Who says 3/4 time can't rock? This was originally from my 2013 RPM Challenge when, for some strange reason, pretty much everything I did just worked. Even the crappy songs from that album are less crappy than usual.
This song is as close…
Rocks! .... in 3s! I tend to use 3s for folksie/balladie things (one coming soon I suspect, the way things are panning out here) ... but I've never really tried to rock in 3s... this proves it can be done!! :) As ever, mighty cool guitars.
Another re-recorded 2014 50/90 song. This one was written on or about July 4th as New England was about to get spanked by Hurricane Arthur. I tend to write about hurricanes a lot. Weird.
The guitars here are all Gibson ES-335. The amps…
You can take the red head out of the 80's, but you can't take the 80's out of the red head... I guess. I didn't like anything current when I was growing up during the 80's. Well, almost anything.
This one was originally written during the…
The June Music album in a month thingie has two sort of musical themes. One is sloooooow tempos. The other is a lot of the songs have very sparse guitar parts. Neither thing was planned, they both just happened.
I kinda like this one…
Five songs finished (there will be 11, I think) and as of right now this kid is the single... if I were actually releasing this and needed to release a single... which I'm not.
I also think 90 beats per minute is as fast as any of the songs…
Are all of my songs this month funeral dirges?
I like playing over a 6/8 groove, but I don't know if this one is holding up for me. I don't dislike it entirely, but it seems lacking somehow. I almost like the lyrics but I think I should have…
This one is long. Much longer than it needs to be, but at the time it seemed like the right move. The chorus to this one came to me while I was watching TV with the family. I fear (hopefully wrongly) that I stole it from the background score…
Loving the groove of this one. And another really cool chorus. Don't worry about the length - I was expecting a cool guitar solo for that long... and I got it :)
Not sure how I feel about this one. It’s not as bad as some of my crap, but it’s not that great either. I kinda like how the bass does some strumming, but damn if that intro isn’t way too long.
The rhythm guitars are an ES-335 Pro to a RYRA…
I see what you mean about the lentgh of the intro... But you'd lose the tension it creates if you shortened it? Loving the sound of the guitars on these tracks.
February, March, April, May, all have completed album in a month projects. Here comes the first song from June.
I broke my album-in-a-month challenge rule that says once you get a take you don't redo it. I did all of the rhythm guitars twice…
Not sure how I feel about this one. It’s not as bad as some of my crap, but it’s not that great either. I kinda like how the bass does some strumming, but damn if that intro isn’t way too long.
The rhythm guitars are an ES-335 Pro to a RYRA…
Not sure how I feel about this one. It’s not as bad as some of my crap, but it’s not that great either. I kinda like how the bass does some strumming, but damn if that intro isn’t way too long.
The rhythm guitars are an ES-335 Pro to a RYRA…
Not sure if this one is worthy of the 6:00 running time as it's not nearly that much of a prog epic. I think I over did the padding (unintentionally). I could have cut the break in the middle considerably, and the solo at the end could be cut…
Love the 335 lead. I see what you mean about mixing, though. And the drone - that's a cute idea. I wasn't gonna listen now (VERY late, VERY drunk), but the description of the drone made me press play. Sounds cool, but I almost wanted more of it - I am drunk, though! That lead, wow, wanna switch a guitar on now... but... there's always tomorrow/today... and bed feels like a good idea.
Did you know that if you use a drummer in GarageBand you can shut off the snare drum? I didn't. I setup the entire song with the drummer (Benny) and then copied the track to a standard MIDI drums track and deleted all the snare hits. Cool…
I came dangerously close to calling this ABACAB, and also to having the song form be ABACAB. Bullet dodged? I was noodling out the bass line and drum parts on my iPad and I had three sections. I couldn't decide which one had the better hook…
Dig this one too. First listen I was distracted by some work stuff... then a delivery... life, eh? Came back and hit play again and it's like old friend.
If ever there was a song that begged to close an album, it was this turkey.
A couple of things here. First, I don't really know what I was going for. Quiet, slow, boring? Probably not boring, but there you go. The cool thing happens in…
If ever there was a song that begged to close an album, it was this turkey.
