The 365 Music Project

The Simple Things

2007-08-06T23:10:00.000-05:00

The Simple Things
(Morgan-Sookman)

Well, here it is, the big bad bloated climax to the 365 Music Project and the whole Pop Machine Welterschmittundgotterdamungspeil in general. Written long ago in a rinky-dink Hollywood apartment far away, this is the one where we threw every erg of smartassedness we had into puncturing the idea of the power ballad as best we could. Lots of bombastic instrumentation, lots of over-earnest lyrics (until the obligatory-for-us "All You Need Is Love" long not-quite-fade) and lots of friends in the studio yukking it up makes this the perfect close to the show. Please turn off the lights when you leave but leave the night light on. I get lonely...

Al: Vox
Sook: Percussion, Vox
Scott: Lead & Rhythm Electric Guitar, Vox
Mike: Keys
Dave: Drums, Bass, Lead Electric Guitar
Michelle Jackino: Acoustic Guitar

...and now, the future. 365MP will be returning at the end of the summer and retaining the daily format (best I can) for round 2. I'll be reposting much of the previous year but promise at least 1 NEW song a week, plus new alternate versions, mixes, demos, pictures, and a website redesign. So there'll be plenty of new stuff around, a'aight?

And in the meantime, please visit the new Pop Machine MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/popmachineband. I hope some of you out there have enjoyed the lummage; hopefully a "best of" will take me less than a year...

Cheers,

Al

Long Ago and Far Away

2007-08-05T00:33:00.000-05:00

Long Ago & Far Away
(Morgan-Wall)

Like "Can't Let You Go", a song about looking back and bittersweet loss. However, here the narrator is able to move on, so ultimately a happier song at that. I felt able to inhabit this one at a deeper level; it's more heartfelt, so I hope that comes across.

Please ignore and/or learn to enjoy the minor Frampton steal in the verse; strictly parallel development, I assure you.

Al: Vox, Drums
John: Guitar
Dave: Bass

Only one more to go, folks. And then we've got the whole 365 online! Tune in tomorrow for the final track (I wonder what it could be? I'm as giddy as Lindsay Lohan at an open bar!) and an announcement on how I'll continue the 365 format through the next year...'Nuff Said!

Captain America

2007-08-05T00:31:00.000-05:00

Captain America
(Morgan)

All right, I admit it, I grew up a comic-book geek as well as a pop music fetishist. Which is why this XTC-meets-Marvel combo came so naturally to me about a dozen years back. Always been one of my fave pieces, though in retrospect I lay on the fanboy minutae a bit thick in the second verse. Still, I like that it's both poppy and a bit more plainspoken than some other pieces I've done. Come on, fanboy, dance!

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

Anarchy in Your Hand

2007-08-05T00:30:00.000-05:00

Anarchy In Your Hand
(Lennon-McCartney-Cook-Jones-Matlock-Rotten)

Ah, the piece de resistance (literally, the piece of resistance) in the Pop Machine canon. Or one of them, at any rate. Only the smart-assiesed of smart-asses would cram the lyrics to "I Want To Hold Your Hand" into the music for "Anarchy in the UK" waaaay back in the pre-Nirvana days, and we are those smart-assesses.

Fun side note: years later in LA, Sook pulled this one out at a "punk-rock karaoke" night, featuring actual punk rock musicians like Mike Watt of the Minutemen, etc. Not only did Mr. Watt compliment him on the concept, but one of the alternative paper heavyweights (maybe the LA Weekly, if I remember), gave him a nod as a "rocket scientist" in their ensuing coverage...

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

Skateboard Phreak

2007-07-31T21:03:00.001-05:00

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

2007-07-31T20:53:00.002-05:00

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

2007-07-31T20:53:00.001-05:00

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

2007-07-31T20:52:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-27T18:22:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-27T18:21:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-27T18:20:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-24T20:35:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-24T20:34:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-22T22:01:00.002-05:00

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

2007-07-22T22:01:00.001-05:00

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

2007-07-22T22:00:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-22T21:59:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-17T17:44:00.000-05:00

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)

2007-07-16T20:28:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-15T23:08:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-11T10:59:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-10T18:21:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-09T23:46:00.001-05:00

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

Gravity

2007-06-29T21:16:00.000-05:00

Here are a few to tide you over the weekend of the 4th while we go on vacation (again). We never stop moving around here!

Gravity
Gravity (Extra Harmony Mix)

I'm trying to not to be more obscure than necessary with my lyrics, but in case it comes up in conversation, here's what this one is about: no matter what I think what might be happening around me, it always seems that I'm off by at least a little bit, sometimes quite MORE than a little bit. (You know the drill: you think someone is checking you out in a good way, but really they're just mesmerized by your hideously garish shirt, etc.) Reality seems to have a gravity that will inevitably send most of us humbly falling to Earth...and I seem to be feeling its pull more than usual lately. So using the patented Al science-terms-as-metaphor device, I present the following. Hum along if you like; it's free!

Al: Feeling the pull

Electricity Never Ends

No full set of lyrics, but I dig the way this cooks along. Cousin to "Do the Funky Dial Tone".

Al: Electric

Cold Duck

And now the Pop Machine guys weigh in with their version of electronic music pioneer Gershon Kingsley's "Cold Duck"...the original was also used as the theme song to our college comedy TV show "Null and Void". Wacky!

Al, Sook & Scott: Voices and musics

Abbey Road Part 2

2007-06-26T23:32:00.000-05:00

Mean Mr. Mustard
Polythene Pam
She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
Golden Slumbers
Carry That Weight
The End
Her Majesty
Feelin' Alright
Taxman

...and we're back. Here's the rest of the Abbey Road performance for you, with a couple of bonus tracks to keep ya going. More new shiznit in the coming days, enjoy!

Al: Lead Vox, percussion
Steve: Bass, backing vox
Mike: Keys, backing vox
Colby Allerton: Guitar, backing vox
Steve Adams: Drums, backing vox

Abbey Road

2007-06-14T09:18:00.001-05:00

Come Together
Something
Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Oh! Darling
Octopus' Garden
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Here Comes The Sun
Because
You Never Give Me Your Money
Sun King

Since I'm going to be away for about 10 days, here's a perfect time to introduce another block of songs. Here's the story: in 2002, good ol' Steve Kanter thought that he might want to recruit some friends to be the Abbey Road-era Beatles. On top of that, tho, he decided that we should PERFORM THE ALBUM in the outdoor atrium of his apartment building for the passing revellers. We did, and it was a gas. A bit shambolic, but with a lotta heart (and a bit of booze, as well). The first block of songs premiers here, the rest to be heard upon my return. Enjoy!

