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My Dogs Are Hungry 03-20-10

Here's a complete instrumental first draft of "My Dogs Are Hungry."

I'm interested to hear how all the party-style percussion works in the song once I try to put some vocals on top of this one.

My Dogs Are Hungry

For those of you who really thought that Maybe Bomb needed some more Latin percussion, here is a new one in progress.

Also, if you haven't been the Facebook page in a while, there are some sweet nuggets, including my West Gate remix and an updated version of "Five Minutes" (formally "Step Brothers"). Similarly, my brother just started a blog that shows infinite promise.

Infinite

I had every intention to come home and work on this instrumental demo more before I published it today, but, on the ride back home, I decided that doing so would take away from the original idea of the website, which I have been doing all too much of lately; I thought it would be better to let you listen to a version that I don't think is ready, so that you can hear it evolve.

What I think this song has working for it are the synth pads that go throughout the song. By combining a few, I came to a very full sound that fills the track without being overwhelming. I also really like the various bass/drum rhythms. The high "beepy" synth that pretty much just plays arpeggios is a nice background piece that gives a boost where it is without taking your attention from the overall track. I'm also a sucker for a heavily delayed and slightly distorted piano.

However, I'm unhappy with plenty more.

The dynamics aren't right, and the song seems to peak early without ever getting much quieter. It's too much. When everything is big, nothing is big. Also, the arrangement, specifically in regards to how the chord structures in the various sections work into and against each other, isn't there (And I've never been naturally good when working with or arranging chords... it's always been trial and error while praing for happy mistakes). The song is too long, or feels that way, because there is too much going on, too many parts smashed in there for the sake of having more parts.

I like the way I was able to use one of the sounds from "Event Horizon" to end the track. It may make an interesting transition into it. When it comes time for vocals, I think I'm going to try to create lyrics that would naturally lead into that song in the overall story of the album.

But who cares what I think? Listen for yourself.

Heartache

Though I haven't really done any work on this track in months, I've been meaning to post it for some time.

It's divided into two sections: an electronic, downbeat part and a traditionally orchestrated overture.

For the first part, I've often found a heart beat at 120 beats per minute to be one of the most compelling rhythms to write around, especially when juxtaposed against heavily synthesized instruments.

The second half started as a simple string section that evolved into an overture for the album-to-be. Since so many of the songs are in the same key, I tried working them all together. I can barely claim to be a musician, let alone a composer, but see how many of melodies you can pick out if you're bored. Gold stars awarded to those who have been listening to enough Maybe Bomb to hear them all. What fun!

Happy New Year - Vocal Headlight Demo

Here's a New Year treat for you.

Headlight

Believe it or not, I have been writing, but few things have been going anywhere (though I have been dabbling in some orchestral arrangements of finished tracks that have been more than entertaining). This new one is the first one that felt like Maybe Bomb in a while. It fell into place today when I doubled the bass part in the verse with the dirty synth. Tasty.

As for the title, I fixed my headlight twice recently. Like a man would.

Here's "Headlight."