November 2008 Archives (all archives)

November 30

Girlfriend Song

It's okay to submit a MetaFilter Music Challenge song at the last minute (Pacific Standard Time) if the song itself is less than a minute long! You can't get blood from a stone, but you can get feedback from an autoharp. Here's a tender punk rock love song for you. [more inside]

posted by Karlos the Jackal at 11:59 PM PST - 8 comments

Silent Night

Just a little Spirit

posted by american caesar at 5:59 PM PST - 2 comments

The Moviegoer

Another in my series of autobiographical songs about my experiences in Los Angeles in the early 90s, this based on my obsessive movie watching habits back then. [more inside]

posted by Astro Zombie at 3:19 PM PST - 2 comments

Together

Laid back guitar pop, on a classical guitar - written for a friends wedding.

posted by Admira at 3:17 AM PST - 3 comments

Six Fifths

My first MeFi Music song. Under just one minute long. [more inside]

posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 12:31 AM PST - 1 comments

Christmas Rhapsody

Kris Kringle! No! Do not give him coal! [more inside]

posted by doubtfulpalace at 12:25 AM PST - 30 comments

November 29

isolated research station orbiting a bizarre planet

Endcaps of warbling drone punctuated by bass stabs, and a middle section of high rhythmic complexity [more inside]

posted by wastelands at 5:56 PM PST - 0 comments

Don't Disturb This Groove

A cover of The System's "Don't Disturb This Groove". I tried to picture how Samamidon would have done it.

posted by NemesisVex at 2:03 PM PST - 1 comments

November 28

Touching

Instrumental classical guitar, in a laid back pop style. [more inside]

posted by Admira at 9:28 PM PST - 4 comments

Santa Monica

A song about male prostitution in Hollywood. Lyrics NSFW. [more inside]

posted by Astro Zombie at 2:48 PM PST - 1 comments

Heart's in the Choirbox

A shell (?) of a country song, but also my first try with Melodyne (an Auto-tune-esque plugin). Combo music talk/listen: how does the pitch correction sound? [more inside]

posted by nosila at 2:35 PM PST - 4 comments

Spellbound

Another of the tunes from my band's live recording session this past July. [more inside]

posted by motty at 11:44 AM PST - 1 comments

20081123

Ambient music made with a guitar. More.

posted by xmutex at 11:25 AM PST - 1 comments

Personal Jesus

Cover. By request, so you can blame arcanecrowbar [more inside]

posted by mexican at 8:22 AM PST - 9 comments

November 27

Sad, Sad Song

As requested by ORthey. [more inside]

posted by micayetoca at 5:53 PM PST - 5 comments

MixingFilter: Do you 'play' the Fader

MixingFilter: Do you manipulate the volume of a 'part' during the song? [more inside] posted by mary8nne at 11:28 AM PST - 14 comments

November 26

Poison Ivy League (Elvis Presley cover)

At micayetoca's request, here is my take on Elvis Presley's Poison Ivy League. As a special bonus, here's me playing ukulele!

posted by buriednexttoyou at 12:18 PM PST - 10 comments

November 25

Flesh & Bone

"Why did you come to me only to run from me when I tried to protect you? Why did you turn on me when I tried to warn you there were wolves outside your door with rows of jagged teeth and a taste for red meat? I guess that's how it goes when you're only flesh and bone." Get-up-and-dance, old school electro-pop. [more inside]

posted by saulgoodman at 7:32 AM PST - 8 comments

November 24

Sorry

A while ago our previous Prime Minister had a great deal of trouble saying "Sorry", so I thought I'd do it for him, along with a couple of other things. The song's a bit dated now, but it rocks hard.

posted by awfurby at 8:11 PM PST - 6 comments

Jingle Bells

Im like a kid in a candy store for christmas and everything christmas So I cant wait anymore I must transform into SomethingjoeChristmas Early... [more inside]

posted by american caesar at 4:03 PM PST - 2 comments

Why should we submit music to labels?

