Electric Tooth Syndrome - Upward I Stumble (Complete Third Album) (1156 hits)
Category: Sound & MusicLabels: ets_music
Rating: 1.34 on 58 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (View user info) at 2006-08-06 16:25:50 EDT
Other Complete ETS Albums...
Nevermind Remake (2006)- http://www.ubersite.com/m/89845
In Praise of Folly (2001)- http://www.ubersite.com/m/90123
Tear Open the Massive Dark (1995-2002)- http://www.ubersite.com/m/91280
I thought I might do something a little different with this album than I've done with the last three I've posted. This time I thought I might give you a little background into each song...maybe give you a little insight into where they came from and what was going on at that time in my life. I figure anyone who takes the time to download a whole album by some asshole they met on the internet, they at least deserve to know what they're getting.
In order to fully appreciate what this collection of songs represents to me, it is probably first necessary to understand that at the time I was making it I was living with a woman and her two children, both of whom were young. I loved them all very much and I know they loved me too. Things were often difficult, though. Money was an ever-present issue, as it is in so many relationships, and her family didn't really approve of me, mainly because of the manner in which we came to be together and because I never had the most spotless of reputations.
I had fallen in love with her the first time we met. My car had broken down on a dark road one night and I was forced to walk to the nearest gas station for help. She just happened to be working there at the time. While I waited for my ride to come, we stood in the parking lot and talked. There was something behind her eyes that drew me in - told me she understood. What I did not know was that she was married.
I hadn't even thought to look for a ring. I hadn't thought to ask about it. It never occurred to me, I guess. Either that, or I was just too twitterpated to think straight. Long story short, I was on a collision course with fate, whether I liked it or not. The roller coaster had left the station, and there was no choice but to ride it out or jump off. I...well...we chose the former, or the latter, depending on how you look at it.
Fast-forward five years. The kids were growing fast. They were both in school. She was working as a waitress and I was working at a Job Corps Center, watching over all the hoodlums while they sleep in their dorms, which can be quite dangerous when you carry a knife as big as mine. When I was not at work, I was in the computer room or at the kitchen table home writing these songs like they meant something, while she sat on the couch watching whatever reality show was the craze of the moment. She would typically try to get me to join her, to spend some time cuddled up with her under blankets, but more times than not, I was too wrapped up in what I was doing. What an idiot.
Needless to say, the coldness grew. The weeds that had already taken root with any number of predictable arguments were now waist-high, and I didn't have either the time or attention necessary to help mow them down.
Some nights while lying awake in bed beside her, I would begin to hear the voices calling me. The kitchen table beckoned. The pen and the paper needed to marry, and so it was that often for the next three or four hours I'd sit there hunched over a notepad seeing how quiet an acoustic guitar could actually be while still making sound.
Some days, while she and the kids were away for a few minutes...perhaps at the grocery store...I would rush to the computer to record a few tracks while the house was quiet. It was impossible to do any actual recording any other time. More times than not, I had to settle for whatever I could get down in the fifteen minutes before they returned. Needless to say, I had to learn to be satisfied with something that was less than perfection. I guess living with myself all those years had been good practice.
So this is the world around which this album came into being. It wasn't a month after its completion that she took the kids and left me. In a way, this album helped put the final nail in the coffin for that chapter of my life. Kinda funny considering the subject of the last song on it. It wasn't like her leaving was totally unexpected, but I guess I was always naïve enough to think we'd find a way, or my second chances to be the person she fell in love with again would never run out. I was wrong.
Funny thing. I took a picture of her as she was leaving the house that last day. I actually called to her so she would turn around and I snapped a single photograph of her as she was walking out the door. I told her I wanted to be forced to remember this moment forever. If any of you remember the song I submitted for UberMadness last year, "Slow Burn"...it speaks of a picture being all that's left of someone. That was pretty much the picture I had in mind. Irony is, by the time I'd written that song, I had lost the picture too. If that's not the definition of 'loser', I don't know what is.
Anyway, enough with the introductions...here are the songs, along with some specific descriptions of whatever I can remember about their genesis. Lyrics can be downloaded and read here: http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/ets_upward_lyrics.rar (Will need Winrar or Winzip to unzip Word documents).
