Musicians: post your current projects?

Hey. http://www.myspace.com/themodernweapons

Four new songs:

You From Me - Soul-searching synthy blues-pop. Probably my favorite song I've yet recorded.

The Silver Standard - Haunting filler instrumental.

Get in Shape - I've got mixed feelings here. It's a little gimmicky, and there are a few obvious flaws, but it's grown on me despite all that.

Somebody's Watching You - Cover of the Sly and the Family Stone song. Simple, could use a better mix, but catchy enough if you're in the right mood.

I'll be back in about twenty minutes to give some stuff a listen.

------------------------

Wire, I'm not sure I've ever heard an artist who's harder to label than you are. I definitely like it. The off-beat, sort of half-syncopated feel in the percussion is really cool. It's really surprising how catchy this is, as well. I'd be really curious to hear how a cohesive album of yours would sound.

------------------------

It's hard for me to articulate why Adam, D, but I like your material. It's sort of like metal stripped down to its most basic (definitely a good thing in my eyes), with mid-sixties garage rock sensibilities. If that's really live and drunk, I'd love to hear something done sober in a studio.

------------------------

I can't say, the vocalist on "Nash" thrills me, Synthetic (Is that the someone else?). I do really like the instrumental arrangement though. More conventional than what I heard from you last, but nothing's wrong with that if it works. Same goes for "Indian Requiem". I guess I can just sum this up by saying that you definitely know what you're doing, even if I don't.

------------------------

Prof, I don't like overdoing the praise (don't want to come as insincere or anything) but I can't get around saying that I love this song. How many bands have you worked with (I don't think I've heard anything you've done except this and If I Had a Hi-Fi last month), and how many of them are this good? It's like lo-fi garage house or something. I absolutely love it. And this came before Sufjan Stevens, and that crowd. Jesus. If you ever pass through my area, in whatever incarnation you're currently recording, I will jump to see a show.

------------------------

I'm not exactly sure what to make of this, Jackyl. It's sounds professional, at the very least. I really don't know how I'd grade that on quality. It's not that it's so radically different that I just can't compare it to anything else. I just can't exactly process it, if you know what I mean. I just listened to a small sample, though (and the second link didn't work.)

------------------------

Thanks, Prof. That picture's actually just copped from the back cover of Streets, a compilation of early UK punk. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streets_%28punk_album... There are nine or so of those cartoon figures in boxes on the back. Thanks to my keen eye and MS Paint, my picture was born.

And I am thoroughly digging Waking Up With Robots. I've realized that the first reaction I've had to all your music is "So why aren't these guys on the radio"? (Unintentional reference.) It's all just so professional, and so... good, I guess is what I'm really going for.

Man, this answer is getting long.

------------------------

Music: I can't really form any opinion by those previews. It might be cool, but from what I heard, it seems to me like you need to decide if you want the heavily-arranged feel or the stripped-down feel, because what you've got now feels like a compromise. Though again, maybe it wouldn't if I could hear a whole song.

------------------------

Thanks, Gibb. I'm not sure what the competition for best modern girl group looks like, but it's certainly an honor. I've always felt that I exude class.

------------------------

Thanks Wire. I am generally happier with the new stuff than with the old.

www.myspace.com/thebillykrystals

We are in the middle of recording our demo, and the Live recordings we have up are from a drunken night last year, and really, was only a few months after we formed the band.

I'll get back to this in a month or so, when our demo is up.

Edit: Wow, thanks Shakey Jake. That's a perfect way to explain how we sound. The demo is similar music, with a couple new songs. We're in the process right now trying to write a few more "thrash" type songs, but in the same style as our other songs.

no jesus furs this month, i think. i dont know.

wire: it's hip, it's fresh, it's groovy, bro. i feel like i always say the same thing. i dig the disjointed f-e-e-l of it --and your titles always kill me.

frosted: stuff's too cool. 'indian requiem' is killer. if that's the inferior work, i gotta hear the glorious masterworks you have crafted.

prof: stuff always sounds so professional. thats a pretty hip tune, man. again, i always say the same stuff about it being catchy and everything. but about 3:30 into it, that break in it was great. guitar solo or whatever and that feedback in the back with the buzzing noise. thats a really really cool outro.

shotgun: yeah, what the heavy hands said. the vox on 'get in shape' are so raw, bro. they're killer. 'the silver standard' is pretty out there. sounds like it would be in a movie or something. yr the best girl group i know of today. im not a big fan of covers, but yours is classy and original. i really just used 'classy'. 'you from me' is pretty hip and, i think, yr best: the melody, instrumentation, everything.

adam: i got the 60s garage feel to it, too. i liked 'california sun'--especially the start. but im not much of a metal listener. i can appreciate musicianship and everything.

the show was pretty cool. thanx for asking. we were lame but the beets and fungi girls are killer. they all ate my mic.

