Comments on: The Gilded Cage

The Gilded Cage

saulgoodman — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:28:38 -0800

We're living in a gilded cage in the gilded age: watching shadows dancing on the wall and rattling our chains so we feel like something's happening when we haven't really done a thing and so we never have to think too long about the mess we've made. Ain't it strange the sun don't shine here? I can't see any source of natural light. There isn't any way to tell the time here. So no one really knows when we arrived...

Plato's allegory of the cave re-envisioned as a near-future totalitarian dystopia: Welcome home.

By: cortex

cortex — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:45:45 -0800

The musical-exegesis part of my brain seems to be on break right now, so let me just say that I liked this.

By: saulgoodman

saulgoodman — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:53:52 -0800

thanks cortex. feeling a little down right about now (for non-musical reasons, but still...). a kind word hits the spot.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:29:49 -0800

There isn't any way to tell the time here.

Oh, I see. This song is about a casino.

Now ends the joke section of this comment. May I offer one little (hopefully constructive) critique? I know you're going for electropop here (hey, I can read the tags!) and I'm not suggesting a more "human" drum part, but I think you could still go with a little more variation in the drum programming. For me, it's just a bit too static, especially for such a relatively long song. Maybe work that hi-hat a bit more, get a little bit of filigree in there? Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

By: saulgoodman

saulgoodman — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:46:12 -0800

flapjax: so the using a monotonous rhythm track as a way of reinforcing the lyrical themes of stasis/immobility idea's not working for you? it was an intentional thing, but i'll take the input into account--if it works it works, if it don't it don't, regardless of what i might have intended. i meant for the change during the bridge to provide a little jolt to balance things a bit, but i guess it wasn't enough from your POV.

i've really been getting into minimal, repetitive rhythms lately in general. maybe some choice layering of additional rhythmic counterpoints would be a good idea though.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:03:47 -0800

I hear you with the minimal/repetitive thing, sg, I know what you're aiming at. I just meant that it could have maybe a bit more rhythmic interest and still stay within the digital machine beat aesthetic. "Choice layering of additional rhythmic counterpoints" sounds like a fine idea to me!

By: saulgoodman

saulgoodman — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:55:22 -0800

"Choice layering of additional rhythmic counterpoints"

sorry if that came off a little heavy-handed. of course it's just highfalutin talk for "a few more clicks, rattles and buzzes here and there."

By: sleepy pete

sleepy pete — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:44:26 -0800

Wow, I love the guitars. I mean, I love the song (Plato's allegory of the shadows is one I tend to take out of about 3/4 of the songs I write it seems... not even songs, anything I write), but I really love those guitars. Very nice and thanks for posting it.

And as for repetitive rhythms, I'm a big fan so I'm cool with that, but I think the repetitiveness works for this song (not a slight on f@m, I just think it definitely works for this). Then again, I love Can and turntablism and this Explorer series album called Kenya & Tanzania: Witchcraft & Ritual Music is one of my favorite albums of all time (and until searching for it, I didn't even realize that it might be out on CD--I should really think about these things more often).

Man, high falutin', that's me sorta in a sad way...

So, yeah, beautiful stuff, Mr. saulgoodman. Thanks for sharing it.

By: melissa may

melissa may — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:53:36 -0800

I'm sorry I didn't comment sooner -- sleepy pete told me how much he loved this and I do as well. The guitars are indeed extremely beautiful. The lyrics genuinely touched me. I'm very glad you posted this.

By: February28

February28 — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:56:28 -0800

the chorus keyboards are sweet. textures are indeed dreampop.

By: infinitewindow

infinitewindow — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:22:42 -0800

Good stuff. Reminds me of Jatun.