Is submitting to a label worth it anymore? [more inside] posted by wastelands at 12:33 PM PST - 13 comments

Our Age (Constantines cover)

Its been too long since I've last posted here. I've been a big fan of the Constantines since the time the Arcade Fire were opening for them. This is a cover of a song off of their new album. [more inside]

posted by dobie at 11:30 AM PST - 4 comments

Divergence

A downtempo dance tune... I think. Yep.

posted by csimpkins at 8:55 AM PST - 5 comments

Brookline

(Note: NSFW-ish if f*** and a****** are a problem where you work.) For the bulk of the years of growing up that I actually remember, what I would consider the “formative” years, I lived in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Not to be confused with the super irritating Brookline, New Hampshire that would show up in school closing announcements only to leave me extra disappointed.) During and after college I didn’t think much of my high school years at Brookline High School. And in fact, I ended up losing touch with every friend I made there. But thanks to the internets I have reconnected with many of them, some very recently. It’s been super positive, and it’s stirred up all these great memories of my time in Brookline. That’s what this song is about. These three incidents in particular: [more inside]

posted by hillelc at 7:53 AM PST - 3 comments

My Little Corner of the World

As requested by chococat, and featuring the great Karlos The Jackal on marimba and toy piano. [more inside]

posted by micayetoca at 7:48 AM PST - 17 comments

November 23

drifting out to sea

Relaxing ambient piece. I continue to love using the automation controls in Ableton Live.

posted by wastelands at 7:59 PM PST - 0 comments

Slaw Value-Pak

Nine less-than-a-minute tracks from a 100-track album. [more inside]

posted by doubtfulpalace at 2:57 PM PST - 1 comments

Singin' in the Rain

Performed on a WurliTzer Style D Sp. by theatre organist Trevor Slocum. [more inside]

posted by tj9991 at 1:13 PM PST - 3 comments

Club core decimation

Made with sounds of failing hard drives from this post, a sample of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, the 808 bass drum, and a smattering of club-violence-related acapellas. I also used sounds from software crashes. [more inside]

posted by fuq at 9:23 AM PST - 1 comments

November 22

surviving in the wilderness

An ambient noise / drone piece with a dark mood.

posted by wastelands at 4:16 PM PST - 0 comments

Be Be Beautiful

About a party I went to where I fell in love with a girl visiting from Atlanta. She left the next day.

posted by dagosto at 1:12 PM PST - 3 comments

November 21

New Slang

This is my first try at a request. It changed my life.

posted by umbú at 10:40 PM PST - 14 comments

Floating

An atmospheric interlude that briefly teases a song, written for my unborn son. I tried to convey a feeling of floating around in an amniotic sac with brief moments of activity that go away as quickly as they appear. [more inside]

posted by csimpkins at 9:02 PM PST - 5 comments

lasting longer than 4 hours

if you experience a librarian lasting longer than 4 hours call your doctor [more inside]

posted by February28 at 8:32 PM PST - 4 comments

The Story of The Man Who Didn't Do Something

"This is a story of a man who sat at home all day and did absolutely nothing." Our improv group is at it again, this time adding a DS-10 and an old electronic organ's rhythmic presets into the mix. 22 minutes in length.

posted by man vs sun at 5:26 PM PST - 0 comments

Dudely muzac

Apparently my last few posts have been pretty girly but that's cool, I'm comfortable with my musical sexuality. I wanted there to be no ambiguity with this one so I cranked my gitar to 11 and played it as dirty as I could. [more inside]

posted by BrnP84 at 6:21 AM PST - 3 comments

November 20

Little Red Corvette

Cover. As requested by arcanecrowbar. [more inside]

posted by chococat at 10:11 PM PST - 10 comments

Verging

A moody, layered acoustic number with my wannabe Iron & Wine vocals.

posted by quadog at 8:17 PM PST - 4 comments

black friday (the meltdown mix)

steely dan meets mad max? you tell us.

posted by kimyo at 6:47 PM PST - 3 comments

It's a love song baby

Taking a short break from challenges to make a quick love song. [more inside]

posted by ORthey at 4:18 PM PST - 12 comments

Nagasaki

I was flipping through an old binder of songs I wrote in high school and came across this instrumental. I saw some potential there and decided to record it. Twenty years ago, it was supposed to be a fusion thing, along the lines of Hiroshima. I opted for something a bit harder instead.

