Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:45:02 +0200 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/ en-EN contact@hearthis.at contact@hearthis.at https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/ https://img.hearthis.at/9/2/1/_/uploads/dummy/user/w1400_h1400_q70_ptrue_v2_----cropped_user_01129.png no no https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/im-never-sure-what-i-should-do-version-2.1/
I told myself that the Quarantine Tunes thing was going to end after volume six. Then I picked songs (mostly from the last couple of RPM Challenges) for volume seven… and then for volume eight. I need a new hobby, don’t you think?

I took a couple of months off from music to sort of gear myself up some major elective surgery, and then a third month for recovery. During that stretch of time my guitar playing skills have gone right down the toilet, and it sounds like maybe my mixing skills have joined them.

This was my favorite song from the 2022 RPM. I tacked on a short intro (which is really just the last couple of bars of the song) and an extra little solo section at the end, bumped up the tempo a tad, and tuned everything down a half step. For the mix I messed with plate reverbs instead of room reverbs and I am not sure I like it.

The rhythm guitar is my Gibson SG Standard ( because post-surgery I am not supposed to lift anything too heavy, and the SG is lighter than my Les Paul) into an Earthquaker Devices The Depths, into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The lead guitar is my Les Paul Standard (because by the time I got to the leads I was feeling more confident lifting slightly heavier things… fascinating, I am sure) into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian and an MXR Carbon Copy Mini into the Vox AC15.

Chorus
I’m never sure what I should do
if only I could see it through
Out of true

Verse 1
apparently
I couldn’t see
it mattered to you
the consequence
in my defence
what else could I do

Verse 2
occurs to me
its not for free
so what can I say
overused trope
can’t seem to cope
there’s no other way]]>
I told myself that the Quarantine Tunes thing was going to end after volume six. Then I picked songs (mostly from the last couple of RPM Challenges) for volume seven… and then for volume eight. I need a new hobby, don’t you think?

I took a couple of months off from music to sort of gear myself up some major elective surgery, and then a third month for recovery. During that stretch of time my guitar playing skills have gone right down the toilet, and it sounds like maybe my mixing skills have joined them.

This was my favorite song from the 2022 RPM. I tacked on a short intro (which is really just the last couple of bars of the song) and an extra little solo section at the end, bumped up the tempo a tad, and tuned everything down a half step. For the mix I messed with plate reverbs instead of room reverbs and I am not sure I like it.

The rhythm guitar is my Gibson SG Standard ( because post-surgery I am not supposed to lift anything too heavy, and the SG is lighter than my Les Paul) into an Earthquaker Devices The Depths, into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The lead guitar is my Les Paul Standard (because by the time I got to the leads I was feeling more confident lifting slightly heavier things… fascinating, I am sure) into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian and an MXR Carbon Copy Mini into the Vox AC15.

Chorus
I’m never sure what I should do
if only I could see it through
Out of true

Verse 1
apparently
I couldn’t see
it mattered to you
the consequence
in my defence
what else could I do

Verse 2
occurs to me
its not for free
so what can I say
overused trope
can’t seem to cope
there’s no other way]]> 6817853 no no Sat, 11 Jun 2022 05:18:07 +0200 2022-06-11T05:18:07+02:00 2:44 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/thats-all-thats-left-to-me-now-version-2.1/
Another song from the 2022 RPM Challenge, re-recorded for Quarantine Tunes Volume Seven.

Not a lot different between this and the original. The rhythm guitar is still sloppy but maybe not quite as sloppy. The leads are okay but not great. The vocals are okay. I think I might have cut a few bars out of the middle section in 4/4. All in all, not too bad.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard and the amps are all Vox AC15. The rhythm used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive. The lead used the KTR into a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini.

Chorus
Have a need that you cannot reach
what’s the use in trying
have a feat that you can’t complete
should you even care

Verse 1 and 3
self compete
you’re a loser
what’s the problem now
Don’t you cheat
you’re a quitter
No one showed you how

Verse 2
Precious time
always slipping
watch it fade away
‘nother day
‘nother dollar
nothing else to say

Break
That’s all that’s left to me now

Outro
Last time around
that’s so profound
no hate allowed
that heavy crown

Last time around]]>
Another song from the 2022 RPM Challenge, re-recorded for Quarantine Tunes Volume Seven.

Not a lot different between this and the original. The rhythm guitar is still sloppy but maybe not quite as sloppy. The leads are okay but not great. The vocals are okay. I think I might have cut a few bars out of the middle section in 4/4. All in all, not too bad.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard and the amps are all Vox AC15. The rhythm used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive. The lead used the KTR into a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini.

Chorus
Have a need that you cannot reach
what’s the use in trying
have a feat that you can’t complete
should you even care

Verse 1 and 3
self compete
you’re a loser
what’s the problem now
Don’t you cheat
you’re a quitter
No one showed you how

Verse 2
Precious time
always slipping
watch it fade away
‘nother day
‘nother dollar
nothing else to say

Break
That’s all that’s left to me now

Outro
Last time around
that’s so profound
no hate allowed
that heavy crown

Last time around]]> 6817852 no no Sat, 11 Jun 2022 05:18:04 +0200 2022-06-11T05:18:04+02:00 3:05 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/thats-all-thats-left-to-me-now/
The fact that this is song number 20 is part of the story behind it. I was sitting on 19 and feeling pretty wiped out. I wanted to hit 20 just to say I had two RPM Challenge albums but nothing was coming and that was fine. Then, on the 23rd of February I had finished adding rhythm guitars and writing melodies and lyrics to the last couple of songs and I figured I’d take one last shot at a 20th song and almost instantly this whole thing came out. I had the music and the melody and the lyrics written and in no time I had the guitars down too. More important, I actually really liked it. The verse is a pain in the ass to play rhythmically, but it’s worth it. I really like this one.

Surprisingly for me, I think my favorite part of this is the vocal (bite your tongue, Robert!). I don’t know what happened. It was the last song I sung and I guess I just didn’t care anymore and cranked it out. I really like how it breaks into the first guitar solo. I have lead guitars play over vocals all the time, but it was kinda cool to have the vocals intrude for once. Then there’s the unaccompanied bit at the very end. When I track vocal harmonies I like to listen to them on their own with the rest of the tracks muted just to make sure there aren’t any weird phrasings or whatever. I was thinking to myself that I should work something like that into a song, and since this was the last song I figured what the hell. I was planning on singing the eight bar phrase at the end, then copying the first two bars and pasting it to the end, but while I was on the mic I just sung it and I think it sounds cool.

The guitar in your right speaker is a Gibson SG. In your left is a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s. The leads were the Les Paul too. The amp on all tracks was a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Klon KTR. The leads were the KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
Have a need that you cannot reach
what’s the use in trying
have a feat that you can’t complete
should you even care

Verse 1 and 3
self compete
you’re a loser
what’s the problem now
Don’t you cheat
you’re a quitter
No one showed you how

Verse 2
Precious time
always slipping
watch it fade away
‘nother day
‘nother dollar
nothing else to say

Break
That’s all that’s left to me now

Outro
Last time around
that’s so profound
no hate allowed
that heavy crown

Last time around]]>
The fact that this is song number 20 is part of the story behind it. I was sitting on 19 and feeling pretty wiped out. I wanted to hit 20 just to say I had two RPM Challenge albums but nothing was coming and that was fine. Then, on the 23rd of February I had finished adding rhythm guitars and writing melodies and lyrics to the last couple of songs and I figured I’d take one last shot at a 20th song and almost instantly this whole thing came out. I had the music and the melody and the lyrics written and in no time I had the guitars down too. More important, I actually really liked it. The verse is a pain in the ass to play rhythmically, but it’s worth it. I really like this one.

Surprisingly for me, I think my favorite part of this is the vocal (bite your tongue, Robert!). I don’t know what happened. It was the last song I sung and I guess I just didn’t care anymore and cranked it out. I really like how it breaks into the first guitar solo. I have lead guitars play over vocals all the time, but it was kinda cool to have the vocals intrude for once. Then there’s the unaccompanied bit at the very end. When I track vocal harmonies I like to listen to them on their own with the rest of the tracks muted just to make sure there aren’t any weird phrasings or whatever. I was thinking to myself that I should work something like that into a song, and since this was the last song I figured what the hell. I was planning on singing the eight bar phrase at the end, then copying the first two bars and pasting it to the end, but while I was on the mic I just sung it and I think it sounds cool.

The guitar in your right speaker is a Gibson SG. In your left is a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s. The leads were the Les Paul too. The amp on all tracks was a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Klon KTR. The leads were the KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
Have a need that you cannot reach
what’s the use in trying
have a feat that you can’t complete
should you even care

Verse 1 and 3
self compete
you’re a loser
what’s the problem now
Don’t you cheat
you’re a quitter
No one showed you how

Verse 2
Precious time
always slipping
watch it fade away
‘nother day
‘nother dollar
nothing else to say

Break
That’s all that’s left to me now

Outro
Last time around
that’s so profound
no hate allowed
that heavy crown

Last time around]]> 6592596 no no Tue, 01 Mar 2022 03:37:25 +0100 2022-03-01T03:37:25+01:00 3:26 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/im-never-sure-what-i-should-do/
Go to the head of the class, dude. I said that song #18 was the best song of the bunch but now here is song #19 taking the title and squashing 18 like the proverbial grape.

In other words, I really like this song. I’m not so sure about the mix as we’re getting down to the last minute in February (it’s 8:49pm) and I still have another song to mix and then pick which songs make the cut (this one makes the cut, easily), and then come up with a running order and yadda yadda you folks don’t care.

The only thing I don’t like about this song is that I didn’t record it with a band playing live at about 180 decibels. It’s a two minute long pop-rock song in 7/8 time and it has a drum solo and I think it’s all good.

The rhythm guitar in your right speaker is a Gibson SG. The lead and the rhythm on the left are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s. They all went through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Klon KTR. The lead was the Klon into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
I’m never sure what I should do
if only I could see it through
Out of true

Verse 1
apparently
I couldn’t see
it mattered to you
the consequence
in my defence
what else could I do

Verse 2
occurs to me
its not for free
so what can I say
overused trope
can’t seem to cope
there’s no other way]]>
Go to the head of the class, dude. I said that song #18 was the best song of the bunch but now here is song #19 taking the title and squashing 18 like the proverbial grape.

In other words, I really like this song. I’m not so sure about the mix as we’re getting down to the last minute in February (it’s 8:49pm) and I still have another song to mix and then pick which songs make the cut (this one makes the cut, easily), and then come up with a running order and yadda yadda you folks don’t care.

The only thing I don’t like about this song is that I didn’t record it with a band playing live at about 180 decibels. It’s a two minute long pop-rock song in 7/8 time and it has a drum solo and I think it’s all good.

The rhythm guitar in your right speaker is a Gibson SG. The lead and the rhythm on the left are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s. They all went through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Klon KTR. The lead was the Klon into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
I’m never sure what I should do
if only I could see it through
Out of true

Verse 1
apparently
I couldn’t see
it mattered to you
the consequence
in my defence
what else could I do

Verse 2
occurs to me
its not for free
so what can I say
overused trope
can’t seem to cope
there’s no other way]]> 6592574 no no Tue, 01 Mar 2022 02:53:19 +0100 2022-03-01T02:53:19+01:00 2:18 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/dry-your-eyes/
I still have two more songs to mix but as of right now this is hands down my favorite of the batch (spoiler alert, I think I might be saying that about the two songs that are left as well). Usually when I write a riff that swings a little I end up with crap that’s fun to play but terrible to listen to. I even like the fruity Partridge Family thing near the end. Not today. I really like this one.

The mix was done before work on the last day of RPM, which happens to be a Monday, hooray. I can’t seem to get anything to sit the way I want it to. It’s close, but this is definitely a candidate for a remix. I think I also want to use a different drummer. I used this one (Ian, for all of you GarageBand folks) for the whole project and I am pretty happy with that choice, but I don’t think this one knows how to fill over a swing groove. They are all super sparse and they all get quieter. Weird.

The lead guitar and the rhythm guitars in your left speaker are a Les Paul Standard. The rhythm guitars in your right speaker are an SG. All of them went through a Bassbreaker 15. Pedal for the clean rhythm are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Klon KTR. The dirty rhythm and the leads are the Klon into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
I stand apart from it, I’ll never understand
why can’t I work it out, it never goes as planned

Verse 1
however you try
you’ll have to guess why
we’re just getting by

whatever you do
it comes back to you
so just see it through

Verse 2
I let it slip past
was moving so fast
my foot on the gas

it wasn’t quite fun
but now that it’s done
don’t hurt anyone

Outro
Don’t ask me why
just go outside
its running dry
I’m mystified

Other outro
you’ll smile
in a while
please dry your eyes]]>
I still have two more songs to mix but as of right now this is hands down my favorite of the batch (spoiler alert, I think I might be saying that about the two songs that are left as well). Usually when I write a riff that swings a little I end up with crap that’s fun to play but terrible to listen to. I even like the fruity Partridge Family thing near the end. Not today. I really like this one.

The mix was done before work on the last day of RPM, which happens to be a Monday, hooray. I can’t seem to get anything to sit the way I want it to. It’s close, but this is definitely a candidate for a remix. I think I also want to use a different drummer. I used this one (Ian, for all of you GarageBand folks) for the whole project and I am pretty happy with that choice, but I don’t think this one knows how to fill over a swing groove. They are all super sparse and they all get quieter. Weird.

The lead guitar and the rhythm guitars in your left speaker are a Les Paul Standard. The rhythm guitars in your right speaker are an SG. All of them went through a Bassbreaker 15. Pedal for the clean rhythm are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Klon KTR. The dirty rhythm and the leads are the Klon into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
I stand apart from it, I’ll never understand
why can’t I work it out, it never goes as planned

Verse 1
however you try
you’ll have to guess why
we’re just getting by

whatever you do
it comes back to you
so just see it through

Verse 2
I let it slip past
was moving so fast
my foot on the gas

it wasn’t quite fun
but now that it’s done
don’t hurt anyone

Outro
Don’t ask me why
just go outside
its running dry
I’m mystified

Other outro
you’ll smile
in a while
please dry your eyes]]> 6591306 no no Mon, 28 Feb 2022 14:40:58 +0100 2022-02-28T14:40:58+01:00 3:25 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/games-we-play/
Now we’re talking. I like this one a lot. My self criticism are valid, the melody in the verse is too la di da sing songy, and I shouldn’t have used a Big Muff fuzz pedal on the rhythm tracks (too much bass) or I should have rolled off the low end during the mix (EQ on a guitar track? Bite your tongue!). I also probably should have had the gigantic big dumb metal mosh pit section at the end go straight into the vocal and skip the solo.

Other than that I am happy with this. There are a ton of mediocre songs in this year’s RPM collection. It’s nice to stumble onto a winner.

The rhythm guitar in your left speaker is a Les Paul Standard. In your right is an SG. The lead is the Les Paul. All of the tracks were through a Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm parts were a Ryra The Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian. It did not invade Ukraine like those other pricks. The lead kept up the fuzz pedal trend with a Fuzz Face Mini into a Klon KTR.

Chorus
These games that we play
these games we play that keep slipping away
These words that we say
these words we say that keep going astray

Verse 1
Each time I look away
I think that something’s there
I try to make it out
I always miss it by a hair

Verse 2
Its playing tricks on me
Its messing with my brain
and when I get a chance
I’m gonna try to do the same

Bridge
the mirror view
stares back at you
lets take a look
at what its trying to see
No questioning
unspoken things
what can you do]]>
Now we’re talking. I like this one a lot. My self criticism are valid, the melody in the verse is too la di da sing songy, and I shouldn’t have used a Big Muff fuzz pedal on the rhythm tracks (too much bass) or I should have rolled off the low end during the mix (EQ on a guitar track? Bite your tongue!). I also probably should have had the gigantic big dumb metal mosh pit section at the end go straight into the vocal and skip the solo.

Other than that I am happy with this. There are a ton of mediocre songs in this year’s RPM collection. It’s nice to stumble onto a winner.

The rhythm guitar in your left speaker is a Les Paul Standard. In your right is an SG. The lead is the Les Paul. All of the tracks were through a Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm parts were a Ryra The Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian. It did not invade Ukraine like those other pricks. The lead kept up the fuzz pedal trend with a Fuzz Face Mini into a Klon KTR.

Chorus
These games that we play
these games we play that keep slipping away
These words that we say
these words we say that keep going astray

Verse 1
Each time I look away
I think that something’s there
I try to make it out
I always miss it by a hair

Verse 2
Its playing tricks on me
Its messing with my brain
and when I get a chance
I’m gonna try to do the same

Bridge
the mirror view
stares back at you
lets take a look
at what its trying to see
No questioning
unspoken things
what can you do]]> 6590646 no no Mon, 28 Feb 2022 02:47:31 +0100 2022-02-28T02:47:31+01:00 4:17 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/cast-away/
This one is all right. I’m not quite ready to say it’s a lock for making the final album but it’s close. If nothing else, the rhythm guitar part is fun to play and the vocals are nice and shouty.

I used two guitars for this one. The rhythm guitar on the left is my Les Paul Standard, and the right is my SG. Both used the same amp, a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads were the same except a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 was at the front of the signal chain.

Chorus
Feel like something you cast away
something you don’t need
feel like nothing is left to say
and that’s guaranteed

Verse 1
This is a total mess
what ever you might guess

Verse 2 and 3
There’s no one left to blame
Do you have any shame]]>
This one is all right. I’m not quite ready to say it’s a lock for making the final album but it’s close. If nothing else, the rhythm guitar part is fun to play and the vocals are nice and shouty.

I used two guitars for this one. The rhythm guitar on the left is my Les Paul Standard, and the right is my SG. Both used the same amp, a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads were the same except a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 was at the front of the signal chain.

Chorus
Feel like something you cast away
something you don’t need
feel like nothing is left to say
and that’s guaranteed

Verse 1
This is a total mess
what ever you might guess

Verse 2 and 3
There’s no one left to blame
Do you have any shame]]> 6590610 no no Mon, 28 Feb 2022 02:09:28 +0100 2022-02-28T02:09:28+01:00 2:59 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/all-resolved/
Not too bad. I can live with most of it. The vocals are kinda spotty and I don’t think I’ll ever use the setup I used for the first guitar solo again (vibe after fuzz? Not this red head!) but I’m mildly pleased. I don’t hate it, which is pretty high praise for this year’s RPM haul.

All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra The Klone. The leads on the first solo are a Fuzz Face mini into The Depths into a Klon KTR. The solo at the end used The Depths into the KTR into the boost side (Mick) of a Keeley D&M Drive. The rotary speaker and the oodles of delay and reverb were added in the mix.

chorus
thoroughly missguided
utterly dismissed
after its all over
stricken from the list

such a bad influence
empty power trip
got to hand it to you
just a little slip

Verse 1
the same answer for all your prayers
almost like there is nothing there
only wishing that someone cared
Guess you have to be self aware

Verse 2
Now the mystery has been solved
There is nothing left to resolve
point around which we all revolve
all that’s left now is to evolve

Outro
Unresolved
left unresolved]]>
Not too bad. I can live with most of it. The vocals are kinda spotty and I don’t think I’ll ever use the setup I used for the first guitar solo again (vibe after fuzz? Not this red head!) but I’m mildly pleased. I don’t hate it, which is pretty high praise for this year’s RPM haul.

All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra The Klone. The leads on the first solo are a Fuzz Face mini into The Depths into a Klon KTR. The solo at the end used The Depths into the KTR into the boost side (Mick) of a Keeley D&M Drive. The rotary speaker and the oodles of delay and reverb were added in the mix.

chorus
thoroughly missguided
utterly dismissed
after its all over
stricken from the list

such a bad influence
empty power trip
got to hand it to you
just a little slip

Verse 1
the same answer for all your prayers
almost like there is nothing there
only wishing that someone cared
Guess you have to be self aware

Verse 2
Now the mystery has been solved
There is nothing left to resolve
point around which we all revolve
all that’s left now is to evolve

Outro
Unresolved
left unresolved]]> 6590480 no no Sun, 27 Feb 2022 23:01:04 +0100 2022-02-27T23:01:04+01:00 4:02 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/total-loser/
The title pretty much says it all. I had more trouble improvising over this stupid little asshole of a song than I’ve maybe ever had before in my entire life. It was awful. The leads you’re left with are terrible but each of the three solos took a ton of takes. The middle solo needed at least 20. I just couldn’t play over this lame little riff. It was incredibly frustrating and it completely ruined this song for me forever. Thankfully the song is a turd to begin with. Hey Jude, it ain’t.

All of the guitar tracks are a Les Paul Standard into a Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm also used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads (pathetically) used a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
Don’t talk to me
just let it be
please go away
without delay

I can’t resist
or co-exist
I’m on the list
to be dismissed

Verse 1
I see through you
the things you do
there’s no future
total loser

Verse 2
its a break through
its all untrue
there’s no telling
where its ending

Verse 3
No sun
no moon
over
too soon

Verse 4
no time
no place
utter
disgrace]]>
The title pretty much says it all. I had more trouble improvising over this stupid little asshole of a song than I’ve maybe ever had before in my entire life. It was awful. The leads you’re left with are terrible but each of the three solos took a ton of takes. The middle solo needed at least 20. I just couldn’t play over this lame little riff. It was incredibly frustrating and it completely ruined this song for me forever. Thankfully the song is a turd to begin with. Hey Jude, it ain’t.

All of the guitar tracks are a Les Paul Standard into a Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm also used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads (pathetically) used a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
Don’t talk to me
just let it be
please go away
without delay

I can’t resist
or co-exist
I’m on the list
to be dismissed

Verse 1
I see through you
the things you do
there’s no future
total loser

Verse 2
its a break through
its all untrue
there’s no telling
where its ending

Verse 3
No sun
no moon
over
too soon

Verse 4
no time
no place
utter
disgrace]]> 6590320 no no Sun, 27 Feb 2022 21:25:00 +0100 2022-02-27T21:25:00+01:00 2:49 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/watch-as-we-come-unglued/
I use GarageBand for all of my amateur recording needs. I use the MacOS version for recording real instruments and mixing and adding gobs of echoes and stuff. Sometimes I used the iOS version to kick off ideas. Usually I’ll have a file with 2-3 different 8 bar long bass riffs and an idea for drums. I’ll port that over to MacOS and do all of the rest of the work.

This might be the first time where I got an entire song without re-arranging anything. The iOS file had four 16 bar bass lines. When I moved over to Mac I decided I liked it exactly as it was. I took the first 8 bars of the first riff and tacked it onto the end (twice) but otherwise this is still that simple iOS file. The song form is ABCDA’. No melodies or riffs repeat, with the exception of the first half of the A section. I don’t know why but I am really pleased with my bad self over that.

The song is okay. As of right now I think it makes the final RPM Challenge album but it’s still early.

All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard through my Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm tracks are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used The Depths into a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian (which did not invade Ukraine like that other asshole Russian did).

A
If you ever feel like you are falling apart
if you feel like you can’t take much more
if you just don’t know what you’re doing
if you don’t know what it’s all for

B
I’ve imagined this
now its happening
everything falls apart
like a tragedy

its the final round
watch things come unwound
no idea what it was for

C
surrender
offender
go under
roll thunder

believer
deep seer
fully unhinged

D
Come see
as we
come unglued
2x]]>
I use GarageBand for all of my amateur recording needs. I use the MacOS version for recording real instruments and mixing and adding gobs of echoes and stuff. Sometimes I used the iOS version to kick off ideas. Usually I’ll have a file with 2-3 different 8 bar long bass riffs and an idea for drums. I’ll port that over to MacOS and do all of the rest of the work.

This might be the first time where I got an entire song without re-arranging anything. The iOS file had four 16 bar bass lines. When I moved over to Mac I decided I liked it exactly as it was. I took the first 8 bars of the first riff and tacked it onto the end (twice) but otherwise this is still that simple iOS file. The song form is ABCDA’. No melodies or riffs repeat, with the exception of the first half of the A section. I don’t know why but I am really pleased with my bad self over that.

The song is okay. As of right now I think it makes the final RPM Challenge album but it’s still early.

All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard through my Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm tracks are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used The Depths into a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian (which did not invade Ukraine like that other asshole Russian did).

A
If you ever feel like you are falling apart
if you feel like you can’t take much more
if you just don’t know what you’re doing
if you don’t know what it’s all for

B
I’ve imagined this
now its happening
everything falls apart
like a tragedy

its the final round
watch things come unwound
no idea what it was for

C
surrender
offender
go under
roll thunder

believer
deep seer
fully unhinged

D
Come see
as we
come unglued
2x]]> 6590224 no no Sun, 27 Feb 2022 20:32:49 +0100 2022-02-27T20:32:49+01:00 2:34 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/not-much-more/
This one is okay, I guess. Nothing special. It has eight bars of three part harmony and I always feel good when I can pull that off. I’m not sure if it has what it takes to make the final RPM album, but it’s on the fence for now.

Guitars are all Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. Rhythm track pedals are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths and a Ryra The Klone. Leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah pedal into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side).

A1
Can’t take much more of this
not much more
Can’t deal with any of this
What’s it for

A2
No point to anything
there’s not point
No reason for anything
Disappoint

B1
No use in looking back
too much there to unpack
Its seaping through the cracks
I wonder what is it

B2
The change was bound to come
it cannot be undone
but still it could be fun
I can’t help but fear it

C1
When you think about it
you can’t really help it
never without it
Just get on with it

D1
It bothers me
down to my core
why can’t they see
they ruin everything]]>
This one is okay, I guess. Nothing special. It has eight bars of three part harmony and I always feel good when I can pull that off. I’m not sure if it has what it takes to make the final RPM album, but it’s on the fence for now.

Guitars are all Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. Rhythm track pedals are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths and a Ryra The Klone. Leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah pedal into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side).

A1
Can’t take much more of this
not much more
Can’t deal with any of this
What’s it for

A2
No point to anything
there’s not point
No reason for anything
Disappoint

B1
No use in looking back
too much there to unpack
Its seaping through the cracks
I wonder what is it

B2
The change was bound to come
it cannot be undone
but still it could be fun
I can’t help but fear it

C1
When you think about it
you can’t really help it
never without it
Just get on with it

D1
It bothers me
down to my core
why can’t they see
they ruin everything]]> 6589908 no no Sun, 27 Feb 2022 18:26:23 +0100 2022-02-27T18:26:23+01:00 3:50 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/they-said-the-quiet-part-out-loud/
I’m torn over this one. I like the riffs, I like the groove, I like the melody, but I think I hate the lyrics more than I’ve hated any lyric I’ve written in a very, very long time.

This is what I get when I try to write about something rather than just playing the stream of consciousness game and deciding what it’s about after the fact. It’s supposed to be a slimy piece of shit politician bitching because he/she said something generally awful that was shared by the press and now he/she has to back track. They apologize not for the awful thing they said, but for getting caught. I hate that and every time it happens I want to punch them in the face. My fear here is that I didn’t get that to come across. It almost reads like the bitching about the press is justified. No, it’s not. I think the last eight bars tries to make up for any previous lack of understanding of the point, but I don’t think it’s enough.

I like the song but I don’t know if I want to put it on the final RPM album. I am conflicted, I tells ya.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard and the amps are all Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra The Klone and the leads used a Fuzz Face Mini.

Chorus
I’ve mispoken
Been misquoted
again

Verse 1
I open up the papers
I see what they have printed
there isn’t any limit
there is no limit

Verse 2
I have to beg forgiveness
How did I get in this mess
always I have to confess
I have to confess]]>
I’m torn over this one. I like the riffs, I like the groove, I like the melody, but I think I hate the lyrics more than I’ve hated any lyric I’ve written in a very, very long time.

This is what I get when I try to write about something rather than just playing the stream of consciousness game and deciding what it’s about after the fact. It’s supposed to be a slimy piece of shit politician bitching because he/she said something generally awful that was shared by the press and now he/she has to back track. They apologize not for the awful thing they said, but for getting caught. I hate that and every time it happens I want to punch them in the face. My fear here is that I didn’t get that to come across. It almost reads like the bitching about the press is justified. No, it’s not. I think the last eight bars tries to make up for any previous lack of understanding of the point, but I don’t think it’s enough.

