Skateboard Phreak

Skateboard Phreak
(Wall-Hewitt-Morgan-Sookman)

Ever seen the Concord-New Horizons production of "The Skateboard Kid" featuring Dom Deluise as the voice of Rip, the talking skateboard? Well, if you haven't you should, as it has a nifty theme song by a conglomeration of none other than the guys from Pop Machine and Osmium, two of your fave bands. (Based on "Teacher in Traction", another perennial Osmium classic.)

I gotta thank our buddy Neil for the hookup. He helped set us the road to being an actual money-making venture, a road I would love to spend more time on...

Al: Vox
Sook: Backing Vox
Scott: Guitar, Backing Vox
John: Guitar, Backing Vox
Dave: Drums, Bass

Whirling Blades of Death

Whirling Blades of Death
(Lawrence-Morgan-Sookman-Waterbury)

Truth-in-advertising department: yes, this song is indeed about whirling blades of death (my fave stanza: The tungsten blades set to puree/Voila! It's time for man patee). Why? Well, I was visiting LA and booked Dr. Dave at the last minute (in fact, this is my most recent session with the good doctor, from 2006) and called the other boyz to attend if they could. Obligingly, they showed up and we put together this sucker on the spot. Based on an old sketch from our comedy troupe...

BTW, enjoy our varispeeded voices in the bridge. I do an accent in this section...is it Irish? Is it German? Is it Mexican? Only my hairdresser knows for sure...

Al: Vox, Backing Vox
Sook: Backing Vox
Mike: Vox, Keys, Backing Vox
Dave: Drums, Keys, Backing Vox

Why Be Normal

Why Be Normal?
(Morgan-Wall)

A more recent (post-2000) Osmium endeavor. Once again I get to play the role of rebel/outsider; hey, pretending is fun, right? Dr. Dave, as always, provides the studio sheen (brother of Charlie, I believe) and we have a nice little rocker.

Al: Vox
John: Guitar
Dave: Drums, Bass, Guitar

Trapped In An Elevator With A Mime

Trapped In An Elevator With A Mime
(Hewitt)

An early Pop Machine milestone: this was the first song we landed on the nationally syndicated "Dr. Demento" radio program. The good doctor kept repeating our name like some kind of a mantra..."Pop Machine...Pop Machine..." Try it, it's fun!

In any event, this is Mr. Hewitt's baby and shows how he has a way with a song...I'm happy to ride his coattails and include it here. My contributions, beside adding my share of wackiness, is a typically noodley proto-Al keyb solo. Enjoy!

Al: Keys, Backing Vox
Sook: Percussion, Backing Vox
Scott: Vox, Guitars

Art Damage

Art Damage
(Morgan-Wall)

No, this is not the name of a pro wrestler. What it is is our normal witty sociological commentary, in this case targeting pretentious hipsters (if we're not making fun of dumb people, we're making fun of smart people). Plus we're our usual tuneful selves.

And to show you how art damaged we are, we change to a 7/4 time signature in the bridge. We like to amuse ourselves, heh heh...

Al: Vox, Keys, Drums
John: Guitar
Dave: Bass, Guitar

Now It's Time to Rock

Now It's Time To Rock
(Wall)

One of Eric's fave Osmium tunes, so you know it's gotta rock. (The title should tip you off, as well.) A John Wall joint; I remember all of us having fun in the studio recording this. Whoo!

Al: Vox, Keys
John: Guitar
Dave: Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys

Square One

Square One
(Hewitt-Morgan-Sookman)

Pop Machine strikes again! We channel our mass dissatisfaction into one guitar-coated nugget for the ages. (This one'll be a featured track from our "2000s" album, once it gets compiled.) I give full lyrical credit to Mr. Hewitt and Mr. Sookman (though I do lay claim to the opening stanza), who really deliver in this tale of post-millenial disillusionment. It rocks, and it hits ya where it counts....

