Who's Online
Invisible Members: 10 Visitors: 54
Past 7 Days
Song Uploads: 165
Song Votes: 336
Song Comments: 3502
Forum Posts: 894
New Members: 86
Participation Points: 13007.60
|
Get Flash to see this player.
Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:
  
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
|
|
|
|
|
Description:
It's been several months since I've posted music on this site. I just haven't had the time or inspiration to compose lately, school has been my primary focus this year. Now I'm on summer vacation. I've got several music projects lined up and a folder of half finished songs to complete. If I get around to it, I'll be posting more regularly. It's so nice to hear everyone's work again!
Anyways, I wrote this piece a few nights ago with nothing in particular in mind. I was feeling a bit crazier than normal so I started playing around with style and meter. The piece borrows ideas from drum and bass, punk, and jazz music. It follows a 4/4 meter for the most part but I didn't hesitate to cut out a few beats every now and then. I focused particularly on the interplay between the instruments - sometimes in alignment, sometimes call and response. I mean, you can analyze the piece if you want to, but know that I wrote this mostly by ear so much of what you hear happened coincidently.
Note: original song art by James Campbell http://doctoronion.deviantart.com/
|
The Life of a Starfish &mdash 05/28/08 - 12:45:21 AM
Nice Jazz cosmic gumbo ..the piano so fine
nice job my friend thnx for sharin !! [ Reply to This ]
Feter &mdash 05/28/08 - 12:53:00 AM
Nimble little devil, huh... &mdash 05/28/08 - 11:03:06 AM
You know I like it!
Good to hear from you!
I wish you had the time to send me something to stretch me/us.
Liked the drums, of course but I found myself listening mostly to the bass and piano - For me, it was about the, jerky liquified chunks. - maybe something to do w/ a starfish outta water... - But likely, something to do w/ my imagination.
Can't help but to wonder what you might have done w/ the energy had you not been able to compose music like this...
Nice job, J!
D [ Reply to This ]
Dion &mdash 05/28/08 - 12:41:39 PM
duuuuuuuude. I thought told you I have time to send you stuff now that school's out, hahaha. Anyways, tell you what. I need some good quality time to work at my special summer camp but I'll hit you with something shortly after the 21st of June. I hope you're ready for that! Oh, and thanks for the listen. Good to hear from you Dion. [ Reply to This ]
Joel! &mdash 05/28/08 - 11:03:46 AM
Hey, so cool to see you back, especially with something so incredibly original, yet also incredibly enjoyable. I just got some new monitors and one thing I like about your piece is that it's using the entire frequency spectrum; you've got the tinkling keys dancing at the top and then that great thunking bass and kick drum. This is also mixed very, very well. The bass is thumping but not distorting, but I can also feel it on the floor under my feet. All of this makes it a pleasure to listen to, as well.
You've obviously been sucking up a lot of knowledge at school this year. I hear a lot of growth in your "voice." Excellent, excellent work...and welcome back!
--ledebutant [ Reply to This ]
The Orbiting &mdash 05/28/08 - 12:58:35 PM
Ledeb,
First, Congrats on your new monitors! Second, I'm glad my mix passes the test, I didn't have monitors myself when setting the levels so it was kind of risky business. I do have some great headphones but you can never be sure when the sound is that close to your ears.
Well, it's good to have time to be back at mj again. I'm really glad you liked my piece and noticed that I've grown musically. Thanks for listening! [ Reply to This ]
fun &mdash 05/28/08 - 12:51:08 PM
yes does sound like you had fun with this piece some. school can eat up a lot of time just like working :/ i like the switches from heavy to slow and how the drums still keep a fairly fast beat but still mellow down some with the rest of the song when it slows. [ Reply to This ]
scream &mdash 05/28/08 - 01:04:45 PM
Thanks for the comment Scream. You're right in observing the changes in mood and range in dynamics. I'm glad you like it! [ Reply to This ]
not really sure what to say really &mdash 05/28/08 - 01:08:21 PM
not really sure what to say really, but seeing as i AM a music student AND an english language student (gcse level) i should be able to come up with something good advice for you. i study english language and music both at gcse level so i guess it's left to me to leave a bit of a more proffessional critique of this song so here goes...