I like the song but I don’t know if I want to put it on the final RPM album. I am conflicted, I tells ya.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard and the amps are all Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra The Klone and the leads used a Fuzz Face Mini.

Chorus
I’ve mispoken
Been misquoted
again

Verse 1
I open up the papers
I see what they have printed
there isn’t any limit
there is no limit

Verse 2
I have to beg forgiveness
How did I get in this mess
always I have to confess
I have to confess]]> 6589795 no no Sun, 27 Feb 2022 17:31:56 +0100 2022-02-27T17:31:56+01:00 2:21 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/time-will-tell/
I currently have 10 songs finished and the running time for those 10 songs is 36:22. I could call it complete now and feel good about myself. I still have 10 more songs to mix though, and this one is heading for the dropped songs list with a bullet.

This is one of the most gimmicky gimmicks I’ve ever gimmicked. The rhythm guitar is backwards on every other bar. It’s simultaneously the dumbest thing I’ve ever done and the most Epically Prog Rock Masterpiece thing I’ve ever done. I wanted to re-do the guitar tracks so that I wasn’t clipping the start of the first beat of every bar the way I did, but the song just wasn’t good enough to put the extra effort into.

It won’t make the final RPM Challenge album, but it will be a groovy standout on the leftovers album I throw together when the real album is done.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard into a Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra the Klone and the leads used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Klon KTR.

Chorus
That time we fell
when all was well
That time we fell
now time will tell

Verse 1 and 3
That was the place
where we first met
I saw your face
and that was it

Verse 2
forever more
walk through the door
what was it for
even the score

Break
Nothing that we can’t do]]>
I currently have 10 songs finished and the running time for those 10 songs is 36:22. I could call it complete now and feel good about myself. I still have 10 more songs to mix though, and this one is heading for the dropped songs list with a bullet.

This is one of the most gimmicky gimmicks I’ve ever gimmicked. The rhythm guitar is backwards on every other bar. It’s simultaneously the dumbest thing I’ve ever done and the most Epically Prog Rock Masterpiece thing I’ve ever done. I wanted to re-do the guitar tracks so that I wasn’t clipping the start of the first beat of every bar the way I did, but the song just wasn’t good enough to put the extra effort into.

It won’t make the final RPM Challenge album, but it will be a groovy standout on the leftovers album I throw together when the real album is done.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard into a Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra the Klone and the leads used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Klon KTR.

Chorus
That time we fell
when all was well
That time we fell
now time will tell

Verse 1 and 3
That was the place
where we first met
I saw your face
and that was it

Verse 2
forever more
walk through the door
what was it for
even the score

Break
Nothing that we can’t do]]> 6589554 no no Sun, 27 Feb 2022 16:17:09 +0100 2022-02-27T16:17:09+01:00 3:51 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/cant-get-away/
I liked this one a lot right off the bat. I even put a note on the trello card that this one might be the winner. I’m not so sure about that anymore, but I do like it. I dig how hyper it is, and I like how the chorus is in 4/4 while the rest of the song is in 7/8. The vocals don’t really live up to the potential, and neither do the lead guitars. I feel like this song deserves a better performance and as a result it’s come down a few pegs for me.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 into a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian and somehow I feel guilty about that even though the Super Russian has nothing to do with any war crimes and atrocities the Russians are committing today. I just feel gross typing the word.

chorus
take your first step
your first attempt
and make your way through the door

verse 1 and 3
Its been so long
we’re so far gone
may never return

just hide away
or so they say
the greater concern

Verse 2
We missed so much
become a crutch
just lock it away

we can’t escape
we’ll never break
what ever you say

Break
Can’t get away
2x]]>
I liked this one a lot right off the bat. I even put a note on the trello card that this one might be the winner. I’m not so sure about that anymore, but I do like it. I dig how hyper it is, and I like how the chorus is in 4/4 while the rest of the song is in 7/8. The vocals don’t really live up to the potential, and neither do the lead guitars. I feel like this song deserves a better performance and as a result it’s come down a few pegs for me.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 into a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian and somehow I feel guilty about that even though the Super Russian has nothing to do with any war crimes and atrocities the Russians are committing today. I just feel gross typing the word.

chorus
take your first step
your first attempt
and make your way through the door

verse 1 and 3
Its been so long
we’re so far gone
may never return

just hide away
or so they say
the greater concern

Verse 2
We missed so much
become a crutch
just lock it away

we can’t escape
we’ll never break
what ever you say

Break
Can’t get away
2x]]> 6589320 no no Sun, 27 Feb 2022 13:47:55 +0100 2022-02-27T13:47:55+01:00 2:53 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/come-what-may/
Chug chug chug chug… was I trying to make a metal album? There are a couple of songs that sound like an old person trying to remember what metal songs feel like. Oh well.

Not much to say about this one. It’s probably headed for the dropped songs list. I wrote the melody first and maybe I’ve finally learned my lesson? Who knows.

Lots of guitar parts. They are all my Les Paul Standard through my Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm in the first part of the song are my Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. On the second part of the song it’s an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into the Ryra. For the leads, in the first part of the song its a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian which may come off the board because I am pissed off at Russia right now. Symbolism, right? The second half of the song used a Real McCoy Customs RMC10 into a Keely Super Phat Mod into the Klon.

chorus
No one coming
to the rescue its up to you

nothing doing
you’re the one that has to save us

Verse 1 and 3
There’s no reason to exist
There’s no use in even trying
There’s no reason to resist
There’s no way we will succeed

Verse 2
It’s all coming down to you
It’s all up to what you will do
it’s all for you to decide
It’s all you it’s all for you

Outro
Come what may
come what may
come what may
come what may be]]>
Chug chug chug chug… was I trying to make a metal album? There are a couple of songs that sound like an old person trying to remember what metal songs feel like. Oh well.

Not much to say about this one. It’s probably headed for the dropped songs list. I wrote the melody first and maybe I’ve finally learned my lesson? Who knows.

Lots of guitar parts. They are all my Les Paul Standard through my Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm in the first part of the song are my Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. On the second part of the song it’s an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into the Ryra. For the leads, in the first part of the song its a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian which may come off the board because I am pissed off at Russia right now. Symbolism, right? The second half of the song used a Real McCoy Customs RMC10 into a Keely Super Phat Mod into the Klon.

chorus
No one coming
to the rescue its up to you

nothing doing
you’re the one that has to save us

Verse 1 and 3
There’s no reason to exist
There’s no use in even trying
There’s no reason to resist
There’s no way we will succeed

Verse 2
It’s all coming down to you
It’s all up to what you will do
it’s all for you to decide
It’s all you it’s all for you

Outro
Come what may
come what may
come what may
come what may be]]> 6588566 no no Sat, 26 Feb 2022 22:48:36 +0100 2022-02-26T22:48:36+01:00 3:16 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/were-underway/
Guitarmonies AND a drum solo? Sure, why not?

This one is okay, I guess. Like most of the songs I am working on this month it’s really short and kind of mediocre. Not bad, just not that good. Kind of like my entire musical life, right?

All of the guitars are my Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm were a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used a Klon KTR into the D&M.

Chorus
we’re underway
nothing to say
just one more day
It will be okay

Verse 1
Find my way
Find my way okay

Verse 2
Get away
Get away today

Break
Little something left to say
could be nothing anyway]]>
Guitarmonies AND a drum solo? Sure, why not?

This one is okay, I guess. Like most of the songs I am working on this month it’s really short and kind of mediocre. Not bad, just not that good. Kind of like my entire musical life, right?

All of the guitars are my Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm were a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used a Klon KTR into the D&M.

Chorus
we’re underway
nothing to say
just one more day
It will be okay

Verse 1
Find my way
Find my way okay

Verse 2
Get away
Get away today

Break
Little something left to say
could be nothing anyway]]> 6588518 no no Sat, 26 Feb 2022 22:06:26 +0100 2022-02-26T22:06:26+01:00 2:28 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/think-it-through/
Meh.

Rhythm guitar in your right speaker is a Gibson SG. In the left as well as the lead is a Les Paul Standard. The amp for all tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra the Klone. The lead used a Real McCoy Customs RMC10 into the Depths into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
One word that said all that I need to hear
One look showed me all that I need to see

Verse 1
Let’s think about
what’s going on
Let’s try to think it through
think it through

Verse 2
Let’s look at things
see what they bring
Let’s try to learn it all
learn it all

Bridge
Let’s think it through
Let’s think it through

Outro
One last look for me
can you see it
one last chance to be it
can you see it]]>
Meh.

Rhythm guitar in your right speaker is a Gibson SG. In the left as well as the lead is a Les Paul Standard. The amp for all tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra the Klone. The lead used a Real McCoy Customs RMC10 into the Depths into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
One word that said all that I need to hear
One look showed me all that I need to see

Verse 1
Let’s think about
what’s going on
Let’s try to think it through
think it through

Verse 2
Let’s look at things
see what they bring
Let’s try to learn it all
learn it all

Bridge
Let’s think it through
Let’s think it through

Outro
One last look for me
can you see it
one last chance to be it
can you see it]]> 6587392 no no Sat, 26 Feb 2022 05:39:28 +0100 2022-02-26T05:39:28+01:00 3:59 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/that-double-dealing-feeling/
I like this one. If this were a real album and I had to pick a single for release this one would be on the short list. Even if it is in 6/4 time and GarageBand’s drummers almost always put a pointless crash cymbal on the fifth beat of the first bar in every section of the song (FRUSTRATING! Does Logic Pro do that too?), and even if there is one bad note in one of the guitar solos, and even if the ending is sloppy because it was an improv with just a guitar and no click track and I didn’t think I was going to keep it so I left it there with the intention of fading out the track before hand and then changed my mind during the mix and boy is this a run on sentence or what!

I also realized today that I may have lifted some of the lyrics in the chorus from a slightly less than good Deep Purple song (Lady Double Dealer from Stormbringer. The title song is the absolute balls but the rest of the album is really bad). Oh well.

The rhythm guitar in your right speaker (or your right ear if you’re wearing headphones like I was when I mixed this) is a Gibson SG. The left speaker is a Gibson Les Paul Standard. The lead is also the Les Paul. The amp on all of the tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm parts are a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side). The leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah into a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
You know that feeling
That double dealing
You get the meaning
that disbelieving

Verse 1
I hear you talking
around in circles
the lie you’re sharing
is universal

Verse 2
you’re kind of two faced
logic withstanding
can’t chalk it up to
misunderstanding]]>
I like this one. If this were a real album and I had to pick a single for release this one would be on the short list. Even if it is in 6/4 time and GarageBand’s drummers almost always put a pointless crash cymbal on the fifth beat of the first bar in every section of the song (FRUSTRATING! Does Logic Pro do that too?), and even if there is one bad note in one of the guitar solos, and even if the ending is sloppy because it was an improv with just a guitar and no click track and I didn’t think I was going to keep it so I left it there with the intention of fading out the track before hand and then changed my mind during the mix and boy is this a run on sentence or what!

I also realized today that I may have lifted some of the lyrics in the chorus from a slightly less than good Deep Purple song (Lady Double Dealer from Stormbringer. The title song is the absolute balls but the rest of the album is really bad). Oh well.

The rhythm guitar in your right speaker (or your right ear if you’re wearing headphones like I was when I mixed this) is a Gibson SG. The left speaker is a Gibson Les Paul Standard. The lead is also the Les Paul. The amp on all of the tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm parts are a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side). The leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah into a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
You know that feeling
That double dealing
You get the meaning
that disbelieving

Verse 1
I hear you talking
around in circles
the lie you’re sharing
is universal

Verse 2
you’re kind of two faced
logic withstanding
can’t chalk it up to
misunderstanding]]> 6585499 no no Fri, 25 Feb 2022 04:40:57 +0100 2022-02-25T04:40:57+01:00 3:11 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/thats-just-what-they-want-you-to-think/
This one is okay. I have a feeling that anytime I work in 6/8 time I come up with exactly this song. I knew the lyrics in the chorus (the second line) were bad but I thought I could live with them. Now, after listening to the song 100 times while mixing, I want to punch myself in the face for letting something this dumb survive the editing process. My heartfelt apologies to anyone who listens. Bob Dylan I ain’t.

The rhythm guitar you hear in your right speaker is a Gibson SG. The left and the lead is a Les Paul Standard. They all went through a Fender Bassbreaker 15 mic’d with an SM57. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra The Klone. The lead is a Dunlop Fuzz Face into a Klon KTR.

Chorus
That’s just what they want you to think
That method will drive you to drink
2x

Verse
on reflection
your perception
out of focus
misdirection

one passing look
the chance you took
just goes to show you tried

Break
Oh the places you’ll go
all the things you will know
all the faces you’ll see
all the things you could be]]>
This one is okay. I have a feeling that anytime I work in 6/8 time I come up with exactly this song. I knew the lyrics in the chorus (the second line) were bad but I thought I could live with them. Now, after listening to the song 100 times while mixing, I want to punch myself in the face for letting something this dumb survive the editing process. My heartfelt apologies to anyone who listens. Bob Dylan I ain’t.

The rhythm guitar you hear in your right speaker is a Gibson SG. The left and the lead is a Les Paul Standard. They all went through a Fender Bassbreaker 15 mic’d with an SM57. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra The Klone. The lead is a Dunlop Fuzz Face into a Klon KTR.

Chorus
That’s just what they want you to think
That method will drive you to drink
2x

Verse
on reflection
your perception
out of focus
misdirection

one passing look
the chance you took
just goes to show you tried

Break
Oh the places you’ll go
all the things you will know
all the faces you’ll see
all the things you could be]]> 6583582 no no Thu, 24 Feb 2022 01:30:52 +0100 2022-02-24T01:30:52+01:00 3:57 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/how-do-you-know-where-to-go/
I’m disappointed in this one. It’s not a good song at all, but the recording doesn’t live up to the meager potential. It just sounds sort of flat and lifeless. I don’t think a high energy performance would save it, but it would at least be better than this.

The gear list… The rhythm guitar coming out of your left speaker is a Les Paul Standard 50’s. The guitar coming out of your right speaker is an SG Standard. The leads are the Les Paul. The amp for all tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. For pedals on the rhythm guitars we have a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. For the leads it’s a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah pedal into a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
How do you know
where to go
how do you know
its coming to me
how do you know
where to go

Verse 1
Lets run away
run away from here
what do you say
is my meaning clear

Verse 2
Come take a look
I will help you see
its by the book
put your faith in me]]>
I’m disappointed in this one. It’s not a good song at all, but the recording doesn’t live up to the meager potential. It just sounds sort of flat and lifeless. I don’t think a high energy performance would save it, but it would at least be better than this.

The gear list… The rhythm guitar coming out of your left speaker is a Les Paul Standard 50’s. The guitar coming out of your right speaker is an SG Standard. The leads are the Les Paul. The amp for all tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. For pedals on the rhythm guitars we have a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. For the leads it’s a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah pedal into a Klon KTR into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
How do you know
where to go
how do you know
its coming to me
how do you know
where to go

Verse 1
Lets run away
run away from here
what do you say
is my meaning clear

Verse 2
Come take a look
I will help you see
its by the book
put your faith in me]]> 6583342 no no Wed, 23 Feb 2022 23:06:03 +0100 2022-02-23T23:06:03+01:00 3:25 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/careful-what-you-think/
I had a few gimmicky ideas for this year’s challenge and this song hits on some of them. First, I wanted to get away from the small room reverb I usually use and go with something a little longer. This one uses a big room reverb everywhere. Big is bigger than small, right?

Gimmick number two (maybe theme is a better word?) for this year is to mess with time and tempo. GarageBand doesn’t actually support time signature changes but if you do the math right you can make it work. This doesn’t have a time change but it does have a tempo change.

Theme number three (naw, gimmick is the better word) is to use two guitars. I almost always double track my rhythm guitar parts and pan them hard left and right. I plan to keep doing that, but to use a different guitar on each track. Here we hear my Les Paul Standard panned hard left and my SG Standard panned hard right. Nothing too special, but kinda neat.

Speaking of guitar gear, as mentioned there is a Les Paul Standard and an SG on the rhythm tracks. The lead is the Les Paul. The amp on all tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra The Klone. The lead is a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah pedal into the Ryra into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side).

Chorus
Careful what you think
could be they’re listening how could you know
you’re the missing link
caught you just in time for the show

Verse 1 and 3
They see what’s happening
the how and why
there from the beginning
they create the lie

Verse 2
Until your final breath
they’re always there
you’re way out of your depth
they’re everywhere

Breakdown
I don’t like the look of this
not at all
Not the sort of thing you miss
It’s time for a fall]]>
I had a few gimmicky ideas for this year’s challenge and this song hits on some of them. First, I wanted to get away from the small room reverb I usually use and go with something a little longer. This one uses a big room reverb everywhere. Big is bigger than small, right?

Gimmick number two (maybe theme is a better word?) for this year is to mess with time and tempo. GarageBand doesn’t actually support time signature changes but if you do the math right you can make it work. This doesn’t have a time change but it does have a tempo change.

Theme number three (naw, gimmick is the better word) is to use two guitars. I almost always double track my rhythm guitar parts and pan them hard left and right. I plan to keep doing that, but to use a different guitar on each track. Here we hear my Les Paul Standard panned hard left and my SG Standard panned hard right. Nothing too special, but kinda neat.

Speaking of guitar gear, as mentioned there is a Les Paul Standard and an SG on the rhythm tracks. The lead is the Les Paul. The amp on all tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm are an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra The Klone. The lead is a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah pedal into the Ryra into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side).

Chorus
Careful what you think
could be they’re listening how could you know
you’re the missing link
caught you just in time for the show

Verse 1 and 3
They see what’s happening
the how and why
there from the beginning
they create the lie

Verse 2
Until your final breath
they’re always there
you’re way out of your depth
they’re everywhere

Breakdown
I don’t like the look of this
not at all
Not the sort of thing you miss
It’s time for a fall]]> 6575388 no no Sun, 20 Feb 2022 01:13:03 +0100 2022-02-20T01:13:03+01:00 5:06 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/the-thing-you-fear-the-most-2022-version/
It was supposed to be 8-10 songs and here I am posting #57 (I think). Enough already!

This is what happens when a prog loving nerd tries to flex his prob muscles in GarageBand. Three different time signatures… even though GarageBand doesn’t allow multiple time signatures. The file says it’s running in 4/4 but if you do the math and find the least common denominator and stuff you can figure out a number of bars in 7/8 that fit evenly into some number of bars in 4/4. Then you can do the same for 6/4. Then you can copy Drummer tracks to plain old MIDI tracks so they don’t change when you monkey with the time signature.

Was it worth it? I don’t know. This song is probably more fun to play than to listen too, though the break in the middle is too fast for me to play. I had to fly it in a couple of measures at a time. It’s brutal and I don’t know why I tortured myself that way.

All in all, not a terrible song. I kinda dig it. The mix is a mess, but I kinda dig it.

Guitars are almost all Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Ryra the Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads stuck an Earthquaker Devices The Depths in front of the Ryra. The guitarmonies at the end are just the Les Paul into a Fuzz Face into the Bassbreaker 15.

and still it’s coming
coming to find you
you hear it running
running you down

its always back there
its right behind you
never escape it
it always comes true

Good luck to you
You’ll never get away
Safe trip to you
you have a debt to pay

creeping in corners
watching you’re every move
hiding in shadows
completely disapprove

you think you lost it
but it is always there
you try to see it
but it will disappear

you can never get away from the
thing you fear the most]]>
It was supposed to be 8-10 songs and here I am posting #57 (I think). Enough already!

This is what happens when a prog loving nerd tries to flex his prob muscles in GarageBand. Three different time signatures… even though GarageBand doesn’t allow multiple time signatures. The file says it’s running in 4/4 but if you do the math and find the least common denominator and stuff you can figure out a number of bars in 7/8 that fit evenly into some number of bars in 4/4. Then you can do the same for 6/4. Then you can copy Drummer tracks to plain old MIDI tracks so they don’t change when you monkey with the time signature.

Was it worth it? I don’t know. This song is probably more fun to play than to listen too, though the break in the middle is too fast for me to play. I had to fly it in a couple of measures at a time. It’s brutal and I don’t know why I tortured myself that way.

All in all, not a terrible song. I kinda dig it. The mix is a mess, but I kinda dig it.

Guitars are almost all Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Ryra the Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads stuck an Earthquaker Devices The Depths in front of the Ryra. The guitarmonies at the end are just the Les Paul into a Fuzz Face into the Bassbreaker 15.

and still it’s coming
coming to find you
you hear it running
running you down

its always back there
its right behind you
never escape it
it always comes true

Good luck to you
You’ll never get away
Safe trip to you
you have a debt to pay

creeping in corners
watching you’re every move
hiding in shadows
completely disapprove

you think you lost it
but it is always there
you try to see it
but it will disappear

you can never get away from the
thing you fear the most]]> 6530236 no no Sat, 29 Jan 2022 20:58:33 +0100 2022-01-29T20:58:33+01:00 5:46 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/overkill/
The arrangement here is the same as the original but the tempo is a little faster. Everything else is just about the same, I think.

The guitar tracks are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. For pedals, the rhythm tracks used a Dunlop Crybaby wah into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Intro
Feel it coming
is it overkill

Verse 1
Yesterday I was thinking about it
All the things we’ve done
Through the ringer again and again
but not the only ones

Verse 2
something happens when we get to it
we want to make it last
we extend it we won’t stop
don’t let it end so fast

Chorus
it might be overkill but we don’t care

Verse 3
try to keep it the whole year through
don’t let the feeling fade
keep working keep plugging along
don’t let it slip away]]>
The arrangement here is the same as the original but the tempo is a little faster. Everything else is just about the same, I think.

The guitar tracks are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. For pedals, the rhythm tracks used a Dunlop Crybaby wah into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Intro
Feel it coming
is it overkill

Verse 1
Yesterday I was thinking about it
All the things we’ve done
Through the ringer again and again
but not the only ones

Verse 2
something happens when we get to it
we want to make it last
we extend it we won’t stop
don’t let it end so fast

Chorus
it might be overkill but we don’t care

Verse 3
try to keep it the whole year through
don’t let the feeling fade
keep working keep plugging along
don’t let it slip away]]> 6530098 no no Sat, 29 Jan 2022 20:03:39 +0100 2022-01-29T20:03:39+01:00 3:34 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/sucker-2022-version/
Finally, right?

A lame attempt at funky guitar. I like the song even if it’s kind of a lame attempt at cool. Oh well. The arrangement is pretty much the same as the first time (the 2017 RPM Challenge, I think) with just a little bit tacked onto the beginning and end. The mix sounds confused to me, but my ears might just be tired. Oh who am I kidding, the mix is sloppy. Nothing new there.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra the Klone. Leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah into the Ryra into a Keeley D&M Drive.

do you remember when
he said that
did you expect that he’d
come through
are you so gulible
that you’d think
this is what’s best for us
Not this time

you heard it
believed it
you thought it
sounded good
he pulled it
over you
you sucker
you did this

I saw it
all coming
you sat there
taking it
he fed you
these lies and
you smiled
asking for more

The fear
the hate
the lies
listen]]>
Finally, right?

A lame attempt at funky guitar. I like the song even if it’s kind of a lame attempt at cool. Oh well. The arrangement is pretty much the same as the first time (the 2017 RPM Challenge, I think) with just a little bit tacked onto the beginning and end. The mix sounds confused to me, but my ears might just be tired. Oh who am I kidding, the mix is sloppy. Nothing new there.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra the Klone. Leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah into the Ryra into a Keeley D&M Drive.

do you remember when
he said that
did you expect that he’d
come through
are you so gulible
that you’d think
this is what’s best for us
Not this time

you heard it
believed it
you thought it
sounded good
he pulled it
over you
you sucker
you did this

I saw it
all coming
you sat there
taking it
he fed you
these lies and
you smiled
asking for more

The fear
the hate
the lies
listen]]> 6528912 no no Sat, 29 Jan 2022 03:21:44 +0100 2022-01-29T03:21:44+01:00 3:36 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/no-skin-off-my-back-bro-2022-version/
I have been saying that this round of Quarantine Tunes (the sixth and final round) is scraping the bottom of the barrel and this song is pretty much what I am talking about. It’s not bad. It’s also not good. It’s just sort of lukewarm, you know?

The lyrics were part of 2016’s theme of “there are actual people in the 21st century who believe the Earth is flat.” At the time I felt that their idiotic opinions were harmless. I definitely don’t think that anymore.

Not a lot going on with the guitar gear on this one. All of the tracks are my Les Paul Standard through my Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra the Klone. The lead used the Ryra into the boost side of a Keeley D&M Drive.

Verse 1
I’m not impressed
with your irrational mind
might I suggest
you waste someone else’s time

Verse 2
you’ve got the news
no body wants to hear
you found a way
to make the kill of the year

Not this time

Chorus
You can believe what you want to believe
it doesn’t matter to me
you can think what you want to think
it makes no difference to me

Bridge
I think you’re crazy and I just don’t care
Your logic’s hazy and I still don’t care

and another thing

Verse 3
I’m not impressed with anything that you say
you might have guessed that I prefer it this way

Not this time]]>
I have been saying that this round of Quarantine Tunes (the sixth and final round) is scraping the bottom of the barrel and this song is pretty much what I am talking about. It’s not bad. It’s also not good. It’s just sort of lukewarm, you know?

The lyrics were part of 2016’s theme of “there are actual people in the 21st century who believe the Earth is flat.” At the time I felt that their idiotic opinions were harmless. I definitely don’t think that anymore.

Not a lot going on with the guitar gear on this one. All of the tracks are my Les Paul Standard through my Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Ryra the Klone. The lead used the Ryra into the boost side of a Keeley D&M Drive.

Verse 1
I’m not impressed
with your irrational mind
might I suggest
you waste someone else’s time

Verse 2
you’ve got the news
no body wants to hear
you found a way
to make the kill of the year

Not this time

Chorus
You can believe what you want to believe
it doesn’t matter to me
you can think what you want to think
it makes no difference to me

Bridge
I think you’re crazy and I just don’t care
Your logic’s hazy and I still don’t care

and another thing

Verse 3
I’m not impressed with anything that you say
you might have guessed that I prefer it this way

Not this time]]> 6526364 no no Fri, 28 Jan 2022 03:30:56 +0100 2022-01-28T03:30:56+01:00 3:18 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/watch-me-ruin-everything-2022-version/
This version sort of fixes the rhythm guitars but the vocals in the verses are still pretty pitchy. All in all I think I am really liking this new versions, though the mix has only been done for 10 minutes or so and I am already getting annoyed. I used a lot of fuzz throughout and I often have a hard time mixing fuzzy songs.

The found sound track is the exact same as the recording from last February, though I think I cut it in different places. It’s just a tape of a walk through Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA (the cultural center of the universe, and just across the street from Harvard Yard where there is no parking but there is a bike rack) and at one point a truck drives by. It didn’t bother me the first time around but I had to chop it out this time. The chirping you hear near the end of the song is a cross walk indicator. When it starts chirping you start crossing. When it stops, get out of the road because those bastards pulling onto Mass Ave will absolutely take you out if you’re moving slow.

Guitars… there are a bunch of different setups and there were supposed to be more but I ended up axing a few things. Everything was played on my Les Paul Standard. The cleanish rhythm tracks used a Walrus Audio The Depths into a Klon KTR into the 18 watt channel of a Fender Bassbreaker 18/30. The fuzzy rhythm tracks was a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into the KTR into the 18/30. Leads were a Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The backward echo thing during the outro was a Real McCoy Customs RMC10 wah into the Ryra into the boost side of a Keeley D&M Drive into the Bassbreaker 15. The actual solo at the end was The Depths into the Ryra into the D&M Boost into the Bassbreaker 15. I think that covers everything.

Verse 1

Giving in to everything

Is the only skill I bring

No reason why, it’s just what I do

Won’t make up for anything

Verse 2

Step into the emptiness

Give in to forgetfulness

Could be the guilt finally got to me

Leave me with my loneliness.

