2015-02-01 @ 12:22pm
tags: indiepop zombies chainsaws
I have learned that relationships are all about compromise, and knowing when not to watch ultraviolence.
we've got a special connection
and we rarely disagree
but when it comes to blood and monsters
you say "rather you than me"
and so, when you're away
me & the cat are gonna play
with all the lights turned off
and zombies on blu-ray
tonight it's just me and the cat
watching horror films
he's got a saucer of milk
I've got a bottle of wine
he doesn't flinch at the violence
just watches in silence
and as the brains hit the chainsaws
we cheer every time
we've got quite the library
that we dip into every night
you've got an appetite for laughter
I'm hungry for a fright
I don't mind a compromise
I just make a mental note
and next time you go out
it's time to watch some heads explode
and when you get home
and ask what did we see
I can drunkenly point
to a pile of DVDs
and you can weigh up the pros
and you can weigh up the cons
and say "actually I quite wanted to watch this one"...
Dammit, you know how to draw people in with song tags! I mean. I'd have listened anyway... I love this song. We looked after a couple of cats last summer and one of them LOVED Game Of Thrones. She was absolutely fascinated by it. So maybe they like blood and swears and stuff...
This is superbly catchy, and I'm sure sums up many many relationships. I love the chorus - that synth brass and the chord sequence are positively euphoric!
Blood and violence...jangly guitar parts...a cat as one of the major characters...catchy brass part in the chorus...yep, Vom Vorton is back! I like this a lot, it's wacky and well put together. I especially like the drop down to half-speed drums at various points, it works really well.
Strong start! I love the synthy brass parts in the chorus, great stuff :)
That's far enough "off the norm" to get some attention all right In section 3, you maybe meant :"slaughter" ?
This is both funny and so accurate. And a cat is so unmoved by blood and guts, it's a feline thing. Solid backing too.
Loving the synth parts. This has inspired me to write a song about my cat. Unfortunately I'm currently sitting on the M4, so can't start yet.
I came for the title, I stayed for the music. It's ridiculously catchy, the lyrics are amusing and flow really well together. Also gave me the image of a cat cheering as though it were human, which made me giggle. Great start to FAWM! :)
Great concept.The Cat is a willing partner in enjoying blood and guts and has human characteristics....yet the protagonist is quite affable and gets on just fine with his human mate. Well done, and the music fits
You kill it with that chorus: the melody and the spaghetti western horns are fantastic. Cool guitaring after that last verse and chorus, too. What else? Great storytelling, but what else is new? A winner right out of the gate.
I love this song! Great music, wonderful lyrics and catchy singalong chorus! Extremely well done!
I'm getting an 80's action film montage feel, nice. That chorus brass is brill too.
You mad bastard. That Casio brass on the choruses is genius! Really like that picked guitar line, especially with the harmonised guitar
This is great. The chorus is perfect with those horns and I love the instrumental after the bridge that made me hope I'd get a final chorus and I was not disapointed.
Since I started with a cat song too, I felt a special need to check this one out. And I'm glad I did: great rousing music, a real sense of companionship (with the cat!), I almost want to pump my fist. That chorus is so inspiring. Loads of fun!
wow. haha i don't know what i was expecting when i hit play considering the tags... but wow. so good. like really F$$$ing good. nice work man.
:D love it when the horns come in this is super solid and I'm already proud of you this year! keep up the good work! (all of the comments already touched on what I would have said specifically, --this is already gold, i hope you evolve it if you're planning on it) xo
Lucky cat :) Love the brass, nice textures and energy that make for a fantastic chorus. And that guitar at 3:09, and at the end... <3
Great start to the year matey. You can't go wrong with horror films and cats. The guitars sounds very nice and the horns are amazing, loved it :)
Lots of really excellent touches here, in addition to the much lauded Casio brass (Brassio). The claves on the chorus, the subtle organ on the second verse, the guitar/synth interplay in the middle 8
Cats are the perfect partner for bloody, violent movies and TV, because cats are killers anyway. They won't bat an eye at brains flying across the screen. This is the kind of great synthy pop stuff I like from you. And even though I'm not a huge fan of brass in pop music, I think it works here quite nicely.
This is tops!! Can imagine this full on in a massive stadium with a full brass section blasting out from behind. Loving the riff to follow the verse chords in the intro also
Well, about 10 other people have already said this, but I'll just echo that I love the synth stuff, esp. the brass stuff in the choruses. Sweet lyrics as well, very nice all around :)
We started clapping along with this one! One of our artists liked it so much she started to dance. We really like the music. We thought the words were a little sad. We really like the fact that the cat doesn't flinch at the violence. The story is really good. We'd like to know what your inspiration for this song was. -VSA Redfish Artists
Lovely trumpet riffs and I really like the slow build up to each chorus. Favourite line is the heads exploding one but the whole 'story' is great
haha yup, definitely got my feet tapping. Nice work
Aw man, you're so great. Really get RIGHT to the point every time. I can totally see a cat watching human brains hit chainsaws. So much so that I wonder we never thought about this before. But I expect no less from you. Nice sound and nice mix. I like the dark sounds, straight delivery, and horns/synth.
I love the "he doesn't flinch at the violence just watches in silence" part. The chorus is awesome and exciting too!
True relationship wisdom. ;) And that instrumental riff after each line in the chorus really makes it – so catchy.
Great song, in my mind I saw it played live and the crowd going crazy and sing along during the choruses.
There's a Belle & Sebastian vibe to this track (to my ears!). I think it's that synth brass that kicks in during the chorus (which I really like). It's very you though - unmistakably so! Great start :-)
I love everything about this song. The topic dealing with zombie violence, the synth horns, the awesome drums...yes. Yes.
This sounds really good. I'm glad I listened!
This must be the first song of yours I've heard in a minor key. I've no idea if that's true or not. But damn, this shit just got mature! I think the electro sound really suits your voice too, nice one.
Love the fuzziness...the intro sucked me in. Reminds me of the joke: "You can't outrun a bear." "Don't have to...just have to outrun you." This song paints a vivid picture with the lyric and the music is fine. Good job!
i like how the cat features in the story, yes i like the violence/silence line too and the turnaround on the last line, very entertaining song :)
That buzz-y guitar balanced against the lead guitar lick is really awesome. I love the harmony. LOVE love. My favorite song with cat references all year.
this was actually the first fawm song i played. it was in the kitchen, i was cooking and the kids were dancing about! listening again, properly, everything is superb, vocals are sounding mighty fine and the words are awesome. I especially like 'he doesn't flinch at the violence'. love the casiotone trumpets and sad beautiful guitars x
ya had me at "zombies" and "chainsaws"!!! So, I started listening on my tablet and then realized I was gonna need to listen on headphones to get every bit! I know we are here for the songwriting and I will get to that in a moment but I must say this is a really awesome production! Excellent instrumentation and impressive variety of sounds all supporting your lovely vocals! The melody throughout is really, really great and, even on its own, sets a really strong mood/vibe! The lyrics are very cool with just the right amount of zombies and chainsaws wrapped up in a clever story of you and your cat spending some quality time together! I will check out more of your songs but so far, I am already a fan! Really great song!
2015-02-04 @ 09:03pm
tags: sad bad
Hmm, this didn't really work out how I wanted it, but maybe there's something in there that can be salvaged.
I know it’s cold outside and we’ve already lost the light
but I want to break my programming and come out with you tonight
but the way my joints all creak when I stand up from my chair
suggest the problem isn’t only in my software
is it just a state of mind? or am I incorrectly wired?
do I need replacement parts? or am I just so very tired?
I’ve practiced my apologies, rehearsed my argument
if I never arrive then you can’t wonder where I went
I’m not the man I used to be
(am I even a man?)
when you receive my apology
I hope you understand
my batteries have exploded
and all my circuits have corroded
I wake up with the shakes and my confidence wobbles
feels like I’ve been replaced by so many newer models
parts of me aren’t working and the rest is slowing down
and I can’t find anywhere to get a service in this town
I know you asked to see me but I’m too worn out to meet
replace me with another who is not so obsolete
and I will not change my mind, even if you are persistent
I’m sorry I won’t be there but at least I am consistent
Oh, vomvorton? He's more machine than man now. I like the exploration of our bodies as technology, oh so prone to bugs and crashes.
Hmm... my VV fix! Robot Love? I'm thinking of some cross between Marvin the depressed robot from Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, No. 5 from that 80's movie - Short Circuit --- and WALL-E . The weird electric percussion that book-ends the song is pretty cool. I can see how it may have inspired the lyric/concept... Keep 'em coming!
There are some terrific lines in this song. It's witty and hilarious and tragic at the same time. Spend a little time with it when Fawm is over and it will pay off I'm sure.
I really, really dug this. Nice work! Maybe boost the vocals a tiny bit more?
I enjoyed that, especially that deep vein of melancholy. Now, if you're not happy with this, perhaps you should seek a collaboration with @odilongreen , one of the world's leading authorities on robot-themed EDM, and no slouch at production, either. I'm sure the two of you could make something magical. His robots would definitely get on well with yours in a group counseling session
This is cool.. love the glitch beat, which promises double the speed of the beat that actually comes in... love shit like that! This is a nice ode to Grandaddy's Jed, intentional or not!
I enjoyed the lyrics so much! The questions in the lines "is it just a state of mind? or am I incorrectly wired? do I need replacement parts? or am I just so very tired?" allude to a checking-program running, what a great way to implicate this... A very original idea, I also like the mood in the music... Very nice!
Yeah quite a few good lines on there like the "wired"-"tired" lines and these------ when you receive my apology I hope you understand my batteries have exploded and all my circuits have corroded It flows along pretty good. Rather than salvaging, I'd think some polishing and maybe a little trimming Write on
With @adforperu on the beat speed thing, has caught me out on first two listens, in a good way. Glitch beat in itself is really cool too. In any case, the fact this one feels a little bit less-rounded than usual makes me really like it as it is. I'm a big fan of having fleeting textures in songs, such as the reverb-y chorus vocals, and the acoustic towards the end. Lyrically great, although a little close to the bone for those of us with Tinder age search filters set as low as 23. Extra kudos for any Futurama reference :)
Both smile-inducing and poignant... bringing those two together in one song is quite a talent!
It's a good tune - it's the arrangement that doesn't land, I reckon. The half-time beat pulls the energy out of it. Should hit the ground on a flat 4/4 beat. Pure synthpop :)
I think it's worked out just fine! I'm casting my vote for the half time beat too. I like it. Catchy tune. I'm assuming the robot could be any of us? I can certainly sympathise! Good stuff.
Quite Magnetic Fieldsy I reckon. What didn't you like about it? It has hooks a plenty. The call and answer bit in particular
I really like your lyrics and how you develop the melody in the verses.
I like the beat and the melody! I agree with @frenchcricket that it's quite Magnetic Fields-esque. ("am I even a man?" made me think of Devo :) )
2015-02-04 @ 10:16pm
tags: horror theme-tune
I watched the 70s B-movie 'The Incredible Melting Man' on Monday, and today I wrote him a theme tune.
I wasn't able to completely do the film justice because there is so much wonderful weirdness in it that I would have needed about nineteen verses.
he returned from a mission to the rings of Saturn
with his face in bandages, badly burned
the doctors couldn't work out what was wrong with his skin
they were horrified to find that he was melting
the incredible
melting
man
(STEVE)
the nurse wasn't sure if he would ever awake
but he did, and in shock, he made his escape
but he left slime behind, like a human snail
they were able to follow his radioactive trail
he shambled across the countryside, killing as he went
with the doctor in pursuit, claiming it was a failed experiment
as the ears and nose melted away from his face
he couldn't stop the flashbacks to the horrors of space
when they finally found him, they tried to shoot him down
but his body was so melted that the bullets were drowned
with his last scraps of humanity, he grabbed the doctors hand
but then melted completely, swept into a garbage can
I love that chorus! Mega catchy stuff once again. Cool! Poor old Steve though eh? :(
Liking this, kind of cross between Blur and some late punk/ early new wave.