posted by NemesisVex at 9:21 AM PST - 0 comments

Small Town News Affiliate Song

News at 5. Follow the fastest, and breaking stories with Andehal Meyers. Get the latest forcast from Angela Jones. Your team will play at the end of the week, and Angela Braidhal has the inside scoop with coach. Angel Meyers, for the teams inside strategies. Gamblings forecasat. [more inside]

posted by dagosto at 4:03 AM PST - 22 comments

November 19

Like a Rock

My mom wrote this poem in 1968 and I am compiling it for her as a song for her Christmas present this year. [more inside]

posted by Jenny is Crafty at 8:36 PM PST - 6 comments

Noetic

1. of or pertaining to the mind. 2. originating in or apprehended by the reason. The first completed track of a new Lestrade collection called Flights of Theory.

posted by nthdegx at 1:40 PM PST - 2 comments

Wheel in the Sky (bluegrass cover)

As requested by uncleozzy. I'd like to think this is a song sung by a hard-travelin' man dreaming of his girl—a girl with beautiful long black hair, and a high, soaring voice; Old Man Perry's daughter, Stephanie. [more inside]

posted by cortex at 10:06 AM PST - 15 comments

For Sunni

Not a breakup song, but a relationship-on-hold song. [more inside]

posted by symbollocks at 6:41 AM PST - 1 comments

November 18

Live Sound Perfection

I went to see Cardinals in Birmingham (Carling Academy) last night, and was (once again) blown away at the quality of their live sound. It was LOUD, possibly too loud at times, but I left with no ringing in my ears at all. Nor did my wife or our friends, none of whom frequent loud gigs. How is this possible? [more inside] posted by chuckdarwin at 2:30 AM PST - 3 comments

November 17

Country Death Song

Cover. As requested by ORthey. [more inside]

posted by chococat at 9:32 PM PST - 15 comments

dreamsleepwake

The first hopeful thing out after a particularly rough breakup. [more inside]

posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 8:43 PM PST - 3 comments

Teens In Love In Space

Title inspired by a friend's idea for a new comic book. An ultra-happy electro love-fest with all the fixings... handclaps, warm synth pads, uplifting key changes, sparkly arps. Enjoy!

posted by CarrotAdventure at 5:14 PM PST - 5 comments

a woman claiming to be the devil

A harsh, glitchy, beat-driven piece.

posted by wastelands at 8:28 AM PST - 0 comments

How to Get that Perfect Mix

So here's the thing: Finally over the Veteran's Day holiday, my wife and I wrapped up the recording phase of the new project we've been working on for Tangemeenie. Now comes the hard part: Mixing. All along, I've been haphazardly churning out rough mixes, a few of which I've posted here in the past. But now, on closer listen, it's clear to me that I abused limiters, compressors and other signal processors and generally made a mess of things in so many minor and major ways in these initial mixes that I now need to do almost a complete reset. So now, I'm eating humble pie. MeFiMu mixing gurus--here's your chance to share your favorite lessons learned or any other pieces of practical advice you might have about the art and science of mixing. [more inside] posted by saulgoodman at 8:18 AM PST - 16 comments

November 16

I Want To Sing That Rock and Roll

As suggested by Karlos the Jackal [more inside]

posted by BrnP84 at 9:28 PM PST - 4 comments

Re-ordering MeMu playlists?

Semi-meta-ish: Ability to re-order the songs in your Playlists? [more inside] posted by potch at 1:53 PM PST - 6 comments

November 15

Watching the Detectives

Cover. As requested by Mr. cortex.

posted by chococat at 9:30 PM PST - 22 comments

Don't Cry, Please

melissa may sings over a friend's track (but we wrote the lyrics together and I recorded her singing!). [more inside]

posted by sleepy pete at 7:38 PM PST - 7 comments

boxing in a flooded basement

My most melody-driven piece thus far. I'm not totally happy with it, but I got tired of tweaking things. I have several other half-finished music projects I want to work on, so it was nice push this out the door.

