My Fire

This is a little old, from a low-budget EP I did in the summer of 2007, but I wanted to share. After all, it's been too long.

He fed the fire fierce 'till he'd seen what he'd done
A spark that led to a second setting sun
But he's sure
That that's what he came for

And out of the ashes he burned
Rose a specter, a haunting to become
But it's bleeding
The fire he's feeding

[C]
If he was a hero, then so am I
As he wrote upon the sky:
If it's sink or swim, you better drown in my fire

A ghost never waits in the shadows to hide
It waits by the windows, and watches him go by
Now it's in him, can't burn out the demon

Easier then with the comfort of a slump
But he's brandishing, hind sight's wearing thin

[C]

He's burning bright
To feed the night
But he's hungry still
for those lives
To feed his fierce fire

I will feed you all to my
My fire

• play
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posted by pedmands (7 comments total)

So after waiting months for a review from Billboard, I got the email today and this is what they had to say:

"Very nice song, simplistic and heartfelt delivery. Excellent vocal harmonies and tonal quality. Has a classic vibe to it and seems to be something that could be heard in a Wes Anderson movie. Song has commercial appeal for sure."

Please, please give me some better feedback than that generic tripe.
posted by pedmands at 7:55 PM on April 21, 2008

Well, but I see where they're coming from, although it seems weird to say "this sounds like it belongs on a soundtrack to a movie by a guy who uses a lot of '60s pop in his soundtracks" rather than "this sounds like '60s pop." But I can totally see it; it's totally Sunshine Pop, with the sweet harmonies, acoustic guitar, and tambourine.

And those harmonies are friggin' sweet. I mean, it's really kind of ballsy how sweet they are. And going up to the high note on "my fire" is a genius move and really puts the chorus over the top.

This is more complex than it seems -- I barely noticed the keyboard until I'd listened to it a few times. And then that other part that I thought was a keyboard and then turned into someone whistling -- I love being tricked like that.

This is really good.

(You can get reviews emailed to you from Billboard?)
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 12:58 AM on April 23, 2008

damn damn clever melodies. and i admire your sparse, clean arrangement. that single synth line in the background fills out everything really well with SO very little.

brings up a lot of nice influences, prolly most obviously the shins and niel young, tho i'm reminded of the meat puppets a bit by the guitars and the all around great melodies. it definitely has its own character tho.


so um...got any more? like, from this project. cuz this is pretty great.
posted by es_de_bah at 4:58 PM on April 23, 2008

i really, really like this--especially the vocals. it's hard to know what to say, critically. your voice is perfectly suited to the song and the arrangement. i might throw in a couple of brass instruments (just kidding). reminds me a little bit of PAS/CAL, if you're familiar with them.

definitely share some more stuff when you can.
posted by saulgoodman at 8:04 PM on April 23, 2008

Thought it was amazing the first time I heard it last year. Your musical ability and imagination has grown by leaps and bounds, Preston.

...but it's no Two Dollar Pistol, youknowwhatImsayin'?
posted by inoculatedcities at 9:33 AM on April 26, 2008

Karlos the Jackal: "(You can get reviews emailed to you from Billboard?)"

It was part of their annual contest, every entry was guaranteed a review despite placement.
posted by pedmands at 10:46 AM on April 26, 2008

inoculatedcities: "Thought it was amazing the first time I heard it last year. Your musical ability and imagination has grown by leaps and bounds, Preston.

...but it's no Two Dollar Pistol, youknowwhatImsayin'?"

I think you mean to say that it needs more tiny, frosted-hair freshmen playing bass.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!
posted by pedmands at 10:48 AM on April 26, 2008