Home Community Music Blog Old MJ More...      
Flames Grow Tall by michael2 [Email]

Get Flash to see this player.


Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:

NonCommercial-ShareAlike
SONG STATS:
Hits: 1275
Comments: 37
Votes: 10
Plays: 263
Last Played: Jul 30, 2008 - 02:28:20 AM
Downloads: 75
Fans: 14
Uploaded: May 01, 2007 - 11:28:13 PM
Last Updated: May 01, 2007 - 11:28:13 PM
Fan List
Keywords:
indie folk (2), freak folk (2), folk (361), fingerpicked (2), melancholy (56), indie (122), psych-folk (3), stay away from drugs (1),  ()
Description:
this song is pretty intense for me, after finally winning the battle over a serious drug habit I wrote this about the relief i felt at having survived when so many didn't. i've been clean for a long time now, but this song still gets me.

this could have went under psych-folk if there was such a category (but only because of the sound effects at the end).there is a real mellotron on this one (actually a chamberlain). it's doing the cello part, and an old ARP synth, and some backwards tape effects. but the bulk of the song is straight acoustic guitar and vocals, recorded at the same time. My voice sounds weary, but i liked it so I didn't bother doing another take.

even sadder than the subject matter, is the fact that I will never own a mellotron or an ARP (they belonged to a friend).

Lyrics:
long time ago, when the clouds were on fire
I found a way to breach my soul
toyed with my chemistry
denied my humility
I thought i'd finally grown up

took it all for granted
until it all was gone
tried to prove I really didn't care
everything around me belonged to someone else
i had nothing I could call my own

my friends all fled
when the flames got too high
choking on the smoke
from the fires I'd built
there was no way out, all the exits were engulfed
in sick amounts of blood and sex and drugs

the flames grow tall when the soul falls flat
it's not like that right now, thank god
the flames grow tall when the soul falls flat
it's not like that right now, thank god
the flames grow tall when the soul falls flat
it's not like that right now, thank god

Hardware:
this was recorded live to DAT, and then the synth,mellotron and tape effects were overdubbed.

Software:
You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

beautiful song &mdash 05/02/07 - 03:10:20 AM
moving in its sincerity. The mellotron/synth in the end is a bit downplayed (for me a bit frustratinly so), but I suppose it means the song retains a certain humility (Don't know if I make myself clear).DLed

[ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 05/02/07 - 09:19:46 AM
Fabulous lyrics. The bluesman stylings add to the meaning. So much ironic truth, not saying what you mean, and saying more in the process. Marvelous.

[ Reply to This ]
personal &mdash 05/02/07 - 10:45:12 PM
sometimes we have to put it out. great results here. glad you won the battle. thanks for sharing.

i started thinking...i hope i don't seem like a song stalker here.
honestly, i'm just enjoying all your stuff!

[ Reply to This ]
song &mdash 05/02/07 - 10:50:18 PM
stalker? no way; i love the attention:-) i'm just glad that someone likes this stuff. thanks for listening Vic.

[ Reply to This ]
wow &mdash 05/03/07 - 08:02:10 AM
impressed (again)... a very nice bit of personal autobiographical writing, well written, appropriately (slurred) sung, and perfect sparse backing. The synth at the very end seems in the wrong place though, it feels like it should come in right at the end of the first stanza... it seems to represent the haze of drugs. Anyway, very moving song.
ttfn,
Drakonis

[ Reply to This ]
thanks &mdash 05/03/07 - 04:51:31 PM
nice to hear from you. the bits at the end are actually supposed to be a seque into the next song (whatever that may be). i'm so happy that you liked it. it's one of my favorites at the moment.

[ Reply to This ]
Very moving &mdash 05/03/07 - 09:26:47 PM
Great performance that's made even better by the obvious emotion that's behind the lyrics. There's a real sound of hurt and hope in the vocals. I love the little touches of dissonance. They give the smoothness of the rest of the tune a little edge. I think the touches of the synth are just right. Love the ending.

[ Reply to This ]
thank &mdash 05/04/07 - 09:52:43 AM
you for listening. i'm glad that you liked it, i prefer the synth at the end myself. i need to fly over and check out your page; can't wait to hear your stuff.

[ Reply to This ]
Moving... &mdash 05/04/07 - 08:00:37 PM
Sparse instrumentation and the weary, broken voice. This gives this song depth and authenticity.

It was the right idea to use the first take.

Thanks a lot for sharing!

Greetings from Germany,

elektronix

[ Reply to This ]
thanks so much &mdash 05/04/07 - 09:10:47 PM
i'm really glad you liked it. and so glad you stopped by and listened.

[ Reply to This ]
Great &mdash 05/04/07 - 08:32:09 PM
Don't know what else to say!



[ Reply to This ]
nice &mdash 05/04/07 - 09:12:53 PM
to hear from you. thanks for giving this one a listen.

[ Reply to This ]
The Boss &mdash 05/04/07 - 09:10:16 PM
This sounds like I'm On Fire by Bruce Springsteen... but this has more feelings.. more serene... love it!

[ Reply to This ]
Really cool! &mdash 05/05/07 - 12:12:29 PM
Incredible song! Well recorded, with great arrangement and a very unique personal vision is well presented. Powerful message, and I think this is very worthy. Reminds me a little of a Bobby Bare, Jr., but more at-peace with himself. Glad I found this song!

[ Reply to This ]
thanks Jim &mdash 05/05/07 - 12:34:08 PM
thanks for listening and commenting. i will check out bobby bare jr., i'm not familiar with him at all.