Al: Lead Vox, percussion
Steve: Bass, backing vox
Mike: Keys, backing vox
Colby Allerton: Guitar, backing vox
Steve Adams: Drums, backing vox

Indestructable! times four...

2007-06-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

Indestructable! (Demo)
Indestructable! (Al Vocal)
Indestructable! (Dan Singer Vocal)
Indestructable! (Experimental Vocal Mix)

More song evolution, this time centering on the sleepily sedate and restrained (Ha!) "Indestructable!", the song that earns its exclamation point. It all came together pretty quickly, with the demo vocals having more of an Iggy Pop-ish feel than the final version, which sounds like someone just dropped an anvil on my foot. John arranged to have a guy named (appropriately) Dan Singer take a crack at it. I like his take on it, which is a little bluesier. And finally, I've included an experimental stab at a reimagining of the vocals and mix that I tried some years back after I transferred the multis to computer. Interesting, but not quite there...in any event, lots o'heaviness here.

Demo:
Al: voices and music

Finished version:
Al: Vox & drums
Dave: guitars & bass
(Dan Singer: lead vocal on #3)

Coldest Town on Earth: The Evolution

2007-06-06T20:19:00.001-05:00

Coldest Town on Earth
Coldest Town on Earth (Demo)
Coldest Town on Earth (Instrumental)
Coldest Town on Earth (Semi-Acoustic)
(Morgan-Sookman)

The evolution of a song: I've included various versions of "The Coldest Town On Earth" here, from the demo (with different lyrics) through the finished version (previously posted), incorporating instrumental and experimental acoustic mixes. Sing along! Baffle your friends at karaoke...

Demo:
Al: voices and music

Finished version:
Al: Vox & acoustic guitars
Sook: Vox & backing vox
Dave: lead guitar, bass, drums

Push the Button in the Middle

2007-06-04T23:32:00.001-05:00

Push the Button in the Middle
(Morgan)
Hold On (Fuller Mix)
(Morgan)

Hey there, space campers; chew on this, why dontcha. This one came out as a cross between Nine Inch Nails and "I Robot" by the Alan Parsons Project, which I myself find an intriguing concept. It's got a chunk o'piano, mmmmm.
And we also have a fuller mix of "Hold On", posted waaaay back in August, I believe. Fun for everybody!

Dgtl Mnpltn

2007-06-02T23:31:00.001-05:00

Reverso the Happy Clown
(Morgan)
ORFMOS Transmission
(Morgan)
You Haunt Me (Acoustic Version)
(Morgan-Sookman)

Digital manipulation at its finest. 10 points for anyone who pegs the source material for RTHC...all are remixes and there's some unheard stuff in there. "You Haunt Me" really flows along in acoustic form, checkitout...

Words of Wisdom

2007-06-01T23:25:00.001-05:00

Words of Wisdom
(Morgan)

OK, here's a great commentary on gurus and wisdom: in the Monkees movie "Head" there's a scene where Peter Tork, Mr. Hippie Guy, sits the other three down and starts to expound on the nature of the universe, the mysteries of life, etc. etc. It's all very serious and he ends on the cosmic riddle: "But why listen to me? For I know nothing."

Davy Jones, who has been sitting there patiently, gets royally pissed off at this and demands to know why he's been sitting there listening to all this blather if Peter indeed knows nothing. At which point he kicks down the door to the room they're in and starts kicking the crap out of people.

Well, I thought it was funny. See the movie, it's got some fun scenes and good music.

Al: Words & stuff

Hey, Ma, Look What I Found!

2007-05-30T23:24:00.001-05:00

Wish You Were Here (Waters-Gilmour)
The Simple Things (Demo) (Morgan-Sookman)
(Past The Reach of) 12 Step Help (Grungier Mix) (Wall-Morgan)
Rock Hard (Extended Instrumental) (Morgan-Sookman)

Going through the ol' mix CDs to find lummage for the site, I unearthed several interesting songs & variants. Here's some details:
1) WYWH: More jam band goodness. Drenched in reverb to accentuate that "you are there with us in the very small and very hot room with us" vibe. Don't ask what "up the gay" refers to...and I won't tell.
2) ST Demo: I like this this simple, tuneful little keyboard piece which later grew into a uber-produced Pop Machine staple. From small things, Mama, big things one day come...
3) 12 Step: I experimented here with a "heavier", more overdriven mix on this Osmium crowd-pleaser. Crunchy.
4) RH: Reachin' back to '90 for an alternate version of an early track. Dance, cowboy, dance!

Turn Off (Instrumental)

2007-05-28T23:46:00.000-05:00

Turn Off (Instrumental)

(Morgan-Wall)

Grrrr and Whirrrr go the machines in the Osmium arsenal. Occasionally we like to try to keep current with the kids and spew out some heavier sounds...this version spotlights the crunchy geetars and analog-y synth goodness. Extended post-adolescent misanthropy has its occasional advantages.

Al: Keys & drums
John: Guitars
Dave: Bass & guitar

Teen Rage

2007-05-27T23:15:00.000-05:00

Teen Rage

(Junior Cheeseburger)

Mmmmm...I think I'll have another Cheeseburger! This tasty treat takes on the trials and travails of today's totally trendsetting teens...it's a toe-tapper! So sit supine and swing to the sounds of the Seventies supplied by the Svengalis of supersonic stirrings....chow down on a chewy chunk of cheddar by the Cheeseburgers!!

Featuring D.Lux Cheeseburger, Junior Cheeseburger, Tex S. Cheeseburger and California Cheeseburger

Electric Rain

2007-05-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

Electric Rain

(Morgan)

There's a riff of deep heaviosity floating in here somewhere, perhaps to be distilled and deployed in an appropriate manner in another setting. So this is a step to be followed by others...

Solid Gold Pony

2007-05-25T21:10:00.001-05:00

Solid Gold Pony

(Junior Cheeseburger)

We're back with 365's favorite cartoon band, The Cheeseburgers!! Sit back and enjoy this slick and creamy slice of 70's-flavored processed music spread...I'll leave it to the enlightened listeners to decide whether this song is a sex metaphor, a drug metephor, an automotive metaphor or a song about a horse. Or any combination of the above. Ride the pony, baby!

Featuring D.Lux Cheeseburger, Junior Cheeseburger, Tex S. Cheeseburger and California Cheeseburger

(Don't Put Me) In A Box

2007-05-24T23:46:00.000-05:00

(Don't Put Me) In A Box

(Morgan)

Why not? 'Cause I said so!!!!

