Song #23: Have I Loved You

This song is actually the very first song that I wrote with words! (I wrote a few piano instrumentals before then). It dates 15 years ago back to July of 1997 (according to my notes) when I had just turned 14 - and now I FINALLY recorded it! At the time, the song was much slower. I thought of it as a ballad patterned after the Beatles "In My Life" (where I not-so-subtly lifted the line from). The lyrics also very lovey-dovey like the early Beatles. Later on when my high school band was taking a break, I jammed with may buddy, Jeff, on sax and picked up the tempo, giving it the Jack Johnson meets Dave Matthews feel. Unfortunately, my friend was not in town to play sax so for purposes of this project, I decided to whistle the solo parts. I also added jembe, snaps, maracas, and bass guitar to fill it out. I think it works. It's not the best lyrics I've written but it's a snappy, catchy tune that I'm still proud of.

Song #22: I Get By

This one is influenced by both John Vanderslice and Pinback. I started writing it back in 2005 and it stayed half written until this month. The arrangement was a beast to figure out; I tried lots of things out that didn't seem to work but I think I got it now. The arrangement features drum programming, guitars (including ebow guitar parts), synthesizers, a noise pad (using my ipad), and beat boxing.... yes, beat boxing! There's a first for everything. I think this is another one of my favorites of the project. What do you think?

Song #21: I Don't Know

This one is yet another oldie from the high school days; one of my first. Although this is far from reggae, I'm going to go ahead and site Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" as inspiration. I love the sound of the organ in that song so I tried to maintain a little of that feel. Also, the jembe (sort of like a congo drum) adds to the "island ambiance". The lyrics are a little bit of a downer so hopefully the production elements help balance it out.

Song #20: Dad

In honor of Father's Day, I wrote and recorded a song about being a Dad, which I've appropriately titled, "Dad." Kept it super sparse: one guitar, one vocal, no effects. It's influenced by the style of my friend, Drew Danburry, along with the softer, folkie side of Wilco.

Song #19: The One I Love

Six years ago today, I married my wife. I wrote this song and performed it on our wedding day. Now for our anniversary, I decided to record it. The lyrics and melodies are influenced by the Swell Season (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova from the movie "Once"). The production elements are influenced by the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album: thick harmonies with ohs and ahs, sleigh bells, vibraphone, cello, etc.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Photo by: Ashley Beal Photography

Song #18: I'll Sit Here and Wait

This an oldie written back in high school. I was really into the Beatles at the time so this was influenced by the song "It's Only Love" from the album "Help." You can also hear a little bit of the Goo Goo Dolls sounds in their. What do you think?

Song #17: No Wall

This song is influenced by the group the Beta Band. My first exposure to this group was a scene from the movie High Fidelity where one of their songs in played in the record store. I later witnessed the group open for Radiohead, which really got me into them. Their album, Hot Shots II is one of my all time favorite albums. But their song "Dry the Rain" (off their also excellent Three EPs album and the one featured in High Fidelity) is probably my favorite track of theirs.



So, as you will probably notice, my song heavily borrows on several of the production elements from "Dry the Rain": strummed acoustic guitar, layered drum machines, multiple tambourines, double tracked vocals, overdrive electric guitars, and a long and repetitive "Hey Jude" style ending with a fade out. What can say? I love it. This is one of my favorites in the project so far. Lyrically, the song is about being caught in a lie. What do you think?