilson" Wall: Vox (!), guitars
Dave "Wrecking Crew*" Waterbury: Drums, Bass

*Famous L.A. studio musicians (Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, etc) employed by Brian Wilson on classic Beach Boys tracks.

Drowning In Attitude

Drowning in Attitude
(Morgan)

Another new one, vaguely inspired by the Dandy Warhols & the 4AD stable. You might notice our little circle of wiseacres like to make fun of people who take themselves too seriously. Tune in, turn on, screw off.

Al: Vox, instruments, moping

Who Needs A Drink (Who Wants to Party)?

Who Needs a Drink (Who Wants to Party)?
(Nilsson-Morgan)

Are you ready to ROCK?!? (Hey, man, it's the weekend!) In a refreshing change of pace, we introduce the hard rock stylings of Cousin Eric Nilsson, who ventured with me several times into Dr. Dave's studio to bring his musical vision to fruition. Eric is a huge fan of melodic (i.e. pre-Nirvana) rock (we musicologists call it "hair metal"), and he brings his unique vocal stylings to bear in this ode to Dionysian bliss. Your brain will never be the same.

Cousin Eric: Lead & backing vox
Al: Backing vox & drum programming
Sook: Backing vox
Dave: Bringin' the Rock (not to mention the guitars & bass)

Suitcase Full of Hate

Suitcase Full of Hate
(Morgan)

PUNK ROCK!!!!

So I just picked up one of those Pod(TM) guitar effects/amp modeler thingies and was instantly captivated by the sheer wall of GRRRRRARRRGH I can generate. Channeling my fave 60's/70's/80's punk rock, this amalgam popped out. I try to reach Sookman level of metaphor manipulation if possible. ROCK AND ROLL!!

Al: The whole shebang

The Ballad of Senor Grunepus

The Ballad of Senor Grunepus
(Morgan)

I have the habit of giving my kids odd nicknames: Wubbie W. Woobestein, The Geefus and Kid Dynamite are a few past examples. Currently, I have it in my head to call my 4 1/2 year old son "Senor Grunepus"*, and hence the song. He's quite the daredevil, so I was thinking about what his life might be in the future and extrapolated accordingly. Written and demo'ed tonight for the mighty 365MP; a song for the kiddies.

Al: Vox, guitars

* Pronunciation note: "Grunepus" has three syllables: Groo-neh-pus. It is not pronounced Groon-pus or Groon-poos; that would just be silly.

Unmoored

Unmoored
(Morgan)

Another one written and recorded for 365MP. The lyrics are reflective of my trepidation re: quitting my (shitty) job and going back to grad school. Dance, monkey, dance!

Encoded in SQ Quad for your pleasure.

Al: Vox, keys, drum programming

Past the Reach of 12-Step Help

Past the Reach of 12-Step Help
(Wall-Morgan)

I don't know what our infatuation with Hell-raising badasses is; must be something in the water...or maybe the fact that we missed out on an all-important glue-sniffing delinquent phase and are making up for lost time, I'm not sure. In any event, I get to play tough guy again: "I ride without a helmet but not without a beer", heh.

The original can be found here; this version has a revised vocal & mix. Collect 'em all.

Al: Vox
John: Rhythym guitar
Dave: Everything else

Hold On

Hold On
(Morgan)

Simply, an inspirational note to myself not to give up on all the things in life worth working for. My kids like to sing it in the car, so that passes the test for me.

Special kudos to Mike for help on the neato bridge vocal harmonies, and to Dave for the opening guitar figure (along with their other usual fine contributions).

Al: Lead & backing vox, acoustic guitar, drum programming
Mike: Keys & bridge harmonies
Dave: Lead guitar, bass

Hey, Einstein!

Hey, Einstein!
(Morgan-Wall)

Some discreet dating advice for the clueless (guys, mainly, though I'm sure there must be SOME women who brag about the value of their comic book collection). Any resemblance between the subject of the piece and myself will be hotly denied no matter what my wife says.

Al: Lead & backing vox, acoustic gee-tar, drum programming
John: Electric gee-tar, backing vox
Dave: Bass, backing vox
Sook: Backing vox, laughter & snorts

Teacher In Traction

Teacher In Traction
(Wall)

Wherein we learn the secret behind John Wall's songwriting prowess: R-A-M-O-N-E-S. An early attempt to channel da brudders (1991), this is either horrific, juvenile, very amusing or a bit of all three depending on your viewpoint. Heh.

Note: parody elements enclosed, opinions expressed in the song are not those of the management as we are for the most part nice suburban guys with cars & kids. We like teachers, and they don't get paid enough, blast it. I married one.

Al: Lead & backing vox
Sook: Backing vox
Scott: Backing vox & guitar
John: Backing vox & guitars
Dave: Guitar, bass & drum programming

Buttermilk Biscuits

Buttermilk Biscuits
(Morgan)

One of the first clutch of songs written specifically for this project, I tried to give myself a deadline: write & record within 3 hours. Good way to angioplasty the creative arteries; interesting results. Inspired by a bit of random video of a street person rambling on about buttermilk biscuits and fresh vegetables that the Pop Machine boys used to watch repeatedly in the heady days of the early 90's. Boy, we would watch ANYTHING back then...and probably still will.

Note: this is mixed in SQ Quad. Surround sound fans have fun.

Al: Vox, keys & drums

Alien Octopus Trilogy

Alien Octopus Trilogy
(Sookman-Morgan)

Recorded in March of this year, this is more great Sookman high concept. Why record one 50's/60's novelty song ripoff tribute when you can record three and call it a medley? Fans of "spot the influence" can send their answers in at their leisure...wish I had me more than one take for the guitar, tho...

Part 1: Malt Shop In the Sky
Part 2: Space Creatures From Outer Space
Part 3: Do the Octopus!

Al: Vox & backing vox, guitar
Sook: Vox & backing vox
Mike: Keys, backing vox
Dave: Keys & drum programming, bass

Waiting For Connection

Waiting For Connection
(Morgan)

Welcome to demo land. I've had some kind of Tascam Portastudio for almost 20 years and love to blow off steam by on the fly writing and recording little instrumental and vocal squiggles, so I will post the more interesting ones. This one's from about '97, and seemed to come out just right...note that I haven't waded into the world of MIDI yet, so all real-time goofs are mine. The title comes from the message I was getting on my modem (remember dial-up, kiddies?) when I was mixing this.

Al: Keys

Still Livin' At Home

Still Livin' At Home
(Morgan-Wall)

From '96, the mighty song that got us on "Nash Bridges" (on an episode called "Pump Action", wherein we are background for a couple of doped-up & greased-up co-ed wrestlers. Success at last!) Determinedly a Green Day ripoff, though as with all things we do it drifted off into our own territory. Also the title track for the "Still Livin' at Home" CD on Road Rash music (buy 'er now!).

Al: Vox, Drum Programming
John: Guitars
Dave: Bass, Guitars

My Subatomic Life

My Subatomic Life
(Morgan)

Who was it said that "the unexamined life is not worth living"? Well, you can take things a bit too far; the obscure reference here is that too much navel-gazing might cause you to parse things down to a subatomic level. In other words, it's an exhortation to myself to get my head out my ass and join the rest of the world. Plenty of sub-Costellonian wordplay involving science and electricity-related puns here...if you notice any Tool in the music, so did I.

Al: Vox, guitars, drum programming
Dave: Bass, lead guitar
Mike: Keys