Future Challenge - "The Dark Side Of The MiFi"....

Autumn Challenge idea - collaboration to cover an entire "classic" album resulting in Xmas podcast e.g. "Sgt Pfeffers Boring Farts Hub Band"

Try this for size:

1. We put forward suggestions for the album - The Dark Side Of The Moon say, or Sgt Pepper, or Who's Next - via this string. Flapjax to have final say in which album we cover.

2. No double albums, compilations (including Greatest Hits) are allowed.

3. Volunteers to email Flapjax to register interest. Flapjax to allocate a track from the chosen album.

4. No bitching about the track you get - this will only work if the tracks are independently allocated.

5. Flapjax to be allocated his track by someone else (fair's fair).

6. Tracks get uploaded for judging by the community. The ones with most favourites make the podcast.

7. In the event of a tie regarding the same track - Flapjax has the final say.

8. Tracks to be uploaded by end August. Cut-off for judging is end October.

9. "Pot Sounds" (or whatever) to be podcast in time for Christmas 09.

Ambitious? - hell yeah! But, ladies and gentlemen, we can make it so........

To get the ball rolling I suggest we cover The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd.

Over to you.........

posted by MajorDundee (132 comments total)

I like the idea, that seems like it would be really fun except for the judging thing. Personally one of my favorite things about Mefi Music is that this place isn't songfight, it's just a cool place for people to hear and submit music. And it wouldn't be fair because Chococat would take first, second, and probably third.
posted by BrnP84 at 3:52 PM on June 7 [1 favorite has favorites]

Wheeee! Sounds good to me, Dundee!

I'd second BrnP84's comment regarding the judging. On the other hand, I think whittling down the final product to a single podcast is a nice, neat idea, so I'm not sure how else we'd go about that... Of course, there might not be enough doubles to even worry about it, and if there were... multiple versions of the album? I dunno, that could get unwieldy. Hmm...

I'll be curious to hear thoughts and suggestions on this from all concerned.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:20 PM on June 7

Love the idea. Agreeing with moving away from a judging structure and more towards a "hey, everybody jump in the pool" thing with doubles and triples welcome as long as we at least cover the whole source album's tracklist.

I have no objections to Dark Side:

- it's got a relatively short tracklist, so covering the full spread will be easy;
- folks know it broadly enough that tracks playing it very loose with the interpretations would have a lot of specific anchors they can grab onto and still have listeners get what's going on;
- the specific sound of the Floyd recording is so distinct and specific that finding ways to cover the core song without just cloning it shouldn't be difficult;
- it's the greatest album ever and I omg love it.

The logistics of the final presentation can wait. Core idea: a bunch of interesting covers and remakes get produced. Yay! Let's worry about the details once that stuff is on its way to practical existence.
posted by cortex at 8:35 PM on June 7 [1 favorite has favorites]

Sounds fun. I also love DSOTM. I do, however, go through phases of loving and/or hating the wailing background singer ladies. Sometimes you're just NOT in the mood, you know?
The lunatics are on the grass giggling crazy man scared the shit out of me as a kid.
Pet Sounds would be fun but everyone would fight over God Only Knows. I have a cover of that somewhere from years ago, must dig it out.
posted by chococat at 10:27 PM on June 7

I'm intrigued (although I've never listened to Dark Side of the Moon, so I'm neutral on that).
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 11:15 PM on June 7

although I've never listened to Dark Side of the Moon

what
posted by cortex at 11:31 PM on June 7

I've heard "Money" but the other song titles don't ring any bells.

You would not believe the number of "classic albums" that I've never listened to.

(I did just buy Pet Sounds a few weeks ago, though!)
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 11:56 PM on June 7

I've haven't actually heard DSOTM either (expect for money, which is awesome)..... I never really got into Floyd, they're one of those bands that I've always said "oh I'll give them a listen one day, everyone else seems to like them so I'm sure they're pretty decent."

I finally gave Pet Sounds a listen to a few months ago. After all the hype about best album of all time I thought it was kinda meh.
posted by BrnP84 at 4:12 AM on June 8

The thing with albums like these is that they have been already done to death. They've been done by Phish, they have been done in Dub version, they have even been done in ridiculous Bossa Nova versions.

I really like the idea of having us all do a whole album, but I'd like to propose that we move away from "classic" titles. I realize that doing a concept album helps, but I don't think it's really indispensable for this challenge. If it absolutely has to be a concept album, my proposal is "At Folsom Prison".