Al: Voices and musics

I Want You Back

2007-05-23T22:52:00.000-05:00

I Want You Back

(Wall)

No, not the Jackson 5 song. A fun John Wall composition that I enjoyed singing on...I remember not being able to be at the tracking session for some reason, and had to come up with a vocal melody on top of this very cool fully-produced track. Enjoyable, and very cool.

Al; Vox
John: Guitars
Dave: Bass, keys, geetar, drums

Fallen Elite

2007-05-18T16:07:00.000-05:00

Fallen Elite

(Morgan-Wall)

New lyrics for "Curtains of Steel" (see about 3 entries back). In addition to the new lyrics, we added some angry mob yelling at the beginning for reasons I quite frankly can't remember. Oh, well, nice to press Mike into service as he happened to be around for one of his own sessions...

Al; Vox, keys, drums
John: Guitars
Dave: Bass, add'l keys & guitar
Mike, John & Al: Angry mob

Zen Gospel Singing

2007-05-17T22:53:00.000-05:00

Zen Gospel Singing

More DUUC goodies. All menfolk this time, singing a very amusing ditty about...well, singing. Mebbe I'll post the video when I get a chance...

Jazz and Gospel

2007-05-16T22:59:00.000-05:00

Java Jive
Never Turnin' Back

I return here as one of the featured soloists in the Dupage Unitarian Universalist Church choir. "Java Jive" is a jazzy Manhattan Transfer number, and NTB is a gospel spiritual (!), so enjoy the technical virtuosity on display, very little of it coming from me...

http://www.box.net/shared/static/16ar15rqcg.mp3

Curtains of Steel

2007-05-08T21:42:00.000-05:00

Curtains of Steel

(Morgan-Wall-Sullivan)

Back to the mid-90's, in the midst of my "rock and roll hernia" phase. (i.e. it sounded like I had one when I was trying to be "emotive".) This came about since John had met a guy who wanted a song written to his lyrics. We duly obliged with this ode to mild emotional dysfunction (a terrian I have subsequently re-mined many times). It holds together well instrumentally, which is probably why we re-recorded it with new lyrics when John's buddy later sniffed that it wasn't what he was looking for. Waste not, want not, I say.

Al; Vox, keys, drums
John: Guitars
Dave: Bass, add'l keys & guitar

Back Again

2007-05-07T23:57:00.000-05:00

Instant Revolution! (Psych-In Mix)
Byzantium (Bassy Mix)

Got my first final out of the way, so yay me. This means a will start posting songs again, hurrah! Here are a few now. We are now rocking of the beat, yes!

Hey, You Kids! Get Offa My Laws!

2007-04-27T23:12:00.000-05:00

Rollin'
Lesbian Folksinger Blues
Kites and Jamcycles
Chunkers
Brrumble

The first jam here was considered decent enough by me back in the day so that I actually overdubbed additional keys on it. Some of the overdubs have vanished somewhere, but it's worth a listen. You never know...you might be on one of these tracks!

Anyway, finals are coming up, so we'll be back to the "regular" songs soon enough. And BTW, we now officially have 100 to go! To celebrate, be sure to send me a lot of money...

Loofa!!

2007-04-24T22:44:00.000-05:00

Get The Pink Out
Dubble Bubble
Gizzy Dysleksia
Stoned Steppin'
Oy Vey Como Va

More jammed bans. Stacked in order of tolerability, so start at the top first and ooze your way down. Some interesting double bass work in the first two...very atmospheric. Maaaaaan.

Clear the Decks

2007-04-23T22:47:00.000-05:00

Chimey Land
Another Mister Chimey Land
Recumbent Backhoe
Running The Cycles Down
Another Toothpaste/Resolve to Be

Take a deep breath and reach out for your inner mind. Take a journey of wonder and exploration with as we connect with the cosmic soul of...oh, all right, it's more goofy band jams. I gotta catch up, so latch onto these. Some of them have some interesting stuff...and I gotta post a whole lotta stuff to get me past finals week...

August 1914

2007-04-19T22:47:00.001-05:00

August 1914

(Morgan-Solzhenitsyn)

Found words here from a book I'm reading, Alexander Solzhenitzyn's "August 1914". I just love the idea of sharing a songwriting credit with Alexander Solzhenitzyn...

Al: Da

Signals Y

2007-04-18T23:29:00.000-05:00

Signals Y

(Morgan)

Hey, freaky keyboard playing, man. Good stuff. Where did you...what? Um, no, I'm not going to finish that, go ahead. No, really, it's OK. So, did you...uh, yeah, you can have that, too. Yeah, really. Uh...that one, too? Well...alright, but I...hey! Put that down! No, I WAS going to...ewww, that's disgusting. No, really that's alright, take it all. Yeah, all of it, really. I insist.

Al: Zoom!

Kites & Tricycles

2007-04-17T23:26:00.000-05:00

Kites & Tricycles

(Morgan)

OK, I'm gonna slip some Mindflux in here. Back in the 80's I was all about the 60's, and consequently wore my influences on my paisley sleeve for all to see/hear. There was a lot of cross-pollination of influences going on back then, so while I was raving on about some obscuro psych outfit, Sook was probably doing the same (or some obscuro new wave outfit, or glam outfit, or...) The upshot is that this is an early stab at British Psychedelicism from us, and the response it prompts from me at this vantage point is "Huh. I really only did know two chords back then, didn't I?"

Al: Vox, Keys
Sook: Backing Vox, Drums
Scott: Guitar
Andy Hammond: Guitar
Dave Minken: Backing Vox, Bass

Mayhem (Experimental/SQ Quad mix)

2007-04-17T00:12:00.000-05:00

Mayhem (Experimental/SQ Quad mix)

(Sookman-Wall)

Long ago in a galaxy far, far away (OK, it was New Jersey), two young men by the name of Sookman and Wall came up with a musical idea so original, so explosive, so staggering that years later I'd hang around hoping they'd let me sing on stuff.
That idea was Osmium, and I am told that Mayhem was one of their earliest songwriting endeavors. Eventually said Mayhem was slated to be recorded at Dr. Dave's studio, and metal greatness was born. Though I was not in the first tracking session, I heard that both Sook AND John took a stab at the lead vocal. Thinking that it sounded like fun and that I really liked the song, I asked if I could sing it as well. Magnanimously, I was allowed to put down a vocal track for an alternate version and there the matter stayed.
Until around 2000, when I started transferring as many of the original Osmium 16-track tapes to digital as I could. Unfortunately the tape with Mayhem on it had gotten "sticky" in the intervening years and I was only able to get a quick pass with wobbly EQ before we had to take the tape off the reel. Nonetheless, I did get it and started experimenting with mixing variations; I soon discovered that I could leave in multiple vocals and get kind of a "duet" between Sook and myself.
OK, I thought, let's really tart it up here. Sook carries most of the vocal chores here since, quite frankly, I think he nails the theatrics of the song. I added plenty o'effects (regulars know I rarely shy away from gooping things up) and some over-the-top guitar panning to maximize the encoded quad goodness. Maybe I can finesse a better mix with more work, but I think this one stands up.
Bottom line, it represents to me the best of the Osmium concept: it rocks AND it's funny. Go get 'em, guys!