[ Reply to This ]
Excellent &mdash 05/05/07 - 02:23:25 PM
Realy got in to this one Moving it is. I think everyone has been through something like this at least once in thier life excellent music

[ Reply to This ]
Awesome... &mdash 05/05/07 - 03:39:06 PM
...just an awesome tune, man. Played and sung to perfection.

Deepest respect...

Bob

[ Reply to This ]
blue notes &mdash 05/06/07 - 02:22:10 AM
I like the bent notes in the vocals. Nice melody. Your vocal style reminds me a little of Kurt Cobain. Glad you didn't end up like him. Regards

[ Reply to This ]
thanks for listening &mdash 05/06/07 - 09:12:19 AM
i'm so glad you guys all like my song. ahh open G, open tunings make things sound a little fuller sometimes (as in there is really not much to this song). as far as the Cobain reference, neither one of us is what would technically be called a singer. i really appreciate the nice comments (and the downloads).

[ Reply to This ]
The exits were engulfed &mdash 05/07/07 - 02:26:55 AM
You sing from the heart, from experience, and it really cuts through Mike. This hits like a slap in the face - the vocal is fantastic, groaned out but still with a sense of optimism. The arrangement works really well - nice and spacey, wonderfully supporting the guitar and vox.

Really, I'd like an album to listen to of tracks like this from you ... thoughtful and moving, but inspirational.
We all have our addictions ... I get this totally.

LOL

Steve

[ Reply to This ]
thanks man &mdash 05/08/07 - 05:31:06 PM
I'm so glad you got it. i have actually got a bunch of acoustic songs that I was thinking of recording.i don't post everything that I do as I don't want to bore people to tears; but that said, I guess they don't really have to listen. Thanks for popping in.

[ Reply to This ]
Michael &mdash 05/07/07 - 09:11:42 PM
I really dug this.
Love the sounds in the fade out.
You really hit me with this. great lyric and sung with such soul.
Nice recording of the acoustic,and well nice recording all round.
jd

[ Reply to This ]
thank you &mdash 05/08/07 - 05:28:22 PM
i'm glad that you gave the song a listen, and even happier that you enjoyed it. thanks for listening.

[ Reply to This ]
the ending &mdash 05/08/07 - 04:12:43 PM
of this piece brings to mind a transition into another song that you have sort of in and around your head at the moment, the lyrics and the musical material mix extremely well together and it wasn't boring...

very nice metaphors!



[ Reply to This ]
i'm really glad &mdash 05/08/07 - 05:48:27 PM
that you like this piece. It's one of my favorites that I've done, and I like the way that the outro sounds work with it (they were done on a 4 track).i'm really a fan, so I appreciate your comment. Thanks for stopping by.

[ Reply to This ]
Junkies Coming Out Of The Woodwork &mdash 05/09/07 - 01:18:47 PM
You know how to get their attention, dont'cha!?

Seriously, this is a really strong work. Isn't it funny how you thought you'd be boring people to death with this song, but in actuality, this seems to be one of your more popular tunes.

I'm about to take another hit of it and enjoy the ride.



[ Reply to This ]
crazy &mdash 05/09/07 - 05:56:40 PM
huh? i thought that everyone hated acoustic stuff and long winded psych crap. guess i'm wrong.

[ Reply to This ]
Powerful &mdash 05/10/07 - 07:07:39 AM
in its simplicity, driven by emotion and truth. The vocal works perfectly, in my opinion - conveying the weariness of the struggle. I'm with cjdaley on bringing the synth up a bit at the end, but that's just a matter of taste. You are one of the most talented people on this site without a doubt. Nice work. Peace.

[ Reply to This ]
dajama &mdash 06/06/07 - 11:02:54 AM
thanks for the kind words. this is one of my favorites, glad you appreciate what i'm trying to do. we've got similar taste in a lot of ways.

[ Reply to This ]
Great &mdash 05/10/07 - 11:09:01 PM
First congrats on breaking the habit.

Musically, this made me think of Sprinsteen's Nebraska.

The vocals really reflect the pain, and the guitar suits the vocals so well.

thanks!


[ Reply to This ]
you &mdash 06/06/07 - 11:04:57 AM
know, when I was younger I hated Sprinsteen. thought his macho working mans pose was a bunch of crap, but as I get older i can really appreciate a lot of his stuff. still don't like the "boogie" thing though.

[ Reply to This ]
Very Moving &mdash 06/01/07 - 06:34:35 PM
Great song, feel and performance.

Ed

[ Reply to This ]
thanks &mdash 06/06/07 - 11:01:12 AM
for stopping by

[ Reply to This ]
beautiful &mdash 07/30/07 - 07:17:15 AM
Jezus, Michael! I sit here in awe. Nicely chilled and relaxed. I didn't focus on the lyrics, but on the way you sang and play guitar. It all sounds very direct and personal, yet through some quirks in the melody and voice also very experimental, like the reversed end took me by a gentle surprise. A versatile and very talented artist you seem to be.

Jb

[ Reply to This ]
Incredibly powerful. &mdash 12/31/07 - 08:20:05 AM
I'm speechless.

[ Reply to This ]
moving song &mdash 01/13/08 - 07:10:49 PM
nice work

[ Reply to This ]
mesmerizing &mdash 07/01/08 - 07:58:14 PM
I'm sure this was a difficult piece to write and record, seeing as how sometimes music brings back the emotions of the moments we are writing/playing about. You sound a lot like Jonny Polonski on this track. A good thing.

[ Reply to This ]
Copyright 2008 Simig Media, Inc.