Another idea would be to do one of those ultra popular soundtrack albums, like the soundtrack of Pulp Fiction or, if people want to go kitsch, something like Fun In Acapulco.
posted by micayetoca at 7:27 AM on June 8

Count me in. If there's one thing I love, it's recording covers.
posted by uncleozzy at 7:59 AM on June 8

I'm just giving you a hard time because I am a scamp. It's a really great album, though, definitely give it a couple listens when you can. Try and scrape out 45 minutes to sit and listen uninterrupted with good speakers or headphones once you've listened to it once or twice already, there's a lot of detail packed into the recording.

Money is a great tune and is definitely the "single" off that album, but if you've been exposed to like KROK Classic Rock top 40 stuff at all you've probably also heard "Time" (it's the one with the clocks at the beginning) and "Us and Them" (sedate meditation on war and man's inhumanity to man and whether Roger Waters can actually just play the tonic on the bass for the entire verse no matter what the rest of the band decides to play) and probably "Great Gig in the Sky" (that song with the piano and the woman doing the fauxgasmic soaring/hollering scat vocals) and "Brain Damage" (with "the lunatics are on the grass..." and so forth).

One of the things I like about DSOTM as a potential target is that there's some crossreferences between tracks on the album; the idea of taking this repetitive element that shows up first in song A and then again in song B, and having A and B handled in this case by two different mefites? A lot of opportunity for bits of discussion and micro-collaboration between folks to find a way to tie their otherwise separate ventures together.
posted by cortex at 8:00 AM on June 8

And regarding this

I do, however, go through phases of loving and/or hating the wailing background singer ladies. Sometimes you're just NOT in the mood, you know?
posted by chococat

Absolutely. I think the album has aged marvelously well and those background ladies (and the bloody saxplayer in Us and Them) are of the very few things that peg the album to a specific period, which is unfortunate. At least in the album the background singers were kept relatively low in the mix, because in the live versions they have a more prominent position, and it sounds awful.
posted by micayetoca at 8:08 AM on June 8

I have to agree with micayetoca on this one. Not only has it been done--and he didn't even mention bluegrass pink floyd.

Isn't there some other record we could do? I just don't see this idea wending ell in practice.
posted by umbú at 8:17 AM on June 8

Yeah, that second sentence lost meaning when I edited out my extended visceral 'uggh' rant and didn't proofread.
posted by umbú at 8:19 AM on June 8

I was browsing in HMV at lunchtime and came across an album that made me go "Oohhhh yeeesssssss...." The Velvet Underground And Nico (The Warhol banana cover for those - like me - with CRAFT memories (Can't Remember A Fucking Thing)). Thing is - this has a bunch of classic songs, but they're all dead simple - primitive even. So that means that anyone who can string 3 chords together can have a go, but there's also loads of scope for the more adept to stretch out. Bit more egalitarian perhaps?

Others I came across:

Ziggy Stardust (ahhh, such fond adolescent memories of this one);
Blood On The Tracks;
Magical Mystery Tour;
The Clash;
The Joshua Tree.

But, hey, maybe we need some of the younger guys to volunteer some albums - I'm way off the pace these days.
posted by MajorDundee at 11:18 AM on June 8

I was browsing in HMV at lunchtime and came across an album that made me go "Oohhhh yeeesssssss...." The Velvet Underground And Nico

Sold, I'm in.
posted by micayetoca at 11:24 AM on June 8

Yeah, now we're talking.
posted by umbú at 11:40 AM on June 8

The Velvet Underground And Nico

Oh ya.
posted by chococat at 12:18 PM on June 8

I keep seeing a lot of Neutral Milk Hotel covers pop up here on Music. How about In the Aeroplane Over the Sea?

(I haven't yet posted my acapella cover of "The Fool".)
posted by NemesisVex at 12:28 PM on June 8

My 2¢ -- instead of locking ourselves into one album that some people may like, and some people may feel alienated from, that we do the Top Ten or Twenty of 1999, the year MeFi was born. That way, we can all get a chance to plant our tongues firmly in out cheeks, or get to be ironic (while secretly loving every single one of the songs).

Ooops, I wasn't supposed to say that last part aloud.