I could totally listen to nineteen verses of this, to be honest. And nineteen choruses would be the icing on the cake. I love the switch to falsetto, and the backing vocals for "Steve!" had me in stitches. Bravo, sir, bravo.
STEVE!!! I love the melody and the vocal on the title line. It's perfect.
Love the guitar solo. Excellent new wave feel. Really cool
Awesome. What a fun concept for a song. This has a nice vibe to it.
I don't know the movie. But I think he'd be pretty happy to have his very own theme tune! Nice Chorus/hook line, and some cool keyboard sounds in there too
Great groove and wonderfully quirky story. Totally enjoying it. Love your vocal delivery and the " melting man" contribution. Fun!
This is great! I love the "Steve" part :-)
Fantastic! This is definitely going in my "I am currently on fire" playlist. A real catch, And you know I can't resist anything that ends in the words 'garbage can'.
Awww sheeiiiiit, I'm gonna be singing that falsetto bit all day
This is probably the most Lardpony tune, which is an adjective now, of this year's batch.
This sounds like a great film! The chorus is brilliant! Never heard the name Steve said with such conviction. Great solo!
The chorus is fantastic, well catchy and the timing with Steve is perfect. I really enjoyed this one, it is a brilliant tune. I need to watch this film and of course dub this track over the top.
I love the way the chords you've used give me that horror vibe!! And those keyboard dissonance type under melody before the last chorus really stand out. Nice one
what a wild story, you could write a B-movie ... wait your liner notes say there was a movie with that title. OK, I am back from google-land. I love B-movies (ha, ha). This sounds like it was really a bad, bad movie! Super cool tune with great production. Sounds like it would have been the prefect theme song. I am sorry I missed the movie on Mystery Science Theater 3000. This is really an excellently produced tune, good vocals and playing all around (cool high vocal part).
Steve! This really makes me want to see that film, which is presumably the point of a theme song, so well done.
Primo guitar hook to kick things off. The little break, the falsetto, the STEVE--that's a killer chorus. Love that solo-ette before the last verse. What's that groovy keyboard thing? Yes, that is an awesome chorus. And as Dan Bejar says, a chorus is a thing that bears repeating
This song is so catchy! I'm really digging the synths.
All round goodness! Very catchy yet weird tune for the chorus and i love the organ sound too xx
The chorus is still stuck in my head x
Vom Vorton! I remember you from all the fawms! Great catchy story song. I've got all sorts of visuals. I have to go watch this movie.
Oh my god, that chorus. Perfect! This is the perfect rock tune for a cheesy old horror movie. Now I have to watch it!
This is so catchy! I love the choruses and those stops and starts are really great. Plus the organ adds that special lurid B-movie touch. I think I'm forever doomed to think of that "m-m-melting" line from this Faint song whenever I hear the word "melting" in a song, though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs3BXFfyInM This movie sounds awesome.
i have a friend steve, who is exactly like this...
This one made me bop my head side-to-side. Wonderful chorus.
I wrote a couple of horror theme songs this year (unintentionally) and had to check this one out. So much fun. I love the retro feel and all the fun bits, both musically and lyrically. It sounds a little like XTC to me (love them) but it's so original too. Fun song..... Horror theme that made me dance. :)
Those Farfisa-esque touches during the verses are absolutely perfect! The gang vocals in the chorus ("STEVE!") reminded me strongly of "Don't bring me down! (Grrrrroooos!)" Nice work!
2015-02-05 @ 02:59pm
tags: pop-punk uptempo love-song quirky
I know. I know. That word is going to be a BEAR to sing. :)
Anyway, simply a weird little lyric about love & longing. Upbeat, MALE vocals.
Yay! Demo's up! ;) Couldn't imagine anyone more suited to do this than Tom (@vomvorton). ;)
Now I’m A Physicist
V1
I'm trying to climb
Your lattice of roses
But you're my thorn
Though I could have sworn
I knew all your intentions
Chorus
Now I'm a physicist
And planning to prove
An inflexible object
Can surely be moved
Now I'm a physicist
Yeah!
V2
I want to consume
Your pillar of fire
Those solar flames
That call out my name
From compelling dimensions
Chorus
Now I'm a physicist
And planning to prove
An inflexible object
Can surely be moved
Now I’m a physicist
Yeah!
Bridge
An unstoppable force
…I only want to teach
That I’m the conclusion
You need to reach
Chorus
Now I'm a physicist
And planning to prove
An inflexible object
Can surely be moved
Now I’m a physicist
Yeah!
© 2015 Donna Devine
What a great idea-and so well executed! This is so catchy and I can hear a melody in my head.
You should ping Elaine DiMasi, who I believe actually is a physicist...
I love the unexpected juxtapositions -- really simple and poetic and right on. Looking forward to hearing it performed!
Hmmm.......irresistible force versus immovable object
Great stuff! I look forward to how it will sound with music!
Love those yeahs at the end of the chorus! The main little riff section is great too. More songs should have the word physicist in them.
Yeah!!!! :) These are some great lyrics put to a wonderful rock beat. Love the delivery, feels almost like a distant cousin to the Big Bang Theory song. Nothing copied, just the same happy geeky/scientific feel to it (although I'm not geeky enough to know if that upsets any physicists out there). Fun song. Did it have me smiling all the way through? Yeah!
Hey look, a collab where once there wasn't one! What a great little pop-rock rendition by Vom. Really fine playing and singing -- a wonderful arrangement. I read the lyrics before listening and thought, wow, these are really good, everything seems right where it should be -- not weird a all (OK, maybe a little -- but that is fine). Well, all in all, this turned out to be a hit!
Oh wow, it's GREAT with the music! :-)
There surely aren't enough songs that include science, but this one is full of kinetic energy! Really like how it brought back my early 80's college days (and nights)
Super poppy and fun, this is great! The "yeah!" is infectious. The lyrics are funny and sweet--I love the "moved" pun in the chorus. Also, "physicist" isn't so bad to sing... my band has a song (from last year's FAWM!) that includes the line "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny" and I only have myself to blame for that one.
It's the just audible BVs that make this. Also, the guitar sounds so chunky and massive. Could I borrow your 1.21 Gigawatt amp?
"I'm the conclusion you need to reach"—classic!
fabulous stuff! Love the chorus especially..and the riff at the start. Love the punky pop sound to this.
2015-02-08 @ 10:52pm
tags: indie-rock rock fuzz
Half Ton Dad are @vomvorton and @jamesconsterdine
This is the first new Half Ton Dad song in 15 years!
@jamesconsterdine - vocals, rhythm guitar, drum programming
@vomvorton - lead guitar, bass
Dat riff! This sounds like a lot of fun, love the harmonies on the chorus and then the TAKE IT BACK! bit. Cracking, and very different to your usual stuff @vomvorton (well, these days!). Great soloage!
Awesome riff to kick off! The high harmony in the chorus is pretty cool. Lots of fun this one. Teenage Dan would have had this on repeat I'm sure! Nice work, great collab :-)
This is great!! I love the lo if crunch ! Punky but cool. Love the chorus. Love the weezer change in the chorus. Great solo😊
Great riff and then the bass doubles it, even better. Good energy, I love these kind of songs.
That's the way its done boys and girls in the 80s.. . Great job guys.
Class...that riff is deadly but loads of great changes and.hooks etc.....every day I wake.up and try not to act my age....one a the best songs I have heard thus far this fawm...
This is loads of fun. I can picture myself 15 years ago, rocking to this down the Leadmill with a bottle of Newky Brown in my hand...
This one rocks and I love the riff going on there. Great instrumentation, vocals and lyrics. Very cool!
Rockin'. I love that riff!
Rifftastic! I'm a Half Ton Dad fan after 4 bars!
There was a Von Bondies song that had a similar guitar riff. It was great but about 1 person heard it. If I was some sort of wanker from the NME I would say this has an infectious energy... It's a very good collaboration though
2015-02-09 @ 05:31pm
tags: long same
This is totally out of my comfort zone. I hope you like it.
It's coming up in the comments so I'll make a note here that the vocals are deliberately quite low in the mix.
it's hard to make these words of hope make sense
when the world keeps providing contrasting evidence
and I know it gets to you
it gets to me too
when worrying's all you do
it's hard to find the time to stop yourself feeling blue
and I know it spoils your day
I feel the same way
you don't need me to remind you
that if you look for sadness it will surely find you
but it will
This is really wonderful. I kind of needed to hear this song at the moment. The only thing I'll add is that maybe the solo vocals are maybe a bit too low, but otherwise, this is great.
Obviously I'm going to connect with these lyrics! I love the slight bending in the guitar, the solo between the verses is nice too. The harmony vocals coming in on that last line are great too! I like this a lot
I'm hell of a sucker for mournful post-rock tinged stuff. Despite the downbeatness it's got really lovely warm sound. I'd be happy to hear more stuff in this style.
Cool bendy guitar, kind of weird, strangely sad already. I really LOVE how that guitar snakes through the song. I really like this deep vein of melancholy you've tapped here. Nice low-key vocal, though it could be a bit louder. Guitars are fantastic. "...it will surely find you...but it will"--perfect!
Hey, I like that. Real good rhythm --groove you have there With @chriddof on the vocal
Musically feels a little like something that would sit on Bernard Butler's first album. Love the mournful guitar tone and the sparse use of lyrics. The repeated 'you don't need me to remind you / that if you look for sadness it will surely find you' works really well. So, maybe not beyond your comfort zone, you've just found the boundary wasn't quite where you thought it was :)
This is super cool. Harmonic and mellow as hell. This would sound great on vinyl.
Great feel, wonderful sound, lots of philosophical meat in the lyrics of few words. All around fantastic piece. Love the echo feel of the guitar and the gentle vocal delivery, I really enjoyed it very much!
I like the slow meditative state you got me in listening to this and the layering is great as the vocals come in. REally good stuff mate
Ooh yes, this is quite different from your usual output. It's good to step out of your comfort zone now and again I think. This is really nice. Love the solo work - a real highlight. I like the lyrics too - simple but really effective. The 'crowd' style vocal delivery in the second half works well. Nice one :-)
It's lovely man. I love that it's not just "I'm sad", it's "Remember, you're sad too!" A grand mood setter.
This is such a wonderful song, Vom! First regarding the lyrics, so much said in so few words, that's really admirable! The lines "you don't need me to remind you/that if you look for sadness it will surely find you" are particularly wonderful... The music and the layering are great, beautifully performed!
Yeah this is certainly different from you usually do. The guitars are nice, very subtle and nicely constructed and how could I not mention your solos. I would have liked your vocals to be a bit higher in the mix. Kudos for breaking through your comfort zone.
Great stuff, in love with the lyrics on this one. Reminds me of that Phosphorescent track of which I've forgotten the name.. that slow-burner indie anthem vibe. Only slight critcism.. that recurring guitar line isn't quite in tune.. minor thing though! Group vocals are great, and a great line for it to be part of
I love that out of tune thing going on and on, gives it even a more sad feeling to the whole song. fantastic! and I love the slides you do. It inspires me to try something like that too. this is brilliant: you don't need me to remind you/that if you look for sadness it will surely find you. great find!
Such an interesting sound to that main guitar line. Gets quite anthemic when the backing vox come in.
Love the smooth build and the sliding notes. The lead is pretty fantastic! Lyrics are simple, but hit hard. Re: the vocals: I don't know anything about mixing, so take this with a grain of salt, but it sounds like vocals-turned-low and feels like you're far away from the rest of the track. and I'm personally used to closer-sounding quiet vocals that make it sound like a cramped room (e.g. bits of breathing+mouth sounds) The ending is great, by the way! =D
This is definitely a different style but I love it! It sort of has the 90s slowcore/sadcore edge to it (which I loved), like Codeine or Low.
Loved this. The last couplet is particularly poignant for me. More of this!