01 Perceiver -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/01%20Perceiver.mp3
The day I wrote this song, I was listening to John Denver and tripping acid while everyone was away for a weekend. It was one of those rare days that I had entirely to myself to do whatever I chose, and somehow I'd gotten hold of some paper. John Denver was so goddamn happy that day! I remember just feeling blissful. Purely blissful. No worries in the world. I remember being stricken how many references Denver made to his own songs within the songs themselves and how much nature was involved and at some point it hit me like a ton of bricks... I paused the CD and furiously hammered out the melody and lyrics to this on the spot. It was a satisfying day. On a sidenote, the organ that can be heard in this recording is one that belonged to my mom when she was a little girl. It is one of those chord organs that run on electricity. It happened to be the reason she found out there was no Santa Claus, because she accidentally found it in my grandparents' closet before she received it on Christmas day sometime in the late 60s.
02 Vortical Monster -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/02%20Vortical%20Monster.mp3
This song began with the melody. It was one of those that I stumbled upon while fucking around with a chord progression. It seems that many of my songs begin this way. I'll start humming something automatically with the music and words will stumble out...a little here and a little there, and then comes the difficult task of assembling them all into some sort of meaningful composite. I remember it being a particularly stormy spring that year and the lyrics just sort of wanted to talk about tornados. I've often had dreams throughout my life about being in a landscape surrounded by tornados. At some point in the dream, I almost invariably end up on some summit looking down upon the landscape, and I see it is filled with hundreds of tornados as far as the eye can see. They are at once beautiful and terrifying. 'Awesome' I suppose would be the word...awesome in its most literal sense. I've often mused that human life, consciousness itself, is very much like a tornado. We are like these little vortices turned in on ourselves...raw matter that is forced to acknowledge its own existence and then proceed in a spiral to wherever and whatever. This song is about just that - the strange and chanceful birth and death of the storm that is human life. In the intro, which came somewhat by accident during the recording process, I tried to use backward tracks to try and capture the feeling of black, ominous clouds swirling around you.
03 Succumb -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/03%20Succumb.mp3
This song began completely as a melody in my head. It was the first three notes of a Radiohead song that gave me the idea. I do that a lot. I'll hear something on the radio and think, "They should have taken that melody somewhere else." And it's almost never just 'somewhere else,' it's usually a very specific 'RIGHT HERE'! So it was with that Radiohead song. I don't even remember which song it is now, but all I could think is, "Why didn't they do this instead?" I paused the CD and kept humming the tune in my head until I found my little tape recorder and got it on tape. Later that day, I think, I picked up the guitar and figured it out. Lyrically it's a pretty self-deprecating song, but at the same time it acknowledges the healing power of the artistic muse. But, it's really bittersweet in a sense because to 'succumb' means to get too close to the muse, to hold it too tightly, which invariably kills it. It is for this reason she must remain far away...in the clouds.
04 Upward I Stumble -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/04%20Upward%20I%20Stumble.mp3
I'm not sure why I made this the title track. This is the only album of mine with a title track. I guess I just thought this title fit the overall mood of the album so well I couldn't pass it up. The song itself is a lament for what I saw as a loss of a certain perspective. I felt then, as I still do now sometimes, so beaten down by the mundane, by the daily grind, and by the worries associated with it that a part of me was dying as a result. That explains the drudging, monotonous tempo. If you are familiar with the "White Album" by The Beatles, the song "I'm So Tired" captures pretty much the same thing in a different way. Lyrically, I was really happy with the extended metaphor part with the smog and city lights. I love it when I say exactly what I wanted to say. I'm not sure that always happens.
05 Ebay Item #112419777685 -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/05%20Ebay%20Item%20112419777685.mp3
I had read a snippet in a newspaper about the strange things some people sell on ebay. The main body of the article was dedicated to a family that was selling its services as a surrogate for some prospective millionaire who needed a family to hang out on holidays and add general wholesome company in his exotic travels and such. They were asking some ungodly amount as a starting bid. They were even willing to relocate and live with the buyer! I know...I thought it was fruity too. But toward the end of the article they mentioned some of the other weird things that ebayers have tried to sell. More than one person has tried to sell his soul, which, for some reason is against ebay policy, and for some other reason I found highly amusing. At least amusing enough to write a song about it. Many of the lyrics were written at work...that's right...at the Job Corps Center. As for the recording, I was going for a live performance sound, like the ragged band was playing for a bunch of 3AM patrons at some Vegas casino nightclub, complete with clinking glasses and shouts from the audience. Interesting notes: item number in the title actually spells out my birth date and the word 'soul' on a telephone keypad, and several of the audience members are modeled after the black kids at the Job Corps where I was working at the time. That's why you hear the phrase "hey dog" in the background at the beginning of the song.