A couple of things here. First, I don't really know what I was going for. Quiet, slow, boring? Probably not boring, but there you go. The cool thing happens in…
My song writing happy place is sort of slow to mid tempo dumb rockers. Something like 75-90 beats per minute. Every once in a while I feel the need to shake things up and write something super hyper active. This is an example of that. I also…
LOL - you always sell your stuff so well in your blurbs. I actually like the lead takes like this (that's assuming these are the sloppy ones and you didn't replace them!)
This is sort of two songs stuck together. That wasn't the plan, it just sort of happened. The only thing interesting about the noisier first half is the fuzz pedal on the rhythm guitar. Big Muffs really are harder to fit into a mix. I do love…
Loving the rhythm/groove in the choruses. Oh wow... yeah, that works... you're right moving the "middle" to the end instead. If it had gone back to the rocking I think it would have felt "So? And?" But like this it's "yeah, man, cool ending... dig those echoes... let's listen again"
If ever there was a song that begged to close an album, it was this turkey.
A couple of things here. First, I don't really know what I was going for. Quiet, slow, boring? Probably not boring, but there you go. The cool thing happens in…
This was the first idea I had for May Music 2020 or whatever the hell I'm calling this month's project. I came up with the guitar riff using the fake guitar thingie in GarageBand. I "played" the riff using the fretboard on my iPhone. I sort…
So, what do you think... could it use more wah-wah?
This was written for the 2014 RPM Challenge. The chromatic thing at the beginning had been rattling around in my head for years and years but had never found a home.
The lyrics here…
That plinky little sound in the verses is an organ with some distortion on it. I wanted Jon Lord to play the part but he wasn't available. It's playing eighth notes in the verses and a sustained pad in the chorus. If I remix this I might bring it up. I haven't decided yet.
The sound at the end is actually a grunt of frustration. This is the easiest song every written in all of the history of music and it took me 700 takes to get the rhythm guitars right. I was going to cut it out but when the time came I thought it was funny so I left it there.
The first song completed for the second round of re-recorded Quarantine Tunes. This one was written on the last day of the 2016 RPM Challenge. I had written a bunch of songs saying that people who think the Earth is flat are somehow defective…
It's not a cocked wah, all of those mids are coming from the Klon pedal. I was a scooped mids guy for 30 years before I finally figured out that if I just boost the mids a little the rest of the band can hear me without me cranking my amp until it hurts. Now I overdo it in the other direction. heh
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
And here we go - Edith FINALLY gets it...
Actually, she's been getting it ever since I wrote it on the 29th May. I thought it would take a week or so, but it proved to be more of a fight than I was expecting.
On…
RPM 2k15
vocal by Gregg Todt
is it the medication
that makes her stare off into space?
those little pills in the bottle
grab your collar
smack you in the face
i want to make an appointment to see
that drug, so he will give her back to…
I thought going into 50/90 that I would need to do some quick recordings of really simple arrangements. Maybe just acoustic guitar and voice. Nope, not really.
This isn't meant as filler. This idea is something I noodle on almost every…
So 50/90 is an unnatural forcing of a crap ton of songs in a relatively short period of time. We're half way though and I've learned one thing. I've learned how easy it is to repeat something you've already done. This one sounds a LOT like…
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals!
I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else.
In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
Opening song by Kent Good. We played pretty good in Feb. We are not "chops" players, but i think we rocked this one pretty good.This song will evolve a bit as we break it in live.
Apologies to Peter and the rest of Genesis - from back when they were good - 1974
And the lamb lies down on Broadway.
Early morning Manhattan,
Ocean winds blow on the land.
The Movie-Palace is now undone,
The all-night watchmen have had their…
"Stupid Punk Song" is... well... stupid. I woke up one morning and the entire song, lyrics and all, was stuck in my head. I let it rattle around for a few days before putting it down on my new 8-track. I played it for Break Even once but they…
This is a pre-release of a song from my new album. The song still needs some polish and rubbing. I will change it out once i get done with the final version. The lyric was written a long time ago, of what could or couldn't have been:) Thats the…
Comments on Robert James's stuff
Rocks! .... in 3s! I tend to use 3s for folksie/balladie things (one coming soon I suspect, the way things are panning out here) ... but I've never really tried to rock in 3s... this proves it can be done!! :) As ever, mighty cool guitars.