Beautiful song, I really liked this, one of my favorite songs I've heard in FAWM this year. The instrumental part is heart-wrenchingly lovely, I love that sort of detuned single-note guitar overlaid with the sweet main chords once they come in. So good. Echoing @scarybearsoundtrack that it has a slowcore vibe... would be cool to hear with some super washed-out reverb-drenched vox, maybe harmonies earlier on? I do like the vocals being low and sounding kind of far away in the mix as I think it fits the vibe. I also love the "if you look for sadness it will surely find you" line.
Beautiful....can we have more of serious Vom, please? This might be my new favourite of yours.
Oh my god, this is effing gorgeous. I agree with @owl -- one of my favorite songs I've hear on FAWM so far, man. The instrumentation is soul-achingly beautiful. The harmonies at the end with everything dropping out: perfect. Your lyrics are so simple and cutting and great. *downloads* *puts on repeat*
Really great sounds. I like the spaciousness of the song/mix. There's really a lot of room for everything to ring out and allows you to absorb it. The single, bendy note guitar throughout if gives the whole song kind of a lost feeling, that fits quite well with the lyrics.
Wow, like an arrow straight to the point. Amazing lyric, my favourite kind, powerful and simple. And the expressive intonation stuff with the guitar part- goosebumps!! Beautiful, glad I came here!
this is really special too. i know these feelings. but :) the wobbly slightly off guitar works really well and there's some guitar solos going down!!!!
Music's beautiful (a little Mogwai-y, which I most certainly mean as a compliment), lyrics are good. Very well done.
I don't know what else to say ... a gorgeous song that I will re-visit for sure.
Very nice ambience. The chill vibe and pushing vocals back in the mix are a breath of fresh air in a world overflowing with noise. Dig it.
I'm a big fan of Red House Painters so this is right up my street. I love those droney bending notes. After all the comedy in your songs this is quite the punch in the gut.
2015-02-12 @ 07:40pm
tags: rock rawk rohk
The Half Ton Dad revival continues with this SLAB of ROCK.
@jamesconsterdine - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, drum programming
@vomvorton - backing vocals, lead guitar, bass
Can't believe you have met my Dad!! Love it mate. Right amount of dirt in the riff at the start but then the Aminor (i think) chord kicks in to really kick it toward the chorus. Sweet work you two
RAWK. Nice 80s flavour too.
Oo this reminds me a tiny bit of Terrorvision in places! Good stuff chaps, when that uber-distorted guitar comes in at the end, I kind of wish it had come in early, but then you'd have lost the BOOM at that bit
Another cool track guys! I'm getting 90s vibes from this one. Ooh, I love that solo that kicks in on 2:43 - a touch Nirvana-y - ace! The trashy bit from 4:00 is very cool too. The heavier bits are definitely the highlights for me. More heavy thrashy stuff! Ha!
There are a lot of people in a position of power from which it is dubious how they got there, so a good subject for a song! Love the strong pre-chorus/chorus and the instrumental breaks!
I'm gonna wake up with that guitar riff in my head tomorrow I can tell. There's something menacing about it. That rock out is fab, there's something you've gotta love about those (sorry to sound like the jazzer I'm not) augmented 5ths, gives it a proper Richard III feel.
Great guitar rock anthem and an awesome hook. It has radiohead feel to it for me with guitars (especially the solo)
Ooh I love the bass in this song. The alternation between the stripped-down kinda menacing verses and more major, poppy-sounding choruses is awesome. I feel like there's a touch of Ian Curtis in that vocal at 1:48...
Bass in my face... love it. It rocks but is restrained at the same time,with a nice balance. This has a cool 80's college radio feel, which is my favorite. I can see what owl is saying with Ian, but it has some Church too and kind of mixes all kinds of stuff together. Really great song with both a terrific build and restrained energy. :)
2015-02-15 @ 10:11am
tags: goth post-morton
For @frenchcricket:
http://vomvorton.co.uk/music/fawm15/PostMorton.png
Lyrics inspired by the Roger Corman / Vincent Price / Edgar Allan Poe films, especially The Pit & The Pendulum.
he's asking at the castle door again
as he says his sisters name, he cries in pain
he asks me to explain, and I have tried
but he won't leave until he's satisfied
the doctor says it was a case of fear
her heart stopped by the toxic atmosphere
something strange drifts between the rooms
past inhabitants escaping from their tombs
buried alive
she was buried alive
the stench of death will always linger here
memories of torture last a thousand years
and we cannot bring peace to this burial mound
until this place is burned to the ground
Post Morton, brilliant! Very moody guitar work here - has a Smiths type quality to it I think. Nicely done.
I would pay good money to see a Post-Morton gig. This is so goth it hurts. Downloaded!
Oooooohhhh, luvverly and dark. :) Chuck full of atmosphere. Wonderfully evocative imagery in the lyric. Gorgeous guitar as well.
Oh yeah!! Beautifully dark Ditto on the guitar and atmosphere Really powerful closing stanza--- the stench of death will always linger here memories of torture last a thousand years and we cannot bring peace to this burial mound until this place is burned to the ground that puts some thoughts in my own mind Very good
Wonderful lyrics - "past inhabitants escaping from their tombs". Music fits the dark theme. It has a haunting feel. Great song!
Superbly dark. I was in the castle. This is a fantastic song that has different elements that work so well together; the lyrics, the somber, low vocals, and, perhaps my favorite, the reverb-drenched guitars.
http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/58150490.jpg Love the dreamy instrumentation on this was, Cure-esque (hence the goth reference I guess?). The choruses are really great, which they always are on your stuff
Beautifully dark and very atmospheric... The words themselves already seemed to be crying for a musical take like this... Very well written and performed... This awesome creepiness is present all the time and will not leave the listener even when the song is over... Lovely!
80s Goth! I was hoping I could make a joke about 1980s music and 1880s lyrics but I guess Poe was about a half century too early for that. Alas. Anyway, I thought it was a great, moody, atmospheric song; I liked the guitar a lot.
Can't believe no one's mentioned that bass yet. What is it?!! Pitch-shifted guitar? Baritone? Normal bass played sexily? Love the reverb-y guitar too, puts it somewhere in Talk Talk territory, or as @shortdan says, shades of Johnny Marr.
Ha, as if you play the bass any way other than sexily. This is totes dope. The redeeming side of goth.
you totally did it! this is so goth, both classic goth and modern goth. I love your creative sources of inspiration.
Upon listening to this I realize what it is that's been missing from my life: geeky goth inspired by Roger Corman and Vincent Price. Seriously thank you for this.
Can't beat a bit of goth with spectacular blowing up snare drums!! It is definitely death sprinkled with the instrumentation but the haunting melody as well
Very gothic. Dontgonearthe Castle. Solid production,a s always.
Everything here is on point. The abrasive snare. Jangly nice guitar. Melody laden bass. Whispered BV. You exceeded your brief, sir
Yeah, awesome, incessant, wonderful snare drives this one along! Love the haunting melody and your vocals once again are so impressive and perfect for this song! Lyrics are really tight and that chorus just drives this song straight through my heart! Great work!
Super cool goth vibe, the guitar and bass work really captures the gloomy vibe of the lyrics.
2015-02-16 @ 12:25pm
tags: top40 pop-rock emotional homage
As part of the Top 40 challenge - http://fawm.org/forums/topic/5085/ - I was randomly assigned Fall Out Boy as my popular artist to mimic. There are a few older Fall Out Boy songs that I quite like in a guilty pleasure kind of way but I decided to pay homage to their dreadful latest single, Centuries, since that's the one in the charts at the moment. This also meant that I had to watch the horrible video several times, because YouTube seemed to be the easiest way to hear it.
Anyway, it turned into an answer song, sort of. Also I got ludicrously into this challenge, to the point that I sampled Suzanne Vega, because the original did, and also I watched the episode of The Simpsons (which is where Fall Out Boy took their name from, extra link!) about memory loss, that's essentially a parody of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is where most of the lyrical idea comes from. EXHALE.
every word you ever said
is slowly but surely leaking out of my head
you were so sure you were the best thing in my life
well I can cut you out without using a knife
it's unethical, this chemical removes memories regrettable
and completely clears the brain of things that should be unforgettable
and you've pushed me to the point, where every single thing I think
is how to clear you from my mind and pull back from the brink
you said you'd haunt my memories
well I reckon
I'll forget you in a second
you said
immortality beckoned
well I'll forget you in a second
I'll burn any presents I received from you
and any photographs, I'll destroy them too
I'll prove to the world that I don't need ya
by volunteering myself to selective amnesia
(you'll fade away from me
and finally I'm free from all the sadness and the pain
goddamn this human brain)
i can see why it is a single. it is poppy and repetitive. i like the layering of the vocals and the abrupt ending. i don't know the original, but i understand this insistent build and vocal overlay very well.
Dude, this is *seriously* better than Fall Out Boy's "Centuries." It's kind of funny too because it does sorta sound like them, only better (I'm not kidding). And the Suzanne Vega sample is simply AWESOME. And you truly got into it the way I was hoping some artists here would. You have successfully completed the #top40 challenge and then some! EDIT: i forgot to acknowledge the brilliance of the antithetical title! (centuries -> seconds)
Everything pop said. :)
In general I am not a fall out boy fan of any sorts. However, this tune works nicely. The chords and build up work perfectly. Very catchy!!.......PS I still not turning to fall out boy!!
Dude, you should pitch this song to FOB, as this is better than most things they can come up with on their own. You deserve a big high five (and a fat royalty check later this year)! *slap*
I'm seriously impressed by this. You've put a lot of effort into mimicking the production of a song you don't like. That takes commitment! I like the vocal effects. This is really catchy, lyrically strong. All round high quality Vom really!
Good work. A lot of great textures in the music and vocal layers. Lyrically, "you said you'd haunt my memories / well I reckon / I'll forget you in a second" is masterful. If it's a Fall Out Boy song, though, it should have some non sequitur title like, "Dammit, Diana, You Are My Warp Speed." I encourage you to write that song as well. Edit: I see you patterned it after some song of theirs with a one-word title.
Nice, you met the challenge very well and you have written a great protest song in the process. The mix is really great and you can tell that you got into. I don't think I could put myself through watching that bands music videos, never mind multiple times. I've got to admit I haven't heard that song (god knows how not) but I will have a listen now to compare you. :)
OMG, that clip is horrible. I watched a few seconds, their Suzanne Vega rip-off is awful (I'm a SV fan). I like your Blood Makes Noise sample though, it's one of my fav songs of her. And I admire your thorough research, I guess you watched the ESofSM film also :-). And yes, your title is clever :-).
I can honestly say I've not knowingly ever heard Fall Out Boy (though I've heard the name). I do love Suzanne Vega though! 99.9F is my favourite SV album too. I can therefore only comment on this track in isolation - not in the context of the challenge. I rather like it! I'll track down the Fall Out Boy track later on (though it sounds as though you wouldn't recommend this!) :-)
Yeah, I think I'll pass on Fallout Boy :) But this is cool and thankfully doesn't sound too much like them. It's cool though, love those big piano chords.. in fact the whole production is pretty huge.
It's so weird how trying to emulate something pretty gash can push your boundaries to make something really cool. The little percussion breaks are a nice touch, it's got gravitas and you pull the lyrics back from being whiny emo-stock to something good. All in all it's a damn good job.
I don't really know Fall Out Boy, but based on watching the Centuries video, this seems like you've done an excellent job meeting the challenge! I dig the "Blood Makes Noise" sample (sampling Tom's Diner is so played out, come on!) and the connections you've made with seconds // centuries and the Fall Out Boy->Simpsons->Eternal Sunshine trail are fantastic. Brilliant and very catchy!
Haha, dude! You rocked this challenge, this is great. Great answer song. I'm not a Fall Out Boy fan, but I've heard them enough times because I have friends who are/I worked in retail long enough to not be able to escape Top 40 stuff. ANYWAY. I agree, you totally manage to kind of sound like them/capture them, but, like, actually make something cool and good. Especially the layering bit at the end -- super cool and totally a convention of that genre.