Chorus

Front row seat to my decay

Watch me ruin everything

Bury me, throw me away

To the dust where I belong


Raise your glass to one my day

One more chance to watch me fail

Nothing else for me to say

This is it, watch me crumble

The found sound track is from freesound.org.
https://freesound.org/people/themfish/sounds/33544/]]>
This version sort of fixes the rhythm guitars but the vocals in the verses are still pretty pitchy. All in all I think I am really liking this new versions, though the mix has only been done for 10 minutes or so and I am already getting annoyed. I used a lot of fuzz throughout and I often have a hard time mixing fuzzy songs.

The found sound track is the exact same as the recording from last February, though I think I cut it in different places. It’s just a tape of a walk through Harvard Square in Cambridge, MA (the cultural center of the universe, and just across the street from Harvard Yard where there is no parking but there is a bike rack) and at one point a truck drives by. It didn’t bother me the first time around but I had to chop it out this time. The chirping you hear near the end of the song is a cross walk indicator. When it starts chirping you start crossing. When it stops, get out of the road because those bastards pulling onto Mass Ave will absolutely take you out if you’re moving slow.

Guitars… there are a bunch of different setups and there were supposed to be more but I ended up axing a few things. Everything was played on my Les Paul Standard. The cleanish rhythm tracks used a Walrus Audio The Depths into a Klon KTR into the 18 watt channel of a Fender Bassbreaker 18/30. The fuzzy rhythm tracks was a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into the KTR into the 18/30. Leads were a Dunlop Fuzz Face Mini into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The backward echo thing during the outro was a Real McCoy Customs RMC10 wah into the Ryra into the boost side of a Keeley D&M Drive into the Bassbreaker 15. The actual solo at the end was The Depths into the Ryra into the D&M Boost into the Bassbreaker 15. I think that covers everything.

Verse 1

Giving in to everything

Is the only skill I bring

No reason why, it’s just what I do

Won’t make up for anything

Verse 2

Step into the emptiness

Give in to forgetfulness

Could be the guilt finally got to me

Leave me with my loneliness.

Chorus

Front row seat to my decay

Watch me ruin everything

Bury me, throw me away

To the dust where I belong


Raise your glass to one my day

One more chance to watch me fail

Nothing else for me to say

This is it, watch me crumble

The found sound track is from freesound.org.
https://freesound.org/people/themfish/sounds/33544/]]> 6524375 no no Wed, 26 Jan 2022 22:16:32 +0100 2022-01-26T22:16:32+01:00 4:54 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/back-on-track-2022-version/
This one was part of my failed 2010 RPM Challenge. It was started in February of 2010 but it wasn’t finished until about August of 2011. It’s brutally simple as it’s just one riff repeated through out and even the melody in the verse and chorus are pretty much the same except for the chorus being up an octave.

For the re-recording I upped the tempo a smidge and put tons of fuzz on the rhythm guitars. I also added the vocal harmonies to try and differentiate between verse and chorus a little more. It sort of works if you squint a little.

The rhythm guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard into an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Fender Bassbreaker 18/30 (on the 18 watt channel). The leads are the same Les Paul Standard into a Real McCoy Customs RMC10 wah pedal into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side) into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1
sort of misguided
misdirected
out of my element
practically negligent

Forgot my mission
abandoned
my focus was elsewhere
lost in the glare

Verse 2
On the back burner
background murmur
months pass by
no reason why

forgot my purpose
feeling kinda nervous
wait another day
just put it away

Chorus
Back on track now
guns a blazing
all of my energy
and all of my effort

No more distractions
No more delays
No more indecisions
This all ends today

Ending
This all ends today]]>
This one was part of my failed 2010 RPM Challenge. It was started in February of 2010 but it wasn’t finished until about August of 2011. It’s brutally simple as it’s just one riff repeated through out and even the melody in the verse and chorus are pretty much the same except for the chorus being up an octave.

For the re-recording I upped the tempo a smidge and put tons of fuzz on the rhythm guitars. I also added the vocal harmonies to try and differentiate between verse and chorus a little more. It sort of works if you squint a little.

The rhythm guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard into an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Fender Bassbreaker 18/30 (on the 18 watt channel). The leads are the same Les Paul Standard into a Real McCoy Customs RMC10 wah pedal into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side) into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1
sort of misguided
misdirected
out of my element
practically negligent

Forgot my mission
abandoned
my focus was elsewhere
lost in the glare

Verse 2
On the back burner
background murmur
months pass by
no reason why

forgot my purpose
feeling kinda nervous
wait another day
just put it away

Chorus
Back on track now
guns a blazing
all of my energy
and all of my effort

No more distractions
No more delays
No more indecisions
This all ends today

Ending
This all ends today]]> 6518629 no no Sun, 23 Jan 2022 21:43:02 +0100 2022-01-23T21:43:02+01:00 3:51 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/say-goodbye-2022-version/
Originally written for the 2010 RPM Challenged and finished about a year and a half later. It was called Dogfight and the lyrics were about… Top Gun, or Hot Shots, or some air combat shit. I can remember sitting at my desk in the cellar writing the lyrics and thinking to myself that not only were they absolutely terrible, but I had no idea where they were coming from.

It originally went onto the list of songs to re-record in 2016, my second attempt at a project like this, and it was moved back and forth to and from the dropped list at least twice. In fact, when I started putting together then MIDI tracks, bass and drums, it was literally still on the dropped list. I told myself I would only finish it if I rewrote the lyrics, so I replaced the shitty lyrics with slightly less shitty but still pretty shitty lyrics and carried on.

This version sounds better and feels better and is better than the original, but I still don’t love it. It does have a four bar long drum solo though, so kick ass.

The guitar tracks are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard. Pedals/Amp on the rhythm are a Klon KTR into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter (a combination I think I am starting to fall out of love with) into a Fender Bassbreaker 18/30. The leads used a Ryra The Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1
Say goodbye
to old times
don’t ask why
just apply

Verse 2
Final chance
to advance
passing glance
circumstance

Chorus
You cannot escape it
You cannot replace it
you cannot deface it
You cannot erase it

You cannot defeat them
You cannot unseat them
You cannot delete them
You cannot mistreat them]]>
Originally written for the 2010 RPM Challenged and finished about a year and a half later. It was called Dogfight and the lyrics were about… Top Gun, or Hot Shots, or some air combat shit. I can remember sitting at my desk in the cellar writing the lyrics and thinking to myself that not only were they absolutely terrible, but I had no idea where they were coming from.

It originally went onto the list of songs to re-record in 2016, my second attempt at a project like this, and it was moved back and forth to and from the dropped list at least twice. In fact, when I started putting together then MIDI tracks, bass and drums, it was literally still on the dropped list. I told myself I would only finish it if I rewrote the lyrics, so I replaced the shitty lyrics with slightly less shitty but still pretty shitty lyrics and carried on.

This version sounds better and feels better and is better than the original, but I still don’t love it. It does have a four bar long drum solo though, so kick ass.

The guitar tracks are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard. Pedals/Amp on the rhythm are a Klon KTR into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter (a combination I think I am starting to fall out of love with) into a Fender Bassbreaker 18/30. The leads used a Ryra The Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1
Say goodbye
to old times
don’t ask why
just apply

Verse 2
Final chance
to advance
passing glance
circumstance

Chorus
You cannot escape it
You cannot replace it
you cannot deface it
You cannot erase it

You cannot defeat them
You cannot unseat them
You cannot delete them
You cannot mistreat them]]> 6503820 no no Sat, 15 Jan 2022 16:03:40 +0100 2022-01-15T16:03:40+01:00 2:53 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/theres-not-much-to-this/
For the second time I seem to have written the same song twice. The other one will be coming at some point in the near future. I still have to mix it. Both songs have the same changes in the chorus. Emin7 -> Bmin7 -> A7. Why do I keep doing that?

This was written on the guitar… which might explain the same thing over and over again thing… were they all started on guitar? Could be. I initially thought the other song was going to be the better of the two, but this one wins in the end. It might be due to the actual honest to goodness counter melody in the second chorus. Woah!

The rhythm guitars were my Gibson SG. I played my new Les Paul exclusively for eight whole months before breaking out the SG to record this tune. The lead was the new Les Paul Standard. The amp on all of the guitar tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm parts were an Earthquaker Devices The Depths and a Ryra The Klone. The lead only used a Fuzz Face.

Verse 1
There’s not much to this
There’s not much to miss
Same situation
No contemplation

Verse 2
No chance we’ll make it
So let’s just fake it
false information
no explaination

Chorus
Its a thought that I have
while I’m wasting time

Its a question I ask
while I wait in line

There’s a place in my dreams
I don’t understand

Always out of my reach
never goes as planned

Chorus counter melody
Just goes to show you
Not up for review
I’d demonstrate it
but I won’t commit]]>
For the second time I seem to have written the same song twice. The other one will be coming at some point in the near future. I still have to mix it. Both songs have the same changes in the chorus. Emin7 -> Bmin7 -> A7. Why do I keep doing that?

This was written on the guitar… which might explain the same thing over and over again thing… were they all started on guitar? Could be. I initially thought the other song was going to be the better of the two, but this one wins in the end. It might be due to the actual honest to goodness counter melody in the second chorus. Woah!

The rhythm guitars were my Gibson SG. I played my new Les Paul exclusively for eight whole months before breaking out the SG to record this tune. The lead was the new Les Paul Standard. The amp on all of the guitar tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm parts were an Earthquaker Devices The Depths and a Ryra The Klone. The lead only used a Fuzz Face.

Verse 1
There’s not much to this
There’s not much to miss
Same situation
No contemplation

Verse 2
No chance we’ll make it
So let’s just fake it
false information
no explaination

Chorus
Its a thought that I have
while I’m wasting time

Its a question I ask
while I wait in line

There’s a place in my dreams
I don’t understand

Always out of my reach
never goes as planned

Chorus counter melody
Just goes to show you
Not up for review
I’d demonstrate it
but I won’t commit]]> Bmin7 -> A7. Why do I keep doing that? This was written on the guitar… which might explain the same thing over and over again thing… were they all started on guitar? Could be. I initially thought the other song was going to be the better of the two, but this one wins in the end. It might be due to the actual honest to goodness counter melody in the second chorus. Woah! The rhythm guitars were my Gibson SG. I played my new Les Paul exclusively for eight whole months before breaking out the SG to record this tune. The lead was the new Les Paul Standard. The amp on all of the guitar tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm parts were an Earthquaker Devices The Depths and a Ryra The Klone. The lead only used a Fuzz Face. Verse 1 There’s not much to this There’s not much to miss Same situation No contemplation Verse 2 No chance we’ll make it So let’s just fake it false information no explaination Chorus Its a thought that I have while I’m wasting time Its a question I ask while I wait in line There’s a place in my dreams I don’t understand Always out of my reach never goes as planned Chorus counter melody Just goes to show you Not up for review I’d demonstrate it but I won’t commit]]> 6499843 no no Thu, 13 Jan 2022 14:11:51 +0100 2022-01-13T14:11:51+01:00 3:48 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/sky-is-falling-2022-version/
The arrangement here is pretty much the same as the second version. I had some electric piano and acoustic guitars on that one and both have been replaced by cleanish electric guitars. I also changed some of the lyrics. They’re still pretty crappy, but maybe a tiny bit less crappy than they were.

The guitar tracks are all Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The clean parts just switched off the D&M. The leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah pedal into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi ’70 into a Klon KTR for the heavy leads. The quiet lead in the intro used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into the KTR.

Verse 1
It’s coming again
no remorse no surrender
there is no escape
so much worse than you can remember

Verse 2 & 3
white out the sky
blanket coverage everywhere
we’re buried alive
this is getting to much to bear

Chorus
The sky is falling
the sky is falling
hear me calling
the sky is falling

the end is coming
the end is coming
no use running
the end is coming]]>
The arrangement here is pretty much the same as the second version. I had some electric piano and acoustic guitars on that one and both have been replaced by cleanish electric guitars. I also changed some of the lyrics. They’re still pretty crappy, but maybe a tiny bit less crappy than they were.

The guitar tracks are all Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The clean parts just switched off the D&M. The leads used a Real McCoy Custom RMC10 wah pedal into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi ’70 into a Klon KTR for the heavy leads. The quiet lead in the intro used an Earthquaker Devices The Depths into the KTR.

Verse 1
It’s coming again
no remorse no surrender
there is no escape
so much worse than you can remember

Verse 2 & 3
white out the sky
blanket coverage everywhere
we’re buried alive
this is getting to much to bear

Chorus
The sky is falling
the sky is falling
hear me calling
the sky is falling

the end is coming
the end is coming
no use running
the end is coming]]> 6494254 no no Sun, 09 Jan 2022 23:29:54 +0100 2022-01-09T23:29:54+01:00 3:05 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/ice-2021-version/
This is the third time I’ve recorded this song and I waffled on whether or not to include it. It was actually on the dropped song list about two weeks ago, and here it is finished. Again. Originally it had acoustic rhythm guitars. It was an attempt at having a heavy-ish acoustic song. It sort of works, but I am sort of preferring it in its current completely electric form.

I think the reason I was going to drop the song from the to-do list was because the lyrics were just awful. More awful than usual. I decided it would have to be rewritten in part in order to get back on the list, and I did mostly rewrite the chorus. It’s still not good, but it’s better.

All of the guitars are my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15 amp. The rhythm tracks used a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra The Klone. The leads were a Dunlop Crybaby into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

verse 1
feel the wind blow
freeze you to the core
feel your body slow
you can’t take much more

blood feels thick
freezing in your veins
slowing down until
only ice remains

Verse 2
you’re locked inside
there is no way out
but you’re still alive
at least for now

the wind picks up
and the snow falls hard
ice closing in
ice crusing in]]>
This is the third time I’ve recorded this song and I waffled on whether or not to include it. It was actually on the dropped song list about two weeks ago, and here it is finished. Again. Originally it had acoustic rhythm guitars. It was an attempt at having a heavy-ish acoustic song. It sort of works, but I am sort of preferring it in its current completely electric form.

I think the reason I was going to drop the song from the to-do list was because the lyrics were just awful. More awful than usual. I decided it would have to be rewritten in part in order to get back on the list, and I did mostly rewrite the chorus. It’s still not good, but it’s better.

All of the guitars are my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15 amp. The rhythm tracks used a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra The Klone. The leads were a Dunlop Crybaby into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

verse 1
feel the wind blow
freeze you to the core
feel your body slow
you can’t take much more

blood feels thick
freezing in your veins
slowing down until
only ice remains

Verse 2
you’re locked inside
there is no way out
but you’re still alive
at least for now

the wind picks up
and the snow falls hard
ice closing in
ice crusing in]]> 6470531 no no Mon, 27 Dec 2021 04:16:30 +0100 2021-12-27T04:16:30+01:00 3:32 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/underground-2021-version/
Rhythm guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Leads are the same guitar and amp but the pedals are the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Verse 1
early morning no sun in the sky
undergrounded sleep still in my eyes

Verse 2
buried alive I try to create
silently creeping the morning awaits

Chorus
hard at work in the underground
trying to dig out the right sound
is it ready to be found
is there anything around?]]>
Rhythm guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Leads are the same guitar and amp but the pedals are the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Verse 1
early morning no sun in the sky
undergrounded sleep still in my eyes

Verse 2
buried alive I try to create
silently creeping the morning awaits

Chorus
hard at work in the underground
trying to dig out the right sound
is it ready to be found
is there anything around?]]> 6469034 no no Sat, 25 Dec 2021 21:43:50 +0100 2021-12-25T21:43:50+01:00 3:23 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/goodnight-hold-tight-version-2.0/
I thought this was lacking in oomph on the percussion end last time, so this time I added a percussionist to beef things up. I am pretty pleased with it. Most of the rest of the song is the same as before. Though there is that four bar backward guitar intro. Get used to that… I am finding myself doing stuff like that all over the place. The next batch of songs is going to use it like crazy.

The rhythm guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads are the same guitar and amp with the same Ryra pedal into a Keeley D&M Drive using just the boost (Mick) side.

A
Outside
hands tied
gone away
away

B
Goodnight
Goodnight
Hold tight
Hold tight
Goodnight love

B2
In dreams
In dreams
Find me
Find me
In dreams love

C
Its the time
for action
its the place
reaction
come away
come with me]]>
I thought this was lacking in oomph on the percussion end last time, so this time I added a percussionist to beef things up. I am pretty pleased with it. Most of the rest of the song is the same as before. Though there is that four bar backward guitar intro. Get used to that… I am finding myself doing stuff like that all over the place. The next batch of songs is going to use it like crazy.

The rhythm guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads are the same guitar and amp with the same Ryra pedal into a Keeley D&M Drive using just the boost (Mick) side.

A
Outside
hands tied
gone away
away

B
Goodnight
Goodnight
Hold tight
Hold tight
Goodnight love

B2
In dreams
In dreams
Find me
Find me
In dreams love

C
Its the time
for action
its the place
reaction
come away
come with me]]> 6467897 no no Sat, 25 Dec 2021 02:41:48 +0100 2021-12-25T02:41:48+01:00 5:26 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/the-first-day-2021-version/
I am scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as the quality of songs to be re-recorded goes, though this one has now been recorded three times which is, again, just silly.

I wanted this one to sound almost live-ish and kinda ratty. I wanted it to sound like a bar band nearing the end of it’s final set for the night. I think I sort of have that. I was hammering really hard on the guitar and blowing it out of tune. I sort of meant to do that, but maybe if I ever do a fourth version of this I will tone it down a smidge.

As for the vocals, there is something wrong with my Shure SM58 so I used an SM57 without realizing this song sets the world record for plosive syllables per minute. Sorry about that. It also sounds a little thin to me. I think I may need to both invest in a couple of new mics and send the ones I have out to the shop for a look see.

This song was the first idea I had for the 2009 RPM Challenge. I had yet to switch to a DAW and was using an ADAT and a Roland Drum Machine. I was also only working at the crack of dawn before anyone else woke up. We were living in a duplex at the time so I was also trying to work before anyone in the other apartment woke up too. I did a second take of this a few years later after I started using GarageBand. The arrangement here is based on the second version, though I changed the very beginning quite a bit.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm are a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads are the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Verse 1 & 3
blank page
clean slate
first stage
feels great

verse 2
open door
all clear
first floor
start here

Chorus
today is the first day
today is the blue print
today has the first say
today it begins

Break
everything is new
everything I do]]>
I am scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as the quality of songs to be re-recorded goes, though this one has now been recorded three times which is, again, just silly.

I wanted this one to sound almost live-ish and kinda ratty. I wanted it to sound like a bar band nearing the end of it’s final set for the night. I think I sort of have that. I was hammering really hard on the guitar and blowing it out of tune. I sort of meant to do that, but maybe if I ever do a fourth version of this I will tone it down a smidge.

As for the vocals, there is something wrong with my Shure SM58 so I used an SM57 without realizing this song sets the world record for plosive syllables per minute. Sorry about that. It also sounds a little thin to me. I think I may need to both invest in a couple of new mics and send the ones I have out to the shop for a look see.

This song was the first idea I had for the 2009 RPM Challenge. I had yet to switch to a DAW and was using an ADAT and a Roland Drum Machine. I was also only working at the crack of dawn before anyone else woke up. We were living in a duplex at the time so I was also trying to work before anyone in the other apartment woke up too. I did a second take of this a few years later after I started using GarageBand. The arrangement here is based on the second version, though I changed the very beginning quite a bit.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm are a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads are the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Verse 1 & 3
blank page
clean slate
first stage
feels great

verse 2
open door
all clear
first floor
start here

Chorus
today is the first day
today is the blue print
today has the first say
today it begins

Break
everything is new
everything I do]]> 6458044 no no Sun, 19 Dec 2021 05:36:03 +0100 2021-12-19T05:36:03+01:00 2:53 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/dont-think-about-it-14S/
All of the guitar tracks are a Les Paul Standard through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (Dan side only). The lead in the middle of the song (the quieter one) is the Ryra into the D&M (Mick side only), and the noisier solo at the end is the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Don’t look away
Don’t have your say
Don’t think about it
Today’s the day

One open door
could lead to more
what is it for
Don’t try to think about it

Verse 1
Don’t try to chance it
(x6)

Verse 2
Don’t think about it
(x6)

Verse 3
Don’t try to question
(x6)

Bridge
So long
Been so long
Long gone]]>
All of the guitar tracks are a Les Paul Standard through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (Dan side only). The lead in the middle of the song (the quieter one) is the Ryra into the D&M (Mick side only), and the noisier solo at the end is the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Don’t look away
Don’t have your say
Don’t think about it
Today’s the day

One open door
could lead to more
what is it for
Don’t try to think about it

Verse 1
Don’t try to chance it
(x6)

Verse 2
Don’t think about it
(x6)

Verse 3
Don’t try to question
(x6)

Bridge
So long
Been so long
Long gone]]> 6458016 no no Sun, 19 Dec 2021 04:33:13 +0100 2021-12-19T04:33:13+01:00 3:47 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/mathematical-proof-6el/
I will say that all of this crap would be 10 times better if I could just sing.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra the Klone. The leads are a Dunlop Crybaby into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into the Ryra into a Washburn AX9.

Chorus
Its a sound that I hear every time I think of you
Its a thought that I think every time you come around
You’re the thought comes to me when I don’t know what to do
You’re the safety I need when I can’t go on I can’t be found

Verse 1 & 3
This one will work nicely
this one is just better than the rest
it answers precisely
You solved the riddle

Verse 2
solution discovered
the math has been checked and verified
the answer uncovered
You prove the statement

Bridge
you are the one
the one for me
the one for me]]>
I will say that all of this crap would be 10 times better if I could just sing.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Mooer E-Lady into a Ryra the Klone. The leads are a Dunlop Crybaby into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into the Ryra into a Washburn AX9.

Chorus
Its a sound that I hear every time I think of you
Its a thought that I think every time you come around
You’re the thought comes to me when I don’t know what to do
You’re the safety I need when I can’t go on I can’t be found

Verse 1 & 3
This one will work nicely
this one is just better than the rest
it answers precisely
You solved the riddle

Verse 2
solution discovered
the math has been checked and verified
the answer uncovered
You prove the statement

Bridge
you are the one
the one for me
the one for me]]> 6457416 no no Sat, 18 Dec 2021 17:57:08 +0100 2021-12-18T17:57:08+01:00 4:34 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/cold-comfort/
There are some bad edits and some sloppy playing. The vocals are pretty lack luster. The bass might be a little too low in the mix. I got a little goofy with the delay plug-in at the end. I guess what I am trying to say is that this one isn’t too bad.

The rhythm guitars are a Les Paul Standard into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15 and I think it’s safe to say I am in love with this sound. Leads are the same guitar and amp and the signal chain is a Mooer e-Lady flanger into the Ryra into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Mick side) into the same amp.

Chorus
Cold comfort
so fitting
No comment
clear thinking

Now isn’t the time

That feeling
of breaking
low ceiling
risk taking

Verse 1
it tries to tear me down
there’s one in every crowd
wait till it comes around again
all the same

Verse 2
I cannot let it go
just need to let you know
I’ll never feel so low to you
tell it true

Outro
Cold comfort comes to you
coming to you]]>
There are some bad edits and some sloppy playing. The vocals are pretty lack luster. The bass might be a little too low in the mix. I got a little goofy with the delay plug-in at the end. I guess what I am trying to say is that this one isn’t too bad.

The rhythm guitars are a Les Paul Standard into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15 and I think it’s safe to say I am in love with this sound. Leads are the same guitar and amp and the signal chain is a Mooer e-Lady flanger into the Ryra into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Mick side) into the same amp.

Chorus
Cold comfort
so fitting
No comment
clear thinking

Now isn’t the time

That feeling
of breaking
low ceiling
risk taking

Verse 1
it tries to tear me down
there’s one in every crowd
wait till it comes around again
all the same

Verse 2
I cannot let it go
just need to let you know
I’ll never feel so low to you
tell it true

Outro
Cold comfort comes to you
coming to you]]> 6457318 no no Sat, 18 Dec 2021 16:42:45 +0100 2021-12-18T16:42:45+01:00 4:11 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/untitled-volume-version-2.0/
This was one of my 50/90 gimmicks. I was planning on a bunch of songs with lyrics where each verse/chorus was a haiku. In the end I only did it a couple of times and in each case the melodies turned out pretty bad and difficult to sing. I was more concerned with counting syllables than singability.

For this second version I rewrote the whole melody. I tell myself I did it to make it more… ya know… melodic, but the honest truth is I probably just dumbed it down so I could have an easier time singing it… and then I sang like crap anyway.

But the ending is a lot of fun to jam over.

Guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and the amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm tracks were a Mooer E-Lady into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra the Klone. Lead pedals were a Dunlop Cry Baby into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

I can’t explain this
it went down way too quickly
Hang on for your life

no explanation
No other choice for you now
there’s no exit plan

untitled volume
No thoughts on what to do next
I gave at the door]]>
This was one of my 50/90 gimmicks. I was planning on a bunch of songs with lyrics where each verse/chorus was a haiku. In the end I only did it a couple of times and in each case the melodies turned out pretty bad and difficult to sing. I was more concerned with counting syllables than singability.

For this second version I rewrote the whole melody. I tell myself I did it to make it more… ya know… melodic, but the honest truth is I probably just dumbed it down so I could have an easier time singing it… and then I sang like crap anyway.

But the ending is a lot of fun to jam over.

Guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and the amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm tracks were a Mooer E-Lady into a Keeley Super Phat Mod into a Ryra the Klone. Lead pedals were a Dunlop Cry Baby into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

I can’t explain this
it went down way too quickly
Hang on for your life

no explanation
No other choice for you now
there’s no exit plan

untitled volume
No thoughts on what to do next
I gave at the door]]> 6449374 no no Tue, 14 Dec 2021 03:51:23 +0100 2021-12-14T03:51:23+01:00 3:28 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/glorious-view-version-2.0/
Guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. Amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Dunlop Crybaby into a Ryra The Klone into a Chicago Stompworks Mr Vermin. Leads are the same except the Vermin is replaced by a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Verse 1
No more good days
No more entitlement ways
They’ve come and gone
They are gone for good

Verse 2
It all seems new
Scenic and glorious view
chapter and verse
story has been told

Chorus
Feels better
go getter
Its such a shame
its all the same]]>
Guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. Amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Dunlop Crybaby into a Ryra The Klone into a Chicago Stompworks Mr Vermin. Leads are the same except the Vermin is replaced by a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Verse 1
No more good days
No more entitlement ways
They’ve come and gone
They are gone for good

Verse 2
It all seems new
Scenic and glorious view
chapter and verse
story has been told

Chorus
Feels better
go getter
Its such a shame
its all the same]]> 6446436 no no Sun, 12 Dec 2021 05:15:56 +0100 2021-12-12T05:15:56+01:00 4:24 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/weight-version-2.0/
I feel like this song is basically a straight ahead rock song except that it’s in 7/8. Can a song be straight ahead rock if it’s not in 4/4? The universe may never know.

Guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. Amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The lead track is the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Grasp the weight of it
there’s so much guilt
Every bit of it
must be rebuilt

try to brace yourself
for what’s to come
its too late for that
just get it done

Verse 1
How ever you slice it
it simply won’t hold
not able to tramsit
what needs to be told
Goodbye forever

Verse 2
Whatever you’re feeling
its not even close
its too devestating
can’t be diagnosed
There’s no escaping]]>
I feel like this song is basically a straight ahead rock song except that it’s in 7/8. Can a song be straight ahead rock if it’s not in 4/4? The universe may never know.

Guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. Amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The lead track is the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Grasp the weight of it
there’s so much guilt
Every bit of it
must be rebuilt

try to brace yourself
for what’s to come
its too late for that
just get it done

Verse 1
How ever you slice it
it simply won’t hold
not able to tramsit
what needs to be told
Goodbye forever

Verse 2
Whatever you’re feeling
its not even close
its too devestating
can’t be diagnosed
There’s no escaping]]> 6446417 no no Sun, 12 Dec 2021 04:20:56 +0100 2021-12-12T04:20:56+01:00 2:34 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/run-away-together-version-2.0/
Oh well.

All of the guitar tracks used a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and a Fender Bassbreaker 15 amp. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone. The lead swapped the Blooze Maker for a Keeley Super Phat Mod.

Chorus
come and see
come and see me
we’ll run away together

come and see
please come and see me
we’ll run away forever

Verse
Stillness motionless
Feel the world around you breath
quietly alone

Try to take it in
Question everything you see
Time is not your friend]]>
Oh well.