Since there are many ways to rank songs, flapjax's choice. (Top 20 agrarian propoganda chants of 1999?)
posted by not_on_display at 1:21 PM on June 8

the other song titles don't ring any bells

I see what you did there.
posted by The World Famous at 2:12 PM on June 8

VU & Nico would be a great choice, I love that album. In fact, I posted a cover of Femme Fatale a couple years back.
posted by InfidelZombie at 2:58 PM on June 8

Yea, diggin the VU& Nico idea/version here. This sounds like a lot of fun, count me in.
posted by snsranch at 4:14 PM on June 8

The Velvet Underground And Nico already has five solid votes. I'm gonna make it six.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:56 PM on June 8

I was going to say Led Zeppelin III, but oohh The Velvet Underground debut could be fantastic.
posted by xorry at 5:14 PM on June 8

That's seven with xorry, I'm gonna commit electoral fraud, vote again and make it eight.
posted by micayetoca at 5:23 PM on June 8 [1 favorite has favorites]

more fraud here. nine.
posted by umbú at 5:42 PM on June 8

I like the idea a lot. I definitely prefer VU&N to Dark Side (both great in their way, but I agree that Dark Side has been done to death).

Can I call dibs on "Venus In Furs"? It sounds great on the Appalachian dulcimer.
posted by doubtfulpalace at 6:03 PM on June 8

I know I've said I'd participate before but this time I'm committing to this. So give me a track and an assignment and deadline and I'll do my best.

If I can make a request, it would be a heavier or darker track... unless, however you want to give me a happy bright track and see how I make it heavy and dark :)
posted by chimaera at 7:04 PM on June 8

If the tide swings the other way, I would love to contribute to one or more DSOM tracks. Would anybody be interested in collaborating (I really only play guitar).

I have no idea who the velvet underground are
posted by jpdoane at 7:22 PM on June 8

I know who the Velvet Underground, Nico, Lou, Warhol, and a couple other characters are, and probably a little more than I have any reason to know about Lou's recording career given that this sentence ends with me saying the closest I've come to listening to VU is Mazzy Star's cover of Sweet Jane.

I'm in, but now I'm gonna have to go get this album.
posted by cortex at 7:27 PM on June 8

the closest I've come to listening to VU is Mazzy Star's cover of Sweet Jane.

what
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 8:30 PM on June 8 [3 favorites has favorites]

Holy shit cortex. Go get the album, then listen to it; then try to somehow convince your mind that you loved it 20 years ago, then listen to it again, like you haven't listened to it in 10 years.
It's one of those albums that you need to have a history with, is what I'm saying I guess.
posted by chococat at 9:04 PM on June 8 [1 favorite has favorites]

The Major says "Steady in the ranks, you 'orrible lot!!". Part of the deal here is that you get the tracks allocated randomly by Flapjax. Otherwise we'll end up with 10 versions of Venus In Furs and none of the Nico one or whatever. The overriding objective here is to cover the ENTIRE album. Personally I don't care which one I get - they're all belters.

Looks like VU + N is the one. Might I suggest we now proceed to the track allocation stage.

Flapjax - how do you want to play this?
posted by MajorDundee at 1:11 AM on June 9

I'm gonna commit electoral fraud, vote again and make it eight.

more fraud here. nine.

Ballot-box-stuffing will get you everywhere, fellows. That's just another way of saying "The Velvet Underground And Nico FTW". What the hell, let's go with it this time! It seems popular, and I have a feeling we'll be doing this in the months to come with other records as well, so there'll be other chances.

Flapjax - how do you want to play this?

Gimme a day or two to think about it... for the time being, howsabout those of you interested in doing a cover from the album do this:

Post a comment in this thread that simply reads: I'm in.

We'll go from there.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:10 AM on June 9

I'm in (officially now).
posted by umbú at 4:23 AM on June 9

I'm in.
posted by micayetoca at 4:32 AM on June 9

Hey, you two ballot-stuffers got here quick!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:56 AM on June 9

I'm in!

Otherwise we'll end up with 10 versions of Venus In Furs and none of the Nico one
Are you kidding? Gimme Nico!
posted by chococat at 7:56 AM on June 9

I'm in
posted by BrnP84 at 8:41 AM on June 9

I'm in.
posted by doubtfulpalace at 8:57 AM on June 9

I'm in.
posted by snsranch at 9:13 AM on June 9

I remain in.
posted by cortex at 9:16 AM on June 9

Most definitely in (and would love to do All Tomorow's Parties)
posted by InfidelZombie at 9:46 AM on June 9

I'm in.
posted by not_on_display at 10:43 AM on June 9

[offhand proposal for album title: The Velvet Cabal (TINC) & Santa Claus (TINSC). Warhol's cover with the banana photoshopped blue, on an AskMe green background.]

