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Description:
Inspired by the dust on my Rode NT1-A mic, spring, borrowing a Fender Telecaster, sunshine and a feelgood feeling: a mix of ideas really, the first section is new and the second section I wrote in about 1998.
Unfinished, work in progress. First track for my new, personal iTunes album "Internet Etiquette" ;o) Enjoy.
Lyrics:
Dusty road,
Take me where I've never been,
So I can live in sin,
With a big fat smile on my face :o)
Dusty road,
Take me where I wanna be,
Pleasant company,
With the girls being all around.
Dusty road,
Please God, get me outta here,
You see I'm quite sincere,
Just now, I wanna be on my own.
Dusty road,
Take me where I've never been,
So I can live in sin,
With a big fat smile on my face :o)
Sitting on this planet,
Spinning with everything on it.
Sick of revolutions,
They don't change nothing at all.
Sitting on this planet,
Spinning with everything on it.
Sick of revolutions,
They don't change nothing at all.
Hardware:
Intel Mac Mini 1.66GHz, 2GB RAM(iVor)
MOTU Traveler Firewire audio interface,
Rode NT1-A mic (with pop-shield)
Yamaha APX-8A acoustic (recorded with mic and a light pick),
Fender USA Telecaster 60 (Diamond Anniversary Edition) - borrowed (thanks Tomas) and played without a pick.
Software:
GB v3,
Drums on demand.
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Lots of Fun &mdash 03/31/07 - 04:52:31 PM
I really love it that you've just laid it out with no pretense, you just feel like relaxing, wallowing in sin and enjoying yourself. It's a cool concept for a song.
Your voice sounds really nice on this and the production is really clean. The instrumental bridge is one of my favorite parts.
Also, thank you for reminding me to put my dust cover back on my Rode. ;-p [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Lisa ... &mdash 04/01/07 - 05:34:23 AM
.. feel free to wallow away. Glad you enjoyed it so far-
I should really have a word with Tobin about apb's reminder service being part of the additional services available to paying members ;o) [ Reply to This ]
I like the build and the steady &mdash 03/31/07 - 04:56:29 PM
rhythm of the keyboard in the beginning - really nailed the beat. Nice break - I could hear some more expansion there if this is in progress. Oops - I thought you were comin back to Part A. Guess not. Cool song - take it further. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Bud .. &mdash 04/01/07 - 05:38:29 AM
.. I'll come back to this for sure and it will go back to
section A after B as you expected. Glad you mention the build (I was very happy with that myself) and it took a fair bit of time to get that 'feel' just right, with what to add in when. [ Reply to This ]
.... oh ... &mdash 04/01/07 - 06:10:27 AM
.. I meant to confess nailing the beat was easy on the midi piano, just time aligned to 1/16 .. shhh :o) [ Reply to This ]
Great idea &mdash 03/31/07 - 05:23:55 PM
You have the makings of a great song here. Kind of reminds me in a way of Turin Brakes. Nice build, and love the chords on the break. I'll be very interested to hear what you do with this. Nice. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks very much ... &mdash 04/01/07 - 05:45:28 AM
.. haven't heard much Turin Brakes .. I see they did music which is part of the OC soundtrack (don't watch that) - that "Rain City" is pretty darn good though (one male one female singer?) Wow .. what I nice compliment. If anything I would have said it has a Coldplay does country kinda thing going on, although I clearly can't sing as well as him :o) [ Reply to This ]
Two male singers... &mdash 04/01/07 - 12:08:58 PM
...I think, but one has a very high range. If you get a chance, listen to Feeling Oblivion, Save Me or Mind Over Money. They are one of my favorite bands, certainly in the area of acoustic rock (whatever that means...) [ Reply to This ]
foot tapping... &mdash 03/31/07 - 06:03:20 PM
glad the dust got to you - thank you for sharing - let me know when it's really finished!! LOL xoxox [ Reply to This ]
bwaahah &mdash 04/01/07 - 06:02:59 AM
First thing I did .... &mdash 04/01/07 - 04:47:54 AM
... was put my Rode back in it's case - thanks for the reminder Alan! This clearly has somewhere to go - I especially like the "dusty Rode" section and the Beatle-y/Traffic-y harmonies in the changeup (parts of which were wandering a little too much for me in parts). This is going to be especially good.
