ode to an imaginary bicycle on a grassy hill

I wrote this song night before last because I haven't written much lately. No vocals because, my vocals would only make it worse. Really. But feel free to sing your own!

First time uploader here. Not sure what the protocol is or if there is any. Feedback...Sure, why not? Mostly just uploading cause I don't know many people who are interested in listening to my music and it kind of seems pointless if you can't share it at the end of the day.

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posted by cicadaverse (3 comments total)

this is good. I really love the metallic, plunky tone on the strummy guitar bits, and the guitar layering at the end (reminds me of MBV). If it was me, I would try to write one more part to take the song somewhere else, if only for a minute - but it's cool the way it is too! nice work, I'd love to hear more about how you recorded the rhythm guitar part.
posted by gorbichov at 5:23 AM on March 30, 2014

Oh, thanks man. It's really nice to have your reaction and feedback. I haven't listened to My Bloody Valentine (I'm pretty disconnected, I had to google MBV to find out who you meant), but a few people have told me I might like them so I have to check that out.

Yeah, it is very much a single progression song. I am a big believer in changing it up in a single song though, like you know, you have that part that's like, "I was in the garden and it was beautiful." and then you throw in that other part that is like "but then it started to rain and i felt sad..." and it adds a nice contrast to the first part.

But yeah, lately I've been doing this thing where I am fascinated with doing as many variations as I can think of for one part and then before I know it, the songs already too long and it's just one single chord progression jammed out in 4 or 5 different ways. So I probably need to chill on that and get back into having more than just one actual part to play.

The Rhythm guitar? Nothing special that I can think of. Mostly it's direct with effects added after. For distortion and reverb I use all software amps (modelling) as I just don't have a use or room for a JCM900 half-stack these days.

Oh, and I cheat as much as possible. I'll loop my guitar as I'm just too lazy to try to perfectly perform across more than one bar. I even resort to software based, midi guitar instruments quite frequently these days more often than I'd like to admit. It probably makes it a bit more mechanical with less variation but usually I'm in "fast recording mode" anyway, where I try to get one song finished in a single session as I know I'm likely to just never finish it otherwise.

Sorry for rambling on. I'll probably upload more songs in the future here as I write them. Thanks so much for listening and commenting.

I really liked your Liza jane btw. Whenever I hear talent on that level, I'm always embarrassed to call myself a musician. I'm going to check out your other stuff right now.
posted by cicadaverse at 6:08 AM on March 31, 2014

I think you'll like MBV, lots of studio wizardry there with a bazillion layered guitars, cool sounds, etc. I could be biased because I was in college when all that stuff came out originally, but I don't think it sounds particularly dated or anything.

i hear you about working a theme out through lots of variations, that's a really cool thing to do - and there's nothing wrong with that at all. don't let me talk you out of something that's working for you :)

thanks for your comments re liza jane, that's a fun one. pshaw on being embarrassed to call yourself a musician, you are one no doubt!
posted by gorbichov at 4:20 PM on March 31, 2014