This is a song I wrote for my friend Paulina. She said she wanted to be a super-hero rat in a song. So that's what this song is about. Intro by the wise sage Orville Redenbacher. [more inside]

posted by keithburgun at 9:32 PM PST - 1 comments

Triibute dedicated to Bret Michaels. Rock on, brother.

posted by frecklefaerie at 8:07 PM PST - 4 comments

This just kind of happened. [more inside]

posted by cortex at 6:16 PM PST - 9 comments

This is a new song from our band Thous and Thees. [more inside]

posted by multivalent at 3:01 PM PST - 5 comments

A downtempo mashup of John Frusciante's The Will to Death and Under the Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. [more inside]

posted by VersusGod at 12:19 PM PST - 1 comments

Journey's Don't Stop Believin' as a kazoo quartet improvisation. [more inside]

posted by cortex at 6:11 PM PST - 20 comments

Rock song. weird intro. wish I could sing it like it should be.

posted by MadRat at 4:15 PM PST - 1 comments

Recommend songs for two acoustic guitars and a bass, or three acoustics? [more inside] posted by jeffamaphone at 11:41 AM PST - 2 comments

Inspired by the music of Plok, one of the baddest games ever made. [more inside]

posted by CarrotAdventure at 6:45 PM PST - 2 comments

Roy Orbison gets the lofi FourTrack treatment. This is pretty rough stuff, but has convinced me that with some care You Got It could be a fucking tremendous bluegrass number. [more inside]

posted by cortex at 1:42 PM PST - 2 comments

A version of this traditional tune on a fretless bowl-back banjo tuned down to B. [more inside]

posted by tmcw at 8:36 AM PST - 3 comments

An abbreviated acoustic take on the done-to-death Eagles song, on uke, banjo, upright, and brushes. Another breakneck iPhone/FourTrack recording. [more inside]

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

I decided to start doing some audio-video documenting of my various instruments: no grand opuses or anything, just little demonstrations. the video (which also includes a bit of show-and-tell spoken introduction) can be seen at YouTube.

posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:34 PM PST - 7 comments

An upbeat song about having one more drink before calling it a night, with a sound a little different than the standard Red On Strike fare. RPM 2008 solo version.

posted by InfidelZombie at 12:28 PM PST - 0 comments

Another loud, sloppy, first-takes-only FourTrack cover. One of my favorite earworms, though I should really have listened to it a few times to figure out how the verses go. [more inside]

posted by cortex at 10:57 AM PST - 4 comments

What is the current state of real time on-line jamming with other musicians? [more inside] posted by umbú at 9:22 AM PST - 6 comments

I posted a version of this last year, but the mix was appalling (bass too hot). Finding myself at something of a musical loose end, I thought I'd have another crack at it. [more inside]

posted by MajorDundee at 12:11 PM PST - 1 comments

A rendering of a theme, to start thinking about what it could be in a song. Kind of happy.

posted by tmcw at 7:44 AM PST - 2 comments

Sorry, a little late for 4:20 bros [more inside]

posted by Kirk Grim at 10:59 PM PST - 0 comments

For flapjax at midnite; here's yer bloody bowed cymbal (finally). [more inside]

posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 4:39 PM PST - 4 comments

The first song I ever wrote, trying to capture my feelings following the breakup of my first serious relationship. Song 7 of 8 from the recent Red On Strike studio session. [more inside]

posted by InfidelZombie at 9:40 AM PST - 0 comments

For St George's Day, a song about 'loving your country' - if you catch my drift.

posted by RokkitNite at 10:30 AM PST - 6 comments

Long time listener, first time caller...err...poster. It's a bluesy sort of number in the religious tradition. The recording was done at home with GarageBand. Comments or suggestions on arrangement, recording technique, instrumentation, whatever, appreciated.

posted by Grundlebug at 9:07 AM PST - 3 comments

A wistful uke song about being a teenager and hanging out with the Son of God.

posted by RokkitNite at 8:09 AM PST - 8 comments

One last shot / Give it all you got Take a chance babe, I’m taking mine [more inside]

posted by InfidelZombie at 6:27 AM PST - 2 comments

I can't tell if the glass is half full or half empty on this song. But that's ok. Ambiguity is all right. [more inside]

posted by quadog at 1:22 AM PST - 1 comments

Banjo + Trombone = Awesome? I'd love your feedback on this new project I am a member of (trombonist). Kind of "new wave bluegrass." I hope you like it.

posted by bengalsfan1 at 7:46 PM PST - 8 comments

Featuring vocals by my friend Rachel Smith, from Arousal Disasters. [more inside]

posted by Jon-A-Thon at 12:14 PM PST - 4 comments

I wrote this song to try and get into the head of a friend who is rarely faithful. RPM Challenge version.

posted by InfidelZombie at 8:04 AM PST - 3 comments

Congratulations on graduating from the Imaginary Instruments series of preparatory materials, and welcome to the next level in non-consensual audio penetration. [more inside]

posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 10:31 AM PST - 6 comments

Some very unserious punk rock from Red On Strike. Garage version.

