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January 8, 2007

Song-A-Week: The Way Off The Ground

I think I'm about 45 minutes late on this one. Sorry everyone. (As if anyone was sitting on the computer, refreshing my blog every 30 seconds exactly at midnight anyway)

Here is song #2. It is copyright Matthew C Good, which is me. Don't steal it. You are of course free to pass the mp3 along to friends. The copyright is in place so Celine Dion doesn't make MEGA MILLIONS by recording my oh-so-incredibly good songs... Don't claim it as yours anyway.

The Way Off The Ground
(C) 2006 Matthew Good

I am not afraid
to tear the skies apart
to fly out into space
fly out to the dark
to find out where you are

I will be alright
only in your arms
Ticker tape parade
Catch a ride on a shooting star
Tell me where you are

And the first words I'll say
The way off the ground
comes from being let down.
As I'm floating away
The way off the ground
comes from being let down

And the first words I'll speak
The way off the ground
comes from being let down
Are mired in irony
The way off the ground
comes from being let down

Worlds and men and things
of which I tire quickly
only do so much
soothing only fickly
who will even miss me?

So I am not ashamed
to be so devestated
Chart a course for me
Continue unabated
my soul will be placated


There you have song #2. Please let me know what you think, what I should do with it, and which song is better, #1 or #2. For recording geeks, I used a beat up Shure MC41 and my cb mic for the background vocals. Everything else is a modded 57 i think. For music geeks, there's a slide guitar in there somewhere. Oh, and a diminished arpeggio. Comments, commence!

Posted by pedalboy at January 8, 2007 12:51 AM | TrackBack
Comments

Well, I have to say that I was a little disappointed that you didn't provide the information to confirm whether or not my guess that you were playing the sorrento in this song was indeed correct or not. Perhaps you would let us know such things in the future. As far as the songs go, I think that they are both pretty good, the first one edging out this weeks by a small margin. This could easily be switched after you apply your wild Phil Spectorian production techniques. I love the diminished arpeggio in #2. The slide guitar is also nice (I hope it didn't take you as long as last time) Song #1 really reminds me of a Beach Boys song. Not any one in particular, it just sort of sounds like it might be off Smile or Pet Sounds. I don't want to sound too critical, because I think both songs are very good, but I think that sometimes your songs don't work as well just by themselves with acoustic guitar. They are always begging for something more, which you seem to promptly provide. I know that these are only demos, and so I am not worried, but it's just an observation. And a subjective one at that. Bottom line is that I really miss you and miss your cheese and bread snacks and staying up late at night listening to some weird new band or some weird old composer all the while cursing the name Marsch. Give me a call sometime. I don't have your number, but dear future all have mine, as do a few others, I think. I can't wait to hear the next song.

Jonny

Posted by: Jay-oh-double-en-why? at January 8, 2007 9:32 AM

I really like some of the parts of this song. And I too believe that the sorrento is the electric guitar. However, I feel like this song is somewhat disconnected. It has three distinct feels to it and needs something to tie them together. I like the lyrics on it too, esp. the first few lines. I think that they're delivered with such melancholy that the lyrical strength is undermined unless you're going for something of an ironic twist. if it's sarcasm they it works but not as well as it could, i think. I really like the electric sound on this though. it's so nasty and Pedro-ish. Don't forget to consult the deck of cards when you fill this guy out. i think it's perfect to throw some surprises into.

Posted by: John at January 8, 2007 11:03 AM

I'm not a music expert, and don't know what a sorrento is, nor can i really compare this to any particular artist or group. Anyway, I really liked it, I actually liked it a little better than the first one. The one part that suprised me a bit was when you started doing two parts on separate channels, which was very obvious since i had headphones on. I kinda want to hear it blended more so i'll have to listen again on speakers when i get home to see how i feel about it.

Anyone else get an island vibe from this? I picture this song playing while i'm sipping a daiquiri on a beach at night, alone watching the ocean waves, just within earshot of other the vacationers at the tiki bar, dreaming of someone who i planned on spending the week with until something fell through. Wow, that's really specific...anyhow, that's what happened in my head.

Posted by: mallio at January 8, 2007 11:53 AM

I like this one a smidge more than the last one. The arpeggio and slide guitar make me :)

This feels like something I'd listen to on a beach. I don't know why.