I admire your bravery in taking on this shower of cunts. As soon as I heard the piano chords come in I knew it was more memorable than anything they ever dreamed of
Weirdly it sounds a bit like Ian Brown's solo stuff - except obviously you can sing
Hey cool nice to meet ya! Reading your liner notes, you really got stuck into this challenge huh? The song sounds great though - very authentic Fall Out Boy vibe going on here. Love the vocal layering and the urgency of the backing music from the off. Love how you used the theme from Spotless Mind for your inspiration too :) G&D
2015-02-16 @ 04:47pm
tags: krautrock spoken-word story macabre
My friend David wrote a short story:
http://itisimpossibletofindausername.tumblr.com/post/110846338806/the-man-who-left
I turned it into this song.
There was a man who lived alone, and one day he went walking
while in the woods, he met a girl, and soon they started talking
inevitably, they fell into love, and one night, some months later,
he took her to the hospital as she had entered labour
for hours she howled and thundered, in pain and drenched in sweat
and so the man went for a walk, to the place where they had met.
He stumbled across men who were recruiting for the navy
they were not the kind of men who accepted "no" or "maybe"
and so he missed his child's birth, he was not holding her hand
he was fighting for his country in wars he didn't understand
and at night, as the ship shook and he feared for his life
he kept himself sane with thoughts of his wife
then one day, a battle came that they could not win
a bullet hit his chest, struck a lung and stuck within
he fell among his colleagues, and played dead upon the deck
but he heard footsteps come closer and he knew that they would check
he saw a crow pecking at a body nearby
and said “crow, come here, and peck out my eye
if the soldiers come closer they will hear my breath
but if they see you feeding on me they will believe in my death
and I may yet survive to return to my home
to the wife that I love and the child I’ve never known”
the offer was a poor one, but the crow’s stomach was full
so it was inclined to take pity and pecked the eyeball from his skull
when the soldiers had retreated and it became safe to speak
the man thanked the crow, eyeball dripping from its beak
and said “since my lung is dead in my chest
I will give it to you to take back to your nest”
pulling flesh from his body like tissues from a sleeve
the crow took his offering and started to leave
but not before telling the man where it was that he lay
and, knowing of his hometown, he told him of the way
the man was far from home and over winter he froze
through the snow he continued, but frostbite took his toes
and in summer, it was hot, and after stealing holy water
the king took his hand, after sparing his slaughter
after many years of exile, he found a place he knew
and a woman answered quietly, “Is that you?”
she looked at his face and his clothes, torn and blackened
and she quietly asked “what on earth happened?”
“I lost a lung to a bullet, and my eye to a crow.
I lost my hand for water, and my toes to snow.
But my mind remained strong and my love remained true
and all these years I saved my heart for you.”
With his remaining hand he pulled his shirt apart
And he opened up his chest and pulled out his heart
“I carried this for you across the oceans and lands”
and he placed it beating in her trembling hands.
“What would I want with this?” She asked. “I hardly even met you.”
“You left and the world went on. We started to forget you.
You didn’t save your heart for me. It was always yours alone.
That woman in your dreams was not me, but a clone.
She only existed in the shadows of your mind.
Give her this heart, and leave me to mine.”
And she handed him his heart, and forgot his name.
And eventually, he did the same.
super cool. I'm into krautrock. Like Neu! and early Kraftwerk (and I like later Kraftwerk too - but ... you know what I mean right?) admittedly my knowledge doesn't go much beyond that --- but it's good stuff I often find myself wanting to do something in that style. This is all a long lead-in to say I really like what you did with this, the instrumental sounds really authentic to the style to me.
What an interesting visceral story. Love the beat, and the vocal style really works to break it up.
Oh man, this is super cool. The urgency of the beat is fantastic, and I love your spoken delivery. The guitar bit is awesome, especially when it first comes in, and I like all the layers that get added or changed. Really cool story and the way you've rendered it here, with the beat, makes all 7 minutes pretty damn gripping.
Interesting story and very interestingly written... It;s the first song of this style in the course of this FAWM I am listening to... Really intriguing and well-performed vocal delivery, it works nicely with that guitar for me... You are a very versatile artist, Vom!
Great job translating the prose into lyrics. I took a quick glance over the lyrics before pressing play, and it didn't actually occur to me that most of them rhymed--I was expecting a straight reading of your friend's prose over an instrumental. Which I think speaks well to the words flowing very naturally. Then I was pleasantly surprised to find that they did in fact have rhyme and meter to match the song :) Nice, dark, moody, lyrically reminds me of various old ballads like Twa Corbies and Lovely on the Water but I like the juxtaposition with this style of music. What did you use to make your beats/loops?
My word this is really compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed listening. You've done a great job here - excellent.
This is beautiful piece of gothic electronica... could be a whole new (Neu!?) genre :) The music is great and the prose is fantastic. Thank your friend for such a compelling story
That music is really propulsive and tense right off the bat; it's impossible to turn off. The quasi-rap vocal style is quietly insistent and captivating, and a great way of telling this fascinating story; I listened enraptured through the twists and turns (eye pecking! mutilation!) to find out what happened next. And it was worth it; the end was devastating and touching and, ultimately, very very satisfying. So in sum, I very much enjoyed this story-song, both "lyrically" and in terms of the music and performance. Great job, both of you!
I read his story first (enjoyed!), then listened. Firstly, absolute SKILLS to retell the story so closely but making it fit the lines and rhyme. This is really great.. love the backing and the way you tell the story is awesome. Sorry to your mate, but some of your lines are much better I reckon!
As @adforperu I read the lyrics first and actually didn't see this tune coming from that. The continuous pulsating background works a treat with the spoken vocals. THen the superb interception from the guitar is a treat!!
These are probably the lyrics I've listened to the most intently this whole month. I read the story while the song was playing, the way you fit it into the music was expertly done (of course, I mean you are an expert at this after all). Very much enjoyed the brooding synth riffing in the background too, and the crescendo before the end. Quality stuff.
Your voice actually works really well in this style. Faithful recreation of the style, and the beat and melodies brilliantly build the atmosphere. Good stuff!
The vocal delivery reminds me a little of Nada Surf's Popular (and I love the delivery on this song). This song is odd : it's you, and it's not you. I don't know what makes me feel like this, but all the same, it is awesome. There is a slightly hypnotic effect that I really dig, and it's deliciously smooth.
Really like the synth variations. Also, your voice is great for spoken word. Come read me a bedtime story
This is weird but totally captivating. Couldn't stop listening, very good.
2015-02-19 @ 11:03pm
tags: indie-rock
VOM: This is the first of the Half Ton Dad songs that has started with my basic track, which explains why it doesn't sound much like the others (largely because it's in a major key)!
@jamesconsterdine - lead vocals, guitar
@vomvorton - backing vocals, guitar, bass, drum programming, synth
as I step into the fire
I know I'll never tire
of the rush this anger flows through me and
I want to take you on
I have waited for so long
now the power of the fight renews me
all I want to see now is my fist upon your face
do not turn around because I am ready to give chase
all I want to be is waiting here for me
now we approach from either side
you do not try to hide
we'd be disappointed if you bailed out
you keep on pushing back
the experience we lack
means that we might only fail to fight now
Oo nice, some Cure vibes musically here. Vocals are really great on this one, and great BVs too
Ad's beaten me to it, I'm getting Cure vibes too (great!). Vocal sounds lovely. I think this is my fave of the HTD ones :-)
I'm a sucker for this kind of songs, you know it, right? :) Such a pleasure to listen to this. I agree with @adforperu on the Cure vibes. Wonderful song. These guitars are superb by the way.
This is a very happy-sounding song for something with a chorus involving punching someone in the face! Although I suppose there's probably quite a lot of joy involved in punching certain people in the face. Great melody, excellent vox. I like the sound of the guitars a lot.
Reminds me of Rotary 10 a bit. Not sure if you remember them Tom? Guitars sound terrific.
Those guitar lines are amazing, it's so great when you have the synth subtly edging in during the intro, I wish there was more of that but the way the song zips along and the melodies of vox and guitars more than makes up for it.
2015-02-19 @ 11:05pm
tags: big-rock large-rock boulder
RIFFS.
@jamesconsterdine - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, drum programming
@vomvorton - backing vocals, lead guitar, bass
That distorted bass is awesome. As are the choruses.. This is *almost* classic rock. The choruses are very catchy
Love the strangeish chords with feedback intro!!! This is a tub thumping rock track to burst balls here there and everywhere. Top work you two
Really engaging...it drew me in right away. I really like the emotion in this delivery and the musical contrasts you create and the combine. Works well. Love the guitars and the groove. Wonderful vocal. Lyrics are well crafted!
Another cool rock tune guys. Some very cool guitar work again. Chorus is pretty catchy. Particularly like that solo at the end.
Nice one, like the vocal effect during the chorus, and whatever that high synth sort of sound is going on there too. Good drum programming too! Rocking.
A very catchy tune, particularly the chorus! I love the guitar and so beautifully performed! An excellent collab-work!
Awesome. I love love love that part with the singing over the fight the fantasy/ooh ooh oohs! also that dirty garage rock breakdown towards the end is great.
Fuzz-o-rama! Powerful song, powerfully delivered. Soundwise a bit like Muse meets Depeche Mode. Like it a lot!
The thick furry bass is fantastic. The breakdown around 2 minutes is nice, as is the sustaining Frippish Guitar.
Cool rocker, fuzz bass is badass, especially in the breakdown right near the end. That bit 2/3 in with the half-time is my favourite kind of rockism.
2015-02-20 @ 11:51pm
tags: collab 80s synthpop pop
kristian: Influenced by the glorious 80s? ... I have no idea how one might think that :)
vom: I always struggle with lyrics for kristian's songs because they're so good, and I don't want to let them down. These took me a while, I started out trying to write about the doomed romance between an a-list star and a b-movie...erm... "unstar" but it morphed into being about an obsessed fan instead and I'm actually really happy with these lyrics!
you're on the a-list, always on set
I'm at the other end of the alphabet
you've got a fan club, lined up for signings
asking for autographs when you are out dining
and you never recognise me
I wonder how much further I must go
before I get a cameo
you're a blockbuster
and I am straight to video
do you get the letters I keep sending?
will there be a happy ending?
you're a real star
and I'm just pretending
you're on the guest list, I'm just a plus one
and I won't be remembered after I have gone
you've got a star on the walk of fame
people are always forgetting my name
you've never even known it
This sounds like a theme song for a John Hughes movie from the 80s, so I think you hit the mark! Poignant lyrics, nicely done.
I like the chord changes
Oh I feel the 80s and I want to be dancing! Great feel! Wonderful performance. Cool lyrics with a wonderful hook!
Time to dig out my skinny tie, my jeans with 30 zippers and my hair gel. This would be a great song at the high school dance.
Awesome - love this song!!
Nice work you two! There's a cohesive sound to this, like you've always worked together!? Something sad sneaks in there with the unrequited feelings the poor 'straight to video' character's got. Clean pop production and nice changes... overall a real pleasure!
Wow, what a great line to start with: you're on the a-list, always on set I'm at the other end of the alphabet. I like the feel of the song, great 80s sound, nice for dancing. Well done!
Guys this a bangin' 80's tune. The lyrics are ace and suit the music beautifully. This tune is the bomb and I may have used the below website to find some 80's buzzwords ;) http://www.inthe80s.com/glossary.shtml
Very nice slice of synthpop. Has that 2nd wave of synthpop feel - 83-85. Really well thought out lyrics and 'you're a blockbuster and I am straight to video' is a killer line.
Everything about this making me smile. What a perfect match-up. Hilarious lyrics and a twinkle and a wink in the music.
This is even more 80s than the 80s... love it! Great synth work. I like the lyrics lots so I think it was time well spent. The chorus melody is super catchy. Cool collab guys.
very 80's gave me a real good feeling enjoyed the lyric a lot nice work
I love the synths here! and Kristian's lyrics are great.
Oh yeah - ultra 80s! The verses actually remind me LCD Soundsystem.. the choruses are a melting pot of every 80s chorus that has ever existed :) Cracking synth solo!