posted by InfidelZombie at 7:52 AM PST - 2 comments

My girlfriend got the idea, and wrote the words, for this song, which we recorded as quickly and sloppily as possible. Behold the power of three ukuleles.

posted by Astro Zombie at 6:34 AM PST - 11 comments

a rough mix from a recent studio session by lucy jane. i'm playing the bass. look out for the sniffing at the end. [more inside]

posted by peterkins at 4:47 PM PST - 6 comments

Music: Dundee. Words: Auden. Stripped to the bare bones - I shall probably hate this in a few days' time.... Offered with apologies to one of the greatest poets of the 20th century and the many admirers of his work. [more inside]

posted by MajorDundee at 11:53 AM PST - 8 comments

The break-neck lo-fi fest continues with this cover of a song I just loved to death back in high school. [more inside]

posted by cortex at 5:22 PM PST - 7 comments

Solo, live at CAY in Aoyama, Tokyo, April 14, 2010, accompanying myself on the strumstick. Video of this same performance at YouTube or Vimeo.

posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:15 AM PST - 13 comments

Definitely not in English. [more inside]

posted by micayetoca at 6:27 AM PST - 17 comments

A cover of the Kinks song

posted by InfidelZombie at 5:37 PM PST - 1 comments

I still don't know why exactly I just did this, but here is a deeply lo-fi cover of Avril Lavigne's Complicated, from vague memory and sight-read lyrics, on an iPhone using the Sonoma Wireworks/retronyms application FourTrack. [more inside]

posted by cortex at 5:18 PM PST - 12 comments

a minimal and sombre thing. sounds made by software and double bass. [more inside]

posted by peterkins at 3:51 PM PST - 2 comments

My second attempt at "composition," this bit of improvised serialism is based on the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' Doomsday Clock [more inside]

posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 8:47 PM PST - 0 comments

Kind of a change for Red On Strike, heavy on the bass/drum groove. I wrote this song for RPM 2007, and I really like the way we adapted it for the band.

posted by InfidelZombie at 4:19 PM PST - 2 comments

A prog rock-esque wannbe torch song confessional thing with distorted electric guitar. And lots and lots and lots of digital delay. [more inside]

posted by digitalprimate at 2:33 PM PST - 4 comments

A song about drinking and its consequences-- first of eight songs recorded by my band Red On Strike last weekend. Previous version here.

posted by InfidelZombie at 12:26 PM PST - 0 comments

Another new song from my band, Low-Tech Riff Raff. I'm not really certain what it's about, but I like the feel. [more inside]

posted by tdismukes at 6:20 AM PST - 2 comments

Collaborative track composed by Dan West (London-based bass trombonist and generally awesome dude). Looking for feedback! [more inside]

posted by CarrotAdventure at 6:19 AM PST - 0 comments

It's been ages since last they met. [more inside]

posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 7:07 PM PST - 2 comments

Recorded April 7, 2010, in a conference room in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan. For this tune I'm using one of my sardine can sanzas. Video of this same performance may be seen at YouTube.

posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:46 AM PST - 5 comments

Kickin’ it oldschool. JOE Biden in a flight suit. HAH, Tha’s next. (Spoiler, it's not. Story of the experiment inside.) [more inside]

posted by infinite intimation at 12:48 AM PST - 2 comments

Emotionally stunted sex addict bitches a bit.

posted by scottMontgomery at 11:17 PM PST - 1 comments

this is some noodling on a lap steel (i'm a double bassist by trade), stuck through a delay and processed a bit afterwards. it's too long (i would recommend doing your own fadeout at around 2.40), but it's sort of pretty.

posted by peterkins at 1:54 PM PST - 6 comments

New recording from my band, Low-Tech Riff Raff. Kind of mournful. [more inside]

posted by tdismukes at 10:28 AM PST - 4 comments

This is what I was working on before I was rudely haunted by dead poets. I think the hook/chorus is the most commercial thing I've done for quite a while - hell, even my kids like it (my efforts usually meet with crushing indifference from them). [more inside]

posted by MajorDundee at 4:21 PM PST - 5 comments

My first song, made in Ableton Live. [more inside]

posted by malthas at 1:37 PM PST - 4 comments

From my old band, recorded about 6 years ago. The crappy coda on the end was my bad idea, but I can't edit it out now.

posted by digitalprimate at 8:34 AM PST - 3 comments

Yes, 1958. posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:56 AM PST - 7 comments

Produced by Meme By Mai & Kai [more inside]

posted by mememix at 5:13 AM PST - 0 comments

In probably early June I am finally going to realize a long time dream of mine and go to a remote cabin in the woods and record for 2 weeks. Has anybody here done something similar before? What do you wish you did that you didn't? What should I not forget to take with me? Any advice about productions steps to take? [more inside] posted by chillmost at 3:57 AM PST - 15 comments

Thought it might be interesting to share operating methods. How do you approach writing? Recording? Production? Do you always work to a set methodology? Or do you play it by ear (heh)? What works for you? What doesn't? Why?? posted by MajorDundee at 3:19 AM PST - 24 comments