06 In a Dream -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/06%20In%20a%20Dream.mp3
Not sure exactly what I was thinking when I wrote this one, I just knew that I didn't write enough songs with storylines, and I wanted to write a song with a tragic storyline. At the time I was listening to a lot of alt country and old folk music like The Handsome Family and John Prine, so this song is a reflection of that influence. This is one of those songs that was recorded in a hurry while the she and the kids were gone to the store, at least the vocals were. I've found that keeping first takes is rarely a good idea, but I guess it doesn't matter that much. Funny thing too, I didn't have an actual drum set at the house, so I had to use the bass drum from the drum machine by pressing the button with my finger and used a couple pieces of wood for the 'snare'. That's why it's always good to have a bag full of random percussion instruments lying about...in case you ever have to record on the fly!
07 Super Glue -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/07%20Super%20Glue.mp3
This one, again, started out as a melody, I think. It was one of those I believe I had in my head and had to struggle to get out. It's weird really...I cannot specifically recall writing this one. I listen to it now and think that I must have written it this way because I know my own patterns, but the details are fuzzy. Maybe I was stoned. That's probably it. Speaking of which, I played this song on guitar the other day in my apartment for, like, the second or third time since I'd recorded it. Sometimes you have to just check and make sure you can still even play your own damned songs. I still like the lyrics to this one though. They're just incongruous enough to still be interesting for me.
08 My Bloody Valentine -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/08%20My%20Bloody%20Valentine.mp3
This song was probably the most labor I've ever put into a set of lyrics. My friend, John, had come up with the banjo part and played it for me one night while we were exchanging song ideas. I came up with the guitar part pretty much on the spot, but I knew the lyrics would require some special attention. I knew precisely the mood I wanted to go for and the general thrust of what I wanted, but it took a bit of familiar inspiration to get it moving. I was renting my home from my dad at the time on his farm out in the woods of western Kentucky, and in back there was an old cistern beside a scary, dilapidated, early 19th century log house...the kind of house that used mud between the boards and newspapers for insulation, the kind of place you'd envision ghosts gathering when they have no place else to go on a cold winter night. (This is also the same house I was living in when much of my second album was written, if that tells you anything.) I knew I wanted to incorporate it somehow in the lyrics in some kind of ghost story, but seeing as not many things rhyme with "cistern", I changed it to "well" and went from there. Everything in the song is describing a real place on or near my dad's old farm. There really was a woman down the lane, although she was prettier in the song. There is a grove of pine trees way back on a hill that always creeped me out for some reason. Even the spirits I speak of are real. I am not the only one who has felt them out there either. My stepmother swears there are demons in that house. She says they would make my dad crazy and try to break up their marriage. That's reflected in the song as well. I guess, if I'm feeling inclined to skirt the blame off on the netherworld for my failings, I could say that where they failed with my dad and stepmom, they succeeded with my girlfriend and I. Fuckers. In fact, the first night we had stayed in that house, the light fixture fell directly on my girlfriend's head while we were trying to sleep. It just popped off the ceiling and clonked her on the noggin. Maybe we should have taken the hint.
09 Lord, Have Mercy on My Soul -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/09%20Lord,%20Have%20Mercy%20on%20My%20Soul.mp3
At the time I wrote this song, I was actually quite far from anything resembling a Christian lifestyle. I wrote this in the same way Hank Williams might have written "I Saw the Light" while drinking a stiff bourbon and beating his wife senseless... Well, maybe not that bad. But I did try to get some of that Hank twang in my vocals for this one, which coming from the Bluegrass State probably takes less work than I'm willing to admit.
10 When I Was a Boy -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/10%20When%20I%20was%20a%20Boy.mp3
I've told this story on this website before, I'm sure. When I was very very young, perhaps 2 or 3 years old, I had a dream...and yes I remember a dream from the age of 3, don't ask me how... In this dream I was taken into the basement of my first childhood home by a spirit. The basement was cold and dank and I was always afraid of what was down there, but in the presence of this spirit I was not afraid. It was a spirit both light and dark in nature. I could never have accurately described it then, but now I see it like it contained the wisdom of both God and Devil. It had the intelligence and cunning of the Devil and the wisdom and grace of God. Together we hovered off the floor and peered out of one of the small, rectangular windows to the world outside. Whilst we gazed, the spirit told me, without speaking, that this life was going to be difficult, but I had something important I was supposed to do here. For years I guess I vainly thought that meant be a rock star or some shit (as if). Of course I pretty much know better now, but still, this event has, in one way or another, followed me all my life. At the same time, though, I am eternally grateful for having that experience at such an early age. I wasn't much like the other kids growing up and I owe most of that to my mom. She is a very wise woman. She understands things. She did her best to give me a happy childhood and mostly succeeded, but still, there is a certain sadness that lurks just behind the veil of reality for me, a certain bitterness that follows me. If I'm being honest, childhood was a bit of a nightmare world the way I remember it. Most people, when asked if they would like to go back and relive their childhood, will answer with a resounding yes, but I honestly couldn't bear the thought of going through some of that shit again.