Love the beat and the synths, such '80s, very synthpop, wow! The lyrics are clever yet economical and poignant, I particularly liked the first verse.
Yes! This is great. That chorus kicks butt. Super synth work - love the solo! And when that extra synth came in halfway through the first verse....ah...so good...I knew I was in for a treat.
Aw this could go straight onto one of the Brat Club film soundtracks. Maybe Kristian could hold a ghetto blaster above his head playing this to impress some girl like in that film. I also liked the 'blockbuster' line - nice reference to the defunct video chain, but also the line about 'pretending' was clever - after all, what are actors but great pretenders?
Very nice song although I had to listen in parts as my computer kept stopping and starting. No idea why. I'm sure something isn't right over here haha unless my computer isn't used to your cool style so it's your fault lol. You are both too good! Seriously though, very nice collaboration. Thank you both very much :)
very clever lyrics- alphabet.. a list - the metaphors are fabulous the 80s are back!
Man, I am all over those 80s synths like a sweaty rash! I can't get enough of that stuff right now. This hits all the sweet spots like 80s cheese should and that nintendo solo is awesome. Keeper!
2015-02-22 @ 12:04pm
tags: skirmish superskirmish skirmish22b rap casiocore
Took the skirmish title literally. Was fun.
landlord's £ing at the door again
wants his $, jesus wept
< two hours ~ morning
and I still haven't slept
what's his problem, too much #?
I push past him, "gotta -"
tries to / me, tries to bash me
I run off "gotta get the £$£$!"
another night of punctuation
when all is quiet, !
now I'm sleeping on the floor
dreaming of _
work is hell, 100%
but I guess I gotta pay the rent
wanna fall into a , but I need the money
living off ^^^ like bugs fucking bunny
- up to payroll to ask some ???
they can't pay me yet, offer some suggestions
"monthly pay . check the contract please!"
guess I should always read the ()
they say all men are = but I feel somewhat <
wanna be a * but I'm just a fucking mess
living off pro+ cos they're knocking at the door
if only I could sleep for a few hours >
Great job! I love your interpretation of the challenge title! The chorus will be stuck in my head all day. :)
This is fantastic, I'm floored by how clever this is and how tight the lyrics are for a skirmish song. Great backing track too! When you said you took it literally, I thought you were going to have a song called "Dreaming of Blank". This is so much more awesome!
very clever indeed, oh punctuation person. It's a pity that lsiteners without the lyrics will miss the joke, but it's agood casiocore rap even without that. I'm impressed, always!
VERY CLEVER. I haven't heard this kind of this before, so am quite blown away by the originality of the writing style. Demo is wicked too .. I'm gonna put it on again. Oh ... and that's track 14.. well done!
Taking things literally, indeed... This is the first #casiocore song I've evah heard - and I'm dying of laughter. Annoying landlords and "work is hell, 100%" - that's life, heheh. So different approaches to this skirmish, again, but all of them so good!
This is fabulously creative without doubts! I love how you played with the punctuation and such a catchy song musically as well! Excellent skirmishing!
Fabulous! I love the clever use of punctuation in place of lyrics, it's catchy too! Awesome!
Oh you clever fool! This is well catchy, love the drum fills the most - cracking stuff. Great bassline and keyboard lines
BRILLIANT. This is so great, can't believe you did this in the time limit for a skirmish, no less! I love it.
Well once again you've blown my bits off with this. A really catchy tune and the delivery of the vocals is perfect. Would love to know how you managed to write and blurt out those excellent lyrics with such professionalism
Fantastic job on this song! Very catchy and fun! I love how despite the sentiment and language it has a classy feel!
Ah... those retro beats are bloody ace!! Very much enjoyed reading these lyrics - love all the replacements :-) Dreaming of an underscore one of my favourite titles this year!
clever stuff! Love the beats!
Ha, trust you to interpret it this way. I hope that this enters the vernacular, as slang/a euphemism for what I don't know. This is a cool tune, the gimmick catches my attention but the gloomy everday rush of the song is remarkably vivd in it's bleakness (oxymoron alert! That makes sense though, right?)
2015-02-24 @ 05:25pm
tags: indiepop emo antisocial
A little bit more introspective than I usually get. I really like the music, I hope the words aren't too much of a downer.
I go out
and I can't wait to get home
in the thick of the crowd
is where I feel most alone
when you said I was good company, I knew it was idle flattery
you can take me out of the flat but you can't take the flat out of me
you can't take me anywhere
you can't take me anywhere
(I'm still fun, I swear)
you can't take me anywhere
good times on the horizon
just fill me with dread
I look forward to things for ages
then just want to stay in bed
but maybe in time, with your help, I am hopeful
I will become a bit less antisocial
Ahhh, introversion, good times. Great song. I love the music, that chiming guitar is perfect. This sort of reminds me of the Cure and I'm not entirely sure why. I really enjoyed these lines... "when you said I was good company, I knew it was idle flattery / you can take me out of the flat but you can't take the flat out of me."
this is awesome! i'm a sucker for emo music.
Oh yeah I hear the Cure too. Clever lyrics. Like the vocals and music, too.
This is a great track, the guitars sound so nice and your harmonies and it is so unusual to see writing in this style. It is so unlike you in both your writing and your personality. It's different and great.
Can't say much other than superb!!! Love the guitar sound and the layering is perfect for the tune. Top job
This is super cool, I really love the harmony vocal line. The trem guitar sounds really cool too. I love the line "I'm still fun, I swear" :-)
Really heartfelt this. Poignant lyrics, lovely guitar tone, and great melody - schkills.
Introverts of the world unite! I like how you slipped a neat little pun into an otherwise melancholy song. The drums stop it getting too earnest anyway. You can't be too emo with a kick like that. I'm glad someone else mentioned the Cure - oddly enough I watched a bunch of their videos on Sky Arts last night... Anyhow, I liked this - strong melody. The chorus is really catchy, as per usual from you :)
Nice tune, like the vibe with the synths and whatnot. And you rhymed 'flattery' with 'flat out of me'! bonus points!
Yay, an actual emo tag! I know how you feel about dreading things, even if they're meant to be good and I ultimately end up enjoying them. It has a real 90's indie vibe to it. Reminds me of The lightening seeds or the La's.
Love the guitar. Chorus is excellent. I'm still fun...that made me smile. No analysis needed; I'm digging the whole thing.
Beautiful lyrics - really resonate with me. Like this one lots. Guitar work's ace, vocals sound particularly good and the electro beats sound cool too. Really nice.
Lush clean(ish) guitar, super tasty! Great post-80s vibe and your harmonies are spot on, really great. I like the m8 a lot. I do think the really excellent verse overpowers the chorus a bit. I would consider going AABA format which is always a good trick when you have such an outstanding verse, or perhaps do a bigger chorus melody. Although I appreciate that the chorus lyric is not exactly upbeat ... or perhaps it could be, in a jolly post-ironic sort of way?
Oh man, I knew I loved this as soon as the music started. Gorgeous guitar line. I totally feel these lyrics, and think you treated them well. The line about the "flat" is wonderful. Your harmonies and vocals are great on this. This is definitely one of my favorites, it's really, really beautiful.
Ahh this is great, I relate so much to the lyrics! The music is perfect and poppy as well, so melodic and floaty.
I love these lyrics! Yes, they have a sad feel, but how lovely! Beautiful guitars. A pleasure to listen to. As always. :)
An excellent and quite unusual song, in deed... Great guitars and harmonies... The melody is very, very catchy as all of yours, and so beautifully performed! That section with the "flat" is genius!
"good times on the horizon just fill me with dread I look forward to things for ages then just want to stay in bed" Excellent. I like the "me out of the flat/flat out of me" thing too. On top of which the music's good and it is well sung. Another winner.
Crushing: "when you said I was good company, I knew it was idle flattery / you can take me out of the flat but you can't take the flat out of me." And the second verse is almost too close to home. This tune is a top-five FAWM favorite for me this year, no question.
Love this Agree with the sentiments, really hits home! The track is extremely well put together. Agree with Morrissey comments.
Sigh, yes. I can relate. Noisy, crowded places just make me feel intensely uncomfortable, particularly because I can neither understand people when they yell in my ear, nor read lips. I just hear white noise. It's a weird sort of isolation. I really dig the chorus. It lifts beautifully from the lower register of the verse. Also, the tremolo-effect of the guitars. Love 'em. Maybe it's the classicist in me, but I'd love to hear an extended reprise of the chorus, maybe where the echos of the vocal spiral off into space, and the strings take over. Top song.
Forget flux capacitors. You just took me right back to the 80s. This remind me of Psychadelic Furs. This has an amazing laid back feel and great lyrics.
This is so Magnetic Fields. The tunes is great but it's those lines like "you can't take the flat out of me" (especially the way you rhyme it with flattery) and "In the thick of the crowd..." that push this over the edge.
2015-02-26 @ 07:33am
tags: casiocore indiepop latin memento-mori
Vom: I'm really happy to have been able to collaborate with @owl on this, it's one of my favourite FAWM collaborations ever! I made the instrumental track (the main keyboard line is my own voice sampled into a Casio SK-5) and sent it over, and I was EXTREMELY pleased with what came back. Hope you like it too!
@owl: I was very excited to get the chance to collaborate with @vomvorton on this, he suggested it after I was already past the 14-song mark and then ridiculously shortly thereafter sent over the beautiful instrumental track that I was afraid of screwing up because I loved it so much.
I hope when I die, they put "Here lies a girl who really loved her high school English class" on my tombstone. This might take the cake for the most allusions I've managed to stuff into a song so far.
I wrote and titled this song thinking about Tom Stoppard's play Arcadia, originally titled Et In Arcadia Ego but renamed for commercial reasons, and when I sent my part back to Vom we discovered that the painting of the same name lives in a gallery 15 minutes down the road from him, which he wasn't going to mention but I'm going to do it because I think that's a crazy coincidence.
Walking downtown to meet you
cold sunshine on concrete
Past the Greek cafe
plastic bags blowing in the street
I cut through campus
the day is windy
Holes in my old wool gloves
Sic transit gloria mundi
And the sun shines on your face
like you are the light and truth
I feel like the sun turns around you
and yet the earth moves
And even in Arcadia,
there am I
Said the shepherd to his love,
We love and then we die
If we the pleasures prove
does proof mean truth or trying?
When we feel the little death
can we push away our dying?
And the sun shines on your face
like you are the only truth
I feel like the sun turns around you
and yet the earth moves
and yet the earth moves
The universe flies towards chaos
as we walk towards the park
Each step brings us towards the future
Hold my hand; it's getting dark
Ahh. Lovely in all respects x
Sublime collaboration between two of my favorite FAWMers.
Excellent work from both: That sample thing is ludicrously catchy, and there are some great lyrics
Had to get better headphones for a second listen. This is the kind of melancholy that makes me so happy. It's tomorrow evening in Phnom Penh and the hot pot restaurants are packed with young people--and for some reason this seems like the perfect soundtrack. Back for a third listen. Packed with allusions? Yeah, but what about the captivating concrete imagery and the snappy way it rolls off the tongue? Beautiful work from Vom, as always. That sample is pretty cool. Lovely all around
This is lovely, a fantastic collaboration. I really loved what you did using your voice on Casio SK-5, very effective. The words are beautifully sung and I thought your voices intertwined brilliantly.
The voice sample is great - I did something similar to a much worse effect! The soft lead vocal is lovely, and great lyrics too. Great collaboration guys!
Beautiful collaboration! Your different styles combine seamlessly, and I love your voices together. The lyrics set a scene that works on its own terms; the allusions are extra pleasure for those of us who loved our high school English class.
Very well written, interesting lyrics, I like the parallelism between the "universe" that "flies towards chaos" and the "we" that is walking "towards the park". Great tune, arrangement and vocal delivery! Fantastic collaboration!
I must be getting old. I hear the longing and melancholy coming through this apparently happy song, in spades. Hold my hand; it is indeed getting dark. Vom, that's a magic voice sample, sufficiently odd to catch, then blends so well. Owl, what can I say? I could sit alone in the middle of the desert and weep at this one. Downloaded, so I probably will.
