The Simple Things

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

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

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

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

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

Gravity

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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!

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)

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

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

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

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

(Don't Put Me) In A Box

(Morgan)

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

Al: Voices and musics

I Want You Back

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

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

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

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

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