I have finished mixing the first album of my band, Lil' Slugger. It will be called Sweethearts of the Overthrow, cos a friend who was listening to it said he heard a theme of oppression in the first half that is eventually overcome.
We have a couple ways of explaining our sound. A friend told us we sound like Sonic Youth + Talking Heads. Or the Shaggs, but not as good
I'm excited with what we were able to put together with just an MBox, a couple mics and a room in an old warehouse on the wrong side of the railroad tracks. There are a couple free tracks up here:
We have a couple ways of explaining our sound. A friend told us we sound like Sonic Youth + Talking Heads. Or the Shaggs, but not as good
i liked usurper a lot too. i can definitely hear a lot of sonic youth and captain beefheart but i don't that is a bad thing. Good luck with the band and tell us more about the album!
Posts: 456 | Location: On the Road | Registered: 20 January 2007
yeah - we're all big Beefheart nuts. I'm not really ashamed of it tho, cos there is room to do lots of stuff in the areas he opened up without imitating him.
Usurper is one of Ben's songs. He's the other main songwriter in the band - kinda the McCartney to my Lennon, if you'll allow it.
I'm putting a couple more songs up if anybody's interested. Have you seen the Pillars in the Sky? is another of Ben's songs. We did this recording over a year ago in the music building of the University of Northern Colorado. I think it sounds a bit Spoon-ish, but don't tell Ben cos he thinks they're overrated . He wrote it as a reaction to some Eno Warm Jets song, I think.
and Pyramid I (puts me to sleep). I wrote a pair of songs very loosely based on pyramids and what it might be like to be some pharaoh who is supposed to be a god. I got to visit St. Petersburg a couple years back and it blew my mind how the czars would tax the crap out of the people so they can build these ridiculous palaces with the walls lined with semi precious gems. And I figured the building of the pyramids may have been a similar sort of situation - a leader who drives his people to ruin out of a monumentally vain desire to transcend humanity. Which is a scary kind of deal, but it happens over and over again in history. So pyramid I is about that, and it, along with a song Ben wrote called 'there was a change' and pyramid ii (keeps me safe) form a trilogy that make up the heart of the album. I think this is where the overthrow occurs.
I really liked pyramid (and I listend to strawberry and usurper again!) but I really didn't have any favor towards pillars in the sky. The song needs more of something because its kind of boring right now. It seems to be building up to something but never does. Which might be what you're aiming for.
I just want to give some constructive criticism because as a fellow musician I appreciate any help I can get. I'm sorry in advance if I offend your songwriting abilities.
Posts: 456 | Location: On the Road | Registered: 20 January 2007
There is a fleshed out, full band version which we do live, but in the other tracks I felt like I kept throwing everything but the kitchen sink in, so I wanted at least one track to have some space. Still, it's always good to get someone's honest opinion. I'm not offended at all - in fact, I'm not sure if I would have a whole lot of respect for a songwriter who would be. I think you've got to be able to defend your decisions and/or take criticism to heart, and in doing so, you might as well do it pleasantly, eh?
There was talk at some point of putting in Queen style 4 part harmony, and at another time, talk of adding a the Point! style narration of something, but eventually we grew to like the more sparse recording.
I think I'll put this up if anyone is interested in hearing what I've been doing the last two years or so. It's called Millipede. You can check my myspace page out here
Update: It's out. Lil' Slugger's mini-album Sweethearts of the Overthrow is now available for purchase. And there's a sweet-ass booklet that comes with it full of lol-cats, raging battles between arbitrary animals and 3D Glasses & Effexz!
Originally posted by BAfé: Some music I've been doing here and there for the last 8 months or so... well actually less, I sometimes take month breaks. It's electronic stuff.
Thanks a lot, that's my favourite track also. I used to like "Blood Under Ivy" a lot, but now whenever I listen to it, all I can think of are the changes that I want to do to it, so now I deleted it and added one of my silly 10 second raps on instead . Once I figure how I want "Blood Under Ivy" to really sound, I'll add it back.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: BAfé,
---------------------------------------- "You're half the man Peter Pan could have been"
Posts: 645 | Location: Somewhere in Canada | Registered: 20 December 2006
I've been studying the piano since 4, singing since 3, and composing since 5. My songwriting approaches are so varied, I choose not to place a label on my style. I recorded my first album, Shamepainpleasure when I was 17 a few years ago with Billy Barnett (platinum engineer who recorded The Cherry Poppin' Daddies' hit album). Unfortunately, that has so far led me to... well, not much. I moved from rural Oregon to San Francisco in search of gigs and a record deal. The link to my MySpace page is under my signature, if you want to give a listen. If you want a copy of all of my recorded stuff (Shamepainpleasure plus two tracks from 2006), shoot me a message with an address and I'll send it.
As for my "shits 'n' giggles" recording, check out http://www.myspace.com/eastofearth --it's an electro-pop ditty about colonial American conspiracy via space laser beams called "Spacecakes". I recorded it with my friend Spacy Tracy (a local drag queen extraordinaire).
Oh, and for a fun electronica piece I wrote when I was like 17 with my cousin Danny in the back seat of a Volkswagen van on a laptop, go to http://www.myspace.com/bonchtitillating.
Yes, I'm a whore. Yes, I'm way too prolific. I still have a new EP out.
It's kinda... different. Not really a "fun" album, no bouncy enjoyable tracks. Have a listen for yourself if you like. High resolution cover art should be up in the next few days, all of it is, as always, free and CD quality.
Metacritic Forums 
. Once I figure how I want "Blood Under Ivy" to really sound, I'll add it back.