Cheers,
Neil [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Neil.. &mdash 04/01/07 - 06:06:58 AM
.. yup I got a bit carried away on those harmonies, also I didn't really mix this much at all and I wouldn't have those harmonies in section B as loud as they are really, so that might help. Got lazy and didn't want to get in with automation points yet. Glad you enjoyed it and think it shows promise. [ Reply to This ]
West TX &mdash 04/01/07 - 07:49:27 AM
Man we have some long flat lonely roads out west in the panhandle.
Not much out there, but at night a sky so full of stars it's unfathomable. Definitely a sight to make one feel like a tiny dot in the universe, sitting on a planet....
Sometimes people just lose focus, or they just never saw past the two meter sphere they live in.
. - Harold [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/01/07 - 09:34:33 AM
thanks for the philisophical response Harold- I still haven't
found my glasses I lost at Christmas, so my sphere in focus has come down to about .. oh, 2 feet. ;o) [ Reply to This ]
:) I was &mdash 04/02/07 - 08:28:16 AM
So inspired by your lyrics to have suffered diarrhea of the mouth, that I forgot to make mention that I really like the song, too... Heh..
Sorry 'bout that. Even without your specs it's apparent you have a good view of things.
Best regards -
. - Harold [ Reply to This ]
:o) &mdash 04/02/07 - 11:01:16 AM
s'ok Harold ya big galoot :o) - I figured since you added
it to your favs you liked it. Glad [some of] the lyrics inspired you [I think? lol] I like comments on all aspects relating to my posts, from production to .. er, if it simply reminded you to put your dust cover on your mic ;o) lol.
I mean, more reactionary comments are just as good, if the're constructive of course.
Did anyone notice the rhythm used on the acoustic in section B is also used on one of the acoustic tracks in section A? Not bad eh? lol ;o) .. No?, hmm .. need to mix this a bit ...hahahah.
I've never tried a Telecaster much before either (shame on me I know), nevermind try that style - hence it perhaps being a bit clichéd.
No harm done here bud. [ Reply to This ]
Driving song &mdash 04/01/07 - 07:59:31 AM
Alan - this is great stuff - such a fantastic vocal melody, and I LOVE the use of the odd electronic sounds with the guitar and acoustic instuments. This makes me wanna get in the car and drive!
Really, this feels like a classic track - it has such a wonderful feel. The production is outstanding .... this is a radio-friendly track if ever I heard one.
Great stuff
Steve [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/01/07 - 09:48:00 AM
thanks alot Steve. Appreciate it. Your collab with
pengui was amazing btw if anyone reads this and hasn't heard it it's here, can't believe it took me so long to get to it - now that's
how you do it.
Yup, this is feel-gooder, admittedly somewhat clichéd, driving number .. and a radio song (if you insist ;o)). [ Reply to This ]
Love It! &mdash 04/01/07 - 09:27:22 PM
Nice little number here!
Love the simplicity of it all.
Great build ups.
Travis would be proud of this one.
Good work laddie! [ Reply to This ]
Thanks Colin .. &mdash 04/02/07 - 10:39:38 AM
.. you know I said "Coldplay" above but really it was "Travis" I was thinking of, or something in between. Thanks for the comparison, I like that song "Sing"? they did. Simple is best - besides I can't really do complicated anyway ;o) Travis are welcome to it, for a modest fee of course lol. [ Reply to This ]
dude! &mdash 04/02/07 - 08:52:32 AM
this is a great song!
it is something i would never think to do. a direction that is at the same time mellow, yet driving...fantastic! [ Reply to This ]
Thanks very much .. &mdash 04/02/07 - 11:57:29 AM
great music to drive by &mdash 04/02/07 - 11:27:45 AM
This tune has a real rolling-along, traveling kind of beat, perfect for driving.
Excellent choice and blending of instruments. The "sine wave" sound is an imaginative spice.
Guitar and vocals are very well done, and are nicely integrated into the texture. [ Reply to This ]
Thanks .. &mdash 04/02/07 - 12:13:19 PM
.. for stopping in Cam and your kind words. I think if it wasn't good to drive to, I would have to start again to be honest lol ;o) so, phew .. I mean, you really can't venture a "road" song with it being good for err .. parking for example lol. ;o)
hmm .. maybe I'll do "Dusty Roadie" next .. hahaha...hmm,
that's not bad actually :o| .. lol.