Al: Vox
Sook: Vox
John: Guitar
Dave: The rest of it

Timeclock

2007-04-15T23:41:00.000-05:00

Timeclock

(Morgan)

Bass frequencies resonances harmonics Sesquehenna Hat Company.

Al: tick tick tick

My Subatomic Life (Instrumental)

(Morgan)

Al: Guitars & Drums
Dave: Bass & Lead Guitar
Mike: Keys

Slowed

2007-04-14T22:07:00.001-05:00

Slowed

(Morgan)

Al's Growly Grunge Guitar makes a comeback. Rrrr!
This one came about as I heard one of my other tunes drastically slowed down while I was using it as a test file for my EE homework. Thought it sounded really cool, so I tried to replicate the effect here...no dice on lowering the pitch, but slowing the tempo gave me the basis for the final track here. (A shiny new penny to anyone who can pinpoint which other song I slowed down for the rhythm loop. Go ahead and check the other 243 entries thus far...I'll wait.) The lyrics describe the general feeling I have trying to get out of bed after several days of getting 5 hours of sleep per night.

Al: Grrrr

Also: I tried changing the time signature for Living in the Ozone a few years back and did an instrumental demo. Kinda fun, check it out.

Indestructable!

2007-04-13T23:29:00.001-05:00

Indestructable!

(Morgan-Wall)

Duh duh duh dududuh, duh duh duh dududuh...sometimes you gotta get all stoopid. Rock!

Al: Vox & Drums
Dave: Everything else

New Post

2007-04-12T11:38:00.000-05:00

OK, I'm back. I could make up excuses for the fact that I was gone for a week or so: tests/homework at school, family life, church, etc., but while those are all valid quite frankly I just ran out of steam, in relation to this site and life in general.

A big "so who sees/hears this stuff anyway?" started hanging over my head and I got a bit discouraged. Yeah, I do have a few "regulars" here (kudos to all three of ya) so I'm lucky in that respect. In reality, I'm doing this for my own benefit/practice, and I have to keep that in mind...

I originally thought I would be "clever" and come up with a "Where's Al?" story to have fun with my absence, but screw it, let's just get moving again. Here's a few more:

Space Jam: I won't name the co-conspirators here unless they step forward and want me too. Noodling with reverb effects.
Eat The Whales (SQ Quad): Some new vocals here and a fuller mix.
Time (SQ Quad)
No Money For Fun (SQ Quad)

OK, more tomorrow, I would think.

Pies

2007-04-03T21:44:00.000-05:00

Pies

(Morgan)

Those who know my penchant for odd wordplay will not be surprised by this. There's a theme in here, I'm sure of it...just shows to go you what a man armed with a synthesizer and a free-range imagination will do.

Al: Mmmmm....pie!

Plonk

2007-04-02T22:31:00.000-05:00

Plonk

(Morgan)

Happy Happy song song playing, yes! You like humming along to keyboard and having good sing song time! Tune is very! And happy!

(I Hear My Baby's Voice) On the Radio (Over the Top Mix)

(Hewitt-Morgan-Sookman)

The previous version I posted of (IHMBV)OTR (hmm, there's a tough acronym to pronounce) was a little more "scaled back", i.e. didn't have as much processing goop on it, especially on the voices. Well, here's the goop-laden version, revealing some harmonies that didn't make it on the other version and a much more "radio-ready" sound. Takes ya back, huh?

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

Bad Hair Day (Live Drums)

2007-03-31T23:30:00.001-05:00

Bad Hair Day (Live Drums)

(Morgan-Wall)

The third Dr. Dave studio version of "Bad Hair Day", and another lyric rewrite which this time centers on...aging! Well, write what you know, I guess. I have since turned into the narrator and have comfortably settled into the role of suburban curmudgeon. Now get offa my lawn, you kids!

This version features actual drums and real instruments and everything. I don't have my Osmium CD handy, so I can't remember the name of the guy John got to play drums, but thank you, wherever you are...

Al: Vox
John: Guitars
Dave: Bass, Guitars
Some Guy John Found: Drums

Time

2007-03-30T23:19:00.000-05:00

Time

(Morgan)

Painting through words, describing through music, The Impressionist strikes again!

Al: Time for another one

Turn Off (Instrumental)

(Morgan-Wall)

Groove to the post-post-rock sounds of Osmium. Make up your own screed! Now we're even.

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

Stay

2007-03-29T21:51:00.000-05:00

Stay

(Morgan)

Dedicated to anyone who puts up with me, but especially my beautiful wife.

Al: Stickin' around

Hey, Einstein! (Instrumental)

(Morgan-Wall)

Hmmm, we appear to be a few tunes behind. OK, I'll throw a few extra bits in here for a few days to catch us up. Sing along with this "Karaoke-ready" version of "Hey, Einstein!" (or "I Can't Get What I Want For Christmas", if you want to look at it that way) and fascinate the neighbors with your knowledge of obscure pop songs.

Al: Acoustic Guitars, Drums
John: Electric Guitars
Dave: Bass

Test Post

2007-03-26T23:42:00.001-05:00

Test Post

1000 Miles Away (Instrumental Edit)

2007-03-26T23:41:00.000-05:00

1000 Miles Away (Instrumental Edit)

(Morgan-Wall)

A few years back I was given the chance to submit instrumental versions of some of our tunes for consideration on a relatively major DVD release. This window was open for about 5 minutes and did not come to pass, but I like some of the remixes that occurred regardless. This tune was the best contender in it's edited form. Hum along while you wait for that elevator.