Al: Vox, Drums
Scott: Guitars
Dave: Bass

Edge City

Edge City
(Morgan-Wall)

Osmium tries to go for that OutKast "Hey Ya!" vibe, an odd hybrid, to be sure, but a fun piece of tunesmithery nonetheless. We tackle life in the exurbs (planned city Irvine, CA was in part the inspiration) with our typical sense of social commentary...we call 'em as we see 'em.

Al: Vox
Sook: Backing Vox
John: Guitar, Backing Vox, Rap
Steve: Bass, Backing Vox
Dave: Drums, Backing Vox

Middle Ground

Middle Ground
(Hewitt)

A Scott Hewitt joint, and it's a good 'un. An early Pop Machine track that actually was an example of good pop music: tuneful and thought-provoking, with lyrics tackling "balance" issues both geopolitical and personal (Side note: I must apologize for duffing one lyric, accidentally substituting "keep the scales from moving side to side" in place of "keep the scales moving from side to side". I know that reverses the meaning; let this be an official mea culpa to the world). Plus, we actually play the lion's share of instruments here, putting to rest those nagging Monkees comparisons (yes, I know at one point they played their instruments as well. You know what I mean).

Al: Vox, Keys
Sook: Bass
Scott: Guitar
Dave: Drums

Wash Away

Wash Away
(Morgan-Wall)

Life lessons from Osmium. I like the song and message a lot, but wish I could resing it: It was my last scheduled studio session while I living in LA and I had a cold. I pushed myself as hard as I could, but the strain shows. However, good performances from John and Dave and a fine effort overall. Maybe I'm just nitpicking..

Al: Vox
John: Guitar
Dave: Drums, Bass, Guitar

Corporate Heavy Metal

Corporate Heavy Metal
(Hewitt-Morgan)

This is what Pop Machine is all about. Our satiric approach works well here, and all the pieces fall into place: words, music, concept....I must give full credit to Mr. Hewitt for bringing this to the table; all the lyrics and the main riff are his. I knew I had to get in on this and threw down with the rest of the music and we all pulled the arrangement together in true group fashion.

Al: Vox
Scott: Guitar
Dave: Drums, Bass, Guitar

Falling Down On Me

Falling Down on Me
(Hewitt-Morgan-Sookman-Wall)

An early example of the Pop Machine and Osmium crews banding together and "going for baroque". An obviously 60's-influenced (sounds a lot like Love to me. The group, that is.) piece of dark pop, I've always liked the ways the offbeat chords fall into place on the oh-so-hummable chorus. I'll probably resing it at some point, tho, since I'm obessive about these things.

Al: Vox, Keys
John: Guitar
Scott: Guitar
Dave: Drums, Bass

Tonight I'll Walk You Home

Tonight I'll Walk You Home
(Morgan-Wall)

A blatant sequel to "I Wanna See You Tonight", delivered with a bit more panache and verve. I forget what my writing contributions to this one were, so I'll freely give most of the credit to John...he came through on this one, no doubt. For a change I'm actually satsified (mostly) with my vocal performance here, and I have a tendency to overanalyze. Just a nice, sweet, song.

Al: Vox
John: Guitars
Dave: Drums, Bass, Guitar

Your Mileage May Vary

Your Mileage May Vary
Your Mileage May Vary (Nu Wave)

Your Mileage May Vary (Demo)
Your Mileage May Vary (Nu Wave Demo)
(Morgan-Wall)

The song so nice we recorded it twice (or four times if you count the demos). The first is a "rock" version; it sounds kinda like Axl Rose fronting the Red Hot Chili Peppers gone hoedown. We also have a "new wave" version for your enjoyment, wherein I get to do my Peter Murphy imitation while the Talking Heads, Devo and XTC battle it out in the background.

What's the song about? Complacency, technology, psychology, the usual. I've already posted the demo versions, but here they are again for comparison purposes.

