Turned in the mix for track 30 today, and it's an odd duck. I kinda had no choice but to finish it today because tomorrow I go to Los Angeles and won't be back until after the weekly deadline passes for this week. The lyrics are pretty opaque this time 'round, but I like the combination of sounds and the atypical-yet-still-sort-of-approachable arrangement. Will you guys like it? Heck if I know.
I'm sort of gauging the popularity of the various tunes by the number of comments they generate, which is a very unscientific method, of course. Almost none of you regulars tend to have any harsh words to share (pretty much only Jeroen is willing to flat-out say if he doesn't like a song); so when you guys choose to say nothing then I tend to gather that you have nothing particularly positive to add. Which is totally fine with me, believe me. I didn't expect that I could make 52 tracks this year that would appeal to everyone, my goal was to make 52 that would appeal to me, and for the most part I've succeeded. There's only one of the 30 so far that I'm not all that thrilled with, and I'm not telling which one it is, because for all I know it's somebodies favorite.
Using my unscientific method, though, I think that makes last week's track, "Sad" the least-favorite tune amongst the masses thus far. Poor "Sad." I really dig that one. But what do I know, anyway?
I suppose then that I would like to extend an invitation to those of you who are holding back on the criticisms; I say to you, let them fly, sirs. Let them fly. I have a very thick skin about the stuff I put out into the world, gained over many years experience. If nothing else, I know that those of you that post here at least give a shit, it won't hurt my feelings if you say "I don't LIKE that one" out loud. Honestly, I'm curious about what does and doesn't move you, and why. It's unlikely that I'll change anything, or do anything differently based on hearing any negative comments about the stuff in this project. I'm being as blatantly self-indulgent on 5240 material as I can possibly be, that's the thrill of it for me. I'm enjoying the fact that the material is so closely mirroring my day-to-day thought processes as they happen this year; it's completely exhausting, and difficult, and annoying even, but I can't imagine that I'll ever do anything like this again, so I'm trying to appreciate this while I can, even when I really don't feel like it.
30 songs in. And I have NO IDEA what the remaining 22 will be.
But I'm not going to think about it again until after I finally get to meet my new niece in person. Have a great weekend, everyone.
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5 comments:
Hi,
Not sure if I should comment here or in the "Sad" thread. But I will say that I may have felt less enthused about commenting this week (and therefore hadn't gotten around to it yet) because I can also say that I was less enthused about this week's track, certainly compared to many other weeks. It just didn't "hit" me in a way that inspired me to comment... again, unlike most other weeks. Most songs usually have something that makes me think, "that's so cool" or whatever, and I feel like I have to post as such.
In fact, I haven't listened to "Sad" since Monday. But will again, and perhaps this "rest" between listenings will be a good thing. We'll see. I think for me, I've just been spoiled by so many of your other efforts that the overly and purposefully simple demo-type nature of "Sad" disappointed me, I guess. I'm just a sucker for thick songs, guitars, solo, weird stuff, noises, screams, whatever. Not always just those things. But those kinds of songs always draw me in. But I also know that it would be next to impossible (and stupid) to crank out a SJMOCBF(S) every week.
I believe you when you say you like this song and I believe you when you say this type of song was one of your intentions all along. So I definitely respect the "Sad" on that level because, well, I believe you... so I get it. But out of 30 tracks, "Sad" wouldn't be in the top 25. :) Hey, something has to be 26, and 27, 28, 29, and 30.
It won't make me look any less forward to #31. Can't wait. I love 5240. I have both volumes, on separate discs in my CD player in the car right now and listen to something from it daily.
I also have Animal Alpha's "You Pay For the Whole Seat But You Only Need The Edge" in the car. There's so much to love about this band that I can't even list 'em all (sadly, they just broke up,which was bad timing, since the movie mentioned below just opened here in The States). I heard them during the movie "Dead Snow" (which is a great zombie movie by the way, if you're into that particular genre). At 39 years old, their type of rock/metal rarely turns me on anymore, but something about A.A. just struck a chord with me and I'm really happy to have found something new (to me) that I can let roar.
Anyway...
-Witty
Comment where you will, sir! I ain't the boss of you! I will have to check out this Animal Alpha of which you speak.
About your thought on commenting. The thing is Shawn, every time I visit these pages I get so inspired I have to go do something myself. The over all quality of your music and your stamina is unbelievable. And how you manage the time to write the blog and anwer to commets is beyond me.
INSPIRING is the word.
Excuse me I have to go work on something now:-)
Take care!
// Anders
bah! You think too much. Ever hear that? I get it all the time.
I hate to say it, but I haven't even listened to 'Sad' yet. I had to drive to Philly early Monday for that job interview and then I've been working my regular gig like crazy all week so I could go on vacation this week. I've downloaded it, but haven't touched my ipod since.
If it seem like I'm not saying anything bad, well...it's because I really haven't had anything bad to say. Believe me, there are weeks I feel like the fanboy from hell liking each new one, but gosh...I really do like 'em.
The ONLY one that I ever skip over is "Deserve". Not cuz I don't like it, but I do find it dark and depressing...especially for you. The bulk of my music listening is at work and that's depressing enough on its own. Everything else in this project sits with me just fine, and I really can be very picky. The only real negativey thing I feel is that I really do with some of the shorter ones were longer, even though I know they hold up as-is.
Have fun in CA!
We're also heading into that part of summer where people starting going on vacations/holidays. I have no idea if that's having any impact on participation... just sayin'.
-Witty
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