I would love to be able to post, but my Musical Talent is minus zero!

OK, so I'm a little mellow at the moment, but I played it twice and really liked it. The track reminded me so much of my late teens/early twenties, but I really cannot think of who exactly. Was that a Comb and Paper at the start that gave that "umming" sound?

You have the basis of a really great song here- a little bit of Cow Bells or similar, Bongos well played, and perhaps an acoustic Bass, but you know best.

Very good indeed, and I look forward to hearing other people on these pages displaying their Talents as bravely as you did.

Thanks for a good buzz!

J.

Errr....I really haven't heard this sort of music since i was a kid..

it sounds like your playing pots and pans can't hear the guitar over the "percussion" but if thats what your going for its good

just whoever the singer is maybe the could sing not like there dragging on..

singer overall makes this song dodgy, but i guess the weird noises make up for it near the end.

sort the singer and guitar out

maybe you'll have something awesome going on.

I Couldn't do better but you wanted criticism so i strayed from swearing which usually helps

Hi Wire.

I was just listening to Sinking Ship Waltz the other day and I really enjoy that one a lot. Anyhoo, the stuff we're working on is still kind of classified for the next little bit here. I don't have any mixes yet, so I thought I'd throw out an old favorite. Kind of appropriate since the other dude from the project and I were just listening to it about a week ago and reminiscing. I think this is from 1997, but still most definitely one of my favorite things I've ever helped create.

Seven Live Cobras - Sunrise Addict

http://www.last.fm/music/Seven+Live+Cobras/Jon+vs....

Sorry I can't listen right now. Got to get back to work, but I'm looking forward to checking out some stuff over lunch in a little bit here.

Happy Thursday.

*************

Hey Shotgun.

Thank you so much man. That's really, really cool that you like it that much. Especially the unique part. That's really cool. Thanks a whole lot.

As for the projects. There is Seven Live Cobras, which is kind of the earliest incarnation of If I Had A Hi-Fi, at this point I was just learning how to play guitar and Jon, the singer/songwriter of If I Had A Hi-Fi was teaching me stuff and we were writing songs, messing around with his ADAT in the process. Then there was If I Had A Hi-Fi and my current band Waking Up With Robots (which is me and another dude from Hi-Fi and Jon is cutting and producing our record). Also, if you like this stuff, it's really going to be all about when Jon finishes his record that he's been working on. He's been showing me stuff and it is really, really good.

Anyways. if you're interested in the new stuff from the album we're working on here's a link. http://www.last.fm/music/Waking%2520Up%2520With%25...

Thanks again. Really. Made my day that you liked it so much.

I checked out your stuff too and once again I really liked it. I thought it was really cool. Oddly enough, I think the sort of picture on your profile fits your sound. There is a cool quirk to it. I like it. I like your melody choices for the vocals. I've heard two of the tracks now and it's a good consistency. I like your style.

Hi Adam.

I'm not really a metal guy, but you guys are very good. It makes me want to hear a studio (or demo equivalent) version. You guys are talented and have a nice gel. Good work.

**************

Thanks a lot Shotgun. That's really awesome of you to say. All I can say is that when we're done and we try to lodge our feet in a couple doors I really hope they feel the same way. The spun Sonic on local radio once (that was pretty cool to hear).

Hi Likegibb.

Thanks a lot man. I like that end part a lot. I've always liked the sort of catch factor in that song too. I think I'll always have kind of a soft spot for that tune.

How did your show go?

Hi Wire.

I'm sorry man. I tried to listen to the new ones today, but Last.fm is being kind of a bastard about loading up the songs. I'll try again on Monday.

hey everyone, just heading out for a bit but took a moment to listen to Like Gibberish's latest will be back to sample more of these homegrown gems. Gibb.. dare I say my foot is tapping and your " Wall Of Sound" is reminiscent of Phil Spector, being allowed to continue his production work from behind the bars of the county cell where he currently resides.. Do I detect the sound of cell bars being banged in the background? fookin' brillant, young man .

I don't have anything recorded.

I was just starting to enjoy the talking drum or whatever that was) in your song, and then it ended. I was disappointed when the song ended soon into that little solo. That instrument was a perfect choice for your song.

I got a fever, and the only prescription is more talking drum.

I don't have anything new to post, but we're in the early stages of working out a collaboration with this Russian pop/rock artist:

http://www.myspace.com/alyonamusic

I'll edit with some critique later

I'm currently in a band.

We are called, "A City on Fire."

Our biggest influences are:

Valencia

Bayside

Fireworks

The Starting Line

These are the artists we are most similar to.