Day 252: Exploring the New Rock

So this is a slight homage to the Rolling Stones, but is really more of a diatribe about how things are fucked up in America, A.K.A. "The Land of Opportunity".

First, let me state that I firmly believe America is a pretty great place to live, and it seems like many others agree, otherwise we would have significantly less immigration.  People emigrate to lots of other places, but I doubt Kurdistan has the same problems we do.  What I AM talking about is that while people say "You can be anything you want here." or "The sky's the limit."  I would say that's not quite true.  Some people are victims of circumstance and it's nearly impossible to break out of those circumstances.  Rather than rant anymore I'll let the music speak for itself.

Lyrics:
You can almost always get what you want (welcome to America),
In this land of giants and fools, 
you follow each and every rule.  
You think you know how to escape
But you don't know any way. 

 Only in america.

As long as night moves on, 
express yourself in every song, 
hold your head up high,
you can do it all, 
any way you want, 
you will never fall.  

Only in america, 
here in america.

You can almost always get what you want (welcome to America), 

Here in America.

Day 122: Like a Dragon

Was watching a documentary about graffiti artists all over the world last night and a guy in Sao Paolo said "This city is like a dragon."  He followed up the metaphor with a comparison that made sense, most of which I can't remember.  I stole the line from him.

Lyrics:
At the bottom of the river where you lay.
At the bottom of a well, I hope you'll stay.

From the top of the mountain, head in the clouds.
I can hear you shouting,
Shouting so loud.

This city is like a dragon,
Going to eat us up.
You are the hero trying to save us all.

Standing on the hilltop, sword in your hand.
Blood on your face, your claws are sharp.
We run from you, but we aren't fast enough.

This city is such a monster,
Going to chase you down the road.
This city is a hungry machine.
Don't stop feeding it.

Day 88: Pop is Modern

Once again, an experiment to do one thing went in a completely unexpected direction.  I started off using Neutron and trying to very subtly manipulate it to try and get a "usable" sound.  Something somewhat musical, but different.  Well, I was applying it to a tasty little bass guitar lick and stumbled on to what is a very close imitation of a very scratchy bowed cello.  So, to note, the sound at the beginning of this track is not a cello, or any other string instrument.  Just a sampled bass (from the Electric Bass Refill) run thru Neutron Particle Emitter.

After that, what was going to be an experimental track mutated into a modern pop/rock tune.

Lyrics:
You better hold on.
You wanted it, you got it.
You took it from me.

You're a holy terror,
You got holy fire,
You are wholly unholy,
Filled with desire.
I have nothing left
You took my best and threw it on the fire to die.

Ultimately, I was never going to take you back.
At least that's what you knew.
But, there is no war now.

You got a loaded mouth,
It's filled with lies.
You're sending out all your spies.
You can't try to trust,
It's too easy to kill.
You shouldn't see us as a total loss.
We're a total loss.

Day 81: A Chance to Breathe

Today is a rare day.  A "free" day, we'll call it.  No kids, no work, no vehicle and nothing that really has to be done.  As a result I was able to do something I rarely do now... play guitar.  There are only a couple of guitar tracks on today's work, but it was refreshing to be able to put live instruments on something and not be interrupted.

This track started as an experiment trying to use only loops, but went off the rails (as many of my experiments do - FOCUS!).  The driving force behind it is definitely a few core loops, appropriately mangled.



Lyrics:

Steel yourself 'cause here it comes.

You don't have a way to live.
You don't have a cent to give.
You don't have any way to survive, but yet you thrive.

You walked thru the open door, not a single thought to where you were.
You challenged everyone before they even said a word.
You held us all in open court, your opinion was the judge.
You told us where we could all go and quickly walked away.

You told a lie, you told the truth, you tried to parse your words.
You split us up, you shut us up, you overcame each verb.
You thought you had the upperhand, but you only had a lie, but yet you thrive.

Day 67: Absolom Stole the Hearts of Men

Another quasi-post-rock work with ambient sounds.  Not quite as washy as the last one was, but still heavily influenced by Sigur Ros.  Used the same trick with the bass (overdriven bass sound that has a LFO that makes it pulse... in case you were wondering).  This work features sounds from the Auditory Vortex Vol. 1 refill, as well as Jason McGerr's refill.

Any apparent connection the following lyrics might have to anything religious is purely coincidental.

Lyrics:
He stood at the gates and waited for you.
He nearly was the only one.

This prophet is the only one.

He stood at the gates and listened to you.
You nearly loved the only one.

This prophet is the only one.

When will you listen?
When will you learn?
When will you learn he is the only one?

He bowed at your feet while you held your breath.
This prophet is the only one.
He held your hand while you looked around.
This prophet is the only one.

When will you listen?
When will you learn?
He is the only one.

Day 53: On Fat Tuesday

Fat sounds for Fat Tuesday.


Lyrics:
I saw you for the first time after so many years.
The living dead is what I thought.
Like a corpse, you appeared.

Corpse on the bed,
Elephant in the room.

Barely clothed or fed,
 But adorned in jewels.