11 Requiem for a Beloved -
http://www.electrictoothsyndrome.com/songs/Upward_I_Stumble/11%20Requiem%20for%20a%20Beloved.mp3
This one is pretty self-explanatory. The lyrics were intentionally left open to interpretation. I wanted the listener to be unable to ascertain whether the person spoken of in the lyrics was dead or just leaving. The 'requiem' in the title hints toward death, but the lyrics sound more like leaving. I guess, in the end, it is whatever it means to you. Plus, I'm tired of writing right now.
CREDITS:
©(p)2003 Centripedal Noise Music (ASCAP)
All songs written, performed, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Brad Linzy except "My bloody Valentine": music by Brad Linzy and John Wheatley. Lyrics by Linzy. John Wheatley, banjo.
Cover photo: Brad Linzy
Cover subject: Monteray Reynolds
User Reviews
Submitted by GMCrayon (user info) at 2006-12-26 09:50:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Vortical Monster is beautiful. I won't be able to explain in musical terms, but suffice to say that I loved it. Thank you.
Submitted by BobLobla (user info) at 2006-08-11 17:42:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2006-08-08 12:24:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
okay so i listened to it.
Submitted by VelvetElvis (user info) at 2006-08-08 00:39:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Gerry Rafferty comes to mind now that I've heard the rest since last nite. I bet you could knock the hell out of "Baker Street".
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2006-08-08 00:25:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
oh, fuck that. "...don't be surprised when I hit back with equally childish measures."
and you wonder why the world is fucked
Submitted by Istaros (user info) at 2006-08-08 00:23:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 twitterpatted
it's nice having friends
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-07 19:37:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I think it would be a blast.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-08-07 14:59:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-07 01:23:45 (#)
Ranking: 0
I'd like to get you, Yellow_Dart, Filthy, Cap'nthorns, and a few others together sometime for a week of crazy shit. We should plan a road trip or something...sleep out with the moon for a week or so. I'll drive. Whaddaya say? Montana?
Anyone else in?
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scourgey and I were actually thinking of coordinating a camping ubercon this fall for us midwest-located folk, plus anyone willing to travel to the vast corn field of Illinois/Indiana. Wanna join the steering committee?
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-08-07 14:53:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-07 10:29:27 (#)
Ranking: 0
Davros: All of my songs are encoded at 160kbps bitrate, so quality shouldn't be too big an issue unless you're counting my initial recording quality, which isn't always the best.
Every song you hear on the radio has been professionally mastered, a process which normalizes the levels and utilizes artfully-applied compression and EQs to optimize the quality of a record and highlight important aspects of a recording. You can think of it as the final resize, color calibration, and gloss on a finished art print...but this process costs money.
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160kbps birate encoding? Why not just keep it at 128? Thought that was the standard for CD-quality recording...but I could be wrong.
I, too, need to take classes to catch up with the digital age. It's been eight years since my last music tech class. But experience is the best teacher of all, hands down.
Except when it comes to mastering. That process is hard as fuck and screwing that up can ruin a perfectly good mixdown. It's why I will be hiring a professional to master my album when I'm done recording and mixing. The money spent is generally well worth it if you're not an expert.
Although, I will say for you Brad, that you did an OUTSTANDING job mastering the Nirvana remake.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-08-07 10:52:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I use to do everything at 160 but a lot of sites won't let you upload the MP3s unless they're 128.
Hence, all my music floating around out there is at 128 now...
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-08-07 10:35:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Not a big crit and I understand what you are saying.
I suspect that most of the currently posted stuff will be ok, but some of the stuff that I have tried to download previously has been around 96kbps, which doesn't sound great.
As a rule I look at 128kbps to sound good on the move, which is a vast improvement on the previosly mentioned stuff.
As I have said elsewhere I have zero musical talent and my tastes are seriously varied, so I will listen to anything.
Rest assured that the only reason that I am making these comments is that I have enjoyed listening to some of your stuff and would like to hear more.