.. and I must confess, I do like that sine-wave thing, but I can't stop it!! It's totally out of control. It plays all the time, no kidding ..*doh* .. I will have to mix it out as a track on it's own and edit the darn thing so it comes in just when I want it I expect, flippin' 'eck ... no rest eh? Take two!! :o) [ Reply to This ]
great pic &mdash 04/02/07 - 06:01:24 PM
and a great tune.....I know you said it's not finished but this is already great...nice work man [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/02/07 - 06:22:15 PM
thank-you Mr Falo Sir ;o) do you know, I changed that pic because I just discovered paddler not only has a song called "Dusty road" too, he had chosen the same pic .. what are the chances!!! Pretty high I guess .. lol anyways, thanks for the support and sorry paddler: was bound to happen at some point,
probably not the first time .. or last.
PS. Dr Who 3x01 is great ;o) [ Reply to This ]
pickin' grinnin' &mdash 04/04/07 - 04:47:48 AM
downhome, feel-good. really nice dynamics. this song is really good. [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/05/07 - 09:50:02 AM
I told ya so &mdash 04/04/07 - 08:38:51 PM
... &mdash 04/05/07 - 09:54:54 AM
thanks Steve. First new section I've written in years combined with the last section I wrote before I stopped writing about 7 years ago. Funnily I always have trouble taking this idea forward ... ah well .. come back to it on & off when I've time or the inclination. :o) [ Reply to This ]
retro nuevo &mdash 04/04/07 - 08:47:39 PM
really nice. has some of the classic so.cal rock of the 70's but with a nice twist to keep it fresh. some great bends on the tele in the beginning. a great listen! [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/05/07 - 10:06:54 AM
cheers Vic. I like that: "retro-nouveau". I just messed about with the Tele for about an 1 hr, finding little things I liked in that style (that style I've really never tried before- was fun), then kinda improvised a couple of tracks putting in snippits of those ideas where the mood took me, it's thus not very repeatable but I wanted to try that to go for that laid back feel.
btw - how's the accent coming across? I felt a strange need to install a touch of American sounding pronounciation in spots - did I get away with it? lol [ Reply to This ]
heck &mdash 04/05/07 - 08:10:42 PM
you sound more american then i do :-)
---
now where's those car keys? [ Reply to This ]
cool song &mdash 04/05/07 - 02:07:29 AM
very nice tune great lyrics..
( reminds me of a gay gym teacher I had in secondary school...her name was Dusty Rhodes!!!)
my daughters love the song they are dancing away whilst we listen... thanks for the song! [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/05/07 - 12:14:29 PM
.. thanks Jo, glad the lyrics were noticed. Btw, did this teacher ever get angry? I bet you called her "cross" Rhodes then? *broom tish* teehee. Glad the kids liked it too...mine haven't heard it yet ...anyway, there goes my demographic, tarnation .. no buying power! .. ;o) ... yet!! *Plans ahead* lol. [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/07/07 - 07:21:55 AM
Nice --- &mdash 04/05/07 - 12:07:33 PM
apb I really enjoy your writing style. Very nice playing and vocals on this one.
Thanks for sharing,
mvh : ) [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/05/07 - 01:00:59 PM
cheers Michael, thanks very much. I got a good buzz out of
your latest post at this time ( click here) and
must confess I was playing it over quite a few times, giving it a go - but I struggle to do any sort of "hard rock" vocal style and that tune clearly needs it, also I'm a bit limited for time and very lazy too ...thought I'd at least say I tried dude ...
I worked this tune a bit today and had some
success cleaning up the thang and beefing up the B section a touch with a synth sound I made with LinPlug's Alpha3, which I'm pretty pleased with ..if I say so myself .. lol [ Reply to This ]
so cool &mdash 04/06/07 - 08:23:44 AM
This is a great track, I love the chilled out feel. Your voice sounds great, perfect for the tone of the song. Nice job, love the guitars. The drums sound so good, I might have to look into DOD. [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/07/07 - 07:16:40 AM
.. thanks very much Sergio. For anyone reading who hasn't
heard Si Piensas Regresar yet, I recommend you rectify that immediately!!
Nice to see you in chat - I do like DoD for drums,
another midi one I don't use but think you can get better
results than GB is EZs one (as you'll hear on Texasfeel's stuff to name one).