Al: Vox, Keys, Drums
John: Guitars
Dave: Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys

Demos: Al

G.O.P. (Grand Old Punk)

G.O.P. (Grand Old Punk)
(Morgan-Wall)

As we round the corner into the final 20 posts for the year, we're back to the "one-a-day" format to bring us in. And, wonder of wonders, I've roughly mapped out the last 20 and actually have MORE files than I expected! This will help, as I've decided to continue the site going into year 2. There will, however, be a format change (to be announced) as we get closer to the end of this go 'round. More new music to come, however...

Anyway, here's a later-vintage (around '99-2000?) Osmium-era track about us aging out of the mosh-pit demographic. This subject comes up a few times, so we must have been feeling that midlife crisis early (we were always ahead of the curve). Hopefully handled with a modicum of satire/wit...paging Dr. Demento...

Al: Vox
John: Guitar
Dave: Drums, Bass, Guitar

Quadrophilia

Electric Rain (SQ Mix)
Gaaaah! (SQ Mix)
Never Want To Live On Venus (New Pop Machine Demo - SQ Mix)
Air (SQ Mix)
Push The Button In the Middle (SQ Mix)
Words of Wisdom (SQ Mix)
Signals Y (SQ Mix)

Here's some more surround sound to run at ya...again, these are all compatible with your standard stereo, but will yield some pretty cool surround when played back using good 'ol Dolby Prologic, a standard on your home video receivers since the mid-90's. (It can also be played back using 70's SQ quad technology, which is the way it was encoded, actually. I won't get into a whole history here, suffice it to say there's compatibility here.)

Most radical departure here is on the demo version of "Never Want To Live On Venus" included here. Thanks to the wonders of digital editing, Scott Hewitt's guitar has been flown into the vocal version and the whole shebang has been given a shiny new quad mix. Pop Machine lives!

In any event, join the polishing that's happened to all the tracks. New effects heaped on, new car smell added, fun fun fun.

Al: All stuff, except:

Scott: guitar on 3

http://www.box.net/shared/static/oi6fy55s0m.mp3

In Which Our Heroes Return With Further Missives

Lizard On A Rock
Jumping
Gilligan's Rap
Varnish Theme (Full Version)
We Win (Full Version)

More Pop Machine demos/castoffs/mind goop. Some of this stuff I'd actually listen to again and will make it on an actual "Oddest of Pop Machine" compilation I've been threatening to put together for years. (Scott, Mike and Sook are their usual patient selves and smile paternally at me when I continue to bring it up; they then merely inject more meds into my IV drip and everything is fine.) Minutes of brain seizin' fun.

Lizard On A Rock: (Forked) tongue firmly in cheek here as I examine interpersonal relationships in a very cold-blooded way. My fave of this batch; watch out for the missing section (engineer error, I'm afraid).

Jumping: A jam session which, through copious overdubbing, turned into an actual song. In my mind I can still smell the tape oxide shedding after the multiple 4-track bounces...Steve and Sook on dual basses, a bass juggernaut, if you will. Not quite swamped by my multiple Gary Numan keys...

Gilligan's Rap: As if done by the Beastie Boys. High concept, as in "were you guys high or something?" Another one-take wonder; Mike provides keys, bless him.

Varnish Theme: OK, we had this joke that our college comedy troupe would produce a splinter group consisting of solely of whistle and distorted electric guitar, wherein the action would periodically stop when it was time make funny faces. You had to be there. And know the people involved. And care.

Oh, yeah, this is the remixed unedited version. You're welcome.

We Win: Well, we thought so at the time. Now, in my case, I'm not so sure. Still, we soldier on, looking back with melancholy-tinged amusement at youthful exuberances. But soft! The sun breaks over yonder horizon and 'tis time for my morning pratfall. Oop, Gilligan, don't drop those coconuts!

