Inverted Alchemy

A fuzz rock demo

A little background: Last fall I set myself the task of writing and recording a new album's worth of songs, with the limitation that I could only use one guitar line, one bass line, one vocal line and a drum kit.
This was to force myself out of a pattern I'd developed, of building songs out of a bunch of different overlaid voices. I wanted to see if I could create some simply arranged rock songs that were still interesting, and I wanted to be able to play live without having to count on nine different people and a Farfisa showing up to the gig.
This song is #8 in the project.

One other thing: the band that has been formed to play this batch of songs is without a name, and time grows short. I wouldn't dare post a thread about it, but since I'm already talking in here: Please name my band. Other critiques are of course also welcome!

P.S. I am aware that I am still on the hook for that cover of "Moonshake".

(Get Flash to see the track player.)
posted by arcanecrowbar (8 comments total)

I love this. Bravo, sir. Can I join your band?

And the name of the band is San Lorenzo.
posted by The World Famous at 8:00 PM on January 5

Very nice. It's funny, your comment on my song below was to bring the vocals back, but I'd like to see them brought up on this because they feel a little buried to me. As you said, probably a matter of taste.

Names are a pain in the ass. It took us months to come up with one all four of us liked, that wasn't already a band (or bands) on myspace, and also wasn't a famous group in some obscure genre that I'd never know about if it wasn't for Wikipedia.

The one I liked best (but no one else did) was It Goes Away, mainly because I like the idea of every album cover and flyer being a different old-timey picture of one person looking very distressed, and another person looking very consoling, saying "it goes away..."
posted by InfidelZombie at 9:21 PM on January 5

I wanted to see if I could create some simply arranged rock songs that were still interesting

That is a pretty accurate description of this song, and on top of it, it's a very good rock song.

Rather than suggesting another name, I'll join The World Famous. San Lorenzo is a cool name and it goes great with this kind of song.
posted by micayetoca at 1:39 PM on January 6

The vocals sound great on this. I agree they could be brought up a teensy bit. Very intriguing idea to limit yourself like that. This song is growing on me more and more.
posted by Corduroy at 5:19 PM on January 6

Great challenge to set for yourself, I like that. Really good song too.
The name of the band is Kartoffel.
posted by chococat at 8:14 PM on January 6

Awesome, kind of sounds like the Constantines.
posted by ageispolis at 1:44 PM on January 7

good fight and a good song out of it.
i also want to join your band, but we must be called Well yes, but in the front.
posted by es_de_bah at 9:47 PM on January 7

You've got nice space between the instruments for as much fuzz as you've put them through. You manage to keep the arrangement interesting through out the whole song, so I say you accomplished your set goal. Really nice stuff! I like the hit hat punching through the mix, too. Adds some nice contrast.
posted by self at 1:59 PM on January 17