I think I'm hungry.
posted by not_on_display at 10:47 AM on June 9 [1 favorite has favorites]

Also still in, sure. Even though yeah, I'll admit it I'm not familiar with the album.
posted by uncleozzy at 10:50 AM on June 9

I'm in.
posted by thequietriot at 11:00 AM on June 9

I'm in
posted by MajorDundee at 11:26 AM on June 9

Possible title "HalleLouReed: The Virtual Underground Christmas Cracker" (nice MiFi in-joke with the Halleluiya ref.........heh, heh, heh)
posted by MajorDundee at 11:32 AM on June 9

I note that we now have more volunteers than songs...
posted by doubtfulpalace at 11:59 AM on June 9

That is a-okay. Doubles never hurt anybody, and music isn't known for being a flake-proof avocation besides.
posted by cortex at 12:06 PM on June 9 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'm in, but I will admit upfront there's only a 50-50 chance of me getting anything done.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 1:03 PM on June 9

Zappa - We're Only In It For The Money.

A running theme throughout and some memorable hooks. I'd be into "Nasal Retentive Calliope Music."
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 1:10 PM on June 9

We could do a few different albums, depending on how many people participate. That way we wouldn't have to worry about doubles.
posted by The World Famous at 1:19 PM on June 9

We could do a few different albums, depending on how many people participate. That way we wouldn't have to worry about doubles.

Doing a few different albums right off the bat is a possibility, although I think it might dilute the impact a little, or widen the focus too much, or... well, we'll see. I also don't think doubles are a bad thing (unlike, say, posts to the blue), and winding up with 2 or even 3 versions of the same album would be way cool, IMO.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:35 PM on June 9

I anticipated the "doubles" problem. Though it's not a problem if the ones that make the podcast are the ones that score the most "favourited" (is that a word? - it is now) or playlisted rating. I fully appreciate people's reluctance to introduce any kind of competitive edge - that's not what I'm getting at - it's simply an easy and objective way to select the tracks for the 'cast. If you think about this rationally, why is there a list of "favourites" and "playlisted" tracks, or any kind of "chart" for that matter, on the site at all - what purpose does that serve other than for people to see how many others like a particular upload? We may as well use that facility if it's already there.... Whatever. I fear if we end up trying to record 3 or 4 albums it simply ain't gonna happen....
posted by MajorDundee at 2:49 PM on June 9

I'm in. Seriously, guys. I mean it this time.
posted by potch at 3:12 PM on June 9

I fear if we end up trying to record 3 or 4 albums it simply ain't gonna happen....

Probably a well-founded fear. Or, it'll happen in too patchwork a way, and that'll be no good. Let's stick to the one, at least for this first time around. What I'm hoping now is that we'll get more "I'm ins" and have enough for 2 complete versions of the record.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:28 PM on June 9

So, let's give it another coupla days to see how many more folks sign on, then I'll start assigning tunes to people, and we can start finalizing any more details that need to be clarified.

And BTW, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank MajorDundee for proposing this. Initiatives like this and Karlos the Jackal's recently completed Exquisite Corpse project really help keep MeFi Music vibrant.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:34 PM on June 9

Well Hallelujah! Oh, am I in the right thread? JK

I wasn't familiar with VU+N either, but have been listening. This is gonna kick ass.
posted by snsranch at 3:59 PM on June 9

I am late, but totally in!!!
posted by ORthey at 4:22 PM on June 9

flapjax,

I mentioned wanting "Venus In Furs" upthread, but on reflection I'd rather take potluck with everybody else. More fun that way, really.
posted by doubtfulpalace at 4:41 PM on June 9

Do we need to make known that we wish to participate? Because I do. Sign me up.
posted by The World Famous at 4:58 PM on June 9

How long do we have to do this? Are we sticking to the "end of August" deadline?

In the interest of creating a broad, multi-versioned single album, I'm in!
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 5:14 PM on June 9

I mentioned wanting "Venus In Furs" upthread, but on reflection I'd rather take potluck with everybody else. More fun that way, really.