-Dave
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-07 10:29:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Davros: All of my songs are encoded at 160kbps bitrate, so quality shouldn't be too big an issue unless you're counting my initial recording quality, which isn't always the best.
Every song you hear on the radio has been professionally mastered, a process which normalizes the levels and utilizes artfully-applied compression and EQs to optimize the quality of a record and highlight important aspects of a recording. You can think of it as the final resize, color calibration, and gloss on a finished art print...but this process costs money.
I can speak for myself that I try to master my tracks myself to get the optimum quality out of them. I have even gone to great lengths to remaster my old records so that even the crappy recordings don't sound so bad. I'm getting better, but I have a lot of learning yet to do.
Think of it this way... If you listen to my stuff right after listening to a song made in the last 5 years, it's probably going to sound quieter and less full, but if you go back to something recorded in the 60s, 70s, or 80s that has never been remastered, it's going to sound as good or better quality-wise in most cases.
In short, I need to take some classes to catch up.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-08-07 10:03:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I haven't downloaded any of these yet, but I do have some of yours, (and others), on my iTunes/iPod.
One thing I want to get out there for anyone posting music here.
Please try and make it reasonable quality. This crit is as much at you than anyone else. You posted this http://www.ubersite.com/m/77899 and a lot of the tracks sound dubious due to reduced bitrate.
It sounds even worse when played on the iPod than it does on the PC.
I will listen and give a chance to anyone who has the balls and the desire to post music on a forum like this, but I would like to listen to it at a level that allows me to listen without cringing.
-Dave
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2006-08-07 08:57:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This next song, you all might like.
Few people know that I am fueled creatively by my massive hatred of immigrants.
Gary and I have gone on for hours about how much we hate foreignors. Right, Gary?
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-08-07 08:46:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:43:48 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:17:59 (#)
Ranking: -2
you're so fucking lame. jesus, if you're going to post your music, that's fine, but don't be surprised when somebody doesn't like it. don't go back and -2 their posts just because they weren't dropping to their knees the second they heard it. god dammit you're like a child...
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That would be an excellent point had you even listened to any of them. But you didn't. By your own admission, you listened to 10 seconds of 2 songs.
I don't mind people not liking my music. I'm quite used to that. But if you're just gonna -2 it to be the first to review, don't be surprised when I hit back with equally childish measures.
And stop whining about it. Take your lumps and be on your way. After all, isn't that what you expect me to do?
=====================
OH SNAP!
ZINNNNG
ETS - awesome stuff.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-08-07 03:58:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Wait, he went -2bombing on you all too?
I'm trying to figure out what shit he has on bart, because he's done this at least 20 times in the past 4 months, and nothing ever happens.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2006-08-07 03:49:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-08-06 18:02:57 (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:17:59 (#)
Ranking: -2
you're so fucking lame. jesus, if you're going to post your music, that's fine, but don't be surprised when somebody doesn't like it. don't go back and -2 their posts just because they weren't dropping to their knees the second they heard it. god dammit you're like a child...
===============
For the record, ETS did this same shit to me. I think there's consensus that he has the maturity level of an eggplant.
P.S. - ETS, your music is marginally palatable, at best. Kind of like your political views. Hey, at least you're consistent.
---
Good to see the two of you dorks remain consistently retarded.
Mr. Tooth... fine fine work. Vortical Monster is incredible.
Beauty, eh.
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2006-08-07 03:02:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
wow a tommy james and the shondells mention, don't see that every day
crimson and clover is an amazing song
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2006-08-07 02:54:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
first half of vortical monster could have been from a radiohead song, and that's good
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-07 01:51:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
PS: The little girl in that picture...her name is Monteray...her favorite song is Cat Stevens' "Moonshadow".
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-07 01:49:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by pandora (user info) at 2006-08-07 01:45:52 (#)
Ranking: 2
Very enjoyable. Haunting, eery, nostalgic. Made me cry a little. Sort of "O Brother" meets Cat Stevens meets Cobain meets Tommy James and the Shondells.
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Wow. You just pegged me almost to a T. Thank you. I'm really glad you seem to get it.
Thanks again.
Submitted by pandora (user info) at 2006-08-07 01:45:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Very enjoyable. Haunting, eery, nostalgic. Made me cry a little. Sort of "O Brother" meets Cat Stevens meets Cobain meets Tommy James and the Shondells.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-07 01:23:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by VelvetElvis (user info) at 2006-08-06 22:28:50 (#)
Ranking: 2
The title cut could've been a cover of Mazzy Star from a David Lynch soundtrack, moody and desolate good stuff, like Just a Boy. Will listen to others tomorrow.