All of the guitar tracks used a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and a Fender Bassbreaker 15 amp. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone. The lead swapped the Blooze Maker for a Keeley Super Phat Mod.

Chorus
come and see
come and see me
we’ll run away together

come and see
please come and see me
we’ll run away forever

Verse
Stillness motionless
Feel the world around you breath
quietly alone

Try to take it in
Question everything you see
Time is not your friend]]> 6440934 no no Wed, 08 Dec 2021 21:53:19 +0100 2021-12-08T21:53:19+01:00 3:28 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/its-the-end-of-the-way-it-was-version-2.0/
All of the guitar tracks used a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used a Ryra The Klone pedal into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Its the end of the way it was
(2x)

Verse 1
It won’t come from above
unconditional love
come to give you a shove
come to feed you the drug

Bridge
Come what may

Verse 2
they can’t show you the way
they’ll just lead you astray
They’ll just give some excuse
They can’t give you the truth

Main bridge
Nothing there to cling too]]>
All of the guitar tracks used a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used a Ryra The Klone pedal into a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Its the end of the way it was
(2x)

Verse 1
It won’t come from above
unconditional love
come to give you a shove
come to feed you the drug

Bridge
Come what may

Verse 2
they can’t show you the way
they’ll just lead you astray
They’ll just give some excuse
They can’t give you the truth

Main bridge
Nothing there to cling too]]> 6440861 no no Wed, 08 Dec 2021 20:49:09 +0100 2021-12-08T20:49:09+01:00 2:13 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/show-you-the-way/
Guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Vox MV50 Clean. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are a cheap-o Joyo Vintage Phrase into a Ryra The Klone, which isn’t cheap at all. The leads were the same signal chain only without the phaser.

Verse 1 & 3
So you know
that I told you so
out of time
waiting for a sign
on the brink
does it make you think
on the run
so let’s have some fun

Chorus
I’ve come to show you
I’ve come to show you the way
I’ve come to tell you
I’ve come to tell you the way it is

Verse 2
Come around
to the underground
see the show
make believe you know
lacking tact
so you just react
over come
what have we begun]]>
Guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Vox MV50 Clean. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are a cheap-o Joyo Vintage Phrase into a Ryra The Klone, which isn’t cheap at all. The leads were the same signal chain only without the phaser.

Verse 1 & 3
So you know
that I told you so
out of time
waiting for a sign
on the brink
does it make you think
on the run
so let’s have some fun

Chorus
I’ve come to show you
I’ve come to show you the way
I’ve come to tell you
I’ve come to tell you the way it is

Verse 2
Come around
to the underground
see the show
make believe you know
lacking tact
so you just react
over come
what have we begun]]> 6428084 no no Wed, 01 Dec 2021 04:20:51 +0100 2021-12-01T04:20:51+01:00 3:28 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/noodle-soup/
It’s two guitar tracks one on the left and one on the right and they just take turns noodling. Each solo tried using a different combination of pedals to get a somewhat different sound. I built a few changes into the song form to make punching in and out easier. So the whole thing is a cheat from start to finish. there is a little backward guitar though, so that makes everything okay.

The two guitar tracks used every pedal I have on my board for this project. I did not keep track of what was used where so I’ll just give you the whole list. Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s -> Dunlop Cry Baby Wah (Gary Clark, Jr) -> Joyo Vintage Phase -> Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker -> Ryra The Klone -> Keeley D&M Drive -> Wren and Cuff Super Russian -> Vox MV50 Clean.]]>
It’s two guitar tracks one on the left and one on the right and they just take turns noodling. Each solo tried using a different combination of pedals to get a somewhat different sound. I built a few changes into the song form to make punching in and out easier. So the whole thing is a cheat from start to finish. there is a little backward guitar though, so that makes everything okay.

The two guitar tracks used every pedal I have on my board for this project. I did not keep track of what was used where so I’ll just give you the whole list. Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s -> Dunlop Cry Baby Wah (Gary Clark, Jr) -> Joyo Vintage Phase -> Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker -> Ryra The Klone -> Keeley D&M Drive -> Wren and Cuff Super Russian -> Vox MV50 Clean.]]> Dunlop Cry Baby Wah (Gary Clark, Jr) -> Joyo Vintage Phase -> Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker -> Ryra The Klone -> Keeley D&M Drive -> Wren and Cuff Super Russian -> Vox MV50 Clean.]]> 6428055 no no Wed, 01 Dec 2021 03:42:41 +0100 2021-12-01T03:42:41+01:00 6:54 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/glass/
Why the hell does GarageBand’s drummer insist on putting a friggin’ crash cymbal on beat five or the first bar of every single phrase when the time signature is 6/4? Every friggin’ time! Why??? Does Logic do that? I really hope not.

The guitars are Les Paul Standard and the amps are all Vox MV50 Clean. Rhythm tracks used a Ryra The Klone and a Chicago Stompworks Mr Vermin. Leads used a crappy cheap little Joyo Vintage Phase, the Ryra, and a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
I’ve given up at last
I cannot change the past
one moment left to be
I’m made of shattered glass

Verse 1
Comes to the last test
Give me one final breath
On my way judgement day
I get one last look around

Bridge
Tell me how it feels
Tell me how it feels to go
Show me how it feels
Show me how it feels to know

Outro
Stop pretending
Things are ending
Think it’s time to go
(2x)]]>
Why the hell does GarageBand’s drummer insist on putting a friggin’ crash cymbal on beat five or the first bar of every single phrase when the time signature is 6/4? Every friggin’ time! Why??? Does Logic do that? I really hope not.

The guitars are Les Paul Standard and the amps are all Vox MV50 Clean. Rhythm tracks used a Ryra The Klone and a Chicago Stompworks Mr Vermin. Leads used a crappy cheap little Joyo Vintage Phase, the Ryra, and a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
I’ve given up at last
I cannot change the past
one moment left to be
I’m made of shattered glass

Verse 1
Comes to the last test
Give me one final breath
On my way judgement day
I get one last look around

Bridge
Tell me how it feels
Tell me how it feels to go
Show me how it feels
Show me how it feels to know

Outro
Stop pretending
Things are ending
Think it’s time to go
(2x)]]> 6428030 no no Wed, 01 Dec 2021 02:44:28 +0100 2021-12-01T02:44:28+01:00 5:12 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/theyre-on-to-us/
Unfortunately I have to hit 29:09 to qualify for National Solo Album Month and if I remove all the crap I come up two minutes short… so this one might go on the final album. Why do I even bother anymore?

Rhythm is Les Paul Standard ->Ryra The Klone ->Chicago Stompworks Mr Vermin ->Vox MV50 Clean. Lead is Les Paul Standard ->Dunlop crybaby wah ->Ryra the Klone ->Wren and Cuff Super Russian ->Vox MV50 Clean.

Chorus
Carry on like nothing’s wrong
its gone forever
Try to act like we belong
I think they’re on to us

Verse 1
its almost like we meant to do it
we planned it all along
its almost like we could get through it
just the way it should be

Verse 2
Just tell yourself there’s nothing to it
we do this every day
don’t let them know we almost blew it
can you keep a secret

Favorite]]>
Unfortunately I have to hit 29:09 to qualify for National Solo Album Month and if I remove all the crap I come up two minutes short… so this one might go on the final album. Why do I even bother anymore?

Rhythm is Les Paul Standard ->Ryra The Klone ->Chicago Stompworks Mr Vermin ->Vox MV50 Clean. Lead is Les Paul Standard ->Dunlop crybaby wah ->Ryra the Klone ->Wren and Cuff Super Russian ->Vox MV50 Clean.

Chorus
Carry on like nothing’s wrong
its gone forever
Try to act like we belong
I think they’re on to us

Verse 1
its almost like we meant to do it
we planned it all along
its almost like we could get through it
just the way it should be

Verse 2
Just tell yourself there’s nothing to it
we do this every day
don’t let them know we almost blew it
can you keep a secret

Favorite]]> Ryra The Klone ->Chicago Stompworks Mr Vermin ->Vox MV50 Clean. Lead is Les Paul Standard ->Dunlop crybaby wah ->Ryra the Klone ->Wren and Cuff Super Russian ->Vox MV50 Clean. Chorus Carry on like nothing’s wrong its gone forever Try to act like we belong I think they’re on to us Verse 1 its almost like we meant to do it we planned it all along its almost like we could get through it just the way it should be Verse 2 Just tell yourself there’s nothing to it we do this every day don’t let them know we almost blew it can you keep a secret Favorite]]> 6428019 no no Wed, 01 Dec 2021 02:05:59 +0100 2021-12-01T02:05:59+01:00 3:35 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/no-luck/
I’m trying very hard not to nitpick the vocals. It’s taking a lot of effort.

The rhythm guitar tracks are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Ryra the Klone and a Vox MV50 Clean. The leads are the same with a Keeley D&M Drive after the Ryra.

Chorus
Luck has not been on your side
Its so depressing
Fate is fighting back the tide
Decompressing

Verse 1
Its time for confession
a small indiscresion
a minor obsession
its kind of annoying

Verse 2
No use in defending
a misguided ending
go on representing
the way that it should be

Bridge
I am defending you again
I’m not expecting you to bend
Tell yourself it’s okay and then
Its over]]>
I’m trying very hard not to nitpick the vocals. It’s taking a lot of effort.

The rhythm guitar tracks are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Ryra the Klone and a Vox MV50 Clean. The leads are the same with a Keeley D&M Drive after the Ryra.

Chorus
Luck has not been on your side
Its so depressing
Fate is fighting back the tide
Decompressing

Verse 1
Its time for confession
a small indiscresion
a minor obsession
its kind of annoying

Verse 2
No use in defending
a misguided ending
go on representing
the way that it should be

Bridge
I am defending you again
I’m not expecting you to bend
Tell yourself it’s okay and then
Its over]]> 6426585 no no Tue, 30 Nov 2021 04:13:38 +0100 2021-11-30T04:13:38+01:00 3:32 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/the-cheat-code-shuffle/
I have no idea what the lyrics are about. What the hell was I thinking about when I wrote it? I was 75% asleep at the time and I haven’t the faintest idea. Video games? Maybe? No clue.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and the amp for all tracks is a Vox MV50 Clean. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra the Klone and a Keeley D&M Drive. The rotary effect on the cleanish tracks was added in the mix. The leads used a Crybaby Wah, the Ryra, and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
No cheats
No cheats
No cheats in this game
(2x)

Verse 1
I think we have it this time
Gone slightly out of our minds
Right at the peak of our prime
No telling what we might find

Verse 2
We may have gone a bit far
Too late to guess where we are
Maybe we lower the bar
And somehow shoot for the stars]]>
I have no idea what the lyrics are about. What the hell was I thinking about when I wrote it? I was 75% asleep at the time and I haven’t the faintest idea. Video games? Maybe? No clue.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and the amp for all tracks is a Vox MV50 Clean. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra the Klone and a Keeley D&M Drive. The rotary effect on the cleanish tracks was added in the mix. The leads used a Crybaby Wah, the Ryra, and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
No cheats
No cheats
No cheats in this game
(2x)

Verse 1
I think we have it this time
Gone slightly out of our minds
Right at the peak of our prime
No telling what we might find

Verse 2
We may have gone a bit far
Too late to guess where we are
Maybe we lower the bar
And somehow shoot for the stars]]> 6426559 no no Tue, 30 Nov 2021 03:33:55 +0100 2021-11-30T03:33:55+01:00 2:50 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/quite-a-steal/
This one was actually ready to mix about two weeks ago but it is so blah and uninspiring that it just sat around unfinished the whole time. It’s not that it’s terrible, it’s just that it’s not that good. I tried to do funky things with the 6/8 time and it didn’t really work out. Better luck next time.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Vox MV50 Clean. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Joyo Vintage Phase into a Ryra The Klone into a Chicago Stompworks Mister Vermin. The leads are a crybaby wah into the Ryra into the Vermin into a Washburn AX9.

verse 1
It probably seemed like a deal
its quite a steal
If you only knew how it feels to give in

Verse 2
You probably know what it means
it means to me
you’re probably living the dream for a while

Chorus
give a little bit
you know what i mean
give a little bit
its not how it seems

Bridge
keep looking behind
keep moving along
you’re not gonna find
what you’re looking for]]>
This one was actually ready to mix about two weeks ago but it is so blah and uninspiring that it just sat around unfinished the whole time. It’s not that it’s terrible, it’s just that it’s not that good. I tried to do funky things with the 6/8 time and it didn’t really work out. Better luck next time.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Vox MV50 Clean. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Joyo Vintage Phase into a Ryra The Klone into a Chicago Stompworks Mister Vermin. The leads are a crybaby wah into the Ryra into the Vermin into a Washburn AX9.

verse 1
It probably seemed like a deal
its quite a steal
If you only knew how it feels to give in

Verse 2
You probably know what it means
it means to me
you’re probably living the dream for a while

Chorus
give a little bit
you know what i mean
give a little bit
its not how it seems

Bridge
keep looking behind
keep moving along
you’re not gonna find
what you’re looking for]]> 6426541 no no Tue, 30 Nov 2021 02:45:22 +0100 2021-11-30T02:45:22+01:00 4:52 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/so-far-to-go/
What do we think of this cat? I have an urge to get proggy right now and generally that requires a level of talent that I don’t posses. I’m not putting myself down when I say that, it’s just a fact. Still… every now and then I try and this is one of those times. I didn’t set out to write this, I just came up with three things that were about the same tempo and glued them together… and then messes around with all of them.

I think I like this. At least I like it right now. I have a feeling the poor aspects (the guitar is out of time here and there and the vocals are out of tune all over the place) are going to ruin it for me. I hope this one ends up being my favorite of the month though. Time will tell.

Really, it’s all worth it for the one bar of backwards guitar at the end of the last head banging section.

Lots of different guitar tracks here. They are all a Les Paul Standard and a Vox MV50 Clean. The pedals for the cleanish rhythm tracks are a cheap little Joyo Vintage Phase (just for eight bars or so) into a Ryra the Klone. The heavy tracks lose the phaser and add a Wren and Cuff Super Russian after the Ryra. The leads used the Joyo into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into the Ryra. The heavy leads were the Ryra into a Chicago Stompworks Mr Vermin.

Verse 1
So long ago
So far to go
(2x)

Verse 2
The next time you think of it
you’ll have to go back a bit
there’s no way that you could say
that you know a better way.

Bridge 1
so trying
so tiring
the lookout
sees nothing

Bridge 2
I feel like it’s coming around
keep trying
I know that it’s moved underground
bad timing

Chorus
So long ago
So far to go]]>
What do we think of this cat? I have an urge to get proggy right now and generally that requires a level of talent that I don’t posses. I’m not putting myself down when I say that, it’s just a fact. Still… every now and then I try and this is one of those times. I didn’t set out to write this, I just came up with three things that were about the same tempo and glued them together… and then messes around with all of them.

I think I like this. At least I like it right now. I have a feeling the poor aspects (the guitar is out of time here and there and the vocals are out of tune all over the place) are going to ruin it for me. I hope this one ends up being my favorite of the month though. Time will tell.

Really, it’s all worth it for the one bar of backwards guitar at the end of the last head banging section.

Lots of different guitar tracks here. They are all a Les Paul Standard and a Vox MV50 Clean. The pedals for the cleanish rhythm tracks are a cheap little Joyo Vintage Phase (just for eight bars or so) into a Ryra the Klone. The heavy tracks lose the phaser and add a Wren and Cuff Super Russian after the Ryra. The leads used the Joyo into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into the Ryra. The heavy leads were the Ryra into a Chicago Stompworks Mr Vermin.

Verse 1
So long ago
So far to go
(2x)

Verse 2
The next time you think of it
you’ll have to go back a bit
there’s no way that you could say
that you know a better way.

Bridge 1
so trying
so tiring
the lookout
sees nothing

Bridge 2
I feel like it’s coming around
keep trying
I know that it’s moved underground
bad timing

Chorus
So long ago
So far to go]]> 6394665 no no Tue, 16 Nov 2021 04:14:47 +0100 2021-11-16T04:14:47+01:00 5:44 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/too-late-too-little-version-2.0/
Version 2.0 is a little faster than the original from the summer, it might be a smidge heavier too, thought not by much. I also clipped the ending a bit and I kinda like it better this way.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm tracks were a cheap little Joyo Vintage Phase (just at the end) into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The lead was the same except it swapped the D&M for a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

A
And I am caught in the middle
and there is no way to free myself
Its all too late and too little
The party’s over for me

(last time only)
There is no simple solution
though every step is so clear to me
Its gonna end in confusion
and so it always will be

B1
There’s no easy way to say
The things that we need to say

B2
There’s no easy way to do
The things that we need to do

C
I can see where it will lead
Just one way we can proceed

C Prime
What I said
Can you all see it
In the end
It will all come true]]>
Version 2.0 is a little faster than the original from the summer, it might be a smidge heavier too, thought not by much. I also clipped the ending a bit and I kinda like it better this way.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm tracks were a cheap little Joyo Vintage Phase (just at the end) into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive. The lead was the same except it swapped the D&M for a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

A
And I am caught in the middle
and there is no way to free myself
Its all too late and too little
The party’s over for me

(last time only)
There is no simple solution
though every step is so clear to me
Its gonna end in confusion
and so it always will be

B1
There’s no easy way to say
The things that we need to say

B2
There’s no easy way to do
The things that we need to do

C
I can see where it will lead
Just one way we can proceed

C Prime
What I said
Can you all see it
In the end
It will all come true]]> 6390179 no no Sun, 14 Nov 2021 04:36:36 +0100 2021-11-14T04:36:36+01:00 2:43 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/full-disclosure/
Les Paul Standard into a Vox MV50. The rhythm used a Ryra the Klone and the lead used the Ryra and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
when you get down to it
you can sense it happen
so you have to admit
its the strangest thing around

Verse 1
you can feel it coming
whats the use pretending
you just know its come for you
its coming for you

Bridge
and now you know its over
its time for full disclosure
its always getting closer
time is running out for you now]]>
Les Paul Standard into a Vox MV50. The rhythm used a Ryra the Klone and the lead used the Ryra and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
when you get down to it
you can sense it happen
so you have to admit
its the strangest thing around

Verse 1
you can feel it coming
whats the use pretending
you just know its come for you
its coming for you

Bridge
and now you know its over
its time for full disclosure
its always getting closer
time is running out for you now]]> 6390165 no no Sun, 14 Nov 2021 03:54:56 +0100 2021-11-14T03:54:56+01:00 4:02 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/now-everybody-knows/
So there are keyboards in this one. Like… all the way through. What’s up with that? Well, I wasn’t planning on it. I was just messing with bass and drums in GarageBand and put a keyboard down as a guide or a place holder or something and next thing I knew I was keeping it in the mix. For a minute there I thought of putting keyboards on every song this month, but I’ve got five in progress now and this is the only one. That’s probably a good thing.

The gear gimmick this month is my Vox MV50 Clean amp. It’s a Nutube amp, and Nutubes are totally not a gimmick… right? Right? Please?

All of the guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s. All of the tracks used the Vox MV50 Clean. Rhythm tracks used a Dunlop Crybaby Wah into a Joyo Vintage Phase into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra the Klone. The main lead guitars used the Ryra into a Chicago Stompworks Mister Vermin into a Washburn AX9 that I found in a box in the cellar. The quiet lead at the end used the Vintage Phase into the Blooze Maker into the AX9.

Chorus
there is so much left to prove
We are always on the move
there is so much left to do
somehow everything is new

Verse 1
Nothing lost, Nothing gained, nothing learned
Nothing found, nothing taught, nothing earned,
Anyway

Verse 2
No one cares, no one came, no one knows
No one loves, no one grieves, no one shows,
Anyway

Bridge
thats just how it goes
thats just how it goes

Outro
Now everybody knows
Now everybody knows]]>
So there are keyboards in this one. Like… all the way through. What’s up with that? Well, I wasn’t planning on it. I was just messing with bass and drums in GarageBand and put a keyboard down as a guide or a place holder or something and next thing I knew I was keeping it in the mix. For a minute there I thought of putting keyboards on every song this month, but I’ve got five in progress now and this is the only one. That’s probably a good thing.

The gear gimmick this month is my Vox MV50 Clean amp. It’s a Nutube amp, and Nutubes are totally not a gimmick… right? Right? Please?

All of the guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s. All of the tracks used the Vox MV50 Clean. Rhythm tracks used a Dunlop Crybaby Wah into a Joyo Vintage Phase into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra the Klone. The main lead guitars used the Ryra into a Chicago Stompworks Mister Vermin into a Washburn AX9 that I found in a box in the cellar. The quiet lead at the end used the Vintage Phase into the Blooze Maker into the AX9.

Chorus
there is so much left to prove
We are always on the move
there is so much left to do
somehow everything is new

Verse 1
Nothing lost, Nothing gained, nothing learned
Nothing found, nothing taught, nothing earned,
Anyway

Verse 2
No one cares, no one came, no one knows
No one loves, no one grieves, no one shows,
Anyway

Bridge
thats just how it goes
thats just how it goes

Outro
Now everybody knows
Now everybody knows]]> 6384993 no no Sat, 13 Nov 2021 05:04:08 +0100 2021-11-13T05:04:08+01:00 5:23 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/calling-version-2.0/
This was one of the first songs I worked on in July and it was immediately a favorite and is probably still my favorite of the whole batch. I just think it’s catchy in a way my crappy songs usually aren’t.

The rhythm guitar tracks are my Les Paul standard into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker and a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads are the same signal chain with a Keeley D&M Drive added between the Ryra and the Amplifier.

Verse 1
Its a call
Its a call to you
Hear me call
Hear me calling you

Verse 2 and 3
And I sing
And I sign to you
Everything
Everything I do

Chorus
Calling out to you
Calling out to you
(I’m calling to you)]]>
This was one of the first songs I worked on in July and it was immediately a favorite and is probably still my favorite of the whole batch. I just think it’s catchy in a way my crappy songs usually aren’t.

The rhythm guitar tracks are my Les Paul standard into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker and a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads are the same signal chain with a Keeley D&M Drive added between the Ryra and the Amplifier.

Verse 1
Its a call
Its a call to you
Hear me call
Hear me calling you

Verse 2 and 3
And I sing
And I sign to you
Everything
Everything I do

Chorus
Calling out to you
Calling out to you
(I’m calling to you)]]> 6380268 no no Fri, 12 Nov 2021 02:36:43 +0100 2021-11-12T02:36:43+01:00 3:01 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/news-to-me/
The guitars are all my Les Paul Standard 50’s. The rhythm used an MXR Uni-Vibe into a Ryra The Klone into a Vox AC15. The lead for most of the song was a Dunlop Crybaby into the Ryra into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Vox MV50 Clean. The lead at the very end was a cheap little Joyo Vintage Phase into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into the Ryra again into the MV50.

Chorus
As though the sun is born of the ocean
and then it goes to rest in the land

Verse 1
Try to stay on target
try to hold the line
try to never regret
that there were never answers

Verse 2 and 3
There’s a simple answer
that’s too much for me
Its the great adventure
that I will never get to see

Bridge
News to me]]>
The guitars are all my Les Paul Standard 50’s. The rhythm used an MXR Uni-Vibe into a Ryra The Klone into a Vox AC15. The lead for most of the song was a Dunlop Crybaby into the Ryra into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Vox MV50 Clean. The lead at the very end was a cheap little Joyo Vintage Phase into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into the Ryra again into the MV50.

Chorus
As though the sun is born of the ocean
and then it goes to rest in the land

Verse 1
Try to stay on target
try to hold the line
try to never regret
that there were never answers

Verse 2 and 3
There’s a simple answer
that’s too much for me
Its the great adventure
that I will never get to see

Bridge
News to me]]> 6356382 no no Mon, 01 Nov 2021 01:11:58 +0100 2021-11-01T01:11:58+01:00 3:57 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/on-our-own/
The little guitar harmonic things in the verse sections was originally going to be an electric piano, but I thought this was cooler. I think I made the right choice. Arrangement wise, I think the 16 measure thing in the middle is completely out of place, especially so close to the totally unrelated to the rest of the song ending that I tacked on. I like the verses, I like the chorus, I like the ending. I don’t like that bridge thingie.

The rhythm guitar is a Les Paul Standard 50s into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Lead guitars is the same guitar into the same Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Washburn AX:9 delay that I found in a box in the cellar and haven’t used since 2005 into the same amp.

Chorus
Let me tell you something
of the things we’ve been through
Let me show you how it could be if we tried

Verse 1
And now we know
This is the way it should be
No time to explain it
Just have to agree

Verse 2 & 3
And so it goes
There’s nothing else left to do
No point in defending
Just try to get through

Bridge
Just want to see it end
Don’t ask me to pretend
Just want to find myself a home
On our own

Outro
On our own
all alone
On our own
Going home]]>
The little guitar harmonic things in the verse sections was originally going to be an electric piano, but I thought this was cooler. I think I made the right choice. Arrangement wise, I think the 16 measure thing in the middle is completely out of place, especially so close to the totally unrelated to the rest of the song ending that I tacked on. I like the verses, I like the chorus, I like the ending. I don’t like that bridge thingie.

The rhythm guitar is a Les Paul Standard 50s into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Lead guitars is the same guitar into the same Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Washburn AX:9 delay that I found in a box in the cellar and haven’t used since 2005 into the same amp.

Chorus
Let me tell you something
of the things we’ve been through
Let me show you how it could be if we tried

Verse 1
And now we know
This is the way it should be
No time to explain it
Just have to agree

Verse 2 & 3
And so it goes
There’s nothing else left to do
No point in defending
Just try to get through

Bridge
Just want to see it end
Don’t ask me to pretend
Just want to find myself a home
On our own

Outro
On our own
all alone
On our own
Going home]]> 6338543 no no Mon, 25 Oct 2021 03:56:41 +0200 2021-10-25T03:56:41+02:00 4:55 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/empty-nest/
And that’s all she wrote, folks.

The first time I finished 50/90 was 2014 and I had exactly 50 songs. The second time was last year and I had 51. Now this year I have 52. The bar inches higher.

There is a lot about this song that I like. I don’t think I pulled it off, but there’s potential here. One thing that I really don’t like at all is the lyrics. Why? 99% of the song lyrics I write are just phrases that fit the music. This one is actually about something. Both of my step kids have left home for college. They are almost 200 miles away. The empty nest syndrome is upon us in a huge way. I miss them. I love hearing from them, even when they are just saying hello. That’s what the song is about and I feel like it is a terrible representation of what I am feeling and I therefore hate it. Ugh. I am not cut out for lyric writing.

All of the guitar tracks are my shiny new Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm also used an MXR Univibe into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The leads used a crybaby wah into a Ryra the Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1 & 3
Every week when the phone starts ringing
When the calls come in
Can they sense how we’re living for it
Each scrap of news that they bring

Verse 2
There’s a chance that they might say something
that is critical
There’s a chance that they might mean nothing
They’re just a friendly hello

Chorus
Checking in with you
See how you’re doing
what are you up to

It’s good to hear you
It’s good to see you
Thank you for calling home

Outtro
We are missing you
(4x)]]>
And that’s all she wrote, folks.

The first time I finished 50/90 was 2014 and I had exactly 50 songs. The second time was last year and I had 51. Now this year I have 52. The bar inches higher.

There is a lot about this song that I like. I don’t think I pulled it off, but there’s potential here. One thing that I really don’t like at all is the lyrics. Why? 99% of the song lyrics I write are just phrases that fit the music. This one is actually about something. Both of my step kids have left home for college. They are almost 200 miles away. The empty nest syndrome is upon us in a huge way. I miss them. I love hearing from them, even when they are just saying hello. That’s what the song is about and I feel like it is a terrible representation of what I am feeling and I therefore hate it. Ugh. I am not cut out for lyric writing.

