MeFi Music

The Song of Sailor Martin

Astro Zombie — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:45:01 -0800

The theme song for Sailor Martin, my pierced and tattooed ventriloquist dummy, a melancholy Hawaiian number about a hut on the beach occupied by a certain drunken sailor with a large number of naughty tales to tell. Up until now, I've been creating these songs by scouring the internet for MP3s of 78 RPM records that are in the public domain, but, in this instance, I actually went out and purchased a 78 at the wonderful Vintage Music Company in South Minneapolis, near the intersection of Cedar Avenue and 38th Street. The record is called "Ua Like - Noa Like," and was recorded by Ferera's Hawaiian Instrumental Quartet for Columbia Records. Near as I can tell, the record was released sometime around 1917. I played the 78 on a record plater I own that comes with a USB cable and imported it into my computer using Audacity, which I then used to clean up the sound file, following that with two programs, ClickRepair and DeNoise, to remove some of the scratches and surface noise. I then imported this sound file into Garage Band. I recorded original lyrics onto my Casio Exilim digital camera by singing while filming myself in digital video mode, stripped the sound file off the video in Quicktime, and then cleaned the file up a little in Audacity. Then I combined them all in Garage Band. The lyrics are as follows: THE SONG OF SAILOR MARTIN On an island paradise is Sailor Martin In a hut upon the beach; old and spartan Let's go see him, you and me, bring the rum now He'll tell us tales of the sea; won't you come now? Sailor Martin, o Sailor Martin The sea call you by your name While you are sleeping And the ocean it knows The secrets you're keeping Tales whispered from Moscow to Beijing How many women have there been? Can you name them? How many sins did you commit? Will you claim them? What's in your cup, Martin, o can I pour some? As you tell us ribald tales of exotic foursomes. Sailor Martin, o Sailor Martin There's a tale in every empty rum drink He's got stories so won't you please come drink On an island paradise

Chester v3

tmcw — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:19:43 -0800

First mix of fer-realz recording of one of my songs: Chester. Per my last AskMefi post, please critique it! I'm cool with any critique - weak points I can see currently are

Didn't have a pick first time I started recording. Thus opening riff is a little sloppy
Recording is only 1:45 or something long currently. Most songs are over 2:30... I'm planning a big outro as usual
First track of vocals is unprocessed, since I just recorded it. I'll probably send it through the amp sim -> reverb line like the second line

Anything else? I have a few more days to work on this, and I'd like at least this one track to get respectable

All The Things... (...I've Stuck up my Arse, Ode to an A&E Nurse)

nthdegx — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:52:42 -0800

N.b. A&E is British for Emergency Room.

Tell Yourself

tmcw — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:48:46 -0800

I suppose this is the equivalent of my last yay new instrument song. Banjo, 'lectric guitar, 'lectric drums, singin. Oh, and the drums are Hydrogen with a 70s vintage drumkit. I'm recording my home-stuff in Ardour nowadays, which, with JACK, plays very nicely with the drum synth. It does crash randomly, which is not cool, though.

Shady Grove

not_on_display — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:20:45 -0800

For Jessamyn, who's been listening to many versions of this song. Here's another. (She's right; it is a pretty tune.) Lyrics adapted from this version. This is also the first thing I've recorded in a long, long time.

Sailor Martin's Shipwrecked Song

Astro Zombie — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:28:50 -0800

Sailor Martin, a tattooed and pierced ventriloquist dummy, produces what sounds like his version of the scene in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy meets the Munchkins, except, in this instance, he has been shipwrecked, eaten some potentially poisonous bark, and may be hallucinating. The song is recorded over an MP3 of a Tatar song called Kuk Kugercin, recording date and original artists unknown. The song was made by recording new lyrics into a Casio Exilim camera on digital video mode, exporting the sound as a WAV file, editing the WAV file in Audacity, then combining the new lyrics with the original Tatar recording in Garage Band. SAILOR MARTIN'S SHIPWRECKED SONG LYRICS: I'm sailor Martin I come from the ocean I was in a shipwreck On a nearby shore I have been starving I tried to eat a sea shell I drank up my own urine And tried to kill a parrot I tried to eat some tree bark It made mt stomach sore Won't you please help me I want to eat your buildings They are made of celery Can I eat some moldings Some shingles from your roof Or the hinges off your door You are all singing While I am still here starving You dance your dances While I am needing food You are so tiny I'm so hungry I could eat you Pop you in my mouth Swallow you with a gulp You'd be in my belly Would you think that that is rude? Your little costumes They are made of licorice And buttons made of gum drops I think that you are edible But maybe I'm delirious From the tree bark that I chewed

Afternoon Date

blinks — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:21:09 -0800

A four-piece: guitar, drums, piano, bass. Let me know what you think; it's a bit short, but I like the sound.