Al: Keys, drums
John: Guitars
Dave: Bass, keys

Optimum Reciever for M-ary Orthogonal Signals

2007-03-25T23:52:00.000-05:00

Optimum Reciever for M-ary Orthogonal Signals

(Morgan-Proakis)

Boy, I sure wish Schoolhouse Rock was still around. I might be able to submit this piece, the lyrics of which are taken from one of my grad school signal processing textbooks: "Digital Communications", by John G. Proakis. Take a bow, John.

Geez, if my professors sung the lectures like this I might actually pay attention in class.

Al: Get optimum!

Repete S'il Vous Plait

2007-03-24T23:26:00.000-05:00

Repete S'il Vous Plait

(Morgan)

Mid-period Pop Machine, really a chance to try out an earlier version of my digital home studio. For some odd reason I've had a fascination with pidgin/fake French for many years now, and often will seize on any excuse to spew forth faux-Gallic goop in the context of a song. So really, the lyrics are meaningless drivel (please no snide comments about the rest of my catalog) though individual phrases may mean something. The title refers to virtually the only thing I remember from high school French: that the phrases for "Could you please repeat that?" and "Could you please fart again?" are one phoneme apart.

Al: Zut alors!

Headed Back to the Clubs/Clubbed in the Back of the Head

2007-03-23T21:56:00.000-05:00

Headed Back to the Clubs/Clubbed in the Back of the Head

(Morgan)

For a guy who doesn't really dance except to occasionally amuse himself and various onlookers, I am having fun learning to create this dance music stuff. I'm sure it would sound quirky to a true aficionado of any of the dance-related subgenres, but on the plus side I've learned how to create it fairly quickly (perfect for this site) and it allows me a fair amount of creative freedom to explore. And it keeps the kids happy in the car, so there you go.

Al: Headin' on up

Bad Hair Day (Evangelical Lyrics)

2007-03-22T22:56:00.000-05:00

Bad Hair Day (Evangelical Lyrics)

(Morgan-Wall)

OK, here's another Osmium fave from days gone by. At one point we wanted to retool BHD since we thought the lyrics needed punching up...well, I took the "bad hair day" concept seriously and applied it to televangelists. Snarky...in a good way. Eric, you knew this was comin' eventually. Enjoy.

Al: Vox
John: Guitars
Dave: More guitars and the rest of the stuff

Eat The Whales

2007-03-21T10:20:00.000-05:00

Eat The Whales

(Morgan)

Let's get back on track with some new stuff. It's fun and it's free!

Al gets political? Nah, I just think I'm sick of empty sloganeering, but then I'm sick of most things these days. Of course, if I'm sick of this I should probably pick another place to live rather than...um, EARTH.

Anyway, enjoy the tune; I think I may be getting a handle on the pop music creation thing a bit, though I do seem to be drifting into mid-period Steve Winwood territory here ( I leave it to the estimable Mr. Sookman to come up with a more accurate/obscure comparison).

Al: I'm full, thanks...

The Jig Is Up

2007-03-16T23:17:00.000-05:00

The Jig Is Up

(Morgan)

In honor of St. Paddy's Day I've come up with something that sounds vaguely like Rick Wakeman performing a faux-Irish jig on Ecstasy while accompanied by a bevy of dentists' drills. You're welcome.

Al: Because I can

365 Jukebox

2007-03-14T23:33:00.000-05:00

Howdy, campers. With the recent "Oop!" opus fulfilling some song-posting requirements for a few days, I thought I'd revisit some 365 high spots for your remembering pleasure, all of which were written & recorded specifically for this site. Gosh, do you remember when you first heard these classics? It's as if it were sometime in the last few months...

Numerosophy (Morgan)

With the Police riding high on the comeback trail, let's revisit this sonic/lyrical tribute/steal/swipe at them from last September. I'm fairly sure I stumbled onto one of their alternate guitar tunings here, so if I have to leave the country suddenly you know who's after me...

Can't Let You Go (SQ Quad mix) (Morgan)

An acoustic guitar, ethereal voices and surprisingly reflective subject matter illustrate why the on-the-fly ethos can work. Check it out.

Centrifugue (Morgan)
Technofugue (Morgan)

The original is the Nirvana rip and the followup is the strip-down-and-rebuild-electronica-style. (Remember electronica? No, she wasn't a member of the Avengers...) Of course, Nirvana never did this kind of thing themselves...leave it to third-stringers Bush to release an album of their own remixes. I like to think I make better music than gavin Rossdale (who doesn't?), yet Gwen Stefani still will not return my calls.

Meet the Oop!

2007-03-13T23:52:00.000-05:00

Psurgery of Pst. Jude (Morgan-Spring)
Hello (Sookman)
Rock Hard (Morgan-Sookman-Spring)
Experiment #17 (Morgan)
Gimme Back The Cadillac (Sookman-Spring)
Synthetic Woman (Morgan-Sookman-Spring)
Do Ya! (Lynne)
Tony Donn and the Fracture (Morgan-Sookman)
Blun (Morgan-Sookman)
Hours of the Night (Morgan)
Flash in the Panties (Morgan-Sookman)

Well, I'm sure I whetted your appetite for the legendary "Oop!" album back here, so what the hey, here's the whole darned ever-lovin' thing for ya. Heck, I owe you some tracks, so this'll actually put me ahead. Note that some of these tracks are all Sook; I've added them to preserve album continuity, but won't have them count on the 365 tally.

Listening back on this, it's actually funnier than I remember. Performance art lives! And now, some short comments on the songs themselves:

Psurgery of Pst. Jude:
Same song as last wek's post, but the original mix complete with "Strawberry Fields Forever" fade in/outs and spoken bit at the end.

Hello:
Sook's original demo, included as a bonus track on the original album. A Pop Machine signature.

Rock Hard: We attempt to get all Rolling Stoney in the privacy of our cheap Hollywood apartment. Not nearly as excitingly seamy as you might think.

Experiment #17: Hey, Bill came up with the song titles (and lyrics for the first half), so I had to come up with something suitably arty here. I believe you'll notice that later in the album Sook and I actually start yelling "Art! Art! Art!" to underscore the point. Subtle we're not.

Gimme Back the Cadillac: This is all Sook, and all good. Showing his unabashed love of glam, the man strips the beat down and delivers several minutes of Bolanian goodness. This one worked out very well in concert.

Synthetic Woman: An early space rock/ELO opus. Reach exceeds grasp here, but surprisingly dense for something recorded on 4-track cassette (and appropriately enough, not the first or last time I've been labelled "surprisingly dense").