the starfish come through here, like a metaphorical melody, metaphor and symphonie on the ballad of life, starfish synopsis and rhetorical reformation. hey, let me break this down of all the people who won't GET it... basically GO GET A DICTIONARY BEFORE YOU TRY CHATTIN' TO A GSCE STUDENT OF ENGLISH AND MUSIC... both simultaniously btw, i've not got one of then in one year and then studied seperately for the other, i do both at the same time. takes a special sort... know what i'm sayin? [ Reply to This ]
WHAT? &mdash 05/28/08 - 01:40:05 PM
Excuse me. I don't mean to be rude but I'm not exactly sure where you're going with this comment here... you have said multiple times that you are a student of English and Music and that you might offer some good advice. Well none was given, and furthermore I don't think you realize how arrogant you appear here. First of all, CAPS LOCK ON MACJAMS IS NOT CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL. It actually makes you sound like your angry at something, or maybe at me. Secondly, for an English student you grammar is atrocious. Those who study the English language should be able to communicate their ideas articulately, and that does not mean simply using big word. Your critique was far from professional. You stated the existence of a metaphor, yet you neglected to describe it. You also failed to draw a comparison between your ideas and the music, making your analysis appear as benighted conjecture. I'm not going to go into it anymore. Frankly, I don't believe you are who you say you are, I would have been happy with a simply "I like/disliked" the song, but this display of pretension frustrates me. Respectfully, I ask you to revise you comment and I will gladly respond to any praise or criticism you give. However, if you decide to take further action against me, such as bomb my song ratings, I will have no choice but to report you to the macjams site moderator and request that your account is removed...fo'shizzle.
>>not really sure what to say really, but seeing as i AM a music student AND an english language student (gcse level) i should be able to come up with something good advice for you. i study english language and music both at gcse level so i guess it's left to me to leave a bit of a more proffessional critique of this song so here goes...
the starfish come through here, like a metaphorical melody, metaphor and symphonie on the ballad of life, starfish synopsis and rhetorical reformation. hey, let me break this down of all the people who won't GET it... basically GO GET A DICTIONARY BEFORE YOU TRY CHATTIN' TO A GSCE STUDENT OF ENGLISH AND MUSIC... both simultaniously btw, i've not got one of then in one year and then studied seperately for the other, i do both at the same time. takes a special sort... know what i'm sayin?<< [ Reply to This ]
Textual analysis &mdash 06/01/08 - 07:13:14 PM
I happened to catch this comment, and I have nothing better to do, so I thought I'd comment on it.
> not really sure what to say really,
1. This sentence does not start with a capital letter.
2. This sentence has neither subject nor verb.
3. The repetition of the word "really" gets you minus ten points for style in my book.
> but seeing as i AM a music student AND an english language student
4. The word "I" should be capitalized.
> i should be able to come up with something good advice for you.
5. "something good advice"? What was that language you were studying again?
> i study english language and music both at gcse level
6. Repeated chest thumping and bad capitalization. Minus so many points.
> so i guess it's left to me to leave a bit of a more proffessional critique
7. I'm sorry, I believe "profffessional" has 3 'f's.
> the starfish come through here, like a metaphorical melody, metaphor
8. Word repetition again. Don't they teach good writing style at the GCSE level?
> and symphonie on the ballad of life, starfish synopsis and rhetorical reformation.
9. I'm sorry. Was that sentence supposed to express a thought?
> basically GO GET A DICTIONARY BEFORE YOU TRY CHATTIN'
10. Pot, meet kettle. Kettle, meet pot.
> TO A GSCE STUDENT OF ENGLISH AND MUSIC... both simultaniously btw,
11. You're quite immodest, you know that? And so far without justification.
> takes a special sort... know what i'm sayin?
Tell me about it.
Furrfu.
Victor. [ Reply to This ]
Cool &mdash 05/28/08 - 01:17:57 PM
The plinky plinky piano has a bit of an underwater feel. If that's how you intended.
I see the connection with DnB. Everything that has approximately the right speed you can put a drum beat under, not?
Nice track. Good interplay between the instruments.
[ Reply to This ]
Vic &mdash 05/30/08 - 05:42:00 PM
Yeah, everything is synchronized to the computer so I guess dropping a DnB loop behind it would work, not that I necessarily want to do that though. Thanks for the listen. [ Reply to This ]
Very cool mix &mdash 05/28/08 - 09:43:33 PM
Luna &mdash 05/30/08 - 05:43:54 PM
Life of a Starfish &mdash 05/28/08 - 09:43:40 PM
wow - my first introduction to your music - you're incredible. This is top notch on every level - love your highs and lows, you clearly know exactly what you're doing. Looking forward to hearing more of your music - thanks! [ Reply to This ]
Starfish &mdash 05/30/08 - 05:46:15 PM
Magna, it's very pleasing to hear you say such things, I'm a fan of your compositions as well. Thanks for commenting. :) [ Reply to This ]
Starfish &mdash 05/28/08 - 09:44:49 PM
Great little tune. Really fun - the interplay between instruments I think you really succeeded there. Good piano - did you play all these instruments yourself? It's a fun tune - can't wait to hear more of your stuff. Welcome back to MacJams!