While the City Sleeps

god particle — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:01:01 -0800

cranked this one out today...going to be part of my first demo ep under the name "neon zoo", later I plan on adding vocals.

Half

tmcw — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:11:22 -0800

A new song idea, hatched out of procrastination for finals. It kind of grows. I write songs backwards, I realized today. It's... me, clapping, acoustic guitar. Through my laptop's mic. Into Ardour, which is... okay, despite it's tendency to crash randomly.

You and Me

johanze — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:03:41 -0800

Slice of acoustic girl singer pop. New single from my band, Kristy London and The Other Halves. Written by myself and the singer, produced and mixed and all that stuff by myself.

Don't Rely on the Radio

6am — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:26:59 -0800

Here's a garagy tune i've been producing for my cousin, Vonesvonic. We've done it over the period of a few months, primarily recording in an attic in the North of England - then recording new elements down in London, also working via Skype and such to keep working remotely. Its a real mixture, and has been a bit of an upward struggle to compose (lots of revisions to keep is as simple and focused as possible). It's all done in Ableton Live, with lots of Guitar Rig 3. My cousin Will does vocals, beatbox, guitar, bass and we share credit on claps. I put it together.

Memory Hole

saulgoodman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:36:52 -0800

A sad/angry song about the place where all the things we'd rather forget end up. Inspired by MeFi politics filter, where I was first introduced to the concept of "the memory hole," which in turn gave rise to this song. (This is a redux post after I accidentally posted an old mix before.) Also, this poem by ee cummings was tumbling around somewhere in my big mostly empty head when I wrote this. Lyrics: They'll drown you out / They'll cover you with white noise / until the signal's blotted out. / They'll wash you down the memory hole / leave you spinning round and round. / 'Cause you whistle-blowers need to learn / to keep your mouths shut. / And you teenage mothers need to learn / to keep your mouths shut. / Or there's someone who'll be glad / to shut them for you / and then make it look like an accident. / They'll drown you out / no matter how loud you might try to shout. / They'll drag you down, / make you slap yourself in your own face, like a clown. / 'Cause you whistle-blowers need to learn / to keep your mouths shut. / And you teenage mothers need to learn / to keep your mouths shut. / Or there's someone who'll be glad / to shut them for you / and then make it look like an accident. / Om mani padme hum, om mani padme hum, om mani padme hum... / But you whistle-blowers need to learn / to keep your mouths shut. / And you teenage mothers need to learn / to keep your mouths shut. / And you union workers need to learn / to keep your mouths shut. / Or there's someone who'll be glad / to shut them for you / and then make it look like an accident.

One For The Road

InfidelZombie — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:08:49 -0800

A upbeat, country-ish number about a guy who'd like his girl to finish up that last drink so we can hit the road already...

Muster

umbú — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:19:57 -0800

A song from a promising project called Lek that ended up short-lived as we found ourselves living far away from each other. Lyrics and melody by the same friend K who sang the Bjork cover that I posted a while ago. The music is by the rest of us.

Loves Deep Mineshaft

merocet — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:15:40 -0800

Loves Deep Mineshaft is an odd little song recorded in a couple of hours on Thursday afternoon. I make the music and Ron makes the words. I've been playing music for a long time in bands and solo and Ron has been getting his writing published and doing spoken word spots at clubs in New York for years. This is the result of glueing his words and his harmonica to my playing everything else. It comes out a little bit like the last song of the night at David Lynch's favourite bar and I'd really like to know whether other people think it's any good. I tend to like stuff that sounds screwed up like this but I'm not sure anyone else does.

In Piles/On File

2or3whiskeysodas — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:50:04 -0800

Were my rock band to have a "hit single," it would be this. It filts squarely into the description of "thrilling guitar driven indie-rock music" if that's your thing. This is the song that people who come see us are generally most stoked about. I think it's one of the best, if not the best, songs I've ever written. Some additional deetz: 1. There are vocals. They start about midway through. 2. My band is called Bring Back The Guns. I feel weird about posting links for some reason but if you're interested in finding us, we're on a few of the major pay download sites. We also have a totally outdated website and Myspace. The URL's are exactly what you'd think they'd be. The band's sort of but not really in semi-hibernation at the moment. 3. I also really like the lyrics for this one, which is rare for me. They're kind of hard to make out. They are:

Blink and you'll miss it, so keep your eyes shut tight instead. Keep your eyes shut and you'll never miss a thing. I think about thinking, think about things I though you said. Didn't you say that? Did I not say anything? I wish I could remember every billboard I've ever read, every glass of water, every awful song. But I don't remember even enough to make amends, even enough to say, "I'm sorry, I was wrong." Do you remember me? Because I don't remember me. Keep me in piles or keep me on file.