Now I just need a good cry and a hug. Going to lie on the roof and thump cigarette butts at the stars.
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I've noticed you're a bit of the pensive type. I've seen a couple of your other reviews and i've arrived at the conclusion that you're either an alcoholic or a really cool cat...or both.
I'd like to get you, Yellow_Dart, Filthy, Cap'nthorns, and a few others together sometime for a week of crazy shit. We should plan a road trip or something...sleep out with the moon for a week or so. I'll drive. Whaddaya say? Montana?
Anyone else in?
Submitted by extacy_red (user info) at 2006-08-06 23:29:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-08-06 18:02:57 (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:17:59 (#)
Ranking: -2
you're so fucking lame. jesus, if you're going to post your music, that's fine, but don't be surprised when somebody doesn't like it. don't go back and -2 their posts just because they weren't dropping to their knees the second they heard it. god dammit you're like a child...
===============
For the record, ETS did this same shit to me. I think there's consensus that he has the maturity level of an eggplant.
P.S. - ETS, your music is marginally palatable, at best. Kind of like your political views. Hey, at least you're consistent.
---
Because your totally above retal hitting and -2ing every post of the authors.
wait a second...
http://www.ubersite.com/u/extacy_red
And at least he's got the balls to put it out there, and the talent to actually write that shit.
I'm so sick of you acting all high and mighty when your naught but a shitstain on uber's rotting undergarments.
Submitted by VelvetElvis (user info) at 2006-08-06 22:28:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The title cut could've been a cover of Mazzy Star from a David Lynch soundtrack, moody and desolate good stuff, like Just a Boy. Will listen to others tomorrow.
Now I just need a good cry and a hug. Going to lie on the roof and thump cigarette butts at the stars.
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-08-06 20:29:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Awesome. Succumb was pretty good. While this isn't my exact taste in music (perhaps a tad 'folky'), I can still appreciate how much effort all this takes. I'd like to hear clearer vocals, but recording in a house makes that a tad difficult. Good job all round, though.
Say, have you heard the new Stone Sour album yet?
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-08-06 20:26:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
email me.
live47and33.at.yahoo.com
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2006-08-06 20:23:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
What I enjoy about music is that certain songs, even if they're in completely different genres, are able to mesh perfectly together (after beat-mapping and pitch-adjusting first).
This is one of my best remixes done thus far: http://www.ubersite.com/m/87252
I took three existing songs (Above And Beyond - Far From In Love (Airbase Remix), Silvertear - So Deep, and Darren Hayes - Heart Attack) clipped it up, and threw them all together to create a Euro Trance mix. I'm not much into techno myself, but the style is just so liberal, that you can make just about anything work, which is why I appreciate it so much.
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2006-08-06 20:18:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
It was ok.
I'm not going to say that it sucked, because it didn't...... but I'm not going to say it was fantastic either. I certainly have an appreciation for your style, because each song meant something to you when you did it, and that's what matters.
When I write music, I've always written it as if I were building something. Begin with the foundation, fill it in as best as you can, and see what works. I've been more fascinated with the structure of music, rather than the meaning. For instance, I never cared to try and draw out any meaning from the lyrics of Pink Floyd's "Time", I would just brace myself for the guitar solo, and then get lost in the sound. With that said, I can tell you that your album is pretty good. A little too mellow for my taste, but that's a whole different animal.
Good work.
Submitted by KindaNews (user info) at 2006-08-06 19:53:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 19:45:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I would like to use it for ambience and things...sound effects mostly...but I probably wouldn't ever use it much.
Vortical Monster, for instance, that one would have probably been a lot easier with some samples. As it were, I had to record all of those ambient noises from scratch.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-08-06 19:35:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm on an E-Mac, so I use their program called Garage Band. I find that it's much more user friendly than CakeWalk or Fruity Loops. Everything is just 'drag and drop.' What's also nice about the Apple community is all the free stuff they like to give away. I've probably got over 2000 extra loops and strokes that I've downloaded legally from Apple support sites.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 19:25:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Kaos: Listening now. I've never been much into techno. Would made good soundtrack music for a detective film or horror film. What program are you using?
Anyone who downloaded this album so far, I just realized that tracks 5 and 6 were backwards. I just fixed them though, so they should be straight now.
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-08-06 19:07:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Okay, I may think you're batshit crazy, but...