YOU GUYS STOPPPPPP YOU COLLABORATED????? Two of my favorite FAWM discoveries on one track! *dies* *rises from dead; listens again* @vomvorton dude, that instrumental is beautiful. I love the vocal effects melody line, and the rhythmic acoustic guitar under it, is perfection. @owl Your voice sounds so lovely on this; it really fits the lyrics and the mood of the instrumental. Really cool lyrics -- loved all the allusions, but it doesn't feel forced at all. I LOVE this verse: "If we the pleasures prove does proof mean truth or trying? When we feel the little death can we push away our dying?" And the chorus is fantastic This made me so happy, you guyyyssssss!
you have such a loveley voice & vom is the perfect collaborater for you in this....i like the way it all gets a bit intellectual but ...love conquers all people including clever people...& makes them understandable! so even i know whats going on :) i loved the chorus & the last verse
This is a great song. You are right the music is good, but so is the vocal and the mood. A winner in my book.
I lent my SK-5 to someone when I was 15 and never saw it again. Still bitter about that now :-( This is great. I love the lo-fi SK-5 samples! The vocals are really beautiful on this one. The harmonies are marvellous too. A really lovely collab guys - great work.
Love this! The twinkly instruments and gorgeous vocals make a delicious combination. Good drumkit choice - somehow it helps to keep the song a bit lighter, I think? Lovely.
I'm listening to this on the FAWMcast. Nice collab! The vocals sound really lovely, the harmonies are cool. The keyboard line is catchy!
Fantastic! I'm just letting the music wash over me. I should probably listen again after the fawmcast so I can get the whole thing. Those synthy vocals or whatever they are are perfect.
I heard this on the FAWMcast! :) This song is complete magic. It's hard to focus on the lyrics because the whole thing is just washing over me in waves, but then I listen again and focus on the lyrics and read them and even more wow. Poetry.
Wooooow I love this soo much. Everything about it!
LATIN in song. As the Americans say, GOOD JOB. I'm really taken with the samply voice part that stays all the way through, I'm assuming that's @vomvorton, and @owl's vocals are pretty spesh too.
Fantastic lyrics, love that underlying voice sample keyboard line, and excellent vocal delivery :)
Oooo...love the intro...very fresh and different. Then the full instruments come in...lovely! The bittersweet lyric and gentle vocals are icing on the cake. And then harmonies...wow. Great final product.
The voice sample keyboard part is great. And so's the rest of it. It goes in the "keep" folder. Thanks to both of you.
Wow, what a stirring song, so beautiful and stylish in every way... The vocals are dreamy, and I love that's there's Latin in there.
Something Flaming Lips-y about the intro for me, in the best possible way. Like the vocal layers that come in, adding some warmth to the sad tune. Fav line: "Said the shepherd to his love, / We love and then we die."
Lovely and understated. And really thoughtful lyrics. Nice work!
I think those sampled 'oh's are gorgeous. And the lyrics: so sad yet romantic. I have a weak spot for that combination :-) A beautiful song and a great collaboration. Downloaded!
Oh, this is just grand! Dreamy melodies everywhere. You two should collaborate outside of FAWM, maybe?
Ah this is super nice. It's all so soft and lovely, that honky synth is brilliant! Makes me think of when you bop a goomba (or whatever they are) in Braid.
2015-02-26 @ 07:05pm
tags: electropunk synth-trash sputnik bellowing sci-fi
@chriddof sent me these lyrics a week or two ago with the suggestion that they could be made into a Sigue Sigue Sputnik-esque synth-punk anthem, and also that I should add my own third verse (which I did). I have done my best, using as many of the odd electronic devices I have lying around as possible.
The lyrics are roughly based on 'Cherry 2000', a ridiculous 80s post-apocalyptic science fiction film about a man who will travel the radioactive wasteland to replace his broken sex robot. Starring Melanie Griffith and Tim Thomerson!
http://whateves.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/x-cherry-2000-22.jpg
Elektro-fem-bot sex VHS
Dress to kill, dress to impress
Gundam maniac came my way
Goddamn maniac took my baby away
Candy 2000
Candy, the ultimate girl
Candy 2000
you're the most beautiful thing in the world
Driving through Neo Tokyo
Searching every android strip show
Gotta get my baby back, get her today
Gundam maniac's gonna pay
Candy 2000
Candy, the ultimate girl
Candy 2000
You're the most beautiful thing in the world
Underground reservoir, how should we know?
Factory built in an old casino
Androids weigh too much to fly
Never loved a human but I guess it's time to try
haha awesome! This is so trashy and over the top, it's perfect--love all the samples and bleeps and bloops and wailing guitar bits over the driving drumbeat. Great lyrics: "Driving through Neo-Tokyo / Searching every android strip show" = <3 Also, I love the melody of the chorus.
Ah yes, this totally drives like a... bloody...car! Yeah! Love the vocal glitching. The Candy bit is cracking.. the vocal melody, the bassline, the guitars.. all reaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllll good.
Great song. The musical meeting of two wonderful worlds. Great driving tempo and melodies! Still missing @chriddof. Those are Impressive Rhyming Couplets.
i love everything about this! that's a great synth sound and the lyrics are awesome. i love all the sci-fi themed electro-pop i've been hearing for FAWM.
Awesome track! I too like the electro-pop stuff that's been happening this year in Fawm! You have a great voice for this kind of music!
Oh man, I have to find a copy of that film! This is very cool. That bass is awesome - drives the whole thing. The whole track has a real 80s feel - not in a contrived retro 80s way - this is as 80s as the 80s! Your voice works great in this. Good job.
!!! Stunning track! There's an epic feel to it, epic and dark because of the lyrics. Actually, I find them rather poignant in the context of this glorious track. Great, great collab.
Inspired! And how did I miss this movie when I was in high school? Vocal wonderfully expressive and synths urgent and powerful. Rhymes are fantastic.
Bwahaha, I must watch this film. I like all the samples littered throughout this.
2015-02-27 @ 04:26pm
tags: 10in10 alphabet microsongs
Every other entry in the @stevenwesleyguiles 10-in-10 challenge that I've heard has been amazing, so I thought I should have a go. It was quite exhausting! But I am pleased with the results!
1. Always Be Criticisin'
2. Brainwashed
3. Concentrate
4. Don't Worry About Me
5. Eagle Owl (inspired by http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31628508)
6. Fry Me An Egg
7. Groundhog Day
8. HoeDown
9. I'm Sorry That I Killed You In A Dream
10. Just One More Kiss
Always Be Criticisin'
I know you love to criticise
but must you alphabeticise
your insults?
Brainwashed
Brainwashing isn't so bad
It gets rid of those stubborn stains
and kills 99.9% of bacteria
Concentrate
The scientist stared at the orange juice
because it said concentrate (concentrate concentrate)
and that was how we learned that it contained poisonous nitrates (nitrates nitrates)
there was a huge scandal
now we all drink apple and mango
Don't Worry About Me
Don't worry about me!
I'm made out of rocks!
Eagle Owl
Eagle Owl, Eagle Owl!
I know you're feel ing strange right now
Eagle Owl, Eagle Owl!
Please don't be overzealous
Eagle Owl, Eagle Owl!
Please do not attack right now
The old folks have umbrellas.
Fry Me An Egg
Fry me an egg
for goodness sake
I'm wasting away to nothing
Groundhog Day
Every time it gets a re-release
i have to re-buy Groundhog Day
Hoedown
There's a dance out on the farm
I will grab you by the arm
and I will swing you to the beat
I will sweep you off your feet
but you cause so many injuries as your limbs flail around
if only you would put your hoe down
I'm sorry that I killed you in a dream
I'm sorry that I killed you in a dream
I was trying to protect my reputation
I'm sorry that I killed you in a dream
I hope this doesn't ruin our relationship
Just One More Kiss
Just one more kiss, my darling
then we'll blow up this building
Don't Worry About Me is brilliant! You should do more vocoder stuff. Groundhog Day made me laugh plenty. As did your song
Fuck yeah! More 10x10 music! I love this shit.
BRILLIANT. You should go do the rest of the alphabet. I totally lost it during "Hoedown" (but of course I think I am obligated to pick "Eagle Owl" as my favorite)
AWESOME!
This is gorgeous! Oh man. I have to do this next year. [rolls it again] "Just One More Kiss" sounds like something from The Magnetic Fields. What is their FAWM-like 3-disk set called? "69 Love Songs"?
GOd its the lyrics that take me a time when doing tunes. This is awesome, whilst full of mentalness!!. what a great challenge.
Is this part 1 of 2.6, then? This is super! My favourites are Hoedown and Concentrate. Utter madness - hooray!
This is all such brilliant madness! "Concentrate," "Don't Worry About Me," and "Hoedown" are my favorites, but please write a longer song called "I'm Sorry That I Killed You In a Dream" because that is one of the best titles I have ever heard.
This is all such brilliant madness! "Concentrate," "Don't Worry About Me," and "Hoedown" are my favorites, but please write a longer song called "I'm Sorry That I Killed You In a Dream" because that is one of the best titles I have ever heard.
Great production and variety here. I especially enjoyed the "Eagle Owl" umbrella bit. And the rocks. And of course, the alphabet.
I love "I'm sorry that I killed you in a dream", that's a hit single waiting to happen I swear! I could definitely listen to that as a full track. This was a delightfully insane 2 minutes!
ha! I didn't read the other comments before I posted but I like that me and @loveonamixtape are on the same page about a full length "i'm sorry that I killed you in a dream". Maybe you can have us both as backing singers on a post-fawm collaboration? :D
Haha, all those lyrics are brilliant. The very last one is my favourite.. could even be a poem!
Dang I wanted to do a 10x10 -- I even got groups of 10 quotes together on two different subjects, but I couldn;t pull the musical trigger. Of course when I hear something like what you've done I am always amazed by the incredible creativity of fawners in general -- and you in particular (ha, ha). These are great little vignettes that really sound like songs!!!! Incredible. Great production and performances throughout. Well down. I bow to your 10 second wonderousity!
I love the sense of humor in these. You did a lot with the production on some, too. Impressive! My favorites are "I'm Sorry That I Killed You in a Dream" and "Always Criticizing".
"I'm sorry that I killed you in a dream" is my favorite. I loved it! Please expand on it next year! "Brainwashing" and "Hoedown" are runners-up. The slant rhyme of "there was a huge scandal / now we all drink apple and mango" was a favorite moment.
These are a lot of fun. Especially like Concentrate and Just One More Kiss (which is the perfect ending).
Oh man, this is so much fun. I wanted to do a #10in10 but I ended up with a bunch of 20 sec songs, so I left it at that. I think your bits are fabulous, and I especially like that all of the songs have their own (well executed) production.
These are all awesome! My favorite lyrics are "Don't Worry About Me", and I identify with "Groundhog Day"...I watch that movie every year on Groundhog Day :-)
I would so like to hear an album length version of these, or watch the musical to which it is the soundtrack.
Yes! I love these things. Attention spans are for...and I love how random it is, flitting from weird subject to factual information and back with merry abandon. Obligatory fave check: Don't Worry About Me, Eagle Owl and Hoedown, but obvs they're all good, you clever bastard.
2015-02-27 @ 07:22pm
tags: synthpop indie-pop electronic
UPDATE:
@owl:
Hey! @vomvorton and I have now fleshed it out! Check it out! It is nice and fleshy!