[ Reply to This ]
oh and.. &mdash 05/28/08 - 09:47:48 PM
Starfish &mdash 05/30/08 - 05:51:00 PM
yes yes, I wrote the parts for each instrument using MIDI. I'm really happy, like the tune. My artist friend will also be happy you like his work, I'll go tell him. Thanks for the listen. [ Reply to This ]
wacky stuff... &mdash 05/28/08 - 09:56:44 PM
Until now, nobody's ever heard of a caffeinated 4/4 starfish... wild, as usual from you! Wonderfully quirky! Nice choice of instruments backing up the piano, and well-mixed!
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Magic dragon &mdash 05/30/08 - 06:03:21 PM
Always a pleasure drak. It's funny how I get pegged on this site for writing music while on caffeine. The truth is, yes, I'm a coffee addict. More accurately, I'm a coffee aficionado. I drink it regularly and perhaps sometimes it draws out my inspiration to write, however, that is not to say all of my energetic music moments are inspired by coffee. Emotion and energy in music is exciting and fun to listen to, and I try to exaggerate the emotion in my pieces as much as possible. Hah, I don't know why I'm rambling on about this. Well, when I get around to posting my downtempo stuff, I'll be showing you all that I can make sleepy music too. =) Thanks so much for listening! [ Reply to This ]
Ha! &mdash 05/30/08 - 06:17:36 PM
Well then... if we ever meet up, I'll fresh-grind some Celebes or Sumatran coffee for us (my two faves.) I am getting snobby about coffee lately, bring fresh-ground into work with a mini coffee press :-)
ttfn,
Drakonis [ Reply to This ]
Nice Tune. &mdash 05/28/08 - 11:09:25 PM
I liked it. Metaphors or not, i'd the life of a starfish to be longer.
The art was a good find. Made me push play on the song bar.
Thanks for posting. [ Reply to This ]
EF &mdash 05/30/08 - 06:11:31 PM
E-Funk, thanks for stopping by. Starfish don't live very long to begin with, and this one died young - overdosed. I'll tell the artist you liked the picture. Thanks for the listen! [ Reply to This ]
Cool! &mdash 05/29/08 - 09:09:23 AM
Very nice work here, happy to come across your work. Fine piano playing and wonderful percussion sounds. Cool piece of work I do like... thanks for sharing!
Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi [ Reply to This ]
Starfish &mdash 05/30/08 - 06:16:38 PM
Welcome back! &mdash 05/29/08 - 10:44:12 PM
Jiguma &mdash 05/30/08 - 06:18:01 PM
Well &mdash 05/30/08 - 05:36:41 PM
It certainly isn't bad and its a fantastic creative piece, but it doesn't really speak to me in a way that some of your other pieces have.
Glad to see you posting again though! I look forward to hearing some of those unfinished projects! [ Reply to This ]
Bliss &mdash 05/30/08 - 06:21:20 PM
Hey Bliss. Yeah, I figured you'd like my electronica stuff better, but I'm really happy you commented on this one here. I try to write in a variety of styles. I've got some downtempo/trip hop on the horizon. Stay tuned. [ Reply to This ]
Finally &mdash 05/31/08 - 08:29:04 PM
A new song by Aerojet ;)
Good stuff as always- you finally got out of your writer's block. [ Reply to This ]
kgz &mdash 06/01/08 - 07:15:29 PM
Kinda like . . . &mdash 06/01/08 - 12:06:40 PM
Squarepusher on acid: a big bag of squirrelly fun. I've been lurking on your page, waiting for a new tune. Thanks for satisfying me with this. The acoustic take is a cool new direction for you, I think. You have a good take on punk-jazz-dnb fusion, too bad there's no genre listing for it.
-g [ Reply to This ]
greg &mdash 06/01/08 - 07:25:12 PM
Well Greg, lurk no more! I'm glad you stuck it out and came around to comment. It's great to hear from you. [ Reply to This ]
Joel... &mdash 06/02/08 - 03:49:45 AM
Just got off the plane... will comment later! This sounds quite intriguing... more comment later after a second or third listen... [ Reply to This ]
COOL TRACK JACK &mdash 07/14/08 - 10:37:04 PM
Love this experimental jazz piece! We gotta hook up for some new collabs one of these days! I love working with ya! [ Reply to This ]
|
|
Friends
iLounge - All things iPod, iTunes and beyond
|
Dish Network - the dish
network limited time bonus offers - get all three
|
|
nice job my friend thnx for sharin !!
[ Reply to This ]