April 14, 2003 — Had a very long, busy work week last week. With the addition of a late night on Sat. (we got home around 2 a.m.), Sunday’s ambition level was not-so-surprisingly low. So, I shuffled into the second bedroom, unpacked a few select instruments and devices, and cranked out some more demo stuff.All of these are in the same vein as my previous round of “demos” (meaning, low in fidelity and quality), but I had a lot of fun doing it, esp. since I used a different setup from last time.
If you don’t mind me indulging in talking about it. It’s a slow Monday, and there’s little else on my mind at the moment.
Instead of laying down the music first and then recording the vocals, I simply set up the Oktava, plugged that into my yet-to-be-used phantom power box (it’s so small and cute!) and, along with my acoustic, ran the two into the four-track. The result was really enjoyable — to my lo-fi-liking ears, that is.
The Oktava picked up my vocals and “live” guitar, while an acoustic pickup, um, picked up a “second” track of guitar. ’Twas a nice mix of the two guitar sounds, though they weren’t all that much different in tone.
The recordings:
A different, slowed-down version of “And Even If” (but with the same music), which I like a lot more than the first version. I’ve included Allen’s lyrics here:and even if
you close your eyes
the world will still go
and pass you by
leaving you
without a clue
of what on earth
you should do
don’t be paralyzed
by your fears
leaving you with
only tears
A country-blues take (well, to my ears) of “Blood Orange Blues” (it’s just this little lick I found myself playing one day, but one that refuses to leave my memory each time I pick up a guitar; the lyrics and title came at a later date). And here are said lyrics:i got the blood orange
the blood orange blues
no use in complaining
i’m stuck in these shoesnot that you’d care
i thought i’d just share
how this world can wear
a good man down
a good man downbridge:
it’s the only way
waiting on a new day
so i can try again
An attempt at “Palermo,” the end track on Travelogue. It’s just a couple of chords and a few words right now, but it sounds promising.
A cut of “Fare Thee Well.” It’s a somewhat bleak song that’s just a couple of chords right now — I didn’t think it would make for a good song, but I put it to tape anyway. The lyrics are below; yes, kinda harsh, but these things happen.cold and dead
hanging from a tree
it was three long days
before you found mebirds were pecking
at my shriveled eyes
for three long days
you only slept and criedthe pain i couldn’t take
not one day longer
no matter how i tried
it didn’t make me any strongerfare thee well
fare thee well
fare thee well
Another little riff that sprang forth on this day. You know how these things come about: You give birth to it from out of nowhere, play it a thousand times in a row, and then try to add some improvised lyrics to it. Well, that’s what happens to me, so here it is.
This was the first thing recorded that day. I’m always curious to hear the first thing that my hands decide to play — it’s a fun, exciting discovery nearly every time.
Really liked this one. Hope to develop it further. Just one of those quickie little ditties where the music just presented itself and the lyrics were ad-libed along the way.Sure, the entire lot is pretty simple, but those are the best things sometimes. Well, most times, at least with my songs. But time will only make them better.
Anxious to hear your thoughts...