Also, we have made a page for our collaborations! You can find them here:
https://soundcloud.com/vowl-sounds/
Original version, original owl notes:
app.box.com/s/65n0hs550szh3ufu33segnjm12zl60nz
A small sketch. I liked the lyrics and wanted to get it down but it needs more parts. Feat. guest vocalist Automatic Beeping Coffeepot, possibly also guest vocalist Cell Phone On Vibrate
i made a sound, a sound of voices
i sent it out among the faces
and out there in the cloud of sounds
mine was lost among the clouds
i found a sound, a sound that moved me
it bent the bones inside my body
it hung the lights within my brain
soothed the earth with chiming rain
while the world is slowly turning
the incense coils are slowly burning
the speakers buzz, and then they sing
the wounded noise of everything
the world's too loud
the world's too bright
I cannot bear
the sound of light
flickering hum inside the room
lingers like a past perfume
the receiver's warm still to the touch
as though it were of flesh and blood
It begs the question, it begs forgetting
A secret in a three-prong setting
I turn the jewel against my skin
I bear the noise of everything
i made a sound, a sound of voices
i sent it out among the faces
and out there in the cloud of sounds
mine was lost inside the cloud
Lilting and lovely. I like this verse especially ... "flickering hum inside the room lingers like a past perfume the receiver's warm still to the touch as though it were of flesh and blood" It's so descriptive you really get a sense of being there.
ok well, your first two chords made my heart melt, so. it's a win, for sure. this song is so dreamy, I almost can't handle it.
Beautiful, and very relatable. This is one I want to return to.
Kudos on the big-name guest stars! Coffeepot is a long-time favourite of mine. This is a gorgeous sketch, the backing vocals are wonderfully subtle, perfectly fitting for the "cloud" imagery, this feels lighter than air.
Beautiful, dreamy little sketch. I really like these lyrics.
Nice to capture the essence of these words. The harmony gently joining in give me the sense they will become much more in a future time. The sound of light...well I guess it is all vibration when it comes down to it. Many deep words in a simple uke setting. I do love the uke.
This is so pretty and dreamy! Your lyrics, your soft vocal delivery the sweet melody, all very lovely. I honestly don't think it needs much else, except maybe a pretty instrumental break in the middle, perhaps.
soft and beautiful -- both the vocal and the ukulele. Dang, first time hitting your page this fawm -- where have I been? Saw your name in the ukulele thread. Nice little change in the "the world's too loud" stanza to go to strumming. Harmony was a good addition in the second half of the tune. Overall a very pretty and fine song!
That's a really nagging insistant melody. And you stopped it getting old by switching the time sig. Also the 'I found a sound' stanza is fucking terrific
What a lovely, lovely tune! The melody is so pretty and your vocals so beautiful! I love that ukulele too! I really love the lyrics!! They are so interesting and make me lean in and listen closely to figure out all of their meanings!! Especially liked this "A secret in a three-prong setting" because I have not really figured it out!!! Really nice work on this!!
wow, this is really wonderful- great lyric, great melody and great production (i'm hearing the full scale production just put up)
You guys are on a roll! I'm going to have to listen again when I can get my hands on some headphones. Laptop speakers just won't cut it here. I love the way this quietly tiptoes along and then lifts to that triumphant chorus (?) and the transcendent outro. What to say about the lyric? It all works. Sent it out among the faces--yes. A flickering hum...lingers like past perfume--that's really nice. Great work here. I'd tried to push Destroyer on Tom, but he's having none of it. How about this gorgeous tune Dan Bejar sings with the New Pornographers? Born With a Sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYNDPGd6gcs
Beautiful lyric fleshed out in lush style! So many textures here massaging my ears, thanks guys, this is a lovely collab.
this is beautlfiulllllllll. so full of beauty,
2015-02-28 @ 04:32pm
tags: rock-and-or-roll
At the start of the month, @rayboneor left me a message saying that I should record a song with this title.
Despite my lack of knowledge of America (I spent a week in New York once, it was hot), being a teenager (tried it for a few years, didn't really like it) and Rock 'n'
Roll (I exclusively listen to 'new age' music and happy hardcore), I thought I'd have a go. But then I forgot about it until now. I had to bend the truth a little in the third verse, I'm not sure I've ever even heard an American band!? I operate a little rule when it comes to music - "if it ain't Dutch, don't touch".
though the soil beneath my feet
may be English loam
it's on American rock
that I feel at home
I may be British really
but in my dreams
I'm an American Teenage Rock 'n' Roll Machine
I couldn't tell you
my blood type
but when I bleed,
I bleed stars and stripes
I'm thirty-two years old
but in my dreams
I'm an American Teenage Rock 'n' Roll Machine
well our English bands
well they're alright
but American groups
are outta sight
I prefer pop
but in my dreams
I'm an American Teenage Rock 'n' Roll Machine
Aw yeah! This rocks hard. You captured the feel perfectly. Fun tune!
Nice, rock n roll fo sho! Very potent guitar sounds here, I'm feeling it!
well you didnt convince me! but i did realy enjoy it....you sounded more like a midlands middle aged mutton roll machine to me :) it goes at a real pace & its in your dreams so its a lot of fun
YEah nice rock and roll type vibe to this one especially with the opening riff nod to almost typical 50's rock and roll riff. What drum sequencer do you use? as they sounded pretty potent on top of the dirty effective guitaring
Good lord! I had the sound cranked to 11 and nearly lost my hearing when those drums kicked in. That's a lot of fun and lacks only a bombastic solo. The "in my dreams I'm an..." is really great and has some excellent earworm potential. Thanks. You've really pwned fawm this year.
This rocks! Not my thing, but can totally tell it's great. The guitars in this is are awesome
Ha, great fun! Catchy stuff as ever. Those drums are banging too!
'loam' - what a word to use in a fun, yet disposable pop-rock song. Nice one :)
Fun! Catchy! Rockin'! As an American who was once a teenager I give it a USA+. If you feel like venturing into Dutch happy hardcore, I think you should write one called Amsterdam Hamster Dance.
Whether it's "authentic" or not doesn't really matter; it's a foot-stomping good time, sounds great, and captures the straight-forward rock-n-roll "flavor" of a bygone era. I also enjoyed how the lyrics mythologized the American rocker, and made it sound like being an American rock machine is the highest goal any musician could hope for. :) For a few moments, we're transported into a make-believe world where being a rock star is all anyone has to worry / think about.
This rocks! It's funny to me, since I'm an American and I really love English bands :-)
Hey, I believed you. What could be more American than dreaming big, big, big? I particularly appreciated the play on the two meanings of 'rock'. And the notion of bleeding stars and stripes is some Type One Eagleland stuff that brought a smile to my face. (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Eagleland) if you needed to look that one up.
IIII WANT CANDY! You nailed it.
Ha...came back for another listen. It really is big-catchy-fun. I didn't catch the "I want Candy" vibe. I was thinking that it had more of a Bo Diddley feel, which may be the same thing. This lyric could be re-written ad infinitum: I'm 51 years old and I'm sure as hell not from Queens, but...
I'm glad you overcame your obsession with George Baker Selection and the Vengaboys to record this. It gives me that greatest of feelings, that I am living in Wayne's World. Thank you.
Love this - woke me right up this morning! Hooked right in by big drums and chunky guitars. Loam/home and blood type/stripes are inspired rhymes. Spirited, wacky, and certainly rock and roll.
You got it Vom! R&R spirit is alive here. Yeah, there is obvious "I Want Candy" there, but the vocals had a Rick Ocasek flavor too. Goodness, those drums are substantial!
2015-02-28 @ 05:00pm
tags: rockety rockety rock the-rock-ran-up-the-clock
An instrumental rock track from February becomes a complete song in April... that's hardly FAWM workrate but I'm posting it now that it's done anyway!
ZONG!
Well well well, commenting on a zong on May 7th? Who'd have thought it possible? Ha! Kind of a Joy Division / Metallica / The Cure fusion thing going on for me. Sounds like you had fun with this one! Only 9 months and we can start all over again. Yay! :)
Hey....better late than never. Sounds like a sound track for movie. Enjoyed the listen. It's great that you completed the project!
2015-02-28 @ 11:30pm
tags: pop fuzz peace-out-fawm-2015
VOM: I'm really happy to have collaborated with @samuelmiller again! Our previous collaboration* was one of my all-time favourites. I sent over a guitar / bass / drum instrumental and Samuel added these fantastic words / vocals plus some synth stuff, I think it sounds great!
@samuelmiller says the "love the way you scream" line is a shout out to the Cure since the instrumental reminded him of them... weirdly I think about half of my songs this year have been compared to the Cure and yet I've never really listened to them apart from the big pop hits... I should probably sort that out
* https://samuel.bandcamp.com/track/earth-day-celebration
how many times have you
found yourself amidst your heart
and nothing that you feel feels like it’s
even enough to start the beat?
and when you strive to say what’s best you find you never
even speak?
my father said that you were no “good” for me
but what he didn’t know is
“good” has no such relevancy
there’s not a way,
that you can be part of
some thing some day
you’re already that part
so stay awake and stay
cuz i love the way…
i really love the way you scream
about the jobs the locals need
everybody that we’d seen
protected by the calamine
and i thought you’re just
something else
it’s not for love
it’s not for fame
it’s not for money--there’s no game to win.
not me, not even you, not self,
not your heart nor for the sake of health
you do it all
just the best
you can
you do it all just the best that you can
sister heartbreak,
love-spent lover,
tear me open wide
“heart” can have a million meanings
but you’ll soon decide
you’ll soon decide
you’ll soon decide
Awesome sound as the starting point. the lyrics and vocals fit that starting point really well. Cure is a relevant comparison although this is no where near as depressing. Just a great sound and to think it is a collab is just great. Well done, very accomplished.
Love the intro! The guitar work is particularly great in this one - that repeated riff is really hypnotic. This is the sort of thing 15/16 year old Dan would have gone mad for. Still sounds pretty good now mind! The style of vocal delivery is really distinctive. Reminds me of something - The Cure a little yeah - but that's not all. Perhaps it'll come to me! Anyhow - great collab guys :-)
Lovely collab! I love the rhythms and rhyme schemes in the lyrics. The verse about "your father" reminds me of a couple of Big Star/Chris Bell songs--Thirteen and You & Your Sister. "Sister heartbreak, love-spent lover, tear me open wide" --love this. The instrumental sounds wonderful! the heavy fuzzy stuff is mesmerizing, I like the doubled guitar stuff towards the middle and then the bright shimmery guitar accents towards the end are perfection, love the tone. (Sorry I'm not very good about talking about guitar, that sounds really vague looking at what I wrote, but hopefully that makes sense.)
Great sound on this one. Takes me back to dreamy early 90s pop in some ways. Love the beat and the sparse instrumentation. The doubled vocal parts are way cool and the vocals in general add a nice urgency to the sound, creating a cool tension with the laid-back music. Great collab!
Excellent. I think this one will find its way into my "keep" folder. Thanks to both of you.
Great song. Instrumentally strong, with cool lyrics. I really enjoyed my listen.
Awesome. I really, really LOVE what you did here, and I know I will be listening to this quite a few times. Fantastic song.
Awesome song! Love that slow bass groove and the dreamy guitars and that persistent guitar line. @samuelmiller I love your voice! And these are such great lyrics, so many lines I love. The ending is absolutely killer: "'heart can have a million meanings/but you’ll soon decide." Damn, son. And that little bleepy, in and out of harmony synth bit of a great detail. Awesome collab!
These are really great lyrics - each one surprised me a little about the way it unfolded, and invoked a few concepts that are rarely if ever dealt with in popular music. I particularly enjoyed the phrase 'enough to start the beat' - one of the best synergies between music and the circulatory system that I've ever heard or read (and many have tried)
This is just brilliant. Start to finish.
I love the guitar sound on this, it's just so crisp and crunchy! I get the Robert Smith style vocals but with a slight american twang, I do like the way the vocals are layered up tho, particularly near the end, they almost sound like the Dirty Projectors which is cool. Also the lyrics are excellent.
Good to see you back. :) Happy new FAWM!
Right on, lookin' forward to your tunes :-)
Happy FAWM 2015 Vom! :D
Ha, love that you must have been checking intermittently
May the FAWM be with you :-)
Hiya! Yeah I think we all hope I don't get stressed... that's an ugly scene for all involved...
Happy FAWM Vom! Been waiting a year to say that!
Oooh, a 15 year old collab project? Colour me intrigued!
