Years ago I used to exclusively write instrumental music. Mainly I just had low quality midis but my room mate freshman year of college had some garage band jam packs, which I had some fun with. I kind of want to start messing around with this stuff again, but I don’t have the jam packs anymore, nor do I have garageband installed… I tried to get the midis to work in logic pro but couldn’t work it out.
Here’s one of them. I think this is about 4 years old by now.
shutupdorothy asked: So I just wanted to say that I downloaded your music a while ago and I love it. It's an instant pick-me-up when I'm having a down day or a slow morning. :)
Dang thanks a lot!!! It’s amazing to think my music could brighten someones day somehow.
Going to see Andrew Jackson Jihad on the 21st!!!!
I’m really pumped!! This will be my first like… punk show with the kind of crowd they tend to attract so I’m a little worry I’ll get jostled around ha ha. But hopefully there will be somewhere safe I can stand and still see…
When I went to see Streetlight Manifesto I stood on the balcony. That’s what I usually do, unless I can get somewhere early enough and lean up against the barrier in front of the stage. But then I have to deal with crowd surfers. I dont’ get why people do that stuf???? it’s so annoying to man and totally takes me out of the music experience…
WELL WHATEVER just seeing them play will be great, especially since it’s a full band tour. I wish I could have seen them play on tour with Laura Stevenson.
Here’s a rough demo for ya. This is the longest song I’ve ever written and I really just wanted to get it down so I could start thinking about some arrangements, to listen without having to play it and imagine the parts I want (although I already have some in mind some of which I played some I didn’t).
It was inspired by some tweets I made about free iPads, a short documentary I watched about the Japanese earthquake and tsunami from March last year (2011), and the trailer for a movie-based-on-the-amazing-comic, Himizu.. The iPad thing does not remain, but I said I would make a raft from all the free iPads I won on twitter and sail to the sea. Somehow that turned into a song, so I call it, “1000 Free iPads” to remember, and it’ll offset the serious melodramatic lyrics ha ha.
The song is 10 and a half minutes long. Feel free to start now and finish it later although I think it’s better perceived as a whole. I don’t think it’s very boring though, as long songs can be. There should be enough changes to keep you occupied until the end. That is my hope. Someday this will appear on a record with strings, horns, etc. but for now enjoy this rough version.
MY BRAND NEW FOLK PUNK PROJECT! CHECK IT OUT, YO!
http://theperpetualmotionmachineisoutoforder.bandcamp.com/
(These are really rough demos but I think they’re great.)
Dang these sounded awesome man!!!!! I loved the mandolin, makes me want to use one more often. Good percussion too. I have the hardest time recording percussion so I just leave it out.
Keep doing stuff man. Someday we should go on a tour along the east coast ha ha
Influencial/favourite lyricists
Writer/Band (where applicable)/a particular song
1. Regina Spektor/the Ghost of Corporate Future
2. Ben Folds/Fred Jones Part 2
3. John K. Samson/The Weakerthans/Reconstruction Site
4. Will Sheff/Okkervil River/Blanket and Crib
5. Witt/The Wild/Together Underground
6. Jeff Rosenstock/Bomb the Music Industry!/Fresh Attitude, Young Body
7. Sean Bonnette/Andrew Jackson Jihad/Brave as a Noun
I wanted to make a top five, but honestly it would be unfair to a few that I’d have to cut out. They are in no particular order, as the way in which they influence me changes from song to song. These are the 7 that came most easily with songs attached but I am sure there are more likewise important writers that I missed. Eventually I want to make a more specific list of bands and songs that influence my writing as well because I enjoy assessing such things.
“Fight, Fight, Fight, Fight, GO!!!” by Puddleton (Ukulele Cover)
If you don’t already listen to puddleton he’s awesome and makes great music. Go check him out:
http://puddleton.bandcamp.com/
http://puddleton.tumblr.com/He covered my song “Tilted Axis Pt.1” once too. Listen to that here:
http://puddleton.tumblr.com/post/15263934278/hey-jacob-i-really-liked-this-song-so-i-decidedI hope he’s ok with the liberties I took with his song!
JACOB THIS WAS AWESOME!!!! THANK YOU! I’m sorry I didn’t see this until just now!! This is the first time someone has played one of my songs, it’s a bit surreal but in a good way!! Thanks a lot man, I enjoyed the liberties you took with it. Yours isn’t even that much shorter without the instrumentals, ha ha. Awesome!!!
Also guys check out Jacob’s music he writes some real cool stuff!
Anonymous asked: I can't help but to giggle when you sing, you have such an interesting voice :D so who are your favorite musician, your inspiration? (pssttt by the way check out Jeremy messersmith :) )
Ha ha ha, thanks!!! I always wondered what kind of voice people would think I had, and who it’s be similar to, ha ha. HMMM favourites! There are so many!
One of the biggest is Okkervil River. Not only do I like their song writing, instrument choices, etc. but hearing Will Sheff sing was like the turning point in me believing in myself. I was like, “Here is a quality I could achieve. He’s by no means the greatest singer, and yet I love the way he sings. Maybe I can do this after all.”
I’ve been listening to a lot of punk lately, such as Bomb the Music Industry!, The Wild, and Defiance Ohio. I also love Streetlight Manifesto, Beirut, Neutral Milk Hotel, Akeboshi, and Bad Religion. I’ve also been hugely inspired by a lot of video game music, ha ha, such as the music from Zelda, Ico/Shadow of the Colossus, and Mother/Earthbound, some movie composers such as Joe Hisaishi, and a handful of classical pieces. And far more but I guess that’s pretty good for now! There are a lot of single songs I’ve been inspired by, as well as bands I used to like that influenced me, but that I don’t listen to much anymore.
I also love the concept of progressive rock, but I don’t really listen to any prog bands. Mainly I just like the idea of progressive compositions and song structures that aren’t verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/chorus. Although I like plenty of songs with that structure as well.
My friend wanted to learn sobakasu/freckles (from rurouni kenshin) on the ukulele, but wasn’t sure if she was getting the chords right, so I recorded it…
Normally I know this on guitar so I had to learn these chords in a rush ha ha ha…. I mean this is still a guitar, but I put my capo on and I’m using ukulele finger positions so that she could see the general finger placement.
Anyways I didn’t sing very well because my dad is in the other room and it’s pretty late. This is just a demonstration, don’t mind it, don’t mind it.
This song rules someday I’m going to cover it for real and the whole thing with violins and trumpet and everything.
uglyasasuitcase asked: i absolutely LOVE your EP. it sounds fantastic! your lyrics are wonderful. is there any chance you could come to Pittsburgh, PA anytime soon? I would be so glad to help you get a show around here!
Hey thanks a lot!!! I’d love to come to Pittsburgh although I don’t think it would be any time soon…. I still have yet to play a show in Massachusetts. But I would love to have a tour some time in the near future (like the next 6 months maybe? By summer?). If you ever helped me get a show down there that’d be amazing. Again thank you, I’m glad you like the EP!
And thank you to everyone who said nice things and took a listen so far! Frankly I didn’t expect more than 4 or 5 people to like it or listen. Honored.