All of the guitar tracks are my shiny new Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm also used an MXR Univibe into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The leads used a crybaby wah into a Ryra the Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1 & 3
Every week when the phone starts ringing
When the calls come in
Can they sense how we’re living for it
Each scrap of news that they bring

Verse 2
There’s a chance that they might say something
that is critical
There’s a chance that they might mean nothing
They’re just a friendly hello

Chorus
Checking in with you
See how you’re doing
what are you up to

It’s good to hear you
It’s good to see you
Thank you for calling home

Outtro
We are missing you
(4x)]]> 6275272 no no Tue, 28 Sep 2021 04:18:27 +0200 2021-09-28T04:18:27+02:00 3:50 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/explanations/
I listen to this song and I am struck by how little there is to it. It sounds simple and basic and un-special in every way.

Why then was it such an absolute nightmare to sing. I mean… I had to dumb down the melody a ton just to get something down. It was awful. The melody I wrote initially wasn’t terribly hard and it sat right in my vocal range, but good lord I just couldn’t do it.

Hopefully the guitarmonies distract from the singing because guitarmonies, even when they are silly and lame like they are here, are just generally awesome.

All the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard. The rhythm used a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The leads used a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1 & 3
Let me show you
how much pain I feel
I could tell you but there’s just no way

Verse 2
Words don’t matter
I can’t just explain
Explainations just won’t be enough

Chorus
There’s the how and the why
its no use don’t you cry
try your best do or die
nothing to say nothing can help us

Bridge
What else should we do (2x)
What else can we do (2x)]]>
I listen to this song and I am struck by how little there is to it. It sounds simple and basic and un-special in every way.

Why then was it such an absolute nightmare to sing. I mean… I had to dumb down the melody a ton just to get something down. It was awful. The melody I wrote initially wasn’t terribly hard and it sat right in my vocal range, but good lord I just couldn’t do it.

Hopefully the guitarmonies distract from the singing because guitarmonies, even when they are silly and lame like they are here, are just generally awesome.

All the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard. The rhythm used a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The leads used a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1 & 3
Let me show you
how much pain I feel
I could tell you but there’s just no way

Verse 2
Words don’t matter
I can’t just explain
Explainations just won’t be enough

Chorus
There’s the how and the why
its no use don’t you cry
try your best do or die
nothing to say nothing can help us

Bridge
What else should we do (2x)
What else can we do (2x)]]> 6275247 no no Tue, 28 Sep 2021 03:41:22 +0200 2021-09-28T03:41:22+02:00 3:20 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/i-cant-help-that-i-feel-guilty/
I like this one and I can’t figure out why. It’s certainly not because of the recording because it’s pretty hacky. You can pretty much hear every punch and every edit. It’s certainly not because of the vocals because let’s all just agree that it was a bad day and move on with our lives.

No… I think… I think it might be the four bar 1/2 verse after the first guitar solo. I think it’s all down to that. I think that little nod to the first verse coming back near the end of the song is all it takes for me to like this one. It’s funny how that happens sometimes. I think I want to do this one again and try to get through all of the parts in single, live takes. It will likely never happen but I think it would make a gigantic difference.

The guitars are my Les Paul Standard. The rhythm tracks used a mooer e-lady into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The leads used a Ryra the Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Mick side) into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Chorus
Nothing left to do
but to stick it out
await the final answer
as we see it through
It’s without a doubt
Its time to close this chapter

Verse 1
I can’t help that I feel guilty
It’s coming whatever will be

Verse 2
What happens when this is finished
what happens if something is missed

Half Verse
I can’t help that I feel guilty]]>
I like this one and I can’t figure out why. It’s certainly not because of the recording because it’s pretty hacky. You can pretty much hear every punch and every edit. It’s certainly not because of the vocals because let’s all just agree that it was a bad day and move on with our lives.

No… I think… I think it might be the four bar 1/2 verse after the first guitar solo. I think it’s all down to that. I think that little nod to the first verse coming back near the end of the song is all it takes for me to like this one. It’s funny how that happens sometimes. I think I want to do this one again and try to get through all of the parts in single, live takes. It will likely never happen but I think it would make a gigantic difference.

The guitars are my Les Paul Standard. The rhythm tracks used a mooer e-lady into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The leads used a Ryra the Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Mick side) into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Chorus
Nothing left to do
but to stick it out
await the final answer
as we see it through
It’s without a doubt
Its time to close this chapter

Verse 1
I can’t help that I feel guilty
It’s coming whatever will be

Verse 2
What happens when this is finished
what happens if something is missed

Half Verse
I can’t help that I feel guilty]]> 6272996 no no Sun, 26 Sep 2021 22:40:38 +0200 2021-09-26T22:40:38+02:00 2:27 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/no-time-to-fall/
Not bad. I like the phaser on the guitars in the A section, and I like the wah on the rhythm near the end. That wash of noise underneath is actually a guitar solo that was sort of hiding the slow wah effect so I buried it under a mountain of reverb and sort of turned the tables on it.

Lyrics are weak. Melody is nothing special. Harmonies are okay. Generally not a bad song. It might be worth taking a second look at somewhere down the line.

All of the guitars are my Les Paul Standard. Rhythm tracks used a Dunlop Crybaby way, an MXR Phrase 90, a Klon KTR, a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini, and a Vox AC15. I think my Plexi Drive experiments are over. I think it’s going on the resale list. It sounds fine, but even at 18 watts it just collapses under the pressure of following a Klon style pedal and being followed by a low wattage amp. It just sounds like an over compressed mess. The leads used a Ryra the Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

B1
I think you know it
the how and why
don’t what to show it
Untimely
we’re gonna blow it
why even try
and that’s just how it is

C1
We will get through it
(3x)
We will get through all of this

B2
I try to tell you
communicate
time for a break through
Delegate
won’t ever come true
can’t get it straight
and that’s just how it is

C2
I try to say it
(x3)
I try to say all of it

A3
There’s no time to fall
let’s handle it all
I feel very small
I just need to get through it]]>
Not bad. I like the phaser on the guitars in the A section, and I like the wah on the rhythm near the end. That wash of noise underneath is actually a guitar solo that was sort of hiding the slow wah effect so I buried it under a mountain of reverb and sort of turned the tables on it.

Lyrics are weak. Melody is nothing special. Harmonies are okay. Generally not a bad song. It might be worth taking a second look at somewhere down the line.

All of the guitars are my Les Paul Standard. Rhythm tracks used a Dunlop Crybaby way, an MXR Phrase 90, a Klon KTR, a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini, and a Vox AC15. I think my Plexi Drive experiments are over. I think it’s going on the resale list. It sounds fine, but even at 18 watts it just collapses under the pressure of following a Klon style pedal and being followed by a low wattage amp. It just sounds like an over compressed mess. The leads used a Ryra the Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

B1
I think you know it
the how and why
don’t what to show it
Untimely
we’re gonna blow it
why even try
and that’s just how it is

C1
We will get through it
(3x)
We will get through all of this

B2
I try to tell you
communicate
time for a break through
Delegate
won’t ever come true
can’t get it straight
and that’s just how it is

C2
I try to say it
(x3)
I try to say all of it

A3
There’s no time to fall
let’s handle it all
I feel very small
I just need to get through it]]> 6270954 no no Sat, 25 Sep 2021 20:24:08 +0200 2021-09-25T20:24:08+02:00 3:50 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/rotary/
Well now that this one is done I think we can forget it ever happened. I don’t know, maybe I’ll take the sections with the harmony vocals and the wah-wah on the rhythm guitar and try to work those into a song that isn’t embarrassingly stupid. Maybe not.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm tracks used a dunlop cry baby wah into a Klon KTR into a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini into a Vox AC15. The leads used a different cry baby wah (rythm used a Bonamassa signature and lead used a Gary Clark Jr signature) into a Ryra The Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

A1 and A3
Deep in a dream
it came to me
a sight to see
you won’t believe

B1
I tried to tell
you what was coming
its just as well
to close for comfort

C1
Rotary
‘round again

A2
word of advice
you can’t think twice
stop playing nice
turn off the lights

B2
Last time we spoke
we said some harsh things
It’s not a joke
whatever it brings

D1
Satisfying
mezmorizing
keep it down]]>
Well now that this one is done I think we can forget it ever happened. I don’t know, maybe I’ll take the sections with the harmony vocals and the wah-wah on the rhythm guitar and try to work those into a song that isn’t embarrassingly stupid. Maybe not.

The guitars are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm tracks used a dunlop cry baby wah into a Klon KTR into a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini into a Vox AC15. The leads used a different cry baby wah (rythm used a Bonamassa signature and lead used a Gary Clark Jr signature) into a Ryra The Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

A1 and A3
Deep in a dream
it came to me
a sight to see
you won’t believe

B1
I tried to tell
you what was coming
its just as well
to close for comfort

C1
Rotary
‘round again

A2
word of advice
you can’t think twice
stop playing nice
turn off the lights

B2
Last time we spoke
we said some harsh things
It’s not a joke
whatever it brings

D1
Satisfying
mezmorizing
keep it down]]> 6270742 no no Sat, 25 Sep 2021 17:52:10 +0200 2021-09-25T17:52:10+02:00 2:24 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/catastrophe/
Not terrible. It feels punky to me which implies that this is what punky sounds like to people who don’t really know what punky sounds like.

Short and sweet. I think the chorus could stand a rewrite, but otherwise it’s okay.

Lots of gear on this one. All of the guitar parts are my Les Paul Standard and all of the tracks are through my Vox AC15. Pedals for the rhythm are a dunlop crybaby wah into an MXR Univibe into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive. The lead is the KTR into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter.

Chorus
this catastrophe
what it means to me
could be yours for free
just say the word and make it happen

Verse 1
So now you can see
how it is anything goes

Verse 2
look me in the eyes
tell me lies already known

Bridge
Everybody knows
everybody]]>
Not terrible. It feels punky to me which implies that this is what punky sounds like to people who don’t really know what punky sounds like.

Short and sweet. I think the chorus could stand a rewrite, but otherwise it’s okay.

Lots of gear on this one. All of the guitar parts are my Les Paul Standard and all of the tracks are through my Vox AC15. Pedals for the rhythm are a dunlop crybaby wah into an MXR Univibe into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive. The lead is the KTR into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter.

Chorus
this catastrophe
what it means to me
could be yours for free
just say the word and make it happen

Verse 1
So now you can see
how it is anything goes

Verse 2
look me in the eyes
tell me lies already known

Bridge
Everybody knows
everybody]]> 6269791 no no Sat, 25 Sep 2021 04:08:06 +0200 2021-09-25T04:08:06+02:00 2:33 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/1215am/
Eh. Not really feeling this one anymore. It’s not terrible as a big dumb rocker, but it lost me somewhere. The mix sounds pretty ratty to my tired brain right now. Maybe I’ll like it more in the morning.

All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard. The Rhythm used an MXR Phase 90 into a Mooer Elec-Lady (or e-lady, or whatever they call it now) into a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini into a Vox AC15. Lead tracks are a Dunlop Cry Baby into a Ryra the Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Chorus
This time around
I’ll do what’s right for me
Without a sound
I’ll have what has to be

Verse 1
You carve away the anger
and then what’s left
become some sort of stranger
its for the best

Verse 2
at quarter after midnight
you take the plunge
you hope that it comes out right
how can you judge

Verse 3
there was no invitation
you never heard
and constant hesitation
without a word]]>
Eh. Not really feeling this one anymore. It’s not terrible as a big dumb rocker, but it lost me somewhere. The mix sounds pretty ratty to my tired brain right now. Maybe I’ll like it more in the morning.

All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard. The Rhythm used an MXR Phase 90 into a Mooer Elec-Lady (or e-lady, or whatever they call it now) into a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini into a Vox AC15. Lead tracks are a Dunlop Cry Baby into a Ryra the Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Chorus
This time around
I’ll do what’s right for me
Without a sound
I’ll have what has to be

Verse 1
You carve away the anger
and then what’s left
become some sort of stranger
its for the best

Verse 2
at quarter after midnight
you take the plunge
you hope that it comes out right
how can you judge

Verse 3
there was no invitation
you never heard
and constant hesitation
without a word]]> 6269772 no no Sat, 25 Sep 2021 03:36:28 +0200 2021-09-25T03:36:28+02:00 3:08 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/not-that-big-of-a-surprise/
Another swing thing… sort of. Not as overt as the others, and I really wasn’t planning on it. The GarageBand session drummer suggested it and I figured the session drummer knows best, right?

All of the fun of 50/90 dried up last night while I was asleep. Another user asked if he could remaster the song I posted last night and then without waiting for me to respond (I was asleep) he went ahead and did it anyway. I’m done now. I will post the rest of the stuff this year but keep it all private. The moral of the story is don’t fuck with other people’s stuff.

All of the guitar tracks used a slight variation on a setup. They all used my Les Paul Standard 50s into a Ryra The Klone and a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The difference is what came between the Klone and the amp. For the rhythm tracks, nothing. For the drone in the background, a Wren and Cuff Super Russian. For the lead, a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side).

Chorus
Beyond the range of your eyes
It likes to sit there and hide
Its not that big a surprise
It’s like it won’t even try

Verse 1
Its like a thought that comes to you
Its like a dream that won’t come true
Give me a chance and you might see
The truth might still set you free

Verse 2
What can you do about it now
its gone away I don’t know how
I’m seeing red and it is true
There’s nothing else we can do]]>
Another swing thing… sort of. Not as overt as the others, and I really wasn’t planning on it. The GarageBand session drummer suggested it and I figured the session drummer knows best, right?

All of the fun of 50/90 dried up last night while I was asleep. Another user asked if he could remaster the song I posted last night and then without waiting for me to respond (I was asleep) he went ahead and did it anyway. I’m done now. I will post the rest of the stuff this year but keep it all private. The moral of the story is don’t fuck with other people’s stuff.

All of the guitar tracks used a slight variation on a setup. They all used my Les Paul Standard 50s into a Ryra The Klone and a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The difference is what came between the Klone and the amp. For the rhythm tracks, nothing. For the drone in the background, a Wren and Cuff Super Russian. For the lead, a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side).

Chorus
Beyond the range of your eyes
It likes to sit there and hide
Its not that big a surprise
It’s like it won’t even try

Verse 1
Its like a thought that comes to you
Its like a dream that won’t come true
Give me a chance and you might see
The truth might still set you free

Verse 2
What can you do about it now
its gone away I don’t know how
I’m seeing red and it is true
There’s nothing else we can do]]> 6268536 no no Fri, 24 Sep 2021 14:30:22 +0200 2021-09-24T14:30:22+02:00 3:28 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/glorious-view/
This is actually my 53rd and likely final song idea for this year’s 50/90 and I kinda like it. I mean it is kinda boring, what with what I laughingly referred to as a chorus just being eight bars of Emin7, and one of the guitar solo breaks being 12 bars of just Amin9, but still… something about the feel of it seems fun.

I mixed this using actual speakers! WOOHOO! Cheap little computer speakers, but still speakers. I gave it a listen through a good set of headphones before declaring it finished though, just to be sure. I think it might be a touch heavy on the bass end? Who cares, it’s done.

Seven more songs to go for a successful 50/90 challenge (though I actually have nine more coming) and seven days to do it. We’re almost there!

All of the guitar tracks were a Gibson Les Paul Standard into a cry baby wah wah into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (Dan side only) into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1
No more good days
No more entitlement ways
They’ve come and gone
They are gone for good

Verse 2
It all seems new
Scenic and glorious view
chapter and verse
story has been told

Chorus
Feels better
go getter
Its such a shame
its all the same]]>
This is actually my 53rd and likely final song idea for this year’s 50/90 and I kinda like it. I mean it is kinda boring, what with what I laughingly referred to as a chorus just being eight bars of Emin7, and one of the guitar solo breaks being 12 bars of just Amin9, but still… something about the feel of it seems fun.

I mixed this using actual speakers! WOOHOO! Cheap little computer speakers, but still speakers. I gave it a listen through a good set of headphones before declaring it finished though, just to be sure. I think it might be a touch heavy on the bass end? Who cares, it’s done.

Seven more songs to go for a successful 50/90 challenge (though I actually have nine more coming) and seven days to do it. We’re almost there!

All of the guitar tracks were a Gibson Les Paul Standard into a cry baby wah wah into a Ryra The Klone into a Keeley D&M Drive (Dan side only) into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Verse 1
No more good days
No more entitlement ways
They’ve come and gone
They are gone for good

Verse 2
It all seems new
Scenic and glorious view
chapter and verse
story has been told

Chorus
Feels better
go getter
Its such a shame
its all the same]]> 6267610 no no Fri, 24 Sep 2021 03:42:09 +0200 2021-09-24T03:42:09+02:00 4:24 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/near-miss/
A couple of days ago I posted a song called Goodnight Hold Tight and on the notes I mentioned that there was another song coming that was (completely by accident) structurally identical. This is that song.

Can you see what I was getting at? The rhythm guitar tracks (not including all of the sauce I buried them under) and the lengths of the phrases and the random sections that had extra measures or the bridges with the three bar phrase repeated a few times? Any of that sound familiar? I don’t think song comes off too similar but it’s bones are pretty much identical… and I swear that it was not on purpose.

This mix is a bit of a pig. Recording the vocals was downright brutal. I couldn’t get the simple rhythms anywhere close to right. I had similar problems when I did the leads and I just threw a second drummer on their temporarily to give me a feel of what the hell was happening with the timing. It helped. I kinda wish I did the same thing while recording the vocals. I am also somewhat displeased with my lead playing as one solo ends on a note that is bent out of tune and another ends on a note that fails to anticipate a key change in the next section. Oh well.

All of the guitars are my Gibson Les Paul Standard. The rhythm used an MXR Phase 90 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The oceans of delay were added in the mix. The lead used a Dunlop Crybaby Wah into a Ryra The Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Chorus
Near misses
you know it
it comes for you
for you

Verse 1
Underway
come today

Verse 2 & 3
Either way
who can say

Bridge
No way
give it away]]>
A couple of days ago I posted a song called Goodnight Hold Tight and on the notes I mentioned that there was another song coming that was (completely by accident) structurally identical. This is that song.

Can you see what I was getting at? The rhythm guitar tracks (not including all of the sauce I buried them under) and the lengths of the phrases and the random sections that had extra measures or the bridges with the three bar phrase repeated a few times? Any of that sound familiar? I don’t think song comes off too similar but it’s bones are pretty much identical… and I swear that it was not on purpose.

This mix is a bit of a pig. Recording the vocals was downright brutal. I couldn’t get the simple rhythms anywhere close to right. I had similar problems when I did the leads and I just threw a second drummer on their temporarily to give me a feel of what the hell was happening with the timing. It helped. I kinda wish I did the same thing while recording the vocals. I am also somewhat displeased with my lead playing as one solo ends on a note that is bent out of tune and another ends on a note that fails to anticipate a key change in the next section. Oh well.

All of the guitars are my Gibson Les Paul Standard. The rhythm used an MXR Phase 90 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The oceans of delay were added in the mix. The lead used a Dunlop Crybaby Wah into a Ryra The Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15.

Chorus
Near misses
you know it
it comes for you
for you

Verse 1
Underway
come today

Verse 2 & 3
Either way
who can say

Bridge
No way
give it away]]> 6263450 no no Wed, 22 Sep 2021 02:20:05 +0200 2021-09-22T02:20:05+02:00 3:08 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/no-place-id-rather-be/
I haven’t really slept in almost three days and yet I mixed a song. I have no idea if it’s listenable or not.

Am I overusing the wah pedal? Why yes, yes I am. Is it bad? Hell if I know, I am so tired I’m not even sure what my name is anymore.

All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard 50s through my Vox AC15. Rhythm tracks used a cry baby wah, a Klon KTR, and a Keeley D&M Drive. Leads used a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter instead of the D&M but everything else was the same.

Chorus
Give me one break
One chance no fakes
Not asking too much
I took one look

Verse 1
Seems like they’ve gone to ground
no chance they will be found
its just the way it needs to be
don’t even make a sound

Verse 2
There’s no place left for me
No place I’d rather be
can’t seem to find the sense in it
some things you have to see

Bridge
The picture is not clear to me
I guess there is no need to see]]>
I haven’t really slept in almost three days and yet I mixed a song. I have no idea if it’s listenable or not.

Am I overusing the wah pedal? Why yes, yes I am. Is it bad? Hell if I know, I am so tired I’m not even sure what my name is anymore.

All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard 50s through my Vox AC15. Rhythm tracks used a cry baby wah, a Klon KTR, and a Keeley D&M Drive. Leads used a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter instead of the D&M but everything else was the same.

Chorus
Give me one break
One chance no fakes
Not asking too much
I took one look

Verse 1
Seems like they’ve gone to ground
no chance they will be found
its just the way it needs to be
don’t even make a sound

Verse 2
There’s no place left for me
No place I’d rather be
can’t seem to find the sense in it
some things you have to see

Bridge
The picture is not clear to me
I guess there is no need to see]]> 6261931 no no Tue, 21 Sep 2021 04:16:25 +0200 2021-09-21T04:16:25+02:00 3:53 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/goodnight-hold-tight/
I am not sure what I was going for with this one, but I got it… whatever it was.

Lots of sauce on this. Delays all over the place, Dotted eighth note echo tricks, panning tricks, backwards tracks, pretty much the whole kit.

This was the 48th song I started over the course of this challenge. Oddly, the 51st song has an almost identical structure. That one isn’t finished yet, but a lot of the goofy things I was doing with the lengths of the sections and the rhythm guitars ringing over two bars, and stuff like that all somehow ended up in the other song too and I didn’t realize it until I was adding the leads to this one. Oops.

All of the guitars were a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s through a Vox AC15. The rhythm guitar tracks used an MXR uni-vibe and a Klon KTR. The leads used the KTR with a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter into a Wampler Faux Tape Echo and a Donner Yellowfall.

A
Outside
hands tied
gone away
away

B
Goodnight
Goodnight
Hold tight
Hold tight
Goodnight love

B2
In dreams
In dreams
Find me
Find me
In dreams love

C
Its the time
for action
its the place
reaction
come away
come with me]]>
I am not sure what I was going for with this one, but I got it… whatever it was.

Lots of sauce on this. Delays all over the place, Dotted eighth note echo tricks, panning tricks, backwards tracks, pretty much the whole kit.

This was the 48th song I started over the course of this challenge. Oddly, the 51st song has an almost identical structure. That one isn’t finished yet, but a lot of the goofy things I was doing with the lengths of the sections and the rhythm guitars ringing over two bars, and stuff like that all somehow ended up in the other song too and I didn’t realize it until I was adding the leads to this one. Oops.

All of the guitars were a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s through a Vox AC15. The rhythm guitar tracks used an MXR uni-vibe and a Klon KTR. The leads used the KTR with a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter into a Wampler Faux Tape Echo and a Donner Yellowfall.

A
Outside
hands tied
gone away
away

B
Goodnight
Goodnight
Hold tight
Hold tight
Goodnight love

B2
In dreams
In dreams
Find me
Find me
In dreams love

C
Its the time
for action
its the place
reaction
come away
come with me]]> 6253154 no no Sat, 18 Sep 2021 05:34:27 +0200 2021-09-18T05:34:27+02:00 5:40 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/mathematical-proof/
A little song about a girl named Jennifer.

This one came together lightning fast and I think it shows. As I was sitting here mixing it just now I came up with about 10 ideas to make it better and as a result it might be recorded again in the future. Also… I am 90% sure I have written this exact song at least once before, so maybe my “improvements” are just things I did the last time I wrote it so… yeah.

I had an absolute bear of a time recording the guitar solos. I improvise everything because that’s my favorite thing about the entire musical experience, but tonight it just wasn’t happening. The wah wah solo in the middle of the song must have required 28,000 takes (approximately).

Lots of gear on this one. All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard into my Vox AC15, but there are about a million pedals in play. For the rhythm tracks we have a crybaby wah, an MXR Phase 90 (which I constantly typo as a “phrase 90” because I am an idiot and can’t type to save my life), a cheap little Mooer Elec-Lady which is the best flanger on the market (in my opinion), and a Klon KTR. The leads used the crybaby, a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 (the best fuzz pedal in the universe), the KTR (the best overdrive pedal in the universe), and… I always forget the name of this little bastard… a Donner Harmonic Square pitch shift pedal for the octave down in the first solo.

Chorus
Its a sound that I hear every time I think of you
Its a thought that I think every time you come around
You’re the thought comes to me when I don’t know what to do
You’re the safety I need when I can’t go on I can’t be found

Verse 1 & 3
This one will work nicely
this one is just better than the rest
it answers precisely
You solved the riddle

Verse 2
solution discovered
the math has been checked and verified
the answer uncovered
You prove the statement

Bridge
you are the one
the one for me
the one for me]]>
A little song about a girl named Jennifer.

This one came together lightning fast and I think it shows. As I was sitting here mixing it just now I came up with about 10 ideas to make it better and as a result it might be recorded again in the future. Also… I am 90% sure I have written this exact song at least once before, so maybe my “improvements” are just things I did the last time I wrote it so… yeah.

I had an absolute bear of a time recording the guitar solos. I improvise everything because that’s my favorite thing about the entire musical experience, but tonight it just wasn’t happening. The wah wah solo in the middle of the song must have required 28,000 takes (approximately).

Lots of gear on this one. All of the guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard into my Vox AC15, but there are about a million pedals in play. For the rhythm tracks we have a crybaby wah, an MXR Phase 90 (which I constantly typo as a “phrase 90” because I am an idiot and can’t type to save my life), a cheap little Mooer Elec-Lady which is the best flanger on the market (in my opinion), and a Klon KTR. The leads used the crybaby, a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 (the best fuzz pedal in the universe), the KTR (the best overdrive pedal in the universe), and… I always forget the name of this little bastard… a Donner Harmonic Square pitch shift pedal for the octave down in the first solo.

Chorus
Its a sound that I hear every time I think of you
Its a thought that I think every time you come around
You’re the thought comes to me when I don’t know what to do
You’re the safety I need when I can’t go on I can’t be found

Verse 1 & 3
This one will work nicely
this one is just better than the rest
it answers precisely
You solved the riddle

Verse 2
solution discovered
the math has been checked and verified
the answer uncovered
You prove the statement

Bridge
you are the one
the one for me
the one for me]]> 6247681 no no Thu, 16 Sep 2021 04:04:11 +0200 2021-09-16T04:04:11+02:00 4:48 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/input/
As of now this will be the last 12 bar blues, but I could always sneak another one in under the wire.

I’m kinda tired of this. I waffled on whether to leave the huge ending in place or cut it out. During the mixing alone I probably changed my mind 11 times. It’s there for now. It might be gone in a subsequent remix. Who knows.

The guitars are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm used a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads before the swing section at the end used a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Wampler Faux Tape Echo into a Vox AC15. The leads at the end used a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15.

Verse 1
Its a little sometimes true
(2x)
can you see it, can you feel it
Ancient history

Chorus
So tell me what to do
It all comes down to you
I will make the call give your input
Let me know what you need

Verse 2
It’s a mystery to me
(2x)
Ever reading, hidden meaning
Come along with me

Outtro
I haven’t got a clue
(2x)
There’s so much I don’t know
What can you do?]]>
As of now this will be the last 12 bar blues, but I could always sneak another one in under the wire.

I’m kinda tired of this. I waffled on whether to leave the huge ending in place or cut it out. During the mixing alone I probably changed my mind 11 times. It’s there for now. It might be gone in a subsequent remix. Who knows.

The guitars are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm used a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads before the swing section at the end used a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive into a Wampler Faux Tape Echo into a Vox AC15. The leads at the end used a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15.

Verse 1
Its a little sometimes true
(2x)
can you see it, can you feel it
Ancient history

Chorus
So tell me what to do
It all comes down to you
I will make the call give your input
Let me know what you need

Verse 2
It’s a mystery to me
(2x)
Ever reading, hidden meaning
Come along with me

Outtro
I haven’t got a clue
(2x)
There’s so much I don’t know
What can you do?]]> 6245966 no no Wed, 15 Sep 2021 05:44:55 +0200 2021-09-15T05:44:55+02:00 5:16 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/burned-down/
Well… I don’t know. It was late at night one night back in August, the 3rd to be exact, and I said to myself, “self? You know what you’re lacking? Swing grooves.”

So I guess this one means I’m not lacking in swing grooves anymore. The question now is, should I have bothered? It’s not awful, it’s just a rhythmically challenged old person trying to make the make pretend instruments on his lap top swing so that he can play along with some really bad rhythm guitar.
I don’t know. The guitarmonies at the end are cute, I guess.