Hello, and happy 2015! Good luck, I'll be listening :)
In theory, I would love to! In practice, I'm going to under-promise and over-deliver this year for a change. I have a couple of weekends away this Feb, and don't know how far I'll get. So I'll give you a solid MAYBE, if that's OK?
Thank you :)
I may have asked you this last year, but is that Matlock in Derbyshire where you reside Mr Vom?
Oi geezah; Top'o'the morning
Cøllaby cøllinifluuuu... Mort mort mort
Yeah mate. I am from Bakewell in Derbyshire although have moved down South . Nice to have a fellow Derbyshirian on FAWM. How's the pav going these days ?? ahem
half man half biscuit in Matlock? wow!! Saw them in Liverpool in 1999. Stupendous. I can't imagine they'll reopen the Pav as it was though!! I remember farmer dancing with some of the biggest ladies I can remember
Looking forward to hearing more great nerdy Brit-Pop from you!
Hey Tom. Good to see your going to be joining us this year. Can't wait to see what you come up with. Any new inspiration from charity shop visits?
lol, I can believe that. I feel like I am a traitor to charity shops. Since leaving balfours I now have a netflix account and a google play music account. Hmmm, there might be a song in that.
Hi Vomit!
Hi Vom! I am glad to see you will be with us this FAWM again! I wish you a wonderful time!
Looking forward to hearing your new album on here! :-)
If you ever form an eighties goth band can you call it Post Morton?
By which I mean, hello!
Hey there! Looking forward to your opener this year. Police Horse has definitely stuck in the memory!! :-)
Have you seen The Guest? Iffy film but great soundtrack. All 80s woozy goth
You will attempt a goth song this year?! !!!!!!
Hello fellow Tom. Looking forward to hearing whatever you bring to the table this year. Best of luck with reviving your project!
Looking forward to hearing your stuff!
just dropping by to say hi. Have a good one.
thanks for the comment. I added you to my watchlist. love that first song man!
hey buddy, i'll take any instrumental tracks that are useless to you. ;D I'll sing and add some of my keys to it! i really wanted to have use sort of "real instrument" this year, but it's just back to my usual midi thing. good luck!
What's up baby!!!
Hey @vomvorton , thanks. I'm surprised you where able to listen to it I can't get it to play here. I try to link to dropbox and if I remember well I had to remove everything after .mp3 on the link, that used to work but now obviously not so well.
Thank you for the kind comment! :)
You haven't seen me in bed
Hi tom. Hahha Thanks for comments. I think 'airborne particles on a body of water' hss potential. Been thinking about the invisibility idea too! X
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it ;) Have a good one.
Hmm, I hadn't considered it might be Bowie-ish but yeah - I can totally hear it now. I'm a massive fan so happy to wear that one!
I may have a look... obvs not this month..
Thanks for all your lovely comments! In answer to the question about Salvador D'Alligator, the title was the very last thing to fall into place. A random word generator on the internet gave me ten nouns, the first two of which were "alligator" and "art", so the working title was just that - "Alligator Art". Then, at the last minute, I was hit between the eyes by an almighty, atrocious pun. I think my dad would be proud of me.
Definitely more of a Waterfall man myself also, but 1) I can't hope to hold a light to that song and 2) Waterfall sits amongst good company on their eponymous album, whereas Fool's Gold is a bit of an anomaly (albeit a more famous one).
Boom boom!
eugh! Tell me about it. I used to write a few albums-worth of songs every year, and now all of a sudden it's been two and a half years and I haven't written anywhere near as much as I used to. I'm hoping this FAWM gets me back into the zone hopefully!
I will offer you a treat, not sure what or when. Maybe not the best way to train you
I'd like to see a song with this title: Vom Vorton -- American Teenage Rock 'n' Roll Machine. I'm not sure what's wrong with me.
More than enough. And really, it's not what you know but what you feel. That's the name of an album by The Donnas, BTW. The idea of you saying that in the first person made me laugh. I'm weird that way.
no worries mate :)
Thanks for your comments!
thanks for the comment on ~~tru luv~~ ...it was a totally intentional Boyz II Men joke with the little harmony burst so I'm glad you mentioned it :)
oh cool; yah - great work! - I think I do actually have a Harmonia album ... and Can, I know Can too - so my krautrock knowledge is a little better than I said.. I know 4 krautrock bands!
Thanks for dropping a line on "Knife for me". Checked out this Nick Cave guy someone else had mentioned, I can see it.
Ohh the Volca Beats that was $100-ish? (What is that in your language, 60 guineas and a farthing ha' penny or whatever) My bandmate has one, and it looks so fun, but I borrowed it and then never used it, which I figured was a sign that maybe I shouldn't buy one myself. now I'm quite tempted again.
Scene but Not Heard is great... nasty lyrics, killer tune, especially love the melody of the "out on the town" lines. I was going to say you've got some balls for putting it on an album/playing it live, but I guess probably nobody ever thinks it's about them... Have you s(c)e(e)n(e)/heard Being a Dickhead? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVmmYMwFj1I also, "Seaside is Painless"? LOL, awesome album title.
"I play synth (deedly dee dee) WE ALL PLAY SYNTH! (deedly dee dee)"
[to the tune of OPP:] You down with STP? (No, no, not me!) You down with STP? (No, no, not me!) You down with STP? (No, no, not me!) Who's down with STP? (No, no, not me!) [to the tune of Down by the Stone Temple Pilots, in one's best Scott Weiland voice:] Pleased to meet you Nice to know me Are you the one who's Been stealing from me? Yeeeeeeah I been looking for my plagiarist girl
I added David Bowie's balls back in. I hope you're happy.
huh, now that you've mentioned it...I don't think I've heard anyone else make filter house on FAWM. how weird is that! but yeah, thanks! and I look forward to hearing whatever you make with my VSTs :)
Thanks so much, Vom! When an artist of your caliber compliments like that it's truly felt deeply. And, yes, when I first heard @valeriecox's demo I was in heaven. Lucy would be proud too. :)
I don't know Antarctica Takes It but I listened to that track and they're right up my alley! I'll have to listen to some more. It's interesting, that song is about twice as long as I feel like songs should be. I always end up writing "too many" words/verses and feeling like I need to trim some stuff out. I'm not sure if I should continue to try to suppress my natural tendencies or just be like "f*** it, we're going for 4 minutes and 10 verses"
Thanks for checking out my song! You've got a really wide array of sounds going on here, and I like it!
Vom, i included "seconds" in my Week 3 blog post :) http://www.popmythology.com/fawm-2015-week-3-favorite-songs/
Congrats on reaching 14!
Thanks, Vom, that was a really helpful comment on 'drac and frankenstein'! since you're a great musician I trust when you say that it could work but just needs the right kind of music that keeps flowing since, as you say, there isnt a chorus in the current version of the words. I could easily throw a chorus in, though, if that's what a songwriter needed. Anyway, big thanks!
Cheers for the comments! Actually, there's a sneaky electric piano in X-rays out / secrets in....but everything else is guitar.
oh wow tom, look you have done it again! congratulations. I am a bit jealous. yes it makes me giggle too. it think it is the speeding up that does it. Budgerigar is quite nice to use but gets a bit fiddly if you have lots of tracks or it gets too long. it is really ace to be able to do midi on a phone when you're out and about. technology eh?
Re 'The GORGEOUS of Dalardes' Haha, that was funny, and really sweet. Thank you, and you definitely don't need to get better at this 'commenting / terrible joke thing'. I love the way you do it. :)
Thank you. A collab would be awesome!! I would love to do that.
Yeah, it's been a pretty crazy month in the best way possible! There's no way on earth I could've predicted I'd end up participating in this way. It's nuts. Big thanks for your comment! :)
I just started playing it again on my 3DS, it is such a wonderful game! The sadness that I get when you beat the final boss and hear the ballad again with a montage of everything fading away is insane. It was the first time ever that a videogame made me feel sad I think.
Thanks for the comment on Archway, I'm actually trying to get together some group vocals for the "...and more and more and more" bit, which I posted about in the forums. - http://fawm.org/forums/topic/5226/ If you have a few minutes to spare I'd love to have you on it!
Just read your influences.... This is the better film musical song about snowmen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ1ZOFNBL68 :)
Thanks for comment on Cup of Joe. I was hoping NOT to offend any tea drinkers. Glad you enjoyed the song!
Feral owner with pet who goes out wandering was not a permutation I'd even considered, but I like that. Especially if the pet wears clothes and locks the door behind them. I have a cat and have always had cats, so I don't really know how I ended up with two dog songs this year and zero cat songs. (Although one of the dog songs was really sort of about a guinea pig I had to put to sleep, but I thought that lacked a certain degree of universal emotional resonance.)
Thanks for the comment on "Marco Polo," Vom! How'd you like that mandolin? I thought it as fabulous, and once again @darcistrutt did an amazing job with it.
Thanks for the comment on 'Elevator' - the nice thing about sampled guitars is what happens when you retrigger them in ways that are alien to real guitar playing. You'll be happy to know that your comment has also sent me off to Spotify to listen to some Yo La Tengo :)
Thanks for checking out micro management man... I'll be in on Saturday at 9 to comment on your songs... That'll be greeaaaaaat. :-)
Thanks for recommending 'Periodically Triple Or Double' - loved it!
Well, I think of you as a thirty-something teenage american chiptone rock 'n' roll machine from matlock, so i'm sure it'll be good if you get around to it. It looks like you've blasted out of your creative impasse and had a fawm for the ages.
Gee thanks -- I've gone off distortion recently and love the clean sounds, but they are strangly elusive, even DI'd ... I think if I lived above a music shop I'd either end up transferring its entire contents into my flat and becoming totally broke, or I'd rationalise away every potential purchase and buy nothing at all. I strung the tele with ball-end nylons on a whim, and it's pleasantly twangy though needs constant retuning, I think I need to use a special knot on the tuning peg end. http://www.rotosound.com/cl1-superia-classical/ Recorded acoustic very close mic'd, obviously ...
It is a very ugly dress. I do hope bodycon lace-trimmed bandage ponchos come into style pretty soon, though.
Thanks Tom. I wrote a lot of that on the train from Kings Cross to Peterborough, with nary a guitar in sight.
I suppose I could have used the street piano at St Pancras though
http://www.popmythology.com/fawm-2015-week-4-my-favorite-songs/
21!!! Congrats, an admirable total.
You know Vom, you've been around a while, and I've always enjoyed your stuff. But this year in particular I have been all about you. I have force-fed your music down my loved-ones throats and avidly followed your progress. Great work, my friend.
Haha, as a matter of fact the very first time I heard the first zombie moan at the end (it was a surprise to me) I stopped and looked at my dog for a sec, as in: was that...you? And then I heard the other moans and screaming. Glad you got a chance to hear this one as I'm very fond of it!
It was called C'Mon C'mon and R10 were from Lincoln/Sheffield. The singer fella has a new band but memory fail has struck, alas
"Is that backwards guitar at the end?" I think so. I remember using this effect once during FAWM. Many thanks for your lovely comments. I really appreciate them. :)
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment on my spelling lyric. Bug higs :) Nadia
Thanks for all the comments. The ridiculous homemade drum: part of a burst exercise ball stretched over a coffee can. The material's just no good for tightening, though. Even with eyelets, enough tension to make it sound okay is also enough tension to tear through the rubber (or whatever it is). But for some reason I can't think of it as garbage yet, so I keep it on a shelf and every now and then give it another try. Sometimes I get a usable sound or two. Komuz: I'd never heard of one either until my sister brought me one from Kyrgyzstan. And I hope you enjoy the Gakken. I'm finding mine a lot of fun.
Hi @vomvorton Thanks for listening to "Ten Ten Second Songs", I'm pleased that you liked it. It was great fun to do too.
Thanks, Tom. I really wasn't fishing for comments, but I'm always happy to hear your thoughts.
Have you heard about music written specifically for cats. I think you and your feline friend will enjoy this one: http://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/88065.php
There, now you are at 22 songs and it's mid-March. At this rate you will have completed FAWM 2016 by the time February starts next year!
Thank you! Appreciate you dropping into my old west parody.