The recent announcement of Virginia's "Confederate History Month", and this comment in particular, in a Mefi thread about it, inspired me to write this song. [more inside]

posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:39 PM PST - 7 comments

A Google Document detailing 136 free pieces of drum software. Yowzer. [via] posted by the_very_hungry_caterpillar at 2:41 PM PST - 8 comments

A textural experiment in cords (not chords), where bows (not Bōs) are forbidden. [more inside]

posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 2:31 PM PST - 0 comments

A few days back I posted The Ballad Of ZZzzzzzz. I like the tune but the poem-come-lyric is.........a bit crap. So I've written a fresh lyric and played it for laughs. I mean, the lyric might still be crap but at least it's my crap... The Large Hadron Collider gets a mention towards the end - a first? [more inside]

posted by MajorDundee at 2:40 PM PST - 7 comments

D# is my favorite note... [more inside]

posted by aydeejones at 11:46 AM PST - 3 comments

A rehearsal demo for my Irish-American garage band, The Peter O'Tooles; revised from an earlier version. [more inside]

posted by Astro Zombie at 10:53 AM PST - 0 comments

Recorded April 7, 2010, in a conference room in Ichikawa City, Chiba, japan. The instrument is a kind of mouthbow, although it's not actually bow-shaped: it's one of these. Video of this same performance at YouTube.

posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:51 PM PST - 4 comments

A rehearsal demo of a rejiggered older song, meant for my Irish-American garage band, The Peter O'Tooles. [more inside]

posted by Astro Zombie at 9:31 AM PST - 0 comments

I made a little video the other day, inspired by the chocolate easter bunny a friend brought my daughter from Australia. It's a tragedy, in one act. This is the narration soundtrack, by Io Lula, who also happens to be my daughter. She doesn't work cheap, but she's the best in the business. Video can be seen at vimeo. [more inside]

posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:14 PM PST - 1 comments

I was hiking in the Pyrenees the other day. Lovely weather, but I was in a bad mood. I felt sad. [more inside]

posted by nicolin at 12:37 PM PST - 2 comments

Inspired jointly by the Guthrie Theater's current production of Macbeth and a recent public safety posting on our community listserv.

posted by blue bar at 10:34 PM PST - 2 comments

An adventurous foray into something progressive, something jazzy, and something a little bit mad; kind of like Steely Dan meets Gentle Giant. [more inside]

posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 11:52 AM PST - 6 comments

A whole lot of naughty in two minutes in this practice demo for my Irish-American band, The Peter O'Tooles. [more inside]

posted by Astro Zombie at 10:05 PM PST - 0 comments

Music: Dundee. Words: Charles Kingsley. Final track from Shelf Life. Not as finger-in-the-ear, beards and chunky knitwear as it may appear - this packs a bit of unexpected punch. Sounds like an old folk song - it's not (although the vocal melody may be rather generic I suppose). Decent guitar solo from about 1.30 or thereabouts. [more inside]

posted by MajorDundee at 11:04 AM PST - 5 comments

Third track on my RPM album.

posted by ropeladder at 3:51 PM PST - 1 comments

Some of Diana Deutsch's musical experiments.

posted by sleepy pete at 10:21 AM PST - 8 comments

Another rehearsal demo for my Irish-American band, the Peter O'Tooles. This one is a bit naughty. Apologies to anybody actually from Bangor. [more inside]

posted by Astro Zombie at 9:29 PM PST - 3 comments

ok, flapjax, you wanted a song with half a note, you got one [more inside]

posted by pyramid termite at 8:53 PM PST - 6 comments

Relaxin' at home with my new Marron Glacé Guitar, a diddley bow which was given to me recently by the maker, Mr. Tim Can. Thank you, Tim! Sometimes one string is all you need! Video of this same performance at YouTube.

posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:40 PM PST - 5 comments

I've signed up to play at the Latino Roots Festival in Barrio Logan later this month. I'm not on one of the big sponsored stages so it's a no pay gig. This particular song is pretty culturally important so I made sure to keep the intro very much in tact. The rest is pretty much just my interpretation of the original song. Enjoy!

posted by snsranch at 6:51 PM PST - 6 comments

Music: Dundee. Words: Emily Dickinson. Penultimate track from Shelf Life. So far as I can ascertain, Ms Dickinson didn't title her poems. So I had to synthesise one. She wouldn't have liked it. Or the song. The aural equivalent of being rudely touched up by a semi-drunk, priapic ruffian. NB This is as rough as a badger's arse (particularly the vocal) - deliberately so..... [more inside]

posted by MajorDundee at 3:56 PM PST - 4 comments

This month of April, starting as it does on the first, is a special one, and calls for a very special, April-y sort of Challenge. So, your mission, Mefi musicians, should you decide to accept it, is... make a song with a half a note. You can take a note and saw it in half, burn half of it off, slice it in half with a razor, whatever. But however you do it, your song must contain ONLY half of a note. No more, no less. posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:50 AM PST - 11 comments

Demons of Gyrophonia are pleased to announce a small format change. From now on, no more avant garde improv--just electronic Springsteen covers. [more inside]

posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 8:38 AM PST - 7 comments