Glad you enjoyed this - I too like to try some blending of
more traditional with some electro-pop elements. I'm sure
you can give me some tips on that side of things. [ Reply to This ]
Country Road &mdash 04/06/07 - 09:44:04 AM
But better... I like this alternative better. I like how the song starts out and I was already clicking on the fav button before the drums even started. Great vocals as usual and that guitar mix is right on... thanks for sharing. [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/06/07 - 06:39:23 PM
.. thanks John. I liked your latest iAm so much,
I decide to take you up on your offer to try my vocals on
it .. I used lots of oil of Ulay and managed to regress about
15 years at least for my contribution. God help us. lol [ Reply to This ]
yes yes &mdash 04/06/07 - 04:24:56 PM
You just drift and fall into this. the drums come in to keep you wanting more. nice break and build up. The chord changes are perfect. An excellent song [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/06/07 - 06:44:13 PM
.. thanks very much Ego, glad you liked it so far ..
I've been dabbling with it, still not finished .. I'll keep
going with it, see where it ends up. [ Reply to This ]
What a hoot! &mdash 04/07/07 - 10:25:49 AM
Right at the guitar opening I immediately thought: "Now, this should be fun!" Turns out I was right.
Your voice sounds really good here, although there seems to be some slight distortion in places, but it wasn't that distracting.
The guitar sounds pretty good and the organ too. There was something about the drums, though, that didn't appeal to me. I thought they sounded a bit too big, somehow, for this song, which kind of contradicts the cool little jam feeling you've got going.
But otherwise I have nothing the criticize.
Nice writing, good performance and a fun track!
-Einar S. [ Reply to This ]
:o) &mdash 04/07/07 - 11:54:46 AM
thanks alot Einar. I know what you mean about the drums.. I
think I'll take your advise and at the very least mix/EQ/effect the snare differently and take down the bass drum too for section A ..trouble is I want that 'driving' big drum sound for section B .. and if I adjust the drums too much of course between sections, it'll sound odd too .. you know .. like Spinal Tap and a spontaneously combusting drummer and kit after section A .. but I still hear what you are getting at. Of course I could just try different samples and see if I can still get something that fits both sections. Of course, you create a dilemma, with Sergio liking the drums - oh darn it .. your doing it deliberately .. ;o) lol. [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/11/07 - 12:23:42 PM
.. oh, and I will fix the clipping and try to lesson the
sibilance on the "s" words in the vocals once I figure out a real easy way no fuss way to do that for my vocals.. [ Reply to This ]
really nice &mdash 04/07/07 - 11:08:08 AM
The lyrics are great so as the singing... This song flows very easily... Really nice... I like this dusty road [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/07/07 - 12:31:33 PM
...thank-you Craft. Glad you liked 'the feel' and the lyrics.
Sometimes I have difficulty separating fun from seriousness ..
so, that's what happens .. perhaps you've noticed? ah well ..lol.
Great collab with ***itiswotitis*** you did here, worth mentioning again. [ Reply to This ]
made me smile &mdash 04/07/07 - 02:18:33 PM
Awesome vocal and a great straight up feel. The beat and the vocals/harmonies are hypnotically mellow. This song has something special to it in its simplicity and stripped back production. Luv it [ Reply to This ]
made me smile .. &mdash 04/07/07 - 04:27:36 PM
.. job done ktb. Glad you enjoyed it. This one is all about
capturing just that "the feel" and I promise not to over-produce it later .. honest .. scouts honor lol. [ Reply to This ]
Neat &mdash 04/07/07 - 11:37:51 PM
Great lyrics to have come from such a strange inspiration. There is no limit to where songs come from. Very inventive stitching together of various distinct little parts. Reminded me of the way the Beatles used to put together a song although the sound was more reminiscent of Buffalo Springfielld. [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/10/07 - 07:28:30 PM
thanks Tom. I guess "some" of the lyrics come from the mentioned source of inspiration and to get me to record it ..
the section B lyrics were the last thing I wrote about
7 years ago, before I put aside my guitar until about a
year ago. The two sections fitted now across time by the theme of "getting away from it all" perhaps through seeking self-indulgent satisfaction or just some time to yourself .. along that road, you find yourself under the stars, sitting feeling insignificant and pondering about the bigger picture .. and interesting reflection of where I was at that point in my life. Now I'm back to good ol' self-indulgent satisfaction .. ;o) [ Reply to This ]
Great lyrics &mdash 04/08/07 - 08:31:34 PM
and a great foly feel to this. You've classed this as pop (alt) but I think it's modern folk (although I have NO idea about genres!).