Posted by: Kristina at January 8, 2007 12:20 PM

Mike, the Sorento is this really pretty crappy electric guitar that I bought off a friend for cheap that I love that sounds soooo twangy and I love it for slide guitar, and it never stays in tune and its about to fall apart. Have I mentioned I love it? I've never been able to find out any more information on it other than the name "Sorento" printed on the thing.

the main electric is my yamaha. The diminished arpeggio is the sorento through silverface dave. Johnny do you know about silverface dave? its this little fender mini-twin battery-powered novelty amp that I traded john brit a compressor pedal for. I think we both feel like we got the better end of the deal, which is good. I also used it for the lofi guitar effect on my punk song. Jonny I don't think you've heard my punk song either... Email me about it if you wanna hear. Ethan played on it and I think it sounds good.

The slide was MUCH quicker. I've gotten quite a bit better. In fact, I recorded the whole song in less time than it took me to record the slide to "red raindrop" that one time.

About the not-standing-alone-acousticly thing, that's probably true, and I think its due to my complete suck at guitar, which means I have to do all the interesting stuff in overdubs. Agree? Or is there something more than that? Got a suggestion? This whole thing is quite the good learning experience for me.

John, I kinda only count two distinct feels... unless the diminished dude counts for one, but he's so short. It will be a bit tough getting some cohesion prolly, but at the demo stage I'm not too worried. See, that's odd about the lyrics, thought, cuz I personally think they're better than a lot of things I've written lately. I think the lyrics have a "last resort" feel to them. Like, "this earth sucks, maybe If I fly away..." Think about the mythic account of the quasi-famous "Ludmila" and maybe it will make sense. At least I hope. You gotta think "Cosmonaut" all the time with me, ya know. Oh, and we gotta finish that deck of cards. Have any more ideas for it?

Mmmm cheese and bread snacks....

MARSCH!!!!

Posted by: matty at January 8, 2007 8:36 PM

GRR... It took out my hyperlink on the word "Ludmila." Go here:

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/conspiracy/q0235.shtml

Posted by: matty at January 8, 2007 8:37 PM

This song reminds me of a Lennon Beatles song. Mostly when the background vocals come in. They sound very Lennon-esque.

I disagree with both John and Jonny. I think in general, if a song isn't good as a demo, it'll only be a polished bad song in the end...

I think the third part John was talking about was the slide solo. I think that section needs the most work. Also, there's a lot of instrumental measures that need to be either nixed or filled with something interesting so the song doesn't lag.

i like these lyrics too. sad, yet "fuck it."

Posted by: Chase at January 8, 2007 9:42 PM

i've liked both of these songs, and i think your song-a-week idea is a fantastical one. keep up the being awesome. and as i was listening to the lastest installment i stumbled across this: http://crunchgear.com/2007/01/07/belkin%E2%80%99s-tunestudio-four-channel-audio-mixer-for-ipod/
i dont know if you have an ipod, or if it'd be any good (i have no technical recording skills) but its still a cool lookin toy.

Posted by: holler at January 9, 2007 12:05 AM

I would have to say that I like song #2 MORE than song #1. However, just as a casual observation, I think the arpeggios sound a bit disconnected, but I think that'll come together with better production and performance. And don't necessarily take my opinion for much because my style of music is not necessarily your style of music and I say "do what you want!"

Loves

Posted by: katie knows best at January 9, 2007 10:58 PM

ok... all im going to say is that you are real talented. i know next to nothing about most things... especially music, so i wont attempt to critique it. real good!!

shaywa

p.s. i dig the diminished arpeggio.

Posted by: shaywa at January 10, 2007 7:44 PM

Haha... whoever shaywa is rocks. "I know nothing about music" "I love the dimished arpeggio".

That being said, this song overall is entertaining. I wouldn't turn it off in a shuffle, but I probably wouldn't bypass any other songs in a shuffle to get to it either.

THAT being said, this isn't my favorite type of song either, so my previously mentioned opinion is biased.

With THAT being said, I think this is one of those songs where when listening to it where there is one particular aspect of the song that sticks out like the bass line in "Under the Bridge" (I love that line so much, and you don't even hear it unless you're really listening). I think I would like the song much better if that "gimmick" so to speak were distributed throughout a bit more. It seems as if the chrous and verses are just transitions to that cool, almost funky scale. maybe hide it in the background "under the bridge" style?

Posted by: Dan Costalis at January 19, 2007 10:44 AM
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