Yeah, as per MajorDundee's original outline, I think an Ominpotent Song-Assigning Overlord is the way to go here. That way we can be sure we're getting the whole album.

One point I'd like to stress, which I personally think will go a long way toward making the TOTAL RECORD concept work much, much better, is:

do your cover in the original key.

Ordinarily, if we're just talking "cover this particular song", I don't think key is important, but in this case... we don't wanna wind up with 9 songs (in a row) in E. So I'd strongly urge everyone, when you get your song assignation, please try to stick with the original key. Everything else is open, as far as I'm concerned: instrumentation, style, make Lou Reed's parts actually melodic, whatever.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:20 PM on June 9

How long do we have to do this? Are we sticking to the "end of August" deadline?

I personally think that's a good idea. This is another detail that'll be finalized within a coupla days. Any points anyone would like to make concerning this detail (or any other) are welcomed and encouraged in this thread.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:22 PM on June 9

do your cover in the original key

Now you got me worried. All my life I had thought that whole album was in one single key. (and that no one told the guitar player what it was).
posted by micayetoca at 5:43 PM on June 9

do your cover in the original key.

Definitely not possible for me on some of these songs (especially, but not entirely, the ones Nico sings).

I don't think there's a lot of risk of everyone converging on one key.
posted by doubtfulpalace at 5:51 PM on June 9

do your cover in the original key.

I don't know how to play in anything but C Major!
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 5:53 PM on June 9

Oh dear, the original key idea isn't being received too enthusiastically!

You know, it's funnny, mica, when I made the suggestion, it occurred to me that this particular album may well be all in the same key, pretty much! (I don't have a copy on hand, so I can't verify that)

So, if you get assigned a tune that you just can't do in the original key, well... whaddayagunnado? Use the key of your choice, I guess!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:59 PM on June 9

So, if you get assigned a tune that you just can't do in the original key, well... whaddayagunnado?

Hey! it's supposed to be a challenge, innit? My suggestion is that you assign us the song and the key at random.


alright, alright, I'm kidding.
posted by micayetoca at 6:05 PM on June 9

I am joking! mostly
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 6:07 PM on June 9

do your cover in the original key

I don't really know how to do that....

One thing I thought of for the too many people problem is we could record electric and acoustic versions of the same album. I think there's enough acoustic vs. electric players in mefi to make the numbers work out.
posted by BrnP84 at 6:17 PM on June 9 [1 favorite has favorites]

do your cover in the original key

I am belatedly for-me-to-poop-oning this just to revel in the dark joy of negative consensus—I doubt it'd produce a problem either and I'd rather people put their energy into trying to make the best version they can than into trying to make do in a key that's bad for them.

Though I may very well end up sticking with the original key for whatever I do anyway, and I have some respect for the motivating idea behind the suggestion.
posted by cortex at 6:24 PM on June 9

In all honesty, I don't see the "too many people" thing being a problem. Why would it be a problem? We're not releasing an album, and I think talks of podcasts, even, are premature at this point -- and what ends up in "the podcast," assuming that MajorDundee has an official MetaFilter podcast in mind when he says that, is, by and large, not our decision and thus not our concern.

Let's just do what we do.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 6:27 PM on June 9

I can also play in A minor!
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 6:27 PM on June 9 [3 favorites has favorites]

It sounded to me that all of the songs on that album are in Em#.
posted by snsranch at 6:35 PM on June 9

"Let's just do what we do."

Brilliant, Karlos! That could work as a Tin Pan Alley hook, or a chirpy Herman's Hermits-style ditty, or a James Brown workout, or a Missy Elliott snippet, or...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:42 PM on June 9

BrnP84's electric & acoustic version sounds really interesting. I guess I would be on the acoustic one, since I don't have electric instruments here. That probably means that I'll have to use the blender to make up for the lack of feedback.

What does the rest of you think about having the electric & acoustic versions?
posted by micayetoca at 6:50 PM on June 9

I prefer a stylistic mix, personally. And I doubt the tracks will break down that easily into acoustic vs. electric. Mine usually don't.

If we have enough for two albums, I'd rather save the division until after we see what we get.
posted by doubtfulpalace at 6:54 PM on June 9

micayetoca, I dig that, but I would have to hear the song that is assigned to me before I could decide. Those songs are pretty damn open to interpretation though! This is going to be some good fun!
posted by snsranch at 7:03 PM on June 9

I bet that if we get two versions of each song, we will probably have one album sounding wildly different from one another without having to assign "acoustic or electric" for each song.