Do Ya: I love Sook's deadpan Brit piss-take on this Move/ELO classic, complete with sound effects. Don't get me wrong, we both love the song (we've covered it several times in the past), but I forgot that this was a lotta fun.

Tony Donn and the Fracture: Written and recorded in record time, I actually revisited this one later, incorporating a faux-Santana Latin percussion break. (Sook's take on this: "Uh....OK.") I believe it was this track which later resulted in an almost knock-down drag out argument between Sook and I about whether we used macaroni or rice as percussion. (Our friend Dan's take upon witnessing this: "Uh...OK.")

Blun: Featuring buddy and fellow Syracuse alum Tommy G. via phone. Hey, Tommy G!

Hours of the Night: Not part of the original album, the lyrics for this came to me in a dream (I know that happens to artists on occasion...I'm willing to take inspiration from wherever it flows). I can't remember how many times I bounced the tracks on this one but it winds up being pretty thick with sound...might even be a dropout or two in there. Still, I remember getting the most kudos for this direction and have been following up with atmospheric stuff ever since...which anyone who has been following this site can attest to. So I guess I've been trying out the same stuff for almost 20 years now...

Flash in the Panties: Sped up voices and goofy lyrics? Sign me up! Now you understand the Pop Machine experience.

Al & Sook: Vocals, keyboards & percussion
Special appearance by Tommy G. on "Blun"

Do The Math

2007-03-12T22:46:00.000-05:00

Do The Math

(Morgan)

OK, I know I'm two behind so will double up this week. Here's a new one for now!

This is "do the math" as in "figure it out" as opposed to "do 365's newest dance craze called 'The Math'". Though I suppose if you were in the mood to gyrate, hey, why not? It's got a good beat and you can calculate to it...

Al: Adding it up

Feed The Body, Feed The Brain

2007-03-08T23:40:00.000-06:00

Feed the Body, Feed the Brain

(Wall-Morgan)

Well, here's one big sprawling what-is-is-about?, Al's-got-a-cold, Faux-lice (rhymes with "Police") mess. Having gotten some good tracks out of previous early Osmium sessions at Dr. Dave's, we got cocky and went into the studio without this next track being "fully formed". It didn't quite "gel". Yet we still like it, "especially" (OK, I'll cut it out) for Dave's cool bass line and all the goofy samples. It's fun! It's free! It's fabulous! (Did I mention it's free?)

Al: Vox, Key, Samples
John: Guitars, Samples
Sook: Percussion, Samples
Dave: Bass, Drums, Samples

Chemicals

2007-03-08T23:30:00.000-06:00

Chemicals

(Morgan)

Ha ha ha hahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Al: heh heh heh

Psurgery of Pst. Jude

2007-03-07T23:59:00.001-06:00

Psurgery of Pst. Jude

(Spring-Morgan)

Let me tell you about the "Oop!" album.

The scene: 1990. Sook and I have just moved out to LA to find fame and fortune and are living in a a Hollywood hovel, one microphone, a cheap keyboard and a 4-track cassette recorder (the mighty Tascam PortaTwo) our sole recording equipment. Our college buddy Bill jokingly sent us parodic lyrics, song titles and drawings of an imaginary album he thought represented our styles at the time.
Being young, broke and with extra time on our hands, we decided to up the ante and actually RECORD the durned thing. Forget that we had no good equipment, little recording experience and that our musical skills were nascent, to put it charitably. As "idea men" and self-proclaimed rock stars we were gonna make it happen. And happen it did.
The "album" was titled the "Oop!" album (as in: "Oop! Gilligan! Don't drop those coconuts!") and the first song that we plowed into was "The Psurgery of Pst. Jude", which was Bill's take on my take on 60's rock excess: a "concept" piece based on my love of overproduced, byzantine, baroque psychedelia. Given the limitations noted above, it turned out to be a pastiche of ELO & the Moody Blues as formulated by Iggy and the Stooges and sung by Jonathan Richman.
A dozen or so more demos followed representing the rest of the album. First Sook and I would take turns shaping them over the space of several days, but with a self-imposed deadline looming as many as three or four of them were written AND recorded over the space of an evening.
This version of the song is a 2002 remix I dashed off after transferring the multitrack cassette to digital. Unfortunately it is missing a few overdubs recorded directly onto the cassette master (such as Sook's closing monologue), but appears here in generally superior fidelity (such as it is). If i can dig out the other version for transfer I'll post it later.
Anyway, here's an aural snapshot of some crazy kids making lo-fi freaky music on their own terms; beats the pants off Nickleback in my book. More to come...

Al: Psaints preserve us!

Another Day in Paradise

2007-03-06T22:15:00.001-06:00

Another Day In Paradise

(Morgan)

Are you ready to...SOFT ROCK? Well, lightly-synchopated mid-tempo rock, at least. Here's a little ditty about the rat race and how ya gotta keep goin'...turn frustration into art, I say. Hopefully there's something everyone can identify with in here. If not, well...I want your life.

Al: In paradise

(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

2007-03-05T23:50:00.001-06:00

(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

(Boyce-Hart)

Here's a little goodie from the early Pop Machine days: yet another cover of this perennial garage fave. To get a fullness of sound on my 4-track cassette recorder, a little voice kept running through my head yelling "Saturate the tape! Saturate the tape!" Set synths to stun, and 3 minutes later you're awash in sound. Enveloping.

Al: Still steppin'

The Doctor Will See You Now

2007-03-04T23:49:00.001-06:00

The Doctor Will See You Now

(Morgan)

So where does it hurt? Show me any discoloration that you may have. Trouble sleeping? Nausea? Take two of these and lean back. Rinse. Spit. Explode.

This won't hurt a bit.

Al: under an aesthetic

Pictures of Power (Studio Version)

2007-03-03T23:53:00.001-06:00

Pictures of Power (Studio version)

(Morgan-Wall)

...and here's the final version from Dr. Dave's studio. Since the original lyrics were "one take" placeholders, we cleaned 'em up for the final version and finished up the music. Sounds nifty, especially the DTS surround sound remix, which I will make available one of these days...

Al: Vox, guitars, drums
Sook: Backing vox
John: Guitars
Steve: Bass
Dave: Guitars, fancy mixin'

Pictures of Power (Demo Version)

2007-03-03T00:13:00.000-06:00

Pictures of Power (Demo version)

(Morgan-Wall)

One of the earlier demos I did after the leap to home digital and one of the first I did the music for on guitar, this song was influenced by a number of the guitar-art-noise-post-grunge bands around from the mid-90's though the new millenium (think Tool/Failure/Replicants/Catherine Wheel/Pat Boone, etc...) I dug the idea of cold art-metal imbued with old school synths, so this and "Turn Off" is where we started to incorporate this on occasion.

