I'm Done

Lead-off track from my new RPM album, Inchoatery. I'm still getting my ducks in a row as far as the album's proper home on my music blog, but I'm pretty happy with what I came up with and I wanted to share.

The album is essentially a post-breakup narrative; this first track is the fight that ends the relationship in the first place.

I debated trying to get someone else in to do the right-hand vocals side of the argument, but in the end I decided to keep the album 100% DIY so you get me just yelling at myself at slightly different natural pitches.

This track also features a little bit of sleepy_pete's microkorg, which he was kind enough to lend me for finishing up.

• play
• pause
• min volume
• max volume

posted by cortex (6 comments total)

The middle part really lifts off in a great way, and I like the very absolute and satisfying ending. In general I have noticed about your songs that you have a talent for arranging. Most of your songs have a somewhat theatrical feel to them, in my view, but with this one that really comes into focus. I could see this being part of a rock musical or something. Which I guess makes sense with your explanation about a narrative element running through the album. I listened to some of the tracks on your blog earlier, and I'm definitely impressed with your melodic songwriting. I think if I tried the RPM thing I'd probably write one or two good melodies and then just a bunch of mediocre pseudo-ambient filler.
posted by edlundart at 10:39 PM on February 27, 2010

Yeah, the theatrical aspects of the album as a whole kind of took me by surprise, but once I started doing it as a narrative (can I avoid using the phrase "concept album"? I bet I can if I really make an effOH DAMMIT) some of that just got inevitable.

I considered working in breaking-glass noises to this to try and build up a sort of atmospheric montage of visceral Big Fight trope signifiers but decided against it, as much as anything for the sake of time. I do make use of some field audio from freesound.org on a couple later tracks, actually.
posted by cortex at 7:03 AM on February 28, 2010

Heh, I tried really hard not to call it a concept album myself, I know people fear that.
posted by edlundart at 8:58 PM on February 28, 2010

I believe the term you're looking for is rock opera.

Nice use of the korgie. I like the song. It's a cortex song, but with yelling.
posted by sleepy pete at 11:23 PM on February 28, 2010

I misread this on the sidebar as cortex posted I'm Done with Music. yesterday. There was a horrible WTF moment before my eyes and brain caught up with each other.

Whew.
posted by tangerine at 10:48 AM on March 1, 2010

I liked this. I think they used to refer to these as 'breezy openers'.
posted by Jofus at 6:22 AM on March 2, 2010