posted by wastelands at 6:25 PM PST - 1 comments

Nuts on the Go

Hi! I was trying to calibrate my microphone in an iso booth (okay, okay, a walk-in closet) and my hyperactive puppy was all like "NO! PLAY WITH ME! HEY! I AM NUGGET! HEY!" So I took him in the closet with me, sang a song to entertain him (he sat quietly, tilting his head, possibly terrified), then set it to music. [more inside]

posted by jake at 2:11 PM PST - 6 comments

wake up sunshine

some new friends and i, doing the spontaneous live-looping thing.

posted by kimyo at 1:41 AM PST - 4 comments

November 14

DanceDanceDanceDanceDance (Part I)

A dance anthem for our time.

posted by CarrotAdventure at 1:52 PM PST - 1 comments

It's Jay!

A less-than-one-minute theme song I wrote five years ago for a fictional sitcom about a guy I worked with at the time. A music challenge twofer that I have had in the can for half a decade. [more inside]

posted by cortex at 9:01 AM PST - 11 comments

I got a crush on Hannah Jones

There was a post on earlier tonight about this girl Hannah Jones, the more I think about it the more I don't know what to think, other than it's a pretty crappy situation. [more inside]

posted by BrnP84 at 12:15 AM PST - 1 comments

November 13

Nude (Radiohead cover)

I was surprised to find I'd never posted this to MeFi Music. Yet another Radiohead cover by me and my friend Mel. On MySpace we are Minor Vine. [more inside]

posted by Saellys at 2:20 AM PST - 10 comments

November 12

i will (radiohead cover)

Spur-of-the-moment lo-fi live cover of the Radiohead song off Hail to the Thief, to which I added a couple of equally rough overdubs and some reverb. The guitar is out of tune and poorly played, but the vocal melody tweaks are kind of fun. [more inside]

posted by edlundart at 10:13 PM PST - 7 comments

When She Got Her Chucks

Not for everyone. Two guitars and bass with some electronic interludes. [more inside]

posted by dagosto at 9:23 PM PST - 8 comments

Go Gadget, Go!

A jazzy version of the Inspector Gadget theme song. Apologies in advance if it gets stuck in your head. [more inside]

posted by csimpkins at 7:18 PM PST - 12 comments

Brother North-Wind's Secret

Music for an imaginary children's TV show. [more inside]

posted by doubtfulpalace at 10:40 AM PST - 18 comments

Henry Pants

This is a song that I sing to my cat. Because he has a lot on his plate and a short attention span besides, this song is less than a minute long. It features autoharp, glockenspiel, and the "Min-O-Matic" rhythm box. [more inside]

posted by Karlos the Jackal at 12:06 AM PST - 8 comments

November 11

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Yes, it's Disney, with some nice jazzy guitar as background courtesy of Adrian Holovaty...I tried to add a few touches of my own, I hope you enjoy.

posted by StrikeTheViol at 6:04 PM PST - 1 comments

I'm a Little Airplane

Jonathan Richman cover, as learned from They Might Be Giants. [more inside]

posted by buriednexttoyou at 4:26 PM PST - 9 comments

Spin Dash

A high-octane, in-your-face synth-strumental. Funky synth bass catapults into swirling portamento melodies and a punchy 5-part harmony in the chorus. Sonic the Hedgehog samples add to the fun.

posted by CarrotAdventure at 4:14 PM PST - 13 comments

xenomorph banging drums

Perhaps my most "complete" song yet. A five-minute ambient / glitch backbeat punctuated by percussion.

posted by wastelands at 8:29 AM PST - 1 comments

November 10

Take the Picture

I tend to take a lot of pictures. I found out early on in my photo-taking tenure that the more pictures I took, the more likely that some of them would come out nicely. Of course, I’m always the one behind the camera. As a parent, I also have wondered just how much of the time I spend with my kids they will remember (if any). My father recently asked me if I remembered how we used to watch Star Trek together. I honestly couldn’t remember. He was crushed. It occurred to me that many years down the road when my kids look at our family pictures they won’t see me in any of them because I was the one behind the camera. Something tells me that this detail will be lost on them as they repeat the cycle and tell me they don’t remember me being there. ;) [more inside]