(This album opened up my ears so wide when I first heard it. Then I burnt out on it, and haven't heard it in at least a decade. It'll be good to listen again; good choice.)
posted by not_on_display at 7:03 PM on June 9

I doubt the tracks will break down that easily into acoustic vs. electric.

Me too. These days it's all about the mix'n'match.

if we get two versions of each song, we will probably have one album sounding wildly different from one another without having to assign "acoustic or electric" for each song.

I think so too.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:11 PM on June 9

Ya, more than one of each song doesn't strike me as a problem.
I mean, Jesus, we're doing a whole month of Hallelujah.
posted by chococat at 8:17 PM on June 9 [2 favorites has favorites]

Femme Fatale is in C, if I understand how keys work-- it is mostly just C/F repeated. I think Heroin is also in C, but I haven't tried to play that in years.

make Lou Reed's parts actually melodic
Hey- this is supposed to be a challenge, not a miracle!
posted by InfidelZombie at 9:23 AM on June 10

The beauty of doubling covers is that all listeners can choose their own tracks for the complete album, should they require. Different versions of the same setlist tailored to your specific mood. Everyone's a winner!
posted by freya_lamb at 10:52 AM on June 10

I'm in.

Great ideas all around. I love the album. Can't wait to hear how this turns out.
posted by dagosto at 3:59 PM on June 10

I'm maybe in. Although I can't help but wish we could all take one song, agree on a tempo and a key (ie the tempo and key from a specific recording of the song), all submit our covers, then assemble them together into a single song recording, each measure switching over to a different person's cover of that point of the song.
posted by davejay at 4:42 PM on June 10 [2 favorites has favorites]

Note: there was a second paragraph to my comment, in which I suggested that eh, maybe next year sometime, but it got swallowed up for some reason.
posted by davejay at 4:43 PM on June 10

Eh, fuck it, make it "I'm definitely in." I'm overdue to burn a weekend recording something pointless but entertaining, and this will give me an excuse to pull some instruments out of storage.
posted by davejay at 4:44 PM on June 10

davejay, that's a helluvan idea, and I imagine we'll be seeing it as a Challenge in some month ahead.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:25 PM on June 10

Great idea, davejay. We could distribute a clicktrack and everyone could have at it.
posted by umbú at 6:31 PM on June 10

Aww, man--I would totally be in if I didn't have a wedding the next month to plan. What a perfect album choice, too. Well, next time, I guess!

(Future album suggestions: Slanted and Enchanted, Pink Flag, Bee Thousand)
posted by equalpants at 8:21 AM on June 11

I'm In
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:04 AM on June 11

sounds awesome, I'm in if I'm not too late (hell, got to do something with my now overwhelmingly free time...!)
posted by nunoidia at 11:49 AM on June 11

I'm in
(if i'm not too late)
posted by azarbayejani at 12:18 PM on June 11

Nobody's too late, mo worries!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:55 PM on June 11

That is, NO worries...

Although it's probably true that Mo worries. We all do sometimes.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 2:56 PM on June 11

I'm in!

I don't know how to play in anything but C Major!

Karlos the Jackal, meet Terry Riley...
posted by TwoWordReview at 7:18 PM on June 11 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'm in!
posted by TwoWordReview at 7:18 PM on June 11 [+] [!]

I guess somebody's gotta say it... eponysterical.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:28 PM on June 11

well, ok, i'm in
posted by pyramid termite at 9:11 PM on June 11

I'm in.
posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 10:30 AM on June 12

We should round the album off with a cover of "I'm In......No, Really" by Mo Worries and Panic Attack. You know the one, from the album "Anxious Moments" on Vertigo (spiral label). I believe it was produced by Shakin' Stevens. Which accounts for it being well past crap. Oh, I could go on and on and on. A bit like this string. Nurse - time for my injection!
posted by MajorDundee at 1:19 PM on June 12 [1 favorite has favorites]

Thanks everyone for your "I'm IN"s. By the end of the month I'll have song assignments for everyone, and whatever other details need to be spelled out. I'll start a fresh thread for this at that time.

Note: I'm wondering about the deadline on this one. Assuming the song assignments will be made by July 1, do y'all think this should be a two-month deadline (songs must be in by September 1) or a three-month deadline (songs must be in by October 1)?