The guitar tracks are all my Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm tracks used a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads used a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15.

Chorus
when I look around
no emotion found
I am so burned down
Its time to move along

Verse 1 & 3
It has to be this way
It has to be today

Verse 2
As simple as it seems
so hard you can’t believe

Bridge
So come along
come for the ride
some come along
come with me]]>
Well… I don’t know. It was late at night one night back in August, the 3rd to be exact, and I said to myself, “self? You know what you’re lacking? Swing grooves.”

So I guess this one means I’m not lacking in swing grooves anymore. The question now is, should I have bothered? It’s not awful, it’s just a rhythmically challenged old person trying to make the make pretend instruments on his lap top swing so that he can play along with some really bad rhythm guitar.
I don’t know. The guitarmonies at the end are cute, I guess.

The guitar tracks are all my Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm tracks used a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads used a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15.

Chorus
when I look around
no emotion found
I am so burned down
Its time to move along

Verse 1 & 3
It has to be this way
It has to be today

Verse 2
As simple as it seems
so hard you can’t believe

Bridge
So come along
come for the ride
some come along
come with me]]> 6245892 no no Wed, 15 Sep 2021 05:12:07 +0200 2021-09-15T05:12:07+02:00 2:34 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/shut-up/
It’s the 36th song finished even though it was the 10th song started. It’s been sitting collecting dust for quite a while.

The idea was to write a proggie 7/8 rocker where the drummer played with brushes. GarageBand actually has a couple of session drummers that use brushes. This is one. Fascinating, eh?

If I ever do this one again I am going to can the brushes and give the drums the appropriate level of rock.

The guitars are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and the amp is always my Vox AC15. The rhythm used a Klon KTR and a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Mick side). The lead used a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi ‘70 and the KTR. There’s some “woman tone” in the middle of this song, but unlike the guy who “invented” “woman tone” I’m not an anti vaxxing asshole. End rant.

Chorus
I guess now I’ll shut up
I have nothing to say
Might have given too much
hold on one more day

Verse 1
Just stay quiet
Go on try it
just don’t buy it
no tears for me

Verse 2
Its my calling
no more stalling
its just talking
always for you]]>
It’s the 36th song finished even though it was the 10th song started. It’s been sitting collecting dust for quite a while.

The idea was to write a proggie 7/8 rocker where the drummer played with brushes. GarageBand actually has a couple of session drummers that use brushes. This is one. Fascinating, eh?

If I ever do this one again I am going to can the brushes and give the drums the appropriate level of rock.

The guitars are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s and the amp is always my Vox AC15. The rhythm used a Klon KTR and a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Mick side). The lead used a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi ‘70 and the KTR. There’s some “woman tone” in the middle of this song, but unlike the guy who “invented” “woman tone” I’m not an anti vaxxing asshole. End rant.

Chorus
I guess now I’ll shut up
I have nothing to say
Might have given too much
hold on one more day

Verse 1
Just stay quiet
Go on try it
just don’t buy it
no tears for me

Verse 2
Its my calling
no more stalling
its just talking
always for you]]> 6245764 no no Wed, 15 Sep 2021 04:08:44 +0200 2021-09-15T04:08:44+02:00 2:12 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/one-day-one-night/
They don’t ask how good, they just ask how many.

It’s not a total disaster, but I’m pretty disappointed with this one. If the mix sounds sloppy it’s because I more or less gave up on this one as I was working on it. The verse is okay. The chorus is okay. It just doesn’t hang well together.

I had a reason for pausing the guitar solo at the end of the song, and I am sure in the moment it was a very good reason. I just don’t remember what it was, and now I’m left with what sounds like me accidentally recording over what was other was a not-so-terrible solo. Oh well. Live and learn.

The guitar tracks are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Vox AC15. The rhythm tracks used a Klon KTR and a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used the KTR and a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini.

Chorus
One day
That’s all that remains
so just hang in there
One night
and all is set right
Its going no where

Verse 1 & 3
Now we’re approaching the end
We have arrived
No longer need to pretend
don’t look surprised

Verse 2
So what is still left to do
I’m burning out
just one more day to get through
it’s all about

Bridge
Its time to come through
what ever you do
The ending]]>
They don’t ask how good, they just ask how many.

It’s not a total disaster, but I’m pretty disappointed with this one. If the mix sounds sloppy it’s because I more or less gave up on this one as I was working on it. The verse is okay. The chorus is okay. It just doesn’t hang well together.

I had a reason for pausing the guitar solo at the end of the song, and I am sure in the moment it was a very good reason. I just don’t remember what it was, and now I’m left with what sounds like me accidentally recording over what was other was a not-so-terrible solo. Oh well. Live and learn.

The guitar tracks are all Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Vox AC15. The rhythm tracks used a Klon KTR and a Keeley D&M Drive. The leads used the KTR and a Wampler Plexi Drive Mini.

Chorus
One day
That’s all that remains
so just hang in there
One night
and all is set right
Its going no where

Verse 1 & 3
Now we’re approaching the end
We have arrived
No longer need to pretend
don’t look surprised

Verse 2
So what is still left to do
I’m burning out
just one more day to get through
it’s all about

Bridge
Its time to come through
what ever you do
The ending]]> 6243218 no no Tue, 14 Sep 2021 02:58:23 +0200 2021-09-14T02:58:23+02:00 3:25 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/dont-think-about-it/
Groovy.

Or at least it would have been in more capable hands.

Another in a long list of “record this first idea that pops into your head when you plug in your guitar” songs. I wasn’t planning on 5/4 time, but then again I wasn’t planning on anything. I just started playing and this is what came out.

I spent 0.68 seconds on the lyrics and it shows and also I don’t care.

All of the guitar tracks (two rhythm and one lead) are my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s through my Vox AC15. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are an MXR Phrase 90 and a Klon KTR. The lead track used a Dunlop CryBaby Wah into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into the KTR.

Chorus
Don’t look away
Don’t have your say
Don’t think about it
Today’s the day

One open door
could lead to more
what is it for
Don’t try to think about it

Verse 1
Don’t try to chance it
(x6)

Verse 2
Don’t think about it
(x6)

Verse 3
Don’t try to question
(x6)

Bridge
So long
Been so long
Long gone]]>
Groovy.

Or at least it would have been in more capable hands.

Another in a long list of “record this first idea that pops into your head when you plug in your guitar” songs. I wasn’t planning on 5/4 time, but then again I wasn’t planning on anything. I just started playing and this is what came out.

I spent 0.68 seconds on the lyrics and it shows and also I don’t care.

All of the guitar tracks (two rhythm and one lead) are my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s through my Vox AC15. Pedals for the rhythm tracks are an MXR Phrase 90 and a Klon KTR. The lead track used a Dunlop CryBaby Wah into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into the KTR.

Chorus
Don’t look away
Don’t have your say
Don’t think about it
Today’s the day

One open door
could lead to more
what is it for
Don’t try to think about it

Verse 1
Don’t try to chance it
(x6)

Verse 2
Don’t think about it
(x6)

Verse 3
Don’t try to question
(x6)

Bridge
So long
Been so long
Long gone]]> 6243203 no no Tue, 14 Sep 2021 02:21:38 +0200 2021-09-14T02:21:38+02:00 3:57 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/say-something/
The tempo thing is a gimmick. I had it set in Garageband at 140 bpm but for the first few minutes all the sections have the drummer playing at 1/2 speed. So without actually changing the tempo, the last minute or so seems to be at double time. It was a good idea at the time, but I don’t think it adds much to the overall song.

All of the guitar tracks are a Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm tracks have an MXR Uni-vibe into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Leads are a Crybaby wah into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15.

Chorus
Say something - What is going on
Say something - where’d it go wrong
all nothing - nothing left behind
Still running - becoming

Bridge
just do it by yourself
(2x)

Verse 1
Your eyes are open now
you’ve got to see this for yourself
your skies are dark with clouds
The storm is coming for you

Verse 2
your eyes are closing now
I just can’t take it anymore
The darkness cloaking you
and its a comfort to me

B Verse
its like a frieght train, run you down
can you believe it, lost and found
why are you staring, standing there
what are you feeling, can you see me

B Chorus
Let me tell you something
Let me tell you something
Let me show you something
Let me show you]]>
The tempo thing is a gimmick. I had it set in Garageband at 140 bpm but for the first few minutes all the sections have the drummer playing at 1/2 speed. So without actually changing the tempo, the last minute or so seems to be at double time. It was a good idea at the time, but I don’t think it adds much to the overall song.

All of the guitar tracks are a Les Paul Standard 50s. The rhythm tracks have an MXR Uni-vibe into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Leads are a Crybaby wah into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15.

Chorus
Say something - What is going on
Say something - where’d it go wrong
all nothing - nothing left behind
Still running - becoming

Bridge
just do it by yourself
(2x)

Verse 1
Your eyes are open now
you’ve got to see this for yourself
your skies are dark with clouds
The storm is coming for you

Verse 2
your eyes are closing now
I just can’t take it anymore
The darkness cloaking you
and its a comfort to me

B Verse
its like a frieght train, run you down
can you believe it, lost and found
why are you staring, standing there
what are you feeling, can you see me

B Chorus
Let me tell you something
Let me tell you something
Let me show you something
Let me show you]]> 6238975 no no Sun, 12 Sep 2021 04:43:54 +0200 2021-09-12T04:43:54+02:00 5:07 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/untitled-volume/
Another song with a haiku for each stanza. I was planning on doing this a lot this summer but I think there are only two or three. I still have time to add more but I probably won’t. This is unique this year in that it’s the only song I’ve done in this 50/90 where I wrote the lyrics before I wrote the melody.

I don’t like the cocked wah sound on the last guitar solo. Everything else about this song is okay by me.

All of the guitars are my Les Paul Standard. For the rhythm it used a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. For the leads it is a Dunlop Crybaby wah into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The solo at the end is the Crybaby into a Mooer Elec Lady (in Filter Mode) into the Klon into a Keeley D&M Drive into the AC15.

I can’t explain this
it went down way too quickly
Hang on for your life

no explanation
No other choice for you now
there’s no exit plan

untitled volume
No thoughts on what to do next
I gave at the door]]>
Another song with a haiku for each stanza. I was planning on doing this a lot this summer but I think there are only two or three. I still have time to add more but I probably won’t. This is unique this year in that it’s the only song I’ve done in this 50/90 where I wrote the lyrics before I wrote the melody.

I don’t like the cocked wah sound on the last guitar solo. Everything else about this song is okay by me.

All of the guitars are my Les Paul Standard. For the rhythm it used a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. For the leads it is a Dunlop Crybaby wah into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi 70 into a Klon KTR into a Vox AC15. The solo at the end is the Crybaby into a Mooer Elec Lady (in Filter Mode) into the Klon into a Keeley D&M Drive into the AC15.

I can’t explain this
it went down way too quickly
Hang on for your life

no explanation
No other choice for you now
there’s no exit plan

untitled volume
No thoughts on what to do next
I gave at the door]]> 6238921 no no Sun, 12 Sep 2021 03:33:02 +0200 2021-09-12T03:33:02+02:00 4:21 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/deeper/
I’m not sure why I don’t write key changes more often than I do. I wonder if it’s a subconscious desire to cut and paste repeated verses and choruses and such. If you sing the first verse in C minor (as I did with this nugget) and then change the key to D minor (which we all know is the saddest of all keys) then you have to sing it a second time. You can’t just copy and paste. Maybe that’s it.

I’ve been having a hard time singing in tune this summer but this one sounds okay. The harmonies are locking in nicely at times. I dropped the ball dynamically in the last eight bars where the drums and rhythm guitars get quieter and the bass and lead guitar don’t. I should be better about that.

Lots of gear making appearances on this one. The guitar tracks are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The amp on the rhythm tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. On the lead it’s a Vox AC15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone. For the leads its a Dunlop Crybaby wah (the Joe Bonamassa signature model) into an MXR Phase 90 into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side).

Chorus
No good reason (x2)

Verse 1 & 3 (key change)
try to look deeper
to find a keeper
Its right in front of you
no easy sleeper

Verse 2
Hard feelings raging
opinions changing
its too late to say no
decision making

Bridge
Not alone
on your own]]>
I’m not sure why I don’t write key changes more often than I do. I wonder if it’s a subconscious desire to cut and paste repeated verses and choruses and such. If you sing the first verse in C minor (as I did with this nugget) and then change the key to D minor (which we all know is the saddest of all keys) then you have to sing it a second time. You can’t just copy and paste. Maybe that’s it.

I’ve been having a hard time singing in tune this summer but this one sounds okay. The harmonies are locking in nicely at times. I dropped the ball dynamically in the last eight bars where the drums and rhythm guitars get quieter and the bass and lead guitar don’t. I should be better about that.

Lots of gear making appearances on this one. The guitar tracks are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The amp on the rhythm tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. On the lead it’s a Vox AC15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone. For the leads its a Dunlop Crybaby wah (the Joe Bonamassa signature model) into an MXR Phase 90 into a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side).

Chorus
No good reason (x2)

Verse 1 & 3 (key change)
try to look deeper
to find a keeper
Its right in front of you
no easy sleeper

Verse 2
Hard feelings raging
opinions changing
its too late to say no
decision making

Bridge
Not alone
on your own]]> 6225399 no no Tue, 07 Sep 2021 04:43:35 +0200 2021-09-07T04:43:35+02:00 4:45 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/yet-another-storm/
7/8 time. A little heavier rawk than most of my stuff this summer. Not bad. The lyrics are about the weather, which is something I tend to write about often and that’s probably a hint at just how bad a lyricist I am.

Guitar tracks are a Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Vox AC15. The rhythm guitars used a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side). The leads used an MXR Phase 90 into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi ’70 into the KTR.

A
Another rainy evening
another storm
and nothing’s worth believing
So uninformed

B
Hunker down
ride it out
This may never end
and we told you so

C
It was an open question
Now much more than suggestion
Why is there such aggression
you’ve been warned for years]]>
7/8 time. A little heavier rawk than most of my stuff this summer. Not bad. The lyrics are about the weather, which is something I tend to write about often and that’s probably a hint at just how bad a lyricist I am.

Guitar tracks are a Gibson Les Paul Standard into a Vox AC15. The rhythm guitars used a Klon KTR into a Keeley D&M Drive (just the Dan side). The leads used an MXR Phase 90 into a Wren and Cuff Tri Pi ’70 into the KTR.

A
Another rainy evening
another storm
and nothing’s worth believing
So uninformed

B
Hunker down
ride it out
This may never end
and we told you so

C
It was an open question
Now much more than suggestion
Why is there such aggression
you’ve been warned for years]]> 6220893 no no Mon, 06 Sep 2021 04:51:00 +0200 2021-09-06T04:51:00+02:00 2:44 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/cash-in/
I’m having a tough time with the vocals these days. It just sounds off on this song and that’s becoming normal. Is it because I am writing melodies that are more difficult to sing, or is it because my ears are going to shit? I can’t tell.

The lyrics are about a health care issue that I thought was resolved but has blown up in our faces since I wrote the song a couple of days ago and now I feel stupid. Stupid and depressed and sad and miserable and a big gigantic heaping helping of What the Ever Loving Fuck.

Oh, and I had to use a different guitar rig because I was exposed to Covid-19 and am in self isolation within my own house. I had a guitar/recording nook setup in my bedroom but now I am living in my step son’s room until my PCR tests come back negative. Also, I am forever referring to PCR tests as PBR , Pabst Blue Ribbon tests. You heard it here first, my friends.

Anyway, the guitars are my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. I changed everything else, but not that beautiful new guitar that the love of my life bought me for my birthday in May. The amp is my Vox AC15. The pedals for rhythm tracks was just a Klon KTR. For leads it was a Mooer Elec-Lady into the Klon into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
The lifetime had come and gone
was all building up to this
It’s time to cash those chips in
It’s time to let them take it

you act like it’s all gone wrong
Like everything’s gone amiss
Just let this new act begin
Relax and take the assist

Verse 1
This is all new to me
can’t seem to handle things
Crazy difficulties
What might the future bring

I need to chage it up
Before I cause real pain
tragic misunderstanding
There’s only me to blame

Bridge
my problem
conclusion
solution
please help us

My question
No mystery
so simply
Please help me]]>
I’m having a tough time with the vocals these days. It just sounds off on this song and that’s becoming normal. Is it because I am writing melodies that are more difficult to sing, or is it because my ears are going to shit? I can’t tell.

The lyrics are about a health care issue that I thought was resolved but has blown up in our faces since I wrote the song a couple of days ago and now I feel stupid. Stupid and depressed and sad and miserable and a big gigantic heaping helping of What the Ever Loving Fuck.

Oh, and I had to use a different guitar rig because I was exposed to Covid-19 and am in self isolation within my own house. I had a guitar/recording nook setup in my bedroom but now I am living in my step son’s room until my PCR tests come back negative. Also, I am forever referring to PCR tests as PBR , Pabst Blue Ribbon tests. You heard it here first, my friends.

Anyway, the guitars are my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. I changed everything else, but not that beautiful new guitar that the love of my life bought me for my birthday in May. The amp is my Vox AC15. The pedals for rhythm tracks was just a Klon KTR. For leads it was a Mooer Elec-Lady into the Klon into a Keeley D&M Drive.

Chorus
The lifetime had come and gone
was all building up to this
It’s time to cash those chips in
It’s time to let them take it

you act like it’s all gone wrong
Like everything’s gone amiss
Just let this new act begin
Relax and take the assist

Verse 1
This is all new to me
can’t seem to handle things
Crazy difficulties
What might the future bring

I need to chage it up
Before I cause real pain
tragic misunderstanding
There’s only me to blame

Bridge
my problem
conclusion
solution
please help us

My question
No mystery
so simply
Please help me]]> 6219891 no no Mon, 06 Sep 2021 02:46:46 +0200 2021-09-06T02:46:46+02:00 5:12 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/postponed/
There’s not a lot to this one but I like it. It’s not my best vocal performance buy an astronomical unit or two, but it isn’t as painful as some of them have been this summer. There are some points where the bass and the guitar don’t really lock in together. It could go for a few subtle arrangement changes. Still, I think I like this.

I like the lead guitars, especially how the first full solo has the lead sort of blending into the rhythm and then breaking out on its own… or something like that. I also like how the 5/4 time signature doesn’t sound forced. It feels sort of natural. I didn’t even notice it after a while.

All of the guitar tracks are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used a Ryra The Klone overdrive pedal. The lead used an MXR Univibe and then got silly with a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into the Ryra into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. All three overdrive pedals had the gain set at zero and the output set at 10. Basically they are all pushing each other, as well as the amp, into distortion. I like pretending like I know what I am doing sometimes.

B
look for the way through
what else to do
It doesn’t ring true
maybe for you
Look for the way home
it is unknown
never be alone
ending postponed

C
Come for me
let me see
this is it

Not today
anyway
Has to be a way

Look at me
waiting

A
Look at me
Look at you
Look at us working it out
You know it
I know it
We know that this will work out]]>
There’s not a lot to this one but I like it. It’s not my best vocal performance buy an astronomical unit or two, but it isn’t as painful as some of them have been this summer. There are some points where the bass and the guitar don’t really lock in together. It could go for a few subtle arrangement changes. Still, I think I like this.

I like the lead guitars, especially how the first full solo has the lead sort of blending into the rhythm and then breaking out on its own… or something like that. I also like how the 5/4 time signature doesn’t sound forced. It feels sort of natural. I didn’t even notice it after a while.

All of the guitar tracks are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used a Ryra The Klone overdrive pedal. The lead used an MXR Univibe and then got silly with a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into the Ryra into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. All three overdrive pedals had the gain set at zero and the output set at 10. Basically they are all pushing each other, as well as the amp, into distortion. I like pretending like I know what I am doing sometimes.

B
look for the way through
what else to do
It doesn’t ring true
maybe for you
Look for the way home
it is unknown
never be alone
ending postponed

C
Come for me
let me see
this is it

Not today
anyway
Has to be a way

Look at me
waiting

A
Look at me
Look at you
Look at us working it out
You know it
I know it
We know that this will work out]]> 6201287 no no Mon, 30 Aug 2021 05:36:15 +0200 2021-08-30T05:36:15+02:00 4:03 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/its-the-end-of-the-way-it-was/
You know what? I like this one a lot. I haven’t done much of what you could call “hard rock” this summer, but this one might qualify. It’s another in a growing line of songs in 3/4 time that are attempts to show that 3/4 can ROCK, and while it’s probably not a capitalized ROCK, more like rock, I think it grooves pretty hard, and I really like the hook.

Every now and then I accidentally come up with something that I might want to play with a band, and this is one of them. It’s short but sweet and I am pleased.

The guitars are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15 (like 3/4 time, low wattage amps are more than capable of rocking your face clean off your skull if you let ’em). The pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Ryra The Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The lead track is a crybaby wah into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Its the end of the way it was
(2x)

Verse 1
It won’t come from above
unconditional love
come to give you a shove
come to feed you the drug

Bridge
Come what may

Verse 2
they can’t show you the way
they’ll just lead you astray
They’ll just give some excuse
They can’t give you the truth

Main bridge
Nothing there to cling too]]>
You know what? I like this one a lot. I haven’t done much of what you could call “hard rock” this summer, but this one might qualify. It’s another in a growing line of songs in 3/4 time that are attempts to show that 3/4 can ROCK, and while it’s probably not a capitalized ROCK, more like rock, I think it grooves pretty hard, and I really like the hook.

Every now and then I accidentally come up with something that I might want to play with a band, and this is one of them. It’s short but sweet and I am pleased.

The guitars are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15 (like 3/4 time, low wattage amps are more than capable of rocking your face clean off your skull if you let ’em). The pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Ryra The Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The lead track is a crybaby wah into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Its the end of the way it was
(2x)

Verse 1
It won’t come from above
unconditional love
come to give you a shove
come to feed you the drug

Bridge
Come what may

Verse 2
they can’t show you the way
they’ll just lead you astray
They’ll just give some excuse
They can’t give you the truth

Main bridge
Nothing there to cling too]]> 6201265 no no Mon, 30 Aug 2021 04:48:14 +0200 2021-08-30T04:48:14+02:00 2:16 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/you-said-it-all/
Not sure what to think of this one. I’m really tired so the mix might be off. Not sure yet. I should probably have left the sauce off of the rhythm guitars. That’s about all I can think to say of this one right now.

Guitars were all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were an MXR Univibe into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone. The leads added a Dunlop Cry Baby wah and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. Note please that the gain knob on all three overdrive pedals was set at zero, and the output knobs were all set at 10.

Chorus
You said it all - you’re right on the mark
you heard the call - and you lit the spark
for what it’s worth - what ever they say
you make it work - made it through the day

Verse 1 & 3
I had a thought
then it was gone then it was gone
So overwrought
find me withdrawn find me withdrawn

Verse 2
It comes and goes
tell it good bye tell it good bye
just goes to show
no use to try no use to try]]>
Not sure what to think of this one. I’m really tired so the mix might be off. Not sure yet. I should probably have left the sauce off of the rhythm guitars. That’s about all I can think to say of this one right now.

Guitars were all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks were an MXR Univibe into a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone. The leads added a Dunlop Cry Baby wah and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. Note please that the gain knob on all three overdrive pedals was set at zero, and the output knobs were all set at 10.

Chorus
You said it all - you’re right on the mark
you heard the call - and you lit the spark
for what it’s worth - what ever they say
you make it work - made it through the day

Verse 1 & 3
I had a thought
then it was gone then it was gone
So overwrought
find me withdrawn find me withdrawn

Verse 2
It comes and goes
tell it good bye tell it good bye
just goes to show
no use to try no use to try]]> 6197223 no no Sat, 28 Aug 2021 05:30:28 +0200 2021-08-28T05:30:28+02:00 3:41 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/winding-down/
I wrote the melody to this one first and then filled in the instrumentation behind it. I don’t know if I want to do that anymore, for two reason. First, they always seem to sound awkward. Second, I always have a hard time singing them.

Case in point, this one. It just doesn’t seem to hold together well. It’s not bad, it’s just… forced? Is that the right word? It shouldn’t be because literally everything I’ve ever written was forced. Whatever, it’s not a bad song it’s just not the best.

Like almost all of my songs the lyrics are kind of stream of consciousness. I think my consciousness was streaming toward feeling bad about the start of life as an empty nester. I wasn’t trying to go there, but I think the song went there on it’s own. I didn’t plan on it, but today is literally empty nest day. Both of my step kids are now living in Vermont and I am so sad. I’m also thrilled for the opportunities they have and I can’t wait to see where life takes them, but for me and my wife… it’s really sad.

The guitar tracks were all played with a Gibson Les Paul Standard through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm parts were a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone. The lead used the same with the addition of a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
time is winding down
days are running out
they are leaving town
they leave it’s true

Verse 1
guess it’s our turn
just the way it goes
guess it’s no use
it happens

Verse 2 and 3
right of passage
everyone goes through
so be it
its just our time

Bridge
it had to happen someday
no way around it is there
feels like disaster coming
that’s the way it is]]>
I wrote the melody to this one first and then filled in the instrumentation behind it. I don’t know if I want to do that anymore, for two reason. First, they always seem to sound awkward. Second, I always have a hard time singing them.

Case in point, this one. It just doesn’t seem to hold together well. It’s not bad, it’s just… forced? Is that the right word? It shouldn’t be because literally everything I’ve ever written was forced. Whatever, it’s not a bad song it’s just not the best.

Like almost all of my songs the lyrics are kind of stream of consciousness. I think my consciousness was streaming toward feeling bad about the start of life as an empty nester. I wasn’t trying to go there, but I think the song went there on it’s own. I didn’t plan on it, but today is literally empty nest day. Both of my step kids are now living in Vermont and I am so sad. I’m also thrilled for the opportunities they have and I can’t wait to see where life takes them, but for me and my wife… it’s really sad.

The guitar tracks were all played with a Gibson Les Paul Standard through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm parts were a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone. The lead used the same with the addition of a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
time is winding down
days are running out
they are leaving town
they leave it’s true

Verse 1
guess it’s our turn
just the way it goes
guess it’s no use
it happens

Verse 2 and 3
right of passage
everyone goes through
so be it
its just our time

Bridge
it had to happen someday
no way around it is there
feels like disaster coming
that’s the way it is]]> 6197160 no no Sat, 28 Aug 2021 04:57:04 +0200 2021-08-28T04:57:04+02:00 3:14 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/coming-up-empty-again/
Massachusetts state law mandates that all internet based song writing challenges include at least one bluesy balladish song in 6/8 time. I didn’t want to write this, The Man made me.

I like the melody, I like the simple rhythm guitar part even though the arpeggios in the chorus set off my arthritis, or carpal tunnel, or whatever the hell it is that sometimes hurts like a mutha when I play.

Two items of note from the song writing perspective. First, over the last couple of weeks I have found myself getting into a habit of writing a short song and then tacking something more or less completely unrelated onto the end of it. Not so much as padding but more like a suite, or a medley or something like that. This is the first song that’s made it to the final mix stage, but there are two or three more on the way. I should probably stop doing that for a while.

Second, the GarageBand drummer needs to get a co-writing credit. That spot toward the end where the band stops for a beat? Yeah, that came from the drummer. I turned up the “fill” slider and it responded by dropping out entirely. It took about five seconds before I had the entire band dropping out with it. Groovy.

The guitar parts are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm are a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone (both with the volume at 10 and the gain at zero). The lead is the same only with a Wren and Cuff Super Russian after the Ryra.

A - Chorus
I don’t recall all of this happening
My memory coming up empty again

A - Verse 1
I can’t recall
No memory nothing at all

A - Verse 2
Ever so small
What happened what came of it all

B - Verse
forever unknown
struggle to understand
what happened to me
its slipping right through my own hands

B - Chorus
Through my hands

B - Chorus Ending
What did you say to me]]>
Massachusetts state law mandates that all internet based song writing challenges include at least one bluesy balladish song in 6/8 time. I didn’t want to write this, The Man made me.

I like the melody, I like the simple rhythm guitar part even though the arpeggios in the chorus set off my arthritis, or carpal tunnel, or whatever the hell it is that sometimes hurts like a mutha when I play.