posted by hillelc at 10:43 PM PST - 5 comments

Cashmachine

Response to several challenges. [more inside]

posted by arcanecrowbar at 9:45 PM PST - 3 comments

Junior

A sad little middle-eastern sounding song with lots of voices. Friends say it could be a theme for a James Bond-esque movie set in the middle east. [more inside]

posted by azarbayejani at 7:19 PM PST - 7 comments

Weightless

A song rescued from cassette imagining the changes that the internet will bring. [more inside]

posted by umbú at 6:50 PM PST - 8 comments

Lao Hop

Who knew Laos had such a thriving hip hop scene? [more inside]

posted by ageispolis at 6:36 PM PST - 3 comments

Groeiende Gedachte

[more inside]

posted by elektrotechnicus at 11:33 AM PST - 0 comments

Here comes your man

Because it hath been requested.

posted by ORthey at 10:59 AM PST - 25 comments

November 9

Totally Wired

This is a cover of The Fall song Totally Wired...well sort of... [more inside]

posted by degoao at 7:47 PM PST - 4 comments

The visitor

Short loopy ambient motif with some white noise. [more inside]

posted by jchgf at 6:14 PM PST - 0 comments

Three-Camera Sitcom

The theme song to a sitcom you may have seen a time or two.

posted by uncleozzy at 5:54 PM PST - 8 comments

jesus loves me

hummin' and strummin' on a sunday in autumn [more inside]

posted by ageispolis at 5:39 PM PST - 3 comments

That Guy In That Room

Theme song for an imaginary TV series called "That Guy In That Room". [more inside]

posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:17 AM PST - 13 comments

November 8

Take 14

How do you avoid recorder's block? [more inside] posted by ageispolis at 8:46 PM PST - 11 comments

from troposphere to exosphere

More ambient / noise / drone stuff. [more inside]

posted by wastelands at 6:14 PM PST - 2 comments

Forcefield

The power of passive aggression, in song form. Meant for listening loud in headphones, although what isn't?

posted by snofoam at 5:00 PM PST - 4 comments

I Placed a Jar in Tennessee

A random demo of a song I wrote with lyrics from Wallace Stevens' poem Anecdote of the Jar. [more inside]

posted by ageispolis at 3:55 PM PST - 3 comments

Canção de amor

As requested by melissa may. [more inside]

posted by micayetoca at 3:47 PM PST - 12 comments

September Gurls

Per arcanecrowbar's request, Big Star's September Gurls. [more inside]

posted by uncleozzy at 2:11 PM PST - 9 comments

Stone Cold Bush (Live Version)

Another shitty cover. [more inside]

posted by mexican at 9:25 AM PST - 6 comments

Interlude

Short GarageBand arrangement. [more inside]

posted by effwerd at 9:11 AM PST - 1 comments

November 7

addpach30as.a

Minimalist square ambient paste. [more inside]

posted by jchgf at 9:04 PM PST - 5 comments

In Under A Minute

Spoken word w/ geetar for this months challenge. [more inside]

posted by snsranch at 8:03 PM PST - 8 comments

Worm Moon

Prog! Math! Horns! [more inside]

posted by doubtfulpalace at 7:30 PM PST - 3 comments

Pull Out My Teeth

This is a little composition I did in MIDI some years ago, which I found recently and opened in GarageBand. If anyone is interested in playing it on some real instruments, I'd be happy to provide the original MIDI file, which you could probably print out as sheet music if you are crafty enough.

posted by buriednexttoyou at 6:18 PM PST - 3 comments

Miss You

I felt like doing this quick and dirty. Thanks again to arcanecrowbar for the request

posted by dagosto at 12:00 PM PST - 16 comments

November 6

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

I know, I know, another Neutral Milk Hotel cover from this guy. But bear with me on this one - this was my first ever attempt at recording something. Beware of ridiculous effects, general fuzz, super cool whistilng and wild panning, especially if you are on headphones. [more inside]

posted by Corduroy at 2:13 PM PST - 8 comments

It's a Ghost Town, Charlie Brown

Here's a song some friends and I recorded a few weeks ago. It's still a work in progress, as it's lacking vocals for most of the song. [more inside]

posted by thequietriot at 11:55 AM PST - 4 comments

Whiter Shade of Pale (Radio Edit)

