Not So Kind

A very short little song wherein I take the harshly honest route toward an old friend.

I actually set out to record this for the Under A Minute challenge of yore, but it clocked in over a minute and I never really was happy with it. I started over with my new recording setup and am much happier with this version.

Features some arpeggio and the return of my dad's guitarron.

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posted by ORthey (10 comments total)

That's devastating. Makes you want to live your life such that no one ever dedicates this song to you.
posted by umbú at 9:06 PM on March 20, 2010

I think it's a merciful choice to keep it so short. Otherwise it would be difficult not to make it go even bigger, which could end up backfiring by falling into melodrama. Plus, the abrupt ending feels like not dragging out a break-up with a friend. You said what you needed to say.
posted by umbú at 9:12 PM on March 20, 2010

That voice again ORthey.........that voice....... This is great but I think you could do more with it. I mean you have the hook already, a couple of verses and a middle eight and you got something pretty fucking devastating there man. Fab.
posted by MajorDundee at 3:32 AM on March 21, 2010

Thanks guys!

umbú, I always love your thoughts. You have an excellent knack for insightful, thoughtful commentary. MajorDundee, I really appreciate your comments on my voice, especially since I've always struggled with accepting it and wishing it were different. That's probably true of most musicians, anyway.

In the end I sort of did what umbú gets at, which was to decide that extending it might turn it from my honest feelings towards someone into a sort of musical polemic that might become uncomfortable. Perhaps I'll give extending it a shot and see how it works.
posted by ORthey at 10:50 AM on March 21, 2010

You have such an amazing voice!
posted by PinkMoose at 2:42 PM on March 21, 2010

I completely agree about keeping this short. The brevity adds some distance and ambiguity to the lyrics, like this song could also be directed at the songwriter himself and not a friend. This song gave me a lot of chills. I've listened to it a few times, and I keep noticing new things about the instruments, well done!

umbú, I always love your thoughts. You have an excellent knack for insightful, thoughtful commentary.

That deserves to be restated.

That voice again ORthey.........that voice.

That, too.
posted by Corduroy at 2:55 PM on March 21, 2010

I really enjoy riding along with the different instruments and layers. It may be a short trip, but it's very rich and full. Beautiful, man. (And yea, I love your voice too!)
posted by snsranch at 3:20 PM on March 22, 2010

Lovely.

In the spirit of the MusicTalk thread you've started, maybe you could explain (here or there) how you've arranged / recorded the guitars (and then some) in this song? It has interesting texture and a nice balance.
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 10:02 PM on March 22, 2010

This is very rich. I feel like your voice is getting better and better, and could seriously end up being an iconic voice known by all. It has a TON of unmistakable character, and you should consider it a treasure worth only the finest songwriting you can muster.
posted by edlundart at 10:14 PM on March 22, 2010

edlundart, that is a spectacularly nice thing to say, and I am genuinely flattered to hear it. I will take your advice to heart.

abc123xyzinfinity - good idea. I'll post a comment in the other thread.
posted by ORthey at 4:51 PM on March 24, 2010