Two items of note from the song writing perspective. First, over the last couple of weeks I have found myself getting into a habit of writing a short song and then tacking something more or less completely unrelated onto the end of it. Not so much as padding but more like a suite, or a medley or something like that. This is the first song that’s made it to the final mix stage, but there are two or three more on the way. I should probably stop doing that for a while.

Second, the GarageBand drummer needs to get a co-writing credit. That spot toward the end where the band stops for a beat? Yeah, that came from the drummer. I turned up the “fill” slider and it responded by dropping out entirely. It took about five seconds before I had the entire band dropping out with it. Groovy.

The guitar parts are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm are a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra The Klone (both with the volume at 10 and the gain at zero). The lead is the same only with a Wren and Cuff Super Russian after the Ryra.

A - Chorus
I don’t recall all of this happening
My memory coming up empty again

A - Verse 1
I can’t recall
No memory nothing at all

A - Verse 2
Ever so small
What happened what came of it all

B - Verse
forever unknown
struggle to understand
what happened to me
its slipping right through my own hands

B - Chorus
Through my hands

B - Chorus Ending
What did you say to me]]> 6188536 no no Wed, 25 Aug 2021 05:16:19 +0200 2021-08-25T05:16:19+02:00 4:31 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/snatched-away/
I like this one. The lyrics are actually about something so that makes it a little uncomfortable, and I am a little unhappy with how the rhythm guitars sound, but otherwise I can live with this one.

The guitars are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The amps are all my Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra the Klone overdrive pedal. The lead used an MXR Univ Vibe, the Ryra, and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Every time I feel it coming it gets snatched away
I don’t want to get my hopes then be lead astray

Verse 1
Taken from me
all I want
guaranteed

Verse 2 and 3
patience can be
very hard
on me

Bridge
One more week
wait and see
and you fool me]]>
I like this one. The lyrics are actually about something so that makes it a little uncomfortable, and I am a little unhappy with how the rhythm guitars sound, but otherwise I can live with this one.

The guitars are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The amps are all my Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra the Klone overdrive pedal. The lead used an MXR Univ Vibe, the Ryra, and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Every time I feel it coming it gets snatched away
I don’t want to get my hopes then be lead astray

Verse 1
Taken from me
all I want
guaranteed

Verse 2 and 3
patience can be
very hard
on me

Bridge
One more week
wait and see
and you fool me]]> 6188278 no no Wed, 25 Aug 2021 04:10:13 +0200 2021-08-25T04:10:13+02:00 2:28 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/hope-for-the-best/
I am sort of liking this one. It’s okay though maybe a bit generic. The lyrics are about a real world situation that’s none of your business.

Guitar is my Les Paul Standard, amp is my Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm guitar tracks are a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra the Klone. Both with their output volume at 10 and their gain at zero. I’m having some fun with the low wattage amp. The lead used the same setup with a crybaby added at the front of the signal chain, and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter at the end.

Chorus
If I could just be patient
If I could hold together
don’t have to be complacent
feels like it might last forever

Verse 1 & 3
got my hopes up - it fell apart
had my heart set - it never happened
only wanted the best for all
only needed a safe way through it

Verse 2
try to picture a safer home
try to give them the care they needed
ever closer so far to go
never ending its never ending

Bridge
Just want them to be okay
There isn’t another way
Just give them the help they need
that’s all I want now
only hope for the best]]>
I am sort of liking this one. It’s okay though maybe a bit generic. The lyrics are about a real world situation that’s none of your business.

Guitar is my Les Paul Standard, amp is my Fender Bassbreaker 15. Pedals for the rhythm guitar tracks are a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra the Klone. Both with their output volume at 10 and their gain at zero. I’m having some fun with the low wattage amp. The lead used the same setup with a crybaby added at the front of the signal chain, and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter at the end.

Chorus
If I could just be patient
If I could hold together
don’t have to be complacent
feels like it might last forever

Verse 1 & 3
got my hopes up - it fell apart
had my heart set - it never happened
only wanted the best for all
only needed a safe way through it

Verse 2
try to picture a safer home
try to give them the care they needed
ever closer so far to go
never ending its never ending

Bridge
Just want them to be okay
There isn’t another way
Just give them the help they need
that’s all I want now
only hope for the best]]> 6188140 no no Wed, 25 Aug 2021 03:11:55 +0200 2021-08-25T03:11:55+02:00 3:50 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/its-all-my-fault/
70-75 beats per minute is sort of my happy place. My groove’s comfort zone if you will. If I didn’t stop myself, I’d write everything at that tempo. This summer I have done a pretty good job avoiding it. So much so that the 90-110 range is turning into a new comfort zone. For this one, though, I embraced my binky.

Is it a good song? No, not really. It’s okay.

The guitar tracks are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used a Ryra the Klone pedal and the leads used a Crybaby Wah into the Ryra then into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
I did it, I know it
it’s all my fault
I made it, I played it
No second thought

Verse 1
You say you think you know
where it came from
I know the secret
so now I’m on the run

Verse 2
Now maybe this one time
you’ll listen close
I am so guilty
and yes I did it all

Bridge
Thought there was a chance
to get out of it
but there’s no escape
for me or for you or for anyone]]>
70-75 beats per minute is sort of my happy place. My groove’s comfort zone if you will. If I didn’t stop myself, I’d write everything at that tempo. This summer I have done a pretty good job avoiding it. So much so that the 90-110 range is turning into a new comfort zone. For this one, though, I embraced my binky.

Is it a good song? No, not really. It’s okay.

The guitar tracks are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used a Ryra the Klone pedal and the leads used a Crybaby Wah into the Ryra then into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
I did it, I know it
it’s all my fault
I made it, I played it
No second thought

Verse 1
You say you think you know
where it came from
I know the secret
so now I’m on the run

Verse 2
Now maybe this one time
you’ll listen close
I am so guilty
and yes I did it all

Bridge
Thought there was a chance
to get out of it
but there’s no escape
for me or for you or for anyone]]> 6154098 no no Fri, 13 Aug 2021 03:07:28 +0200 2021-08-13T03:07:28+02:00 3:53 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/pull-me-away/
This one isn’t too bad. I think it’s the only song for this project so far that I wrote the melody first. I’ve had mixed results with that method (I’m definitely a music first guy) but this one works.

The guitarmonies at the end are fun. The sound effect as the song is ending is me opening a can of diet pepsi while I was tracking the vocals. I think it sounds cool with the slap back and the room reverb. What can I say?

The guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used a Ryra the Klone overdrive pedal and the lead used the Ryra and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Pull me away
lead me astray
take it all from me
no other way

Verse 1 and 3
Cold feelings, old troubles
said your piece
Bad dealings, brass knuckles
No release

Verse 2
Mistaken, left shaken
all my fault
ground breaking, awaken
second thought

Bridge
Pulling you under, deep breath now
some times I wonder, could be some how
hope for a savior, not this time
asking for failure, its such a crime]]>
This one isn’t too bad. I think it’s the only song for this project so far that I wrote the melody first. I’ve had mixed results with that method (I’m definitely a music first guy) but this one works.

The guitarmonies at the end are fun. The sound effect as the song is ending is me opening a can of diet pepsi while I was tracking the vocals. I think it sounds cool with the slap back and the room reverb. What can I say?

The guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used a Ryra the Klone overdrive pedal and the lead used the Ryra and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Pull me away
lead me astray
take it all from me
no other way

Verse 1 and 3
Cold feelings, old troubles
said your piece
Bad dealings, brass knuckles
No release

Verse 2
Mistaken, left shaken
all my fault
ground breaking, awaken
second thought

Bridge
Pulling you under, deep breath now
some times I wonder, could be some how
hope for a savior, not this time
asking for failure, its such a crime]]> 6152219 no no Thu, 12 Aug 2021 05:02:36 +0200 2021-08-12T05:02:36+02:00 3:39 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/all-the-blame-should-fall-to-me/
How about the vocals in the verse sections, huh? Pitchy much? Holy crap! I promise you all that I spent a lot of time working on getting the vocals right and when I was tracking them I swear I left them at a place where they sounded correct and not horribly out of tune. When I tracked the lead guitars I gave the whole song a listen and nothing stood out as bad. Then I started mixing and holy shit are those verses out of tune! The chorus isn’t exactly great, but it’s okay. The verses though… what the hell, Rob?

GarageBand has a poor man’s autotune baked into it. I’ve never used it but figured what the hell, it can’t be any worse than this crap, right? I turned it on and it didn’t really change anything other than to put a lot of digital noise that sounded like transients all over the place. Well that sounds like dung, so I turned it off… and the noise remained. So, if you use GarageBand, my advice is to copy the tracks you want to tune to new tracks and mess with it there. Always, always, always keep a back up*.

Rhythm guitars are a Les Paul Standard into an MXR Univ-Vibe into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Leads are mostly the same but the pedal chain is a Dunlop Crybaby Wah into the Ryra into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter into just the boost side of a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
I understand that it’s gone on too long
Go with the flow try to keep it together.
Its all a mess so you try to be strong
and do the things you need to do

Verse 1
Its the way it has to be
All the blame should fall to me

Verse 2
Lets just make the most of this
As the ugly truth persists

Bridge
Look on the bright side
and keep it inside
caught in the down slide
Nothing to see

Verse 3 (.5 length)
All the blame should fall to me

*I did not back up the tracks as I was working on them. I have a backup of the entire GarageBand file, but I am not at home so I can’t use it right now. I might remix this again at some later date… and I also might just rerecord the whole thing because I am not very happy with the way it came out.]]>
How about the vocals in the verse sections, huh? Pitchy much? Holy crap! I promise you all that I spent a lot of time working on getting the vocals right and when I was tracking them I swear I left them at a place where they sounded correct and not horribly out of tune. When I tracked the lead guitars I gave the whole song a listen and nothing stood out as bad. Then I started mixing and holy shit are those verses out of tune! The chorus isn’t exactly great, but it’s okay. The verses though… what the hell, Rob?

GarageBand has a poor man’s autotune baked into it. I’ve never used it but figured what the hell, it can’t be any worse than this crap, right? I turned it on and it didn’t really change anything other than to put a lot of digital noise that sounded like transients all over the place. Well that sounds like dung, so I turned it off… and the noise remained. So, if you use GarageBand, my advice is to copy the tracks you want to tune to new tracks and mess with it there. Always, always, always keep a back up*.

Rhythm guitars are a Les Paul Standard into an MXR Univ-Vibe into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. Leads are mostly the same but the pedal chain is a Dunlop Crybaby Wah into the Ryra into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter into just the boost side of a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
I understand that it’s gone on too long
Go with the flow try to keep it together.
Its all a mess so you try to be strong
and do the things you need to do

Verse 1
Its the way it has to be
All the blame should fall to me

Verse 2
Lets just make the most of this
As the ugly truth persists

Bridge
Look on the bright side
and keep it inside
caught in the down slide
Nothing to see

Verse 3 (.5 length)
All the blame should fall to me

*I did not back up the tracks as I was working on them. I have a backup of the entire GarageBand file, but I am not at home so I can’t use it right now. I might remix this again at some later date… and I also might just rerecord the whole thing because I am not very happy with the way it came out.]]> 6146573 no no Sun, 08 Aug 2021 21:18:26 +0200 2021-08-08T21:18:26+02:00 4:17 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/it-isnt-ideal/
Major keys? Oh come on. That’s not rock and roll! At least it’s in 5/4 time so I can pretend it has a little prog cred.

I was sure I was going to end up hating this one. So much so that I sat on it for a month before finally finishing it off. Now that it’s done? I kinda dig it. When I wrote the melody I thought it was going to come off lame. I don’t know how but now that it’s done it’s not so bad. Maybe it’s my total incompetence a singer that takes all focus off of the cheesy writing. Who knows.

GarageBand offers some nice automation functions. I almost never use them, unless I am playing with panning. I did it for the lead at the end. It starts all the way to one side and ends all the way to the other. I also automated another change too. On the same lead guitar track through the outro, I started with the master reverb bus off (I never use it, I always use track by track plug ins) and slowly increased it so that when the song ends it’s maxed. It’s only on the lead guitar, but it’s kinda neat.

The guitars are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm are an MXR Uni-vibe into a Ryra the Klone. The lead drops the Uni-vibe and adds a Wren and Cuff Super Russian after the Ryra. The solo at the end is the same setup as the heavier solos earlier in the song just with the volume on the guitar lowered to clean things up a smidge.

Chorus
Its up to you
how this will go down
Its up to me
to push a show down
its up to us
to send the message
its up to us
to clear the wreckage

Verse 1
Don’t get in my way
Don’t get in my way
I will have my say
I will have my say

Bridge 1
Now’s the time
Now’s the time
Get in line
Make it mine

Verse 2
It isn’t ideal
it isn’t ideal
Not sure if it’s real
Not sure if it’s real

Bridge 2
Its not right
Its not right
Please don’t fight
So uptight]]>
Major keys? Oh come on. That’s not rock and roll! At least it’s in 5/4 time so I can pretend it has a little prog cred.

I was sure I was going to end up hating this one. So much so that I sat on it for a month before finally finishing it off. Now that it’s done? I kinda dig it. When I wrote the melody I thought it was going to come off lame. I don’t know how but now that it’s done it’s not so bad. Maybe it’s my total incompetence a singer that takes all focus off of the cheesy writing. Who knows.

GarageBand offers some nice automation functions. I almost never use them, unless I am playing with panning. I did it for the lead at the end. It starts all the way to one side and ends all the way to the other. I also automated another change too. On the same lead guitar track through the outro, I started with the master reverb bus off (I never use it, I always use track by track plug ins) and slowly increased it so that when the song ends it’s maxed. It’s only on the lead guitar, but it’s kinda neat.

The guitars are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm are an MXR Uni-vibe into a Ryra the Klone. The lead drops the Uni-vibe and adds a Wren and Cuff Super Russian after the Ryra. The solo at the end is the same setup as the heavier solos earlier in the song just with the volume on the guitar lowered to clean things up a smidge.

Chorus
Its up to you
how this will go down
Its up to me
to push a show down
its up to us
to send the message
its up to us
to clear the wreckage

Verse 1
Don’t get in my way
Don’t get in my way
I will have my say
I will have my say

Bridge 1
Now’s the time
Now’s the time
Get in line
Make it mine

Verse 2
It isn’t ideal
it isn’t ideal
Not sure if it’s real
Not sure if it’s real

Bridge 2
Its not right
Its not right
Please don’t fight
So uptight]]> 6146474 no no Sun, 08 Aug 2021 20:10:02 +0200 2021-08-08T20:10:02+02:00 4:15 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/another-late-night/
Noteworthy to no one but me that this is the first song started and finished within the month of August. So it counts for the RPM Challenge’s Record Every Month thing. I haven’t submitted a song to the site since May, but I have completed that challenge every month since it started in March. Check that box.

I don’t know what possessed me to invert all the chords in this one, but every almost every chord or arpeggio you hear is a second inversion (meaning the fifth is on the bottom). Fascinating, eh?

I wasn’t planning to bury backwards leads at the end, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Rhythm guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Ryra the Klone and a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads are the same except there is a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter stuck between the Ryra and the amp.

Chorus
A late night
Another one
its not right

Remember
The way it was
Pretender

Its all down to me
Down to me now

So just let it be
I can see its me

Verse 1
No telling
No question
compelling
invention

Verse 2 and 3
So tell me
what you mean
I agree
its routine]]>
Noteworthy to no one but me that this is the first song started and finished within the month of August. So it counts for the RPM Challenge’s Record Every Month thing. I haven’t submitted a song to the site since May, but I have completed that challenge every month since it started in March. Check that box.

I don’t know what possessed me to invert all the chords in this one, but every almost every chord or arpeggio you hear is a second inversion (meaning the fifth is on the bottom). Fascinating, eh?

I wasn’t planning to bury backwards leads at the end, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Rhythm guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Ryra the Klone and a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The leads are the same except there is a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter stuck between the Ryra and the amp.

Chorus
A late night
Another one
its not right

Remember
The way it was
Pretender

Its all down to me
Down to me now

So just let it be
I can see its me

Verse 1
No telling
No question
compelling
invention

Verse 2 and 3
So tell me
what you mean
I agree
its routine]]> 6145208 no no Sun, 08 Aug 2021 03:54:28 +0200 2021-08-08T03:54:28+02:00 3:22 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/too-late-too-little/
I like this one. I think I screwed up the guitar part in the chorus about a thousand and two times before I finally had a useable take. I think it was probably worth it.

The guitars are a Les Paul standard into an MXR Uni-vibe into a Ryra the Klone into a Bassbreaker 15. The lead tracks also had a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter.

A
And I am caught in the middle
and there is no way to free myself
Its all too late and too little
The party’s over for me

(last time only)
There is no simple solution
though every step is so clear to me
Its gonna end in confusion
and so it always will be

B1
There’s no easy way to say
The things that we need to say

B2
There’s no easy way to do
The things that we need to do

C
I can see where it will lead
Just one way we can proceed

C Prime
What I said
Can you all see it
In the end
It will all come true]]>
I like this one. I think I screwed up the guitar part in the chorus about a thousand and two times before I finally had a useable take. I think it was probably worth it.

The guitars are a Les Paul standard into an MXR Uni-vibe into a Ryra the Klone into a Bassbreaker 15. The lead tracks also had a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter.

A
And I am caught in the middle
and there is no way to free myself
Its all too late and too little
The party’s over for me

(last time only)
There is no simple solution
though every step is so clear to me
Its gonna end in confusion
and so it always will be

B1
There’s no easy way to say
The things that we need to say

B2
There’s no easy way to do
The things that we need to do

C
I can see where it will lead
Just one way we can proceed

C Prime
What I said
Can you all see it
In the end
It will all come true]]> 6140670 no no Fri, 06 Aug 2021 04:10:47 +0200 2021-08-06T04:10:47+02:00 2:49 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/memory/
There was a song I uploaded a couple of weeks ago that was called Calling that I am a little afraid to listen to back to back with this one because I think I wrote the same song twice again.

Are the rhythm guitars too quiet here? Are they getting lost under the three part vocal harmony? Did I mention I wrote a three part harmony? Yeah, I did that.

The lyrics are about someone close to me who has been dealing with memory issues for a number of years now and it is more difficult than the daytime soap operas ever made it out to be.

The guitar tracks are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. All of the tracks used a Ryra the Klone overdrive pedal, and the solos used a Wren and Cuff Super Russian fuzz pedal.

Chorus
Frustration
can’t figure out how I should feel
this sort of thing will never heal
somewhere inside trying to steal
Lost in a thought that isn’t real

Verse 1
Everything is there inside somewhere
(2x)

Verse 2
some connection fails it can’t be found
Memories are there, they’re all around

Bridge
What you used to know
How did it all go away

Outro
Its in there somewhere
We’re in there somewhere]]>
There was a song I uploaded a couple of weeks ago that was called Calling that I am a little afraid to listen to back to back with this one because I think I wrote the same song twice again.

Are the rhythm guitars too quiet here? Are they getting lost under the three part vocal harmony? Did I mention I wrote a three part harmony? Yeah, I did that.

The lyrics are about someone close to me who has been dealing with memory issues for a number of years now and it is more difficult than the daytime soap operas ever made it out to be.

The guitar tracks are all a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s through a Fender Bassbreaker 15. All of the tracks used a Ryra the Klone overdrive pedal, and the solos used a Wren and Cuff Super Russian fuzz pedal.

Chorus
Frustration
can’t figure out how I should feel
this sort of thing will never heal
somewhere inside trying to steal
Lost in a thought that isn’t real

Verse 1
Everything is there inside somewhere
(2x)

Verse 2
some connection fails it can’t be found
Memories are there, they’re all around

Bridge
What you used to know
How did it all go away

Outro
Its in there somewhere
We’re in there somewhere]]> 6140618 no no Fri, 06 Aug 2021 03:05:39 +0200 2021-08-06T03:05:39+02:00 2:55 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/door-alarms/
A 12-bar blues I noodled together on my iPad late one night when I thought I was going to get shut out for the day. It was the very definition of a throw away and yet somehow I kinda like it. I really like the chorus and the quiet little bridgey thing is good. The verse is the weak link. The bass forced the IV chord in the bridge and the chorus to be minor (A minor 7 to be exact) but it sounded wrong in the verse. I made it a major (A dominate 7 to be exact) and it sounded better. I just feel like it threw off the whole vibe, music theoretically speaking.

The guitars, lead and rhythm, are a Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The lead stuck a Wren and Cuff Super Russian after the Ryra.

Verse 1
alarm the door and lock the way out
(2x)
In prison its like a life sentence for real

Bridge 1
Yes I know this is the right thing
(2x)
My destiny, This is my future

Chorus
I believe it I believe it could be the reason it could be the reason
I belive
yes I believe

Verse 2
Put me in jail and throw the key out
(2x)
no future I’ll be here forever for real

Bridge outro
I can’t accept the truth
I believe
its the way it is]]>
A 12-bar blues I noodled together on my iPad late one night when I thought I was going to get shut out for the day. It was the very definition of a throw away and yet somehow I kinda like it. I really like the chorus and the quiet little bridgey thing is good. The verse is the weak link. The bass forced the IV chord in the bridge and the chorus to be minor (A minor 7 to be exact) but it sounded wrong in the verse. I made it a major (A dominate 7 to be exact) and it sounded better. I just feel like it threw off the whole vibe, music theoretically speaking.

The guitars, lead and rhythm, are a Les Paul Standard 50’s into a Ryra the Klone into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The lead stuck a Wren and Cuff Super Russian after the Ryra.

Verse 1
alarm the door and lock the way out
(2x)
In prison its like a life sentence for real

Bridge 1
Yes I know this is the right thing
(2x)
My destiny, This is my future

Chorus
I believe it I believe it could be the reason it could be the reason
I belive
yes I believe

Verse 2
Put me in jail and throw the key out
(2x)
no future I’ll be here forever for real

Bridge outro
I can’t accept the truth
I believe
its the way it is]]> 6127262 no no Tue, 03 Aug 2021 03:11:38 +0200 2021-08-03T03:11:38+02:00 3:28 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/nothing-left-to-prove/
I like the verses. I kinda like the half tempo breaks. I don’t like the chorus. If you listen closely during the guitar solos you may be able to hear the shower running in the next room. I am surely running a high end recording establishment.

Other than that, there isn’t much to say.

Guitar parts are all my Les Paul Standard through my Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra the Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter (which gets switched off during the break in the middle). The leads used a Dunlop Crybaby into the Ryra and the Black Lives Matter.

Verse 1 and 3
One last breath is all that’s left for you
One last chance to tell me what to do

Chorus
Nothing left to prove
Nothing left to do

Verse 2
your history lying at your feet
your dreams are forever incomplete

Middle
Going nowhere
going nowhere]]>
I like the verses. I kinda like the half tempo breaks. I don’t like the chorus. If you listen closely during the guitar solos you may be able to hear the shower running in the next room. I am surely running a high end recording establishment.

Other than that, there isn’t much to say.

Guitar parts are all my Les Paul Standard through my Bassbreaker 15. The pedals on the rhythm tracks are a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker into a Ryra the Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter (which gets switched off during the break in the middle). The leads used a Dunlop Crybaby into the Ryra and the Black Lives Matter.

Verse 1 and 3
One last breath is all that’s left for you
One last chance to tell me what to do

Chorus
Nothing left to prove
Nothing left to do

Verse 2
your history lying at your feet
your dreams are forever incomplete

Middle
Going nowhere
going nowhere]]> 6108555 no no Sun, 25 Jul 2021 21:01:43 +0200 2021-07-25T21:01:43+02:00 3:23 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/make-a-list/
Is it a requirement for one of these goofy writing/recording internet challenges to write something ballady in 6/8 time? If it is then mark me as done.

I keep saying this, but the songs feel very overly simple to me right now. How very un-proggy of me. I should try to write something crazy complicated just to sort of refresh what little prog cred I have (I have none).

I actually kinda like this one.

The guitars are a Les Paul Standard and the amp is a Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used an MXR Univibe and a Ryra The Klone. The lead used the Ryra a Wren and Cuff Super Russian and a little crybaby wah at the end.

A
If we would ever agree
this is that point in the story
Do you have something for me that I need
something to help prove the theory

B
Is there something I can do to maybe help you out
Make a list of everything and don’t you spare a doubt
if you need a hand just let me know what it’s about
I’m here, here for you]]>
Is it a requirement for one of these goofy writing/recording internet challenges to write something ballady in 6/8 time? If it is then mark me as done.

I keep saying this, but the songs feel very overly simple to me right now. How very un-proggy of me. I should try to write something crazy complicated just to sort of refresh what little prog cred I have (I have none).

I actually kinda like this one.

The guitars are a Les Paul Standard and the amp is a Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used an MXR Univibe and a Ryra The Klone. The lead used the Ryra a Wren and Cuff Super Russian and a little crybaby wah at the end.

A
If we would ever agree
this is that point in the story
Do you have something for me that I need
something to help prove the theory

B
Is there something I can do to maybe help you out
Make a list of everything and don’t you spare a doubt
if you need a hand just let me know what it’s about
I’m here, here for you]]> 6107151 no no Sun, 25 Jul 2021 05:30:46 +0200 2021-07-25T05:30:46+02:00 3:23 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/the-old-way-is-over/
I like this one. I am kinda enjoying it’s groove. Have you caught on to the gimmick in the lyrics yet? It’s something I want to do semi regularly this summer and I think this is the second song I posted that did it…

Have you figured it out?

Each section (verse/chorus/bridge, ect) is a haiku. Isn’t that a neato piece of useless information?

All guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Ryra The Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The leads used were the same except for the solo at the end which is a crybaby into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
I’m not up to this
It’s too much for me to take
Overwhelming me

Verse 1 and 3
Its a door closing
Just plotting to shut me out
All done to myself

Verse 2
As the dust settles
and there’s nothing left of me
Everyone forgets

Bridge
Give me one reason
Give me one hope to cling to
Such a waste of time

Outro
Finding a new way
to hold myself together
The old way’s over]]>
I like this one. I am kinda enjoying it’s groove. Have you caught on to the gimmick in the lyrics yet? It’s something I want to do semi regularly this summer and I think this is the second song I posted that did it…

Have you figured it out?

Each section (verse/chorus/bridge, ect) is a haiku. Isn’t that a neato piece of useless information?

All guitar tracks are my Les Paul Standard through a Bassbreaker 15. The pedals for the rhythm tracks are a Ryra The Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The leads used were the same except for the solo at the end which is a crybaby into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
I’m not up to this
It’s too much for me to take
Overwhelming me

Verse 1 and 3
Its a door closing
Just plotting to shut me out
All done to myself

Verse 2
As the dust settles
and there’s nothing left of me
Everyone forgets

Bridge
Give me one reason
Give me one hope to cling to
Such a waste of time

Outro
Finding a new way
to hold myself together
The old way’s over]]> 6102774 no no Fri, 23 Jul 2021 05:25:21 +0200 2021-07-23T05:25:21+02:00 4:58 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/get-out-of-my-head/
Another 12 bar blues. This is the second one I’ve worked on so far. Expect 30 more. At least.

Nothing much to speak of about this one except that “forecast calls for ending it all” might be the best line I’ve ever come up with.

Guitars/amp are Les Paul Standard and Bassbreaker 15. Rhythm pedals used a Ryra the Klone. Lead used the Ryra and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Section A
Hard road, hard road ahead
No chance, leave me for dead
(2x)
Forecast calls for ending it all
come on, get out of my head

Section B1 and B3
Its hard to believe,
we could be deceived
(2x)
No objective recollection
There’s no in between

Section B2
I ask of myself,
completely tone deaf
(2x)
No forgiveness no true witness
put back on the shelf]]>
Another 12 bar blues. This is the second one I’ve worked on so far. Expect 30 more. At least.

Nothing much to speak of about this one except that “forecast calls for ending it all” might be the best line I’ve ever come up with.