This is some excellent fucking work. "Vortical Monster" is god damn brilliant. I listened to the first 5 songs and the only critical thing I can say is that your treble seems a bit high. There is a distinct lack of bass in these tunes. Other than that, your production work is solid and very full. I think this is by far your best work yet. I would actually pay to have some of these songs.
The background you provided here was nice (sad actually) and I absolutely love the album cover.
I just got done working on two remixes for a local singing artist, her stuff is kinda retro-pop. I've never remixed a pre-existing song before, and it was especially hard without the master tracks. I just tweeked the bass, filtered her vocals, and added some synth and effects. I know I linked you to LastFM.com on one of your previous posts, but this time if you get unbelievably bored, check out my work at http://www.myspace.com/enochianworld
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2006-08-06 18:05:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-08-06 18:02:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:17:59 (#)
Ranking: -2
you're so fucking lame. jesus, if you're going to post your music, that's fine, but don't be surprised when somebody doesn't like it. don't go back and -2 their posts just because they weren't dropping to their knees the second they heard it. god dammit you're like a child...
===============
For the record, ETS did this same shit to me. I think there's consensus that he has the maturity level of an eggplant.
P.S. - ETS, your music is marginally palatable, at best. Kind of like your political views. Hey, at least you're consistent.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:54:02 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Everyones a critic, huh? The easiest thing to do is sing along with the radio.
It's a little tougher to do good karaoke. The toughest thing is to play and sing
at the same time. The last is a lesson I learned in a band in high school.
I suppose music is in the earof the listener, but I doubt may of the naysayers
could do better.
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:50:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/88968
I wrote this one. It would be cool if you added to it.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:43:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:17:59 (#)
Ranking: -2
you're so fucking lame. jesus, if you're going to post your music, that's fine, but don't be surprised when somebody doesn't like it. don't go back and -2 their posts just because they weren't dropping to their knees the second they heard it. god dammit you're like a child...
----------
That would be an excellent point had you even listened to any of them. But you didn't. By your own admission, you listened to 10 seconds of 2 songs.
I don't mind people not liking my music. I'm quite used to that. But if you're just gonna -2 it to be the first to review, don't be surprised when I hit back with equally childish measures.
And stop whining about it. Take your lumps and be on your way. After all, isn't that what you expect me to do?
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:38:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by august_sobriquet (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:09:26 (#)
Ranking: 2
I always like the music that you write, your voice sounds, to me, usually tinny and far away. also, kinda sing-songy, along with the melody all the time. I don't know, I can appreciate all the work you've put in, I'd like to hear someone else to sing your songs. Thats just my .02.
-----------------
Here's the thing...
I completely understand where you're all coming from in your criticisms of my vocals. I can sing in a number of styles and impersonate any number of vocalists all of whom are NOT ME, and besides the fact that I don't have the greatest voice, I have always had a tendency to mix my vocals further back in the mix than most people so they sound weak. A lot of that is because I used to mix exclusively with headphones, and that can skew the perception.
I haven't always had the proper technology or the know-how to make a professional-sounding recording. I am just now getting closer to that point, but it's a learning process. I am not completely happy with the mixes on all these, but I can't go back and fix them. The original masters are lost for this album, so all I have are the mixes I made back at the time these albums were made. The machines I used are long gone, so even the albums done on analog are incompatible with other machines because of head calibration, etc.
Let me explain something to you...recording, first of all, is not easy. Apart from just slapping a mic in front of something and saying "fuck it", there is a LOT of work that goes into a record. Do you ever wonder why a band often doesn't sound as good live as they do on their record? That's because, unless they are only gonna sound as good as their live soundman. They could give the performance of their life onstage, but without a good soundman to help them carry that across, the audience might never hear it. That's why they have schools for this shit.
Depending on how much time you can spend working on it, a good sound technician with the right technology can turn even the crappiest performances into something that's listenable. I could go in and add low frequencies in the EQ of many of the vocals, boost their levels, apply dynamic compression, and you wouldn't even recognize them anymore...but that's not the level of know-how I had at the time.
If you want to hear a slicker-sounding vocal outta me, you should stick around till I get to my more recent recordings or listen to the Nevermind remakes. Those I'm happy with. Of course, it's still not gonna be what you're used to hearing because I have different ideas and tastes when it comes to vocals. My vocals on that album are far more thick and lush. They have a more 'choral', singalong effect. That's precisely what I wanted. It's an attempt to bring the melody to the fore. Melody is the most important thing in much of my music.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:20:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
aahahahahahahaha!!!
ahahhahaahahhahhahahhaha ahahha ahahahaahhaahah!
you are so 'edgy'.