Incident After

pedmands — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:17:41 -0800

From the same EP of 2007 as My Fire (O Captain! My Captain!). This one is a little too laid back for how I play it now, it's meant to be a bit more punchy and at a faster clip. Rest up, I’ll wake you when I get the rest up Get the strength up, needed when the rest is falling down Always around, I am your hallowing ground Place your foot down, followed by the slip of friction found (of the friction found) Maybe I’ll I find my way Like the sun did that day Or maybe it’s all just smoke in mirrors (smoke in mirrors) Rest up, I’ll wake you when I get the rest up Get the strength up, needed when the rest is falling down Maybe I’ll I find my way Like the sun did that day Or maybe it’s all just smoke in mirrors

Spider Song

motty — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:18:31 -0800

A demo recorded in a hurry. Kind of pleased with it though, so thought I'd see what you thought. Lyrics.

When We Were Small

Karlos the Jackal — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:29:25 -0800

Moody ruminations with autoharp and marimba accompaniment. I just finished it, so it's still pretty hot -- watch your fingers. This one has been kicking around for a few years but it wasn't until I bought a small marimba and a vibraslap that it came, for the most part, together. There is also some random percussion -- fingersnaps, rolling dice -- and my wife sings the la la las. At the very end is a Pling Plong, a small make-your-own-melody music box that I got (mailorder) from a Clockwork Toy museum in Utrecht. This is one of the most downbeat songs I've made -- which isn't saying much, since most of my songs sound like chipmunks on a Pixy Stix bender -- but still, there it is. Words are here. This is song #2 in the "Clean My Plate 2008" project, wherein drowsy, my one-man band, tries to wrap up a dozen half-finished songs and put them up here on MetaFilter.

Blackbox Blues

es_de_bah — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:07:49 -0800

Piano! Mellotron! Squealing guitars! Stewardesses! I've been working on this for a few weeks now. It's one of the more complex arrangements I've attempted in a while. I think I'm getting close to done, but I could really use some feed back. Thanks, folks! lyrics: you irregular? 'cause i'm irregular, too. we've all been cut to fit and there's nothing that you can do for it. you see, the trouble with trying to sleep like this is my head's hard tack and ac hiss. my head feels like a dead-end Darwin tree. that's what it's like for me. you're gonna top yourself. you're gonna price yourself out. are you a regular? yeah i'm a regular, too. the ground is coming fast; there's nothing that we can do about that. the flight plan's lost and you know the blackbox is laughing at us (it won't be erased). the stewardess is married to the sky each time that she walks down the aisle. it's the miracle mile. you're gonna top yourself and you will price yourself out.

My Fire

pedmands — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:49:13 -0800

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

Fever Dream

inoculatedcities — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:25:14 -0800

A song written and recorded today in one go. Can you guess what it's about? Myself playing rhodes, acoustic guitar, bass, programmed drums, singing, and a subpar electric guitar solo. It's not an especially happy song but I hope you enjoy.

Passionate Surrender

ibfrog — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:27:06 -0800

More three part solo. This time even the melody is improvised. The lyrics are a poem that caught my eye online. (link inside) The poem is "Passionate Surrender" by Pauline Hamblin I was looking online for poems I could write a guitar part to and found this one. I ran the microphone while I hummed a few guesses at a melody and didn't think anything about it. When I listened to what I had recorded the next day I decided to do another A capella piece Its still the laptop microphone, but I think I'm getting better about killing the white noise.

Left Hand Tied

foole — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 20:03:03 -0800

This bouncy little number is from my band's new, self-released record. It opens with bassoon, bass clarinet and contra alto. There are more like it here and there.

Cyanotic - Deface (Ad·ver·sary + Dirtybunny = Industrial Strength Mix)

Jairus — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:31:05 -0800

Aggro-industrial stomping, with just a hint of WaxTrax! This is a remix of a Cyanotic track that we had to cut from Transhuman 2.0 due to time constraints. I did this mix with my partner (dirtybunny), and I think it's one of the better remixes I've done. This is also the third time I've tried to post this here, and if it doesn't work then the mp3 is obviously haunted.