Guitars/amp are Les Paul Standard and Bassbreaker 15. Rhythm pedals used a Ryra the Klone. Lead used the Ryra and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Section A
Hard road, hard road ahead
No chance, leave me for dead
(2x)
Forecast calls for ending it all
come on, get out of my head

Section B1 and B3
Its hard to believe,
we could be deceived
(2x)
No objective recollection
There’s no in between

Section B2
I ask of myself,
completely tone deaf
(2x)
No forgiveness no true witness
put back on the shelf]]> 6102725 no no Fri, 23 Jul 2021 04:34:22 +0200 2021-07-23T04:34:22+02:00 4:30 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/factors/
Lots of gimmicks here. Guitarmonies. Drum solo. Four part vocal harmonies singing a minor seventh chord with tons of effects and buried in the mix. Yup, all the standbyes.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard and the amps are all Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker, a Ryra The Klone, and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The leads used a Dunlop Crybaby, the Ryra, and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
factor in the missing pieces
say what you’re really thinking
brace yourself for endless speeches
somehow try to keep from sinking

Verse 1
more than just an opinon
more than simply a villain
filled with anger thats spilling over
The world is my prison

Verse 2
It can give you direction
It can give you protection
It can give you a sense of purpose
Consume me refuse me

Bridge
as it sinks its teeth in you
what are you supposed to do
every single lie comes true
and thats how it will always be]]>
Lots of gimmicks here. Guitarmonies. Drum solo. Four part vocal harmonies singing a minor seventh chord with tons of effects and buried in the mix. Yup, all the standbyes.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard and the amps are all Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker, a Ryra The Klone, and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The leads used a Dunlop Crybaby, the Ryra, and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
factor in the missing pieces
say what you’re really thinking
brace yourself for endless speeches
somehow try to keep from sinking

Verse 1
more than just an opinon
more than simply a villain
filled with anger thats spilling over
The world is my prison

Verse 2
It can give you direction
It can give you protection
It can give you a sense of purpose
Consume me refuse me

Bridge
as it sinks its teeth in you
what are you supposed to do
every single lie comes true
and thats how it will always be]]> 6102654 no no Fri, 23 Jul 2021 03:42:27 +0200 2021-07-23T03:42:27+02:00 4:14 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/trenches/
In my defense, I did give you seven whole songs before sharing the one with the 24 measures of backwards guitar solo buried under 700 tons of delay and a rotary speaker. I didn’t drop this soupy mess onto you right away. So you’ve got that going for you.

A song in two pieces. I have done that a lot in the last year or so. The first part is another in an endless line of attempts to sound proggy and rocky simultaneously in 7/8 time. It’s okay. Nothing special. I do like the way the verses came out. The ending is really just an excuse to make goofy sounds with my guitar. That part works well.

The guitar is a Les Paul Standard and the amp is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra the Klone and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The lead used the Ryra and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian. The soupy mess at the end used an MXR univibe and the Ryra,. The rotary speaker and the delay were added in the mix.

Verse A1
I know - how it happens
that curve - never flattens
give in - speculation
so low - expectation

Verse B1 and B3
No challenge
No contest
No balance
No context

Verse A2
Hear me - as I say this
Knowing - where the blame is
Perceive - Every second
absorb - all the knowledge

Verse B2
Look backward
Refactored
No style
all guile

Chorus
Undo your very senses
Back off your key defenses
Payback your worst offenses
Forever in the trenches]]>
In my defense, I did give you seven whole songs before sharing the one with the 24 measures of backwards guitar solo buried under 700 tons of delay and a rotary speaker. I didn’t drop this soupy mess onto you right away. So you’ve got that going for you.

A song in two pieces. I have done that a lot in the last year or so. The first part is another in an endless line of attempts to sound proggy and rocky simultaneously in 7/8 time. It’s okay. Nothing special. I do like the way the verses came out. The ending is really just an excuse to make goofy sounds with my guitar. That part works well.

The guitar is a Les Paul Standard and the amp is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm tracks used a Ryra the Klone and a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The lead used the Ryra and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian. The soupy mess at the end used an MXR univibe and the Ryra,. The rotary speaker and the delay were added in the mix.

Verse A1
I know - how it happens
that curve - never flattens
give in - speculation
so low - expectation

Verse B1 and B3
No challenge
No contest
No balance
No context

Verse A2
Hear me - as I say this
Knowing - where the blame is
Perceive - Every second
absorb - all the knowledge

Verse B2
Look backward
Refactored
No style
all guile

Chorus
Undo your very senses
Back off your key defenses
Payback your worst offenses
Forever in the trenches]]> 6098617 no no Wed, 21 Jul 2021 04:33:16 +0200 2021-07-21T04:33:16+02:00 3:54 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/comes-around-goes-around/
Eh. I don’t think I like this one. The vocal melody I came up with was a tad too much for my meager singing skills. It wasn’t too bad, just not that good. Oh well. The groove is kinda fun to solo over. It’s not a terrible song, just sorta blah.

The guitars are my Les Paul Standard and the amp is my Fender Bassbreaker 15. I am limiting myself to just a few pedals (five) and this song used them all. The rhythm is a crybaby wah into an MXR univibe into a Ryra the Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The lead is the crybaby into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

B1 and 3
I wish I could tell you
The way I feel
As if I could see through
to the heart of it

To know the feeling
That you give to me
Its like knowing
All the answers

A1
It comes around again
It goes around again
(2x)

B2 and 4
So can you forgive me
for everything
whatever it may be
that’s troubling you

I want to be there
What ever happens
You know I care
Be sure of it

C2
So watch me get carried away]]>
Eh. I don’t think I like this one. The vocal melody I came up with was a tad too much for my meager singing skills. It wasn’t too bad, just not that good. Oh well. The groove is kinda fun to solo over. It’s not a terrible song, just sorta blah.

The guitars are my Les Paul Standard and the amp is my Fender Bassbreaker 15. I am limiting myself to just a few pedals (five) and this song used them all. The rhythm is a crybaby wah into an MXR univibe into a Ryra the Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The lead is the crybaby into the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

B1 and 3
I wish I could tell you
The way I feel
As if I could see through
to the heart of it

To know the feeling
That you give to me
Its like knowing
All the answers

A1
It comes around again
It goes around again
(2x)

B2 and 4
So can you forgive me
for everything
whatever it may be
that’s troubling you

I want to be there
What ever happens
You know I care
Be sure of it

C2
So watch me get carried away]]> 6098589 no no Wed, 21 Jul 2021 03:15:47 +0200 2021-07-21T03:15:47+02:00 3:35 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/things-that-did-not-happen/
A couple of experimental type things (for me, at least) on this song.

First: I mixed this through actual speakers. I feel a little giddy just typing that. I don’t think I’ve mixed anything through speakers since the early 90’s. I’ve been using headphones ever since. I did this on cheap little Logitech (I think) computer speakers so who knows how it actually sounds. It’s like playing the lottery. Maybe it’ll be a winner (but most likely not).

Second: I stole this idea and I don’t know who I stole it from. The first time my wife and I went out to a restaurant since Covid started was a little over a week ago. I was freaking out a little but there was this song playing that distracted me. It was some blues band, I don’t know who, and it struck me as interesting that the entire song consisted of the bass and drums playing the root note for the key. Just sitting there on that one note grooving away. The guitar and vocals were taking turns filling everything in on top of it, but the entire song just sat on one chord. Well hell, I can do that!

I set up a drums and bass loop and noodled around until I had a rough idea for verse/chorus/bridge and then I just started playing. I didn’t have a plan beyond the chorus would let the chords ring and the verse would only let them ring under the vocal and the bridge would be lots of noodles. That’s it. I threw it all down in eight bar chunks, wrote some bad lyrics to fill in the gaps and that was it. I probably should have played the guitar part live all the way through, and it should be one track instead of two (I have one rhythm track running all the way through and one lead coming in and out). Other than that I think I got what I wanted….

….and what I wanted was apparently a completely forgettable throw away song that I will likely never give a minute’s thought to once I finish uploading it.

All of the guitars are Les Paul Standard into a Ryra the Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The only difference between lead and rhythm is the Super Russian has a built in boost which was off for the rhythm and on for the lead.

Verse 1
No telling what he wants to do
No telling if it will come true

Chorus 1 and 2
Don’t want to think about it
acknowledge that it exists
Don’t want to read the transcript
Don’t want to let them transmit

Don’t want to know what you think
Don’t care about your instinct
Don’t want to hear your logic
It isn’t patriotic

Verse 2
Don’t listen to what they all say
No chance that it happened that way]]>
A couple of experimental type things (for me, at least) on this song.

First: I mixed this through actual speakers. I feel a little giddy just typing that. I don’t think I’ve mixed anything through speakers since the early 90’s. I’ve been using headphones ever since. I did this on cheap little Logitech (I think) computer speakers so who knows how it actually sounds. It’s like playing the lottery. Maybe it’ll be a winner (but most likely not).

Second: I stole this idea and I don’t know who I stole it from. The first time my wife and I went out to a restaurant since Covid started was a little over a week ago. I was freaking out a little but there was this song playing that distracted me. It was some blues band, I don’t know who, and it struck me as interesting that the entire song consisted of the bass and drums playing the root note for the key. Just sitting there on that one note grooving away. The guitar and vocals were taking turns filling everything in on top of it, but the entire song just sat on one chord. Well hell, I can do that!

I set up a drums and bass loop and noodled around until I had a rough idea for verse/chorus/bridge and then I just started playing. I didn’t have a plan beyond the chorus would let the chords ring and the verse would only let them ring under the vocal and the bridge would be lots of noodles. That’s it. I threw it all down in eight bar chunks, wrote some bad lyrics to fill in the gaps and that was it. I probably should have played the guitar part live all the way through, and it should be one track instead of two (I have one rhythm track running all the way through and one lead coming in and out). Other than that I think I got what I wanted….

….and what I wanted was apparently a completely forgettable throw away song that I will likely never give a minute’s thought to once I finish uploading it.

All of the guitars are Les Paul Standard into a Ryra the Klone into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The only difference between lead and rhythm is the Super Russian has a built in boost which was off for the rhythm and on for the lead.

Verse 1
No telling what he wants to do
No telling if it will come true

Chorus 1 and 2
Don’t want to think about it
acknowledge that it exists
Don’t want to read the transcript
Don’t want to let them transmit

Don’t want to know what you think
Don’t care about your instinct
Don’t want to hear your logic
It isn’t patriotic

Verse 2
Don’t listen to what they all say
No chance that it happened that way]]> 6096860 no no Tue, 20 Jul 2021 14:45:47 +0200 2021-07-20T14:45:47+02:00 3:42 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/closing/
I feel like most of what I am coming up with right now is overly simplistic. Is that a conscious thing or not? I don’t know. This one has the benefit of being a blues in A minor in 3/4 time. A waltzing blues? Who knows. My favorite part is the extra two bars tacked onto the end of the first chorus. My least favorite part is probably the solo at the end. I should have backed off the gain and not used the wah pedal. Oh well, live and learn (and then do the exact same thing the next time you come up with a 12-bar blues, which I suspect is going to be a lot this year. It’s only day 16 out of 90 and there are already two in the pipeline. Oh well).

Guitars are all my Les Paul Standard 50s and the amp is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used an MXR uni-vibe and a Ryra The Klone. The lead used a crybaby wah, the Ryra, and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
I feel it closing around me
I feel it closing around me
come on lets go
I do it ‘cause you say so

Verse 1
Get away from me
Get away from me
I have had enough
Leave it behind

Verse 2
come away with me
come away with me
I can not explain
can’t believe it]]>
I feel like most of what I am coming up with right now is overly simplistic. Is that a conscious thing or not? I don’t know. This one has the benefit of being a blues in A minor in 3/4 time. A waltzing blues? Who knows. My favorite part is the extra two bars tacked onto the end of the first chorus. My least favorite part is probably the solo at the end. I should have backed off the gain and not used the wah pedal. Oh well, live and learn (and then do the exact same thing the next time you come up with a 12-bar blues, which I suspect is going to be a lot this year. It’s only day 16 out of 90 and there are already two in the pipeline. Oh well).

Guitars are all my Les Paul Standard 50s and the amp is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm used an MXR uni-vibe and a Ryra The Klone. The lead used a crybaby wah, the Ryra, and a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
I feel it closing around me
I feel it closing around me
come on lets go
I do it ‘cause you say so

Verse 1
Get away from me
Get away from me
I have had enough
Leave it behind

Verse 2
come away with me
come away with me
I can not explain
can’t believe it]]> 6095808 no no Mon, 19 Jul 2021 23:06:54 +0200 2021-07-19T23:06:54+02:00 2:25 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/pawns/
This one is okay. It feels a little too… mathy? Is that a thing? I feel like maybe there needs to be more going on in the chorus, but it has three part vocal harmony so there’s that. Subconsciously the whole point of this song is probably just having the lead guitar adding the third voice to the guitarmonies at the end. Oh well.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard. The amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. the rhythm parts used a Ryra The Klone and the lead just used a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Verse 1
Its not my fault
I’m just a pawn in this game
Or so they say
probably call it by name

Verse 2
Always the same
Up to my neck in trouble
Let me explain
Its time to burst this bublle

Chorus
Call on me
Count on me]]>
This one is okay. It feels a little too… mathy? Is that a thing? I feel like maybe there needs to be more going on in the chorus, but it has three part vocal harmony so there’s that. Subconsciously the whole point of this song is probably just having the lead guitar adding the third voice to the guitarmonies at the end. Oh well.

The guitars are all Les Paul Standard. The amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. the rhythm parts used a Ryra The Klone and the lead just used a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Verse 1
Its not my fault
I’m just a pawn in this game
Or so they say
probably call it by name

Verse 2
Always the same
Up to my neck in trouble
Let me explain
Its time to burst this bublle

Chorus
Call on me
Count on me]]> 6094004 no no Mon, 19 Jul 2021 03:32:12 +0200 2021-07-19T03:32:12+02:00 3:25 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/calling/
I like this one even though there is nothing to it. I threw the bass line together on a Friday evening. It was late and I wanted to get something down before I went to sleep. It was a simple little nothing.

On Saturday I put the rhythm guitars down and wrote a melody and some super simple lyrics. On Sunday I put the vocals and leads down and mixed it with a new pair of Apple AirPods Max that my step son let me borrow. Not sure how the headphones performed. I think they might be lacking in the high end. I need to listen to this on a better set of cans, or maybe actual speakers.

The song is super simple and required almost zero thought, but I like it a lot. It’s pretty fun. Not sure how that happened, but I’m glad it did.

The rhythm guitars are a Les Paul Standard into a Ryra The Klone overdrive pedal into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The lead was the same with the addition of a Wren and Cuff Super Russian fuzz pedal in between the overdrive and the amp. The gain was set really low on both pedals.

Verse 1
Its a call
Its a call to you
Hear me call
Hear me calling you

Verse 2 and 3
And I sing
And I sign to you
Everything
Everything I do

Chorus
Calling out to you
Calling out to you
(I’m calling to you)]]>
I like this one even though there is nothing to it. I threw the bass line together on a Friday evening. It was late and I wanted to get something down before I went to sleep. It was a simple little nothing.

On Saturday I put the rhythm guitars down and wrote a melody and some super simple lyrics. On Sunday I put the vocals and leads down and mixed it with a new pair of Apple AirPods Max that my step son let me borrow. Not sure how the headphones performed. I think they might be lacking in the high end. I need to listen to this on a better set of cans, or maybe actual speakers.

The song is super simple and required almost zero thought, but I like it a lot. It’s pretty fun. Not sure how that happened, but I’m glad it did.

The rhythm guitars are a Les Paul Standard into a Ryra The Klone overdrive pedal into a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The lead was the same with the addition of a Wren and Cuff Super Russian fuzz pedal in between the overdrive and the amp. The gain was set really low on both pedals.

Verse 1
Its a call
Its a call to you
Hear me call
Hear me calling you

Verse 2 and 3
And I sing
And I sign to you
Everything
Everything I do

Chorus
Calling out to you
Calling out to you
(I’m calling to you)]]> 6093982 no no Mon, 19 Jul 2021 02:35:34 +0200 2021-07-19T02:35:34+02:00 3:01 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/weight/
I started this at midnight on July 4, 2021. The very minute the 50/90 challenge started. I’m 90% sure I’ve used almost exactly the same melody before, and I’m 99.999% sure I’ve used exactly the same guitar and bass parts before too. I still kinda like the groove though.

The guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s and the amp on all guitar tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm guitar tracks used a Ryra the Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The leads used the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Grasp the weight of it
there’s so much guilt
Every bit of it
must be rebuilt

try to brace yourself
for what’s to come
its too late for that
just get it done

Verse 1
How ever you slice it
it simply won’t hold
not able to tramsit
what needs to be told
Goodbye forever

Verse 2
Whatever you’re feeling
its not even close
its too devestating
can’t be diagnosed
There’s no escaping]]>
I started this at midnight on July 4, 2021. The very minute the 50/90 challenge started. I’m 90% sure I’ve used almost exactly the same melody before, and I’m 99.999% sure I’ve used exactly the same guitar and bass parts before too. I still kinda like the groove though.

The guitars are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s and the amp on all guitar tracks is a Fender Bassbreaker 15. The rhythm guitar tracks used a Ryra the Klone into a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter. The leads used the Ryra into a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Chorus
Grasp the weight of it
there’s so much guilt
Every bit of it
must be rebuilt

try to brace yourself
for what’s to come
its too late for that
just get it done

Verse 1
How ever you slice it
it simply won’t hold
not able to tramsit
what needs to be told
Goodbye forever

Verse 2
Whatever you’re feeling
its not even close
its too devestating
can’t be diagnosed
There’s no escaping]]> 6080207 no no Tue, 13 Jul 2021 03:13:30 +0200 2021-07-13T03:13:30+02:00 2:41 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/run-away-together/
This one came quick and easy, which probably means I’ve written this entire song already but who cares. I like the chorus. I sing an arpeggio. It’s almost like I took two years of music theory in music school (I did).

The guitars are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. All of the guitar tracks used a Ryra The Klone pedal, and the leads also used a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Happy 50/90, everyone!

Chorus
come and see
come and see me
we’ll run away together

come and see
please come and see me
we’ll run away forever

Verse
Stillness motionless
Feel the world around you breath
quietly alone

Try to take it in
Question everything you see
Time is not your friend]]>
This one came quick and easy, which probably means I’ve written this entire song already but who cares. I like the chorus. I sing an arpeggio. It’s almost like I took two years of music theory in music school (I did).

The guitars are all my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. The amps are all Fender Bassbreaker 15. All of the guitar tracks used a Ryra The Klone pedal, and the leads also used a Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

Happy 50/90, everyone!

Chorus
come and see
come and see me
we’ll run away together

come and see
please come and see me
we’ll run away forever

Verse
Stillness motionless
Feel the world around you breath
quietly alone

Try to take it in
Question everything you see
Time is not your friend]]> 6080094 no no Tue, 13 Jul 2021 02:26:14 +0200 2021-07-13T02:26:14+02:00 3:29 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/this-is-the-trick/
Written on Saturday. Recorded on Saturday and Sunday. Mixed before work on Monday. A nice little weekend song.

I mixed this with Apple AirPod Pros that don’t fit all that well so if you listen to this and the bass blows your head off I apologize.

I used my Les Paul Standard and my Vox AC15 for all of the guitar tracks. The rhythm used a Dunlop Cry Baby wah (already regretting that choice, the wah seems lame here) and a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker. I’m trying to love that pedal. I want to. I just don’t. Every now and then I force the issue and this song is an example. I used the tremolo on the amp in a few spots. I turned it on for the first verse, off for the bridge between verses, then back on with the depth and speed turned up a smidge for the second verse. I turned it up a bit more for the solo at the end. I like how the tremolo on the two rhythm tracks is out of sync. It makes it feel like a panning trick. I also did something different for the lead. I used two low gain overdrive pedals with the volumes cranked and the drives set low. The Blooze Maker was first with the drive at around noon, then the Ryra the Klone was next with the drive barely on at all. I then used the pick ups switch and the volume knobs on the guitar to change the tone a smidge for the different solos. It was interesting. I might do more of that in the future.

chorus
This is the trick we’re playing
the price is not worth paying
we pulled the rug from under
left with the sound of thunder

Verse 1
Feel it the sense of wonder
Know it will not come true
Fooled you they’ve got your number
They knew you through and through

Verse 2
Its like you see the future
as if you knew the drill
I think this could be cooler
I know it never will

Bridge
The key to living
is do not care
its no use giving
what you don’t have]]>
Written on Saturday. Recorded on Saturday and Sunday. Mixed before work on Monday. A nice little weekend song.

I mixed this with Apple AirPod Pros that don’t fit all that well so if you listen to this and the bass blows your head off I apologize.

I used my Les Paul Standard and my Vox AC15 for all of the guitar tracks. The rhythm used a Dunlop Cry Baby wah (already regretting that choice, the wah seems lame here) and a Chicago Stompworks Blooze Maker. I’m trying to love that pedal. I want to. I just don’t. Every now and then I force the issue and this song is an example. I used the tremolo on the amp in a few spots. I turned it on for the first verse, off for the bridge between verses, then back on with the depth and speed turned up a smidge for the second verse. I turned it up a bit more for the solo at the end. I like how the tremolo on the two rhythm tracks is out of sync. It makes it feel like a panning trick. I also did something different for the lead. I used two low gain overdrive pedals with the volumes cranked and the drives set low. The Blooze Maker was first with the drive at around noon, then the Ryra the Klone was next with the drive barely on at all. I then used the pick ups switch and the volume knobs on the guitar to change the tone a smidge for the different solos. It was interesting. I might do more of that in the future.

chorus
This is the trick we’re playing
the price is not worth paying
we pulled the rug from under
left with the sound of thunder

Verse 1
Feel it the sense of wonder
Know it will not come true
Fooled you they’ve got your number
They knew you through and through

Verse 2
Its like you see the future
as if you knew the drill
I think this could be cooler
I know it never will

Bridge
The key to living
is do not care
its no use giving
what you don’t have]]> 6035174 no no Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:24:26 +0200 2021-06-28T20:24:26+02:00 4:45 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/no-chance-for-me-part-2/
I write these little songs as I am recording them and as a result there is no actual rehearsing of anything involved. I do it all on the spot. I really enjoy that process but sometimes it means that an idea I work on doesn’t stick with me and I end up rewriting the same idea at some future point. I accept that this is a thing that I do, but usually it doesn’t happen on the same day.

I had been working on a song for the RPM Challenge’s Record Every Month challenge. I wrote the music and recorded the rhythm guitars and all was well. A few days later I wrote the melody and the lyrics, and a day or so after that I recorded the vocals. Later that day I was planning on adding the lead guitar, but as a warm up I decided I would start a new song and it would be based on the first thing that popped into my head when I plugged in the guitar.

I did not realize that the first thing that came into my head was actually the chorus from the song I had sung that morning, just slowed down 30-40 beats per minute. Oops. It had started to dawn on me before I finished the new song’s structure but it wasn’t until I opened up that morning’s song to add the leads and actually listened to the chorus that I realized exactly how stupid I’d been and I laughed my ass off at my own expense for a while. Dumb ass.

I thought about scrapping the new idea but instead decided it would be part two of the first song. A sequel, if you will. I forced the issue by using one line of lyrics from the first song in the second song. It’s also the title of the song so that sort of made sense.

Now we all know how rare it is for a sequel to be better than the original, but as I sit here typing this out, I am thinking this song is the Empire Strikes Back to part one’s A New Hope. In other words, I think I like this one more.

All of the guitars are my Gibson Les Paul Standard, and all of the guitar tracks are through a Vox AC15 amp. The rhythm guitars used a Ryra The Klone overdrive pedal and a little bit of tremolo from the amp. The leads also used the Ryra along with a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter and a Dunlop Cry Baby Wah.

A
You take a shot at redemption go on
no need to hint at a mention its gone
So take a look past your shoulder and see
it couldn’t feel any colder agree

B
Its a whisper on the wind
You can feel it on your skin
from within

C Section
No chance for me
No chance for me

A2
Its just a twist to the story nowhere
its such a strange allegory take care
If you could sense the deception would you
if you could make an exception will do

B2
Its a chance you have to take
Its a rule you have to break
No mistake

C Section
No chance for me
No chance for me

Outro
Do you agree
can you see

Its down to you
Down to me]]>
I write these little songs as I am recording them and as a result there is no actual rehearsing of anything involved. I do it all on the spot. I really enjoy that process but sometimes it means that an idea I work on doesn’t stick with me and I end up rewriting the same idea at some future point. I accept that this is a thing that I do, but usually it doesn’t happen on the same day.

I had been working on a song for the RPM Challenge’s Record Every Month challenge. I wrote the music and recorded the rhythm guitars and all was well. A few days later I wrote the melody and the lyrics, and a day or so after that I recorded the vocals. Later that day I was planning on adding the lead guitar, but as a warm up I decided I would start a new song and it would be based on the first thing that popped into my head when I plugged in the guitar.

I did not realize that the first thing that came into my head was actually the chorus from the song I had sung that morning, just slowed down 30-40 beats per minute. Oops. It had started to dawn on me before I finished the new song’s structure but it wasn’t until I opened up that morning’s song to add the leads and actually listened to the chorus that I realized exactly how stupid I’d been and I laughed my ass off at my own expense for a while. Dumb ass.

I thought about scrapping the new idea but instead decided it would be part two of the first song. A sequel, if you will. I forced the issue by using one line of lyrics from the first song in the second song. It’s also the title of the song so that sort of made sense.

Now we all know how rare it is for a sequel to be better than the original, but as I sit here typing this out, I am thinking this song is the Empire Strikes Back to part one’s A New Hope. In other words, I think I like this one more.

All of the guitars are my Gibson Les Paul Standard, and all of the guitar tracks are through a Vox AC15 amp. The rhythm guitars used a Ryra The Klone overdrive pedal and a little bit of tremolo from the amp. The leads also used the Ryra along with a Malaise Forever Black Lives Matter and a Dunlop Cry Baby Wah.

A
You take a shot at redemption go on
no need to hint at a mention its gone
So take a look past your shoulder and see
it couldn’t feel any colder agree

B
Its a whisper on the wind
You can feel it on your skin
from within

C Section
No chance for me
No chance for me

A2
Its just a twist to the story nowhere
its such a strange allegory take care
If you could sense the deception would you
if you could make an exception will do

B2
Its a chance you have to take
Its a rule you have to break
No mistake

C Section
No chance for me
No chance for me

Outro
Do you agree
can you see

Its down to you
Down to me]]> 6034244 no no Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:16:52 +0200 2021-06-28T04:16:52+02:00 3:45 https://hearthis.at/musicalidiot/no-chance-for-me-part-1/
The title says part one because I kinda wrote this same song twice without really realizing it. Possibly more to come on that later, assuming I can finish the other part before the end of the month.

All guitar parts are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s through a Vox AC15. Pedals on the rhythm guitar parts are just a Ryra The Klone with a little MXR Uni-Vibe in the bridge. The leads used the Ryra again along with a Wren and Cuff Super Russian, both the fuzz and the boost were on.

Chorus
Of all the times to come apart this is the one for me
Of all the days to come unglued it has to be you see

Verse 1
So you see for me it had to fall apart
you know the way it always seems to go

Pre Chorus
I’ll tell you all about it

Verse 2
Maybe now you’ll know what I’ve been feeling as
the world unmakes and crumbles into dust

Bridge
I’ll give you first hand info
Everything that you need
I’ll share the whole entire thing
Someday you will see

Outro Chorus
No chance for me
No chance for me]]>
The title says part one because I kinda wrote this same song twice without really realizing it. Possibly more to come on that later, assuming I can finish the other part before the end of the month.

All guitar parts are a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50’s through a Vox AC15. Pedals on the rhythm guitar parts are just a Ryra The Klone with a little MXR Uni-Vibe in the bridge. The leads used the Ryra again along with a Wren and Cuff Super Russian, both the fuzz and the boost were on.

Chorus
Of all the times to come apart this is the one for me
Of all the days to come unglued it has to be you see

Verse 1
So you see for me it had to fall apart
you know the way it always seems to go

Pre Chorus
I’ll tell you all about it

Verse 2
Maybe now you’ll know what I’ve been feeling as
the world unmakes and crumbles into dust

Bridge
I’ll give you first hand info
Everything that you need
I’ll share the whole entire thing
Someday you will see

Outro Chorus
No chance for me
No chance for me]]> 6028129 no no Fri, 25 Jun 2021 14:43:39 +0200 2021-06-25T14:43:39+02:00 2:50