Thanks to arcanecrowbar for the request and micayetoca for the challenge idea. This is my electro-freak-pop version of the Procal Harum masterpiece. [more inside]

posted by dagosto at 1:26 AM PST - 13 comments

November 5

The Up-and-Out

I've had a crumhorn sitting around the studio forever, but I think this is the first time I've actually used it on a track... [more inside]

posted by doubtfulpalace at 11:29 PM PST - 3 comments

Mellow Ocean Groove

Just a sketch/idea of a song. Doubt I'll do anything with this, but it seemed a shame to toss it. [more inside]

posted by wastelands at 10:02 PM PST - 0 comments

Lyrics without a home

I've written lyrics to several songs, but no ability to write the music. I was wondering if any mefiite would like to collaborate? posted by Neale at 8:08 PM PST - 3 comments

Love Me Tender

Death metal remix of Love Me Tender....just kidding I'm playing a uke. [more inside]

posted by BrnP84 at 8:07 PM PST - 3 comments

November 4

Stay The Fuck In Line

I wish I'd written this song a week ago, but I'd never even heard the phrase until this afternoon. [more inside]

posted by cortex at 4:18 PM PST - 29 comments

November 3

Which Would You Rather Be?

Just in time for Election Day! This is a nice song to sing on your way to or from your local polling place. (If you sing it at the polling place -- or at work, or really in any polite company -- you will be frowned at, at the very least.) If you've already voted, that's okay -- you can sing it while watching the returns, or simply learn it for next time. If you're not in the United States, that's okay, too -- it will probably still apply. [more inside]

posted by Karlos the Jackal at 11:09 PM PST - 5 comments

Exotic Newcastle Disease

This is a new track by my band, Royal Quiet Deluxe -- I play an amplified typewriter for percussion, Tim plays guitar, and two chickens vocalize and play keys. Also, a phone recording of a PSA about Exotic Newcastle Disease in Southern California is mixed in along with crickets, locusts, and other summer sounds in the Virginia mountains. [more inside]

posted by chinese_fashion at 9:13 PM PST - 3 comments

Ancient Music Makers

My second song ever, made in Ableton Live. I figured out how to use the automation controls for better fades in/fades out, and I think it has a cleaner sound overall than my first one. Comments welcome.

posted by wastelands at 7:16 PM PST - 2 comments

Carrot Adventure

Made in my parents' basement one strange winter morning a few years ago. While originally intended completely as a joke/a fun way to kill time, it remains just about the only song I've done that people actually request at shows. Wait for the arpeggiator at the end!

posted by CarrotAdventure at 11:11 AM PST - 2 comments

Immigrant Song

Cover of a song made popular by Dionne Warwick, I think. [more inside]

posted by mexican at 7:58 AM PST - 8 comments

November 2

Rescuer

Strings, drums, two chords and lyrics vaguely inspired by the '80s TV show "The Equalizer". Also, big rip-off of Craig Armstrong.

posted by NemesisVex at 6:17 PM PST - 1 comments

Napping in the valley at dusk

My first song; made in Ableton Live 7 LE. It's a drone/ambient noise piece. Comments welcome, but please be gentle. (Warning: high dynamic range, starts out quiet, but gets loud.) [more inside]

posted by wastelands at 5:20 PM PST - 1 comments

All Souls' Day

sometimes I know my audience is energetically sad, and I show them I know [more inside]

posted by February28 at 7:42 AM PST - 0 comments

November 1

Synthoween

Made in FL Studio in about 40 minutes, in response to a friend's last-minute request for a silly halloween song to play on her radio show. Though I really didn't intend on it, the intro sort of sounds like the intro to the Ghostbusters theme... with scream samples.

posted by CarrotAdventure at 1:22 PM PST - 2 comments

novels are for nerds

Is no one doing Nasoalmo this year? [more inside] posted by smartyboots at 10:35 AM PST - 9 comments

mellowkid

(1:10) [more inside]

posted by eyeballkid at 1:21 AM PST - 2 comments