Al: Vox, Keys, Drums
Sook: Vox, Bass, Drums
Scott: Vox, Guitars, Drums

+ Mike: keys on 3
Steve: extra bass on 2

Opening Up the Pop Machine

Introducing The Band
Jack In The Saddle
Psurgery of Pst. Jude (1992 Version)
Living In the Ozone (1992 Version)
Pop Machine Rap
Innit?
Interspersed
I Love Your Everything
All Together Now

Here we take a look at the "classic early" period of Pop Machine, circa 1991-1993, in the form of various 4-track demos/rehearsals/goofs, many of which made it out on our cassette releases of the time. For regular followers of this site, your first question would undoubtedly be "why?". The reasoning is twofold: one, it's an enlightening look at how we became the musicians we did, and b) I gotta catch up and was going to drop these anyway, so why not make a "theme" of it? And 3), some of it is fun/"funny". So here's the rub:

Introducing the Band: Sook's brainchild here, a flagrant tribute to the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. (You may remember them, if you're not anal record collectors like us, as being in the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour" movie.) We show off our mad pennywhistle and percussion skillz here.

Jack in the Saddle: Johnny Cash meets the "Jack in the Box" restaurant chain meets Al's varispeed pitch controller. Scott provides perfect twangy accompaniment, modeled on JITB commercials of the time; it really provides the song's raison d'etre (a French breakfast cereal). Are ya hungry now?

Psurgery of Pst. Jude/Living in the Ozone (1992): As my songwriting has not yet reached its current state of fecundity, the occasional remake would crop up from time to time. More straightforward than the original.

Pop Machine Rap: Word to your mother.

Innit/Interspersed: Early computer-edited interstitials from the "Pop Machine Gets the Shaft" tape. Or "The Heat of Art". Or something; these things all run together for me...I always did like these.

I Love Your Everything: You'll notice the funky beats underlying many of the songs here; many stolen from a CD Sook had in his collection and later sold. I always wanted to find again...

All Together Now: The obligatory Beatles cover, rendered as goopy goth. Collect 'em all!

Al: Vox, Keys, Drums
Sook: Vox, Bass, Drums
Scott: Vox, Guitars, Drums

Never Want To Live On Venus

Never Want To Live On Venus (Demo)
Never Want To Live On Venus (1992 Version)
Never Want To Live On Venus (2000 Version)
Never Want To Live On Venus (New 2007 Version)

Never Want To Live On Venus (Demo Original Mix)
Never Want To Live On Venus (Unreleased Pop Machine Demo)

Here it is, the original Al "Science as Relationship Metaphor" song. First conceived when I was working at a video post-production house; we were dubbing JPL space footage and the idea just clicked. Here's a rundown of the various versions:

Original Demo: Just some stolen backbeats, layered woozy keyboards and a 4-track, and an idea is hatched. There's a garage funk swagger to this that many (including myself0 have found preferable to later versions.

1992 Version: The Pop Machine boys tried cracking this open at Dr. Dave's studio. Not bad, but not the direction I ultimately saw it taking. I like that Mike goes as looooooow as he can during the solo.

2000 Version: Revisited in my then-new computer-based digital studio, I tried to pull the song closer to what I heard in my head (besides all that static, I mean). Some nice keyboard bits, but I never really finished the vocals or guitar solo. I know, I know, I'm kvetching...

New 2007 Version: At which we finally arrive at our destination, a kind of cosmic Spectorian melancholia. (Spectorian? Seriously, there are a carload of keyboards on this thing.) This is modeled on the 2000 version, but taken to it's natural conclusion. Enjoy; I doubt I'll be out in this solar system again...

(And to round things off, we have two "bonus" tracks: the original 2-track mix of the demo and an instrumental demo with extra Scott Hewitt guitar I discovered in my travels. I'm generous as always...)

All versions are Al: Vox & music, except for:

version 2:
Al: Vox & keys
Sook: Bass
Scott: Guitar
Mike: Keys
Dave: Drums, Lead Guitar

version 6:
Al: Vox & keys
Scott: Guitars