For the final version (to be posted tomorrow), John came in and worked his magic on it...the one stanza we kept was the opening couplet "You've booby-trapped your skin again/Now the needles point out instead of in" Make of that what you will; best interpretation gets a free subscription to the Oswego Shopping News.

No Money For Fun

2007-03-02T00:02:00.000-06:00

No Money For Fun

(Morgan)

Hmmm...I just noticed the piano is reminiscent of "One" by Three Dog Night, and the lyrics are a bit like "Can't Buy Me Love" on Thorazine. But like the best medecines this one goes down quickly and hopefully tastes good. No money for fun? No soup for you!

Strange Equations

(Morgan)

We go to the cassettes again to prove what a math geek I really am. "Tesseracts collide"? There's a lyric you won't hear in a Ramones song...

Amazing Grace

2007-02-28T22:11:00.000-06:00

Amazing Grace

(Trad.)

And another new direction for 365: I'm currently taking some piano lessons to learn how to play the "correct" way (as opposed to the normal plonking around I do to come up with this stuff) and this is one of my practice pieces. So I add some synth strings and vocals and presto!: another 365 piece. Multitasking!

Your Mileage May Vary (Demo #2: Nu Wave)

(Morgan-Wall)

Another YMMV demo, this one in a more new wave style. I recorded these on the same day to see what each approach would be like. Turns out we wound up recording both versions in the studio...how's that for mileage?

Re: Percussion

2007-02-27T23:09:00.001-06:00

Re: Percussion

(Morgan)

That's what I like about this site: I can (and sometimes have to) grab onto an idea that I might not have fully developed in another context and take it to see where it goes. Here we go with the tribal beat and pile on the drums, giving us a hypnotic groove thingy that...well, check it out yourself. About time I was allowed a drum solo...if Iron Butterfly can do it, why can't I?

Your Mileage May vary (Demo #1: Heavy)

(Morgan-Wall)

How heavy metal can you get with a distorted organ? (Insert your own dick...joke here.) Trawling back thru the cassette archives brings us one of the many interesting demos for this song. Name checking Jon Lord of Deep Purple is completely justifiable in this instance.

Calling the Bluff, Pt. 2

2007-02-26T22:27:00.000-06:00

And....we're back! Sorry for the delay, folks, but it was a very nutty weekend over here. I promise we'll play catchup for the next few days and post 2 songs until we've hit our quota later on in the week.. With that said, let's begin the fun...

Gaaah!

(Morgan)

Heh heh, nice suggestion, Eric! As you can tell, I'll turn anything into a song. I must say, it is a peppy little number for something devoted to a primal grunt. Is guess that must make it punk rock...

The President's Analyst

(Morgan)

Here's a cheery little number (heh) from the mid 90's. For you eagle-eyed culture vultures, yes, I stole the title from an old James Coburn movie. I've never seen the film in question but I liked the title so I "nicked" it, as our friends across the pond would say. Somber yet hummable.

Gaaaah!

2007-02-25T09:46:00.000-06:00

Sorry, folks, it's been extra crazy over here for the last few days...but I promise to post again tonight and catch up for the last few days. Thanks for yer patience, and enjoy the music!

Al

She Bangs My Head

2007-02-21T21:22:00.000-06:00

She Bangs My Head

(Wall)

Yeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhh, BABY! Are you ready to ROCK? (I know Cousin Eric is...enjoy this, fella!) We hit the wayback machine to those pre-Nirvana days of yore (Days of your what? Har-dee har har) so you can enjoy Osmium in all its big hair glory. I think this is probably John's fave early Os-joint, and I'm pretty fond of it, as well. My "Ian Astbury on helium" impression still gives me a grin when I hear it. Ah, memories...

Al: Yow!
John: Guitars (natch)
Dave: Drums, bass, more guitars

Electric Sandwich

2007-02-20T23:34:00.000-06:00

Electric Sandwich

(Morgan)

Groovy, man! Like, wow! Like, what if hippies had modern synthesizers? Would they have made something like this? Would they have drenched the vocals in delay like yours truly? Only the fates know for sure! As the song suggests, "bite into the Electric Sandwich" and find out! Soon to be on an Electric Lime Peel Expansion Module compilation near you...

Al: still biting

Grantham Heights

2007-02-19T21:51:00.000-06:00

Grantham Heights

(Morgan)

Cap'n Sam lovingly rolled his glass eye around in his mouth as he thought about what to best say next. The orb made a slight clicking sound as it made a circuit past the good captain's teeth, and finally he released it into his hand with a slight wet Pop! Grunting slightly, Sam then carefully pressed the eye under his eyepatch and into the waiting socket. Satisfied, he then cleared his throat and studied the young man before him.
Young Billy gazed up at the captain as if examining some strange new species of exotic bird. Still weak from a night belowdecks on the HMS Rotterdamnungfillip, Bill cast a jaundiced eye upon all of his surrounding, not least of all his brightly attired host. Wondering whether he should bring up the Treasure of Chao Yung Sang, he decided against saying anything at the moment, instead relying on a series of eyebrow movements to communicate his unease to the seemingly oblivious captain.
The captain thought this amusing, and stepped down to clap Billy on the back. "Ho! We have a feisty one today!" Turning to the first mate, he bellowed "Mr. Mohammed! Bring me the tar paper! We have a live one tonight! This'll be a shore leave, to remember, I wager!"
Bill said nothing but clenched his teeth in anticipation of the events to come. Just a few more hours, and there would be raspberry jam enough for an entire city flowing from the shattered hull. And for once, HE would be in control...

Technofugue

2007-02-19T00:22:00.000-06:00

Technofugue

(Morgan)

We revisit "Centrifugue" from a few weeks back, stripping off all but the vocals and building it back up as a new song. I wanted to see how grunge might translate into electro, and the answer is...surprisingly well! Maybe Kurt Cobain would have gone techno had he lived after all (yeah, right...and maybe Pat Boone will make a heavy metal album...)

Al: a nu man

Get the Funk Out Of Here

2007-02-18T00:12:00.000-06:00

Get the Funk Out Of Here

(Morgan)

Another cassette goodie. More Phil Collins than Bootsy Collins, it's really just an excuse for me to use the title, which hopefully is clever and cheesy at the same time (cleveesy?)