Yep, that works. Digging the guitars.
Woo. That rocks. Some blistering guitar.
Good use of 335 tone my favorite blues thing I wish I had one .enjoyed Listening to yours
Cool groove. Loving those wah leads.
And another cool chorus! Yep... I think this could be my favourite of the four. Love the lyrics.
Loving the groove of this one. And another really cool chorus. Don't worry about the length - I was expecting a cool guitar solo for that long... and I got it :)
I see what you mean about the lentgh of the intro... But you'd lose the tension it creates if you shortened it? Loving the sound of the guitars on these tracks.
Loving the chorus - how those guitars, bass and vox mesh together. Cool lead break too.
Love the spare but powerful lyrics!!! Powerful all around. Great song!
That's a good song, kinda glam rock very 70's like it
Love the 335 lead. I see what you mean about mixing, though. And the drone - that's a cute idea. I wasn't gonna listen now (VERY late, VERY drunk), but the description of the drone made me press play. Sounds cool, but I almost wanted more of it - I am drunk, though! That lead, wow, wanna switch a guitar on now... but... there's always tomorrow/today... and bed feels like a good idea.
Cool guitars
Dig this one too. First listen I was distracted by some work stuff... then a delivery... life, eh? Came back and hit play again and it's like old friend.
Loving the lead and the backwards guitars at the end. You might think you're over using it, but wow it's a mighty cool sound.
Liking this one a lot. Making me want to reach for the Robin Trower albums.
LOL - you always sell your stuff so well in your blurbs. I actually like the lead takes like this (that's assuming these are the sloppy ones and you didn't replace them!)
Loving the rhythm/groove in the choruses. Oh wow... yeah, that works... you're right moving the "middle" to the end instead. If it had gone back to the rocking I think it would have felt "So? And?" But like this it's "yeah, man, cool ending... dig those echoes... let's listen again"
I dig this slow groove great vibe cool guitars! KC
Yup that’s some sweet I phone riffin. The vocal took off at the register change ( higher voice) I like your stuff
Comments made by Robert James
That plinky little sound in the verses is an organ with some distortion on it. I wanted Jon Lord to play the part but he wasn't available. It's playing eighth notes in the verses and a sustained pad in the chorus. If I remix this I might bring it up. I haven't decided yet. The sound at the end is actually a grunt of frustration. This is the easiest song every written in all of the history of music and it took me 700 takes to get the rhythm guitars right. I was going to cut it out but when the time came I thought it was funny so I left it there.
It's not a cocked wah, all of those mids are coming from the Klon pedal. I was a scooped mids guy for 30 years before I finally figured out that if I just boost the mids a little the rest of the band can hear me without me cranking my amp until it hurts. Now I overdo it in the other direction. heh
Love the slide! What a great song. No one warns us that vowel sounds matter when writing lyrics, but you nailed it.
Damn it man, each song is better than the one that came before. Nice work. Really loving it.
The acoustic bass sound comes from GarageBand. I haven't been using it much lately, but every once in a while I feel the need.
I appreciate wanting to bring the vocals out in the mix more but that would mean someone might hear my awful voice and nonono we can't have that. Not to mention the terrible lyrics. Urgh. Bury those vocals! I also like having the excuse that as I am a guitar player first and foremost, I naturally want the guitars to overpower everything else. In all seriousness, I agree the vocals need to come up... I just can't bring myself to do it.
I love everything about this song.
Live music! Sounds great.
Have I mentioned that this is the BEST! SONG! EVER!!!!? Because it clearly is the BEST SONG EVER!!!
BEST! SONG! EVER!!!!!
Syd would be proud. Thanks!
Put on a fox head mask and channel Peter Gabriel. Nice!
Hey Steve, I don't think you were there that night. I know i played it for at least Jeff and Dave and they both sort of looked at me funny.
I like both of these songs a lot. Thanks!
Great song! Here's to hoping you add some more.
Some excellent guitar playing! Thanks
I'm so impressed that I can't think of anything complementary to say. Thanks!
Wow!