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:17:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
you're so fucking lame. jesus, if you're going to post your music, that's fine, but don't be surprised when somebody doesn't like it. don't go back and -2 their posts just because they weren't dropping to their knees the second they heard it. god dammit you're like a child...
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:13:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:56:47 (#)
Ranking: 2
Wardy.....Fuck off.
ETS,
I definately do not like your opinions on conspiracy theories and the government. As a man who has spent much time in the middle east as a soldier and a civilian, I must say I think your judgement is clouded.
Regardless, I love your approach to music. You pull in some of that late Zeppelin feel. I know and you know that your voice is not magical but the music is. I have no experiance mixing but you definately seem to have your hand on that.
Sad to say,,,,,,,,,,I could learn from you.
I hate me
---------
I appreciate that, but with all due respect, you don't have have been a soldier or even traveled to the middle east to understand strategic foreign policy or understand how 9/11 worked in Bush's favor. I'm assuming that's what you mean...9/11? This isn't a political post and I don't want it to become one, and while I acknowledge that you will have better first hand experience with the situation on the ground in that region, you still have to step back at some point to see the bigger picture.
Anyway, thanks for the compliment. I appreciate it. When are you gonna post an original?
Submitted by Genko (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:11:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"I know the place from where those vocals came on this recording were sincere...and, to me, that's more important than 1000 robot, cookie-cutter radio bands whose shit is usually so overproduced, the soul is completely stripped from it."
You're a master of your craft, sir.
Submitted by august_sobriquet (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:09:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I always like the music that you write, your voice sounds, to me, usually tinny and far away. also, kinda sing-songy, along with the melody all the time. I don't know, I can appreciate all the work you've put in, I'd like to hear someone else to sing your songs. Thats just my .02.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:07:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Genko (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:57:22 (#)
Ranking: 2
He shouldn't have to describe what's wrong with it 'in musical terms'. Art is art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there's no sense robbing people of the value of their opinions because they're not versed in the specific langauge of academic pretense known as 'musical terms'.
That being said, I very much like what I've listened to so far.
---------
That's exactly what I was driving at in a more roundabout manner. I wanted him to articulate it, and in the effort to do so, I wanted him to arrive at what you just said.
I don't know about anyone else, I can't speak for you, but for me, my voice does the job I told it to. I wasn't trying to be overpowering or perfect. That was never my goal. If it were my goal, I have the technical skills in recording to make it perfect. But 'perfection', like Genko said about art, is in the eye of the beholder. I know the place from where those vocals came on this recording were sincere...and, to me, that's more important than 1000 robot, cookie-cutter radio bands whose shit is usually so overproduced, the soul is completely stripped from it.
Submitted by Genko (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:00:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
In all fairness, though, I do think it's somewhat unfair for wardy to have rated it without having listened to the whole thing.
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 17:00:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
couldn't have said it better myself.
Submitted by Genko (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:57:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
He shouldn't have to describe what's wrong with it 'in musical terms'. Art is art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and there's no sense robbing people of the value of their opinions because they're not versed in the specific langauge of academic pretense known as 'musical terms'.
That being said, I very much like what I've listened to so far.
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:56:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Wardy.....Fuck off.
ETS,
I definately do not like your opinions on conspiracy theories and the government. As a man who has spent much time in the middle east as a soldier and a civilian, I must say I think your judgement is clouded.
Regardless, I love your approach to music. You pull in some of that late Zeppelin feel. I know and you know that your voice is not magical but the music is. I have no experiance mixing but you definately seem to have your hand on that.
Sad to say,,,,,,,,,,I could learn from you.
I hate me
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:52:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Can you describe what was wrong with it in musical terms?
Furthermore, did you even attempt to listen to the melodies or the songwriting?
Submitted by KevinHo (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:51:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Vortical Monster kicked ass.
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:51:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
it sounded like crap. what kind of question is that?
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:49:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:47:27 (#)
Ranking: -2
i listened to the beginning of two songs. they both sucked and your voice was awful.
------------------
And what was so awful about it?
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:47:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
i listened to the beginning of two songs. they both sucked and your voice was awful.
don't quit your day job.
Submitted by moneyshotforyou (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:41:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You know I like your music. I will get into this later tonight.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:38:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You listened to it in 5 minutes. Wow. You're awesome.
Submitted by wardy (user info) at 2006-08-06 16:36:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
this was awful. you should not be allowed near a microphone...