Al: All funked up

Walk the Silent Road

2007-02-16T23:02:00.000-06:00

Walk the Silent Road

(Morgan)

So the wheel comes 'round and we have another soft one tonight. The lyrics are another mood painting, but relate to the idea that emotions are inexpressible sometimes, solace seems to remain out of reach, and that we have to keep on keepin' on. You know, garden variety happy happy dance music kinda stuff...expect to hear this one on American Idol, I'm sure. I'll get this outta my system and the next one will be a punk rock ode to flatulence...

Al: Still Walking

Do You Feel?

2007-02-15T22:16:00.000-06:00

Do You Feel?

(Morgan)

Back to the cassettes. Humboyah! The answer to tonight's musical question is "as often as I can." Seriously folks, I'm here all year, enjoy the drum machine.

Al: Feelings, nothing more than...

Feed The Machine

2007-02-15T00:11:00.000-06:00

Feed the Machine

(Morgan)

Never let it be said that I didn't push the envelope of new sounds and technologies...what we have here is essentially a 70's keyboard workout in the context of an 80's dance song using 90's sounds played on an '00s keyboard. It's all music, homeez!

Al: More machines

December's Child

2007-02-13T22:18:00.000-06:00

December's Child

(Morgan)

More 90's cassette; here's an instrumental I've always been fond of. I will often plonk down in front of my gear and just start riffing on stuff just to de-stress, and the best of the ideas form themselves into songs. Of course, with this site I've gotta be a bit more focused...but only a bit. Don't want it to become like actual work, dontcha know...

Al: Snowed in

Air

2007-02-12T23:57:00.000-06:00

Air

(Morgan)

Back to the 90's we go for some cassette demos. Ah, youth! Nothing like the aural equivalent of old photos to get the ol' cringe reflex going. Still, I will endeavor to separate the chaff from the less-chaffy here.
Here I go for an interesting vibe based on the classic "overdub the four-track until you can see through the tape" philosophy. Kind of a groovy art-funk-vocal thang here...echo is your friend!

Al: Airhead

Beat Me Up

2007-02-11T21:42:00.000-06:00

Beat Me Up

We return with new material designed to sound old. A bit of Merseybeat, a smatter of Motown, and a big chunk o'punk (60's style)...Martha and the Standellas, if you will. Of course, the tongue-in-cheek-osity is much higher than on your standard garage raver, but that's just the way I roll.
I freely admit to being inspired by "Talkin' to A Jar", our entry from a week or so ago...your check is in the mail, Mr. Sookman. All we need are some scratchy 45 noises and we're off...

Al: All right!

This is It (Not the Kenny Loggins Song, Sorry)

2007-02-10T23:23:00.000-06:00

Chocolate Down (SQ Quad remix)

OK, this is the last SQ remix I've got for a while, so more new lummage tomorrow. For now, get up and dance around your speakers, funk puppies! (Hey, there's an interesting band name...)

Al: 72% cacao

In Which We Continue the Trend Started Last Night

2007-02-08T22:22:00.000-06:00

Ha ha! Thought you escaped, didn't you? Well, my pretties, prepare yourself for another round of action with Al's Mixing Board (well, it's really a computer-based digital audio workstation, but youze gets the idea). The culprits this evening are:

Instant Revolution! (SQ Quad remix)
(Morgan)

Call me a sailor, I like this one. Peppy, some nice little keyboard bitsies and a message for all you kids out there (I think it has something to do with the fact that I can't drive 55, but I can't quite remember).

Centrifugue (SQ Quad remix)
(Morgan)

Oh! The moaning. Oh! The angst. Oh! Henry. It's as if the 90's never ended. Party on, Wayne!

Al: Come again? Don't mind if I do...

Al's Semi-Regular Quadraphonic Remix Extravaganza!!

2007-02-07T23:32:00.000-06:00

Dissidentists (Jumpin' 'Round Guitar) SQ Remix
Dissidentists (Static Guitar) SQ Remix
Sacred Lullabies (Extra Moody Bluesian Vocal) SQ Remix

(Morgan)

No, the title does not refer to a circus act. This, as you may remember, is where I get to put my feet up and fiddle around my with surround sound gear in the name of buying myself a few days. "But why, Al", you opine, "should we download the same tracks we downloaded in weeks past?"

"Ah ha! " I counter, "even if you play these back in simple stereo there are changes, nay IMPROVEMENTS, that I believe you will find of interest. In fact you can feel free to discard the previous versions if you so desire...why, you should smash the computer holding the old files. SMASH, I say! THAT is how confident I feel that you will find these tracks UTTERLY SUPERIOR to any previous versions. Ha ha! Ha ha! Glerk. Bring me my medication, my face is spasming..."

And so on. I may be overstating the case a trifle, but to make up for it I attach TWO versions of "Dissidentists". (What's the difference? One has more swirly guitar bits.) All tracks, natch, are encoded in SQ quad. Enjoy.

And on a different note: Well, it looks like we just passed the halfway mark for the year-long project here. Holy Crap! I might actually make it all the way through...

Al: Better the second time

Crown of Despair

2007-02-05T22:51:00.000-06:00

Crown of Despair

(Morgan)

Y'know, I haven't really taken a potshot at the Goth genre for a while. That's a shame, really, because if any genre is humorless and ripe for parody it's that one. So here ya go, a little sumthin' purposefully designed to sound like bad Depeche Mode (I know there's inherent redundancy in that statement, but let's roll with it for now). Aficionados may argue that DM is not "true Goth" and namecheck several dozen bands I've never heard of. Fine. Get yer own blog.

Al: Really, really, really depressed (until the ice cream arrives)

Damage Control

2007-02-04T22:47:00.000-06:00

Damage Control

(Morgan)

Well, it's a good thing I'm sitting here in my underground bunker plonking away at my keyboard, as aboveground I'm sure cries of "Bring me the head of Rex Grossman!!" are resounding out into the night. Not a happy day for Chicago football fans, but hey, we're all about the music here!

Al: Touchdown!

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

2007-02-04T00:26:00.000-06:00

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

(Morgan-Wall)

Osmium gets all socially relevant and shit. We take on consumerism with a wide array of weaponry including incisive lyrics, lyrical incisors and streamlined production values. We put a bit of effort into this and it comes out swingin'. The arpeggiated piano riff came to me in the shower, as many good things do. Mmmm, soapy!
Yes, the title was subconciously "lifted" from an old Gil-Scott Heron song. Steal from the best, I say.

Al: Massed Vocals, Keys
John: Guitars, Radio Voice #1
Dave: Drums, Bass, Guitars