Provisional title:

Velcro Undergrad with Miko
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:46 PM on June 16

Note: I'm wondering about the deadline on this one.

Why not a month? Covering VU shouldn't be any harder than anything else.

The amount of time it takes musicians to get anything done expands to fill the amount of time you give them.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 6:50 PM on June 16

Ya, I was also gonna say a month is good. Three months for me is just time to forget about it or get bored of it.
posted by chococat at 7:19 PM on June 16

Why not a month?

I dunno, I guess with it starting in July and all (people are out more, making trips outta town and such) I just thought it'd be more realistic to make this a 2-month deal.

All opinions welcome.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:20 PM on June 16

I vote we do a month but then decline to be particularly nasty about (or plan anything inflexible around) that deadline.
posted by cortex at 7:43 PM on June 16

End of August was mentioned in the Major's initial post, so some people may be counting on the extra time. If we have enough volunteers to cover all the tracks twice, we could do Vol 1 in July and Vol 2 in August, and have people commit to a month up front so flapjax can factor that into the song assignment. July is good for me.
posted by InfidelZombie at 11:24 PM on June 16

Another vote for one month. Though InfidelZombie is right and some people may have joined with the "end of August" deadline in mind, setting a one month deadline helps us maintain focus. Late submitters are always welcome, as it has happened in previous challenges.
posted by micayetoca at 8:06 AM on June 17

The amount of time it takes musicians to get anything done expands to fill the amount of time you give them.

Truth.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:18 AM on June 17

I'm in. Late. But in.
posted by god hates math at 6:40 PM on June 17

I am also, as they say, in. If in is still available.
posted by dirtdirt at 9:56 PM on June 17

No prob, in is still available. In is "in". It's "in" to be "in".
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:31 AM on June 18

So, flapjax. Have you decided on any method on how to approach song assignments? (no pressure intended here, just curious as to how you would do it)
posted by micayetoca at 6:27 AM on June 18

No, mica, no method yet. Tell the truth, I haven't had time to really focus on it yet, but I've set a goal of July 1 for having all songs assigned. There'll be a new Music Talk post by then, and all will be revealed.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:55 AM on June 18

I would also like to be in.
posted by minifigs at 7:28 AM on June 18

May I be in too, please?
posted by Zenabi at 12:46 PM on June 18

I'm in.
posted by He Is Only The Imposter at 1:28 PM on June 18

The shorter the time period, the more likely I am to be in, because otherwise I will procrastinate. But that's just me. Like, if you set a fifteen minute deadline I'd just record something right now into my laptop.
posted by davejay at 10:41 PM on June 18

I'm in.
posted by escabeche at 6:54 AM on June 19

This sounds great.
Count me in...I'll do my best to follow through, but it sounds like there's no shortage of volunteers at this point.
Still, I've been itching to put something up on Music, so maybe this is my chance to actually follow through.
posted by dan g. at 8:56 AM on June 19

So, how do we feel about Beck covering Velvet Underground and Nico, basically as we speak?
posted by dirtdirt at 9:19 AM on June 19

I feel like Beck is a lurker.

Backup album: PET SOUNDS
posted by not_on_display at 9:56 AM on June 19

Oh, I see that's already been suggested.
posted by not_on_display at 9:57 AM on June 19

This is too great. If it's possible at this late date for a random bastard who loves this record to be in then I'm in.
posted by zoinks at 7:21 PM on June 19

Backup album: PET SOUNDS

Hey, hell with Beck (that lurker...), we're going ahead with the Velvets!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:49 PM on June 19

IN IN IN! VU & Nico - wating for the man please, huh, please, huh pretty please.

Each time a covers thing comes up it's always Pet Sounds or Sgt Pepper's. Seriously tedious choices. VU... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. luverly.

Heroin is in G. In fact it's just G. I'll get my 4 year old to give it a go.
posted by the_very_hungry_caterpillar at 10:53 AM on June 22

(The song that is, not heroin. He'll have to be at least 12 for the other.)
posted by the_very_hungry_caterpillar at 10:53 AM on June 22

Is this were I sign up? If so, please assign me something.
posted by bonobothegreat at 4:11 PM on July 17

No, bonobo, but I saw your comment in the Velvet Underground thread, and I assigned you a song there. It's Venus In Furs.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:40 PM on July 17