But does it matter what pigeon hole it's in? NO.
Great track! :O) [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/10/07 - 07:34:23 PM
thanks Shimky .. folly is a good keyword for many aspects of
this .. thanks for that .. hmm genre: modern-country-folk??
hahah .. I can always give it a rotation in another 'close'
genre category later. [ Reply to This ]
Laid Back and Cool &mdash 04/11/07 - 01:43:57 PM
... &mdash 04/11/07 - 03:16:13 PM
join the singing &mdash 04/18/07 - 01:26:25 PM
I listened to this song and overall it has a feel-good effect. must be the jingle rhyhtm and the crisp instruments that imparts a come-along-and-clap-your-hands kind of feeling. nice vocals and harmonies too. Very well done! [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/22/07 - 03:51:40 AM
thanks Leon. Might even be the reluctance to sing coming
through in my voice, begging for more singers to put me
out of my misery ;o). [ Reply to This ]
revolutions &mdash 04/21/07 - 05:34:45 PM
never change anything at all - how true.
this is great tune, i like your voice man, really fits in well. great production too
keep it up,
hoo [ Reply to This ]
... &mdash 04/22/07 - 03:53:32 AM
yup, the world just keeps on turnin'. Thanks Hoo ..
glad you enjoyed this. [ Reply to This ]
nice job &mdash 06/05/07 - 11:15:21 PM
nice guitar stuff in the intro...then I love the drum entrance. Perfect spot in the mix.
The vocals are well done. Delivering the lyric with such spirit.
The harmonies on the bridge and ending ...the aaaah's ...real nice touch.
Then the acoustic break...awsome.
this song put a 'big fat smile on my face'
I would like it if the dusty road verces came back in instead of the early(IMHO) ending
I have to listen repeatedly to hear the grat stuff...u could have just made the tune longer for me u see...
LOL
love it
new fan
downed it for keeps
all 10's
hpoe u got more stuff for me to steel
peace
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Thanks Timothy &mdash 06/06/07 - 04:43:14 AM
for your kind words. I do intend it to go back to the first section, but I got lazy as I often do- it's actually also kinda fun to see if people mention they expected the arrangement to do something I was planning anyway .. then
I know I am on the right track :o)
I kinda like the build and when the drums kick in too (if I say so myself) and the loose feel from the guitars with the more precise piano part, holding things together. I need to fix a little clipping in the vocal track and tighten up those 'aah' harmonies.
I have since added a LinPlug Alpha synth sound to the second section that
I think works pretty well (a deeper, swelling sound).
This was very much a 'demo' sketch of the song, so I will be returning to
it.
Thanks again for the support. [ Reply to This ]
Good Song! &mdash 06/21/07 - 03:24:57 PM
I don't think I've head the pleasure to listen to anyone of your songs before, so this is a pleasant surprise. Oh, and since I am the 321st poster here this may not even be read! :) This as said very good, solid composition, very well performed and recorded/mixed. I am going to keep an eye (and ear) out for you from now on. Trevlig midsommar! [ Reply to This ]
Tack så mycket Mikki :o) &mdash 06/21/07 - 05:03:46 PM
.. självklart jag ska läsa din kommentar :o)
Thanks for listening to this and becoming a fan all in one day, I'm not worthy.
I'll need to check out more of your impressive collection
of uploads.... you could do with a 'your own' top ten
recommended selection thing dude.
Har en trevlig midsommar också. [ Reply to This ]
excellent &mdash 01/07/08 - 08:35:35 PM
wow, its such a laid back chill vibe. Your vocals are pure and soulful. The production is top notch. The synth work was exceptionally cool and creative. Solid everything [ Reply to This ]
Wow, this is fantastic. &mdash 01/18/08 - 01:19:53 AM
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Your voice sounds really nice on this and the production is really clean. The instrumental bridge is one of my favorite parts.
Also, thank you for reminding me to put my dust cover back on my Rode. ;-p
[ Reply to This ]