Spectator Lens (Telephone Booth)

five_extra_arms

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Description

Carlo and I have been working on a new song or two and we have come to the stage in the development of this song (in progress) where feedback is appreciated. We invite all criticism and concerns.

Thanks,

Bob

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Lyrics

SPECTATOR LENS

YOU THINK THEY’RE LOOKING AT YOU,

THEY’RE NOT LOOKING AT YOU.

WELL, MAYBE THEY’RE LOOKING AT YOU,

WITH CYCLOPS EYEGLASS RED

GONE CUCKOO, GONE CRACKERS.

GONE CUCKOO, GONE CRACKERS.

CH] SPECTATOR LENS, SHOOTING FOOTAGE

FOR THE CAMERAHEAD;

BUT THEN AGAIN, SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE

MUST BE WATCHING

YOU THINK THEY’RE LOOKING AT YOU,

THEY’RE NOT LOOKING AT YOU.

WELL, MAYBE THEY’RE LOOKING AT YOU,

WITH CYCLOPS EYEGLASS RED

IT’S A STADIUM FILLED WITH EMPTY SEATS,

A MONUMENT OF MUTE CONCRETE.

CH] SPECTATOR LENS, SHOOTING FOOTAGE

FOR THE CAMERAHEAD;

BUT THEN AGAIN, SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE

MUST BE WATCHING

br/solo]

WE ARE REDUCED BY THE EYE,

DON’T NEED NO FILM ANYMORE.

IGNORANT OF CONSENT TO

BROADCAST ALL THE TIME—

IT DEADENS THE SENSES OR

BROADENS CONSCIOUSNESS?

WHO KNOWS THE CONCLUSION

OF THIS EXPERIMENT?

WHO CARES?

WHO CARES?

CH] SPECTATOR LENS, SHOOTING FOOTAGE

FOR THE CAMERAHEAD;

BUT THEN AGAIN, SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE

MUST BE WATCHING

Song Stats

Hits: 966
Comments: 22
Fans: 17
Plays: 42
Downloads: 56
Votes:
Uploaded: Sep 03, 2008 - 05:21:06 AM
Last Updated: Sep 03, 2008 - 10:56:37 AM Last Played: Oct 19, 2009 - 05:34:38 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Song Actions

Keywords:

spectator (2), lens (2), electrofriend (3)

Comments

Feter	Feter said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	Spectator Lens the Punk festy end right ? the vocal singing just fabulous my friend ...great live music here ... ROCK ON !!! Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	Punk Fest Thanks Feter. I think Carlo has a great voice too, but you should see him live! He redefines the concept of an "Action Figure". Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

DWL

DWL said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

Devo like
Very interesting. Acoustic guitar and lots of synthy bits and bobs. Almost defiantly lo-fi :)

I guess it depends on what you want. There's a lot of things going on but I don't get the feeling of a coherent whole as yet.

It works as a quirky song with lots of ideas and really does remind me of Devo.

Lacks any bass kick but whether that's how it was designed I don't know.

I really like it as it is but I'd put some heavier bass in.

Dunno if this has helped!

Cheers

Dick

Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

We Are All DEVO
Thanks for the valuable comments Dick. I was hoping to hear from you actually.

I agree there are a few places that haven't completely gelled as yet.

I intentionally held back on the bass, playing very sporadically rather than throughout the whole song. I have a muted track of my original idea which was just a typical rock and roll bassline with no surprises. I'm thinking I'll have to find a middle ground between the safety of what works and the edginess that I so desire. It needs a good mix too to thicken up the bottom.

Carlo hasn't heard it yet and I'm curious what he'll think about it. He might ask me to punch the Ratt pedalon my bassline.

Thanks Dick. This helps immensely.

Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

DWL	DWL said 446 days ago (September 5th, 2008)
	Your explanation about the bass makes perfect sense and it does add to the spacious feel. Mind you when it does come in then I'd make it heavy :) Listened again I really do like this as it is anyway. Cheers Dick Check out my latest song called A Good Night's Sleep with Macferret, Sir Dennis Crowther and Pete Young

Peter Bauckham	Peter Bauckham said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	I do like this lo-fi, rough and ready, sound. I'm listening through some 'not so good' headphones so it's hard to judge really - it does sound quite sparce - but I rather like that... Interesting and original as ever. Peter Check out my latest song called All The Same (CBGB) (Last Chance Challenge)

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	Rough And Ready Thanks Peter. One of the reasons I'm not playing a bassline through the entire song is to preserve some of that spaciousness. I still like Carlo's voice out in the middle with nothing to support it. It just belongs there. So how are ya these days? Good I hope. Thanks for your 2 pounds worth. I appreciate it. Bob Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

cjdaley

cjdaley said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

who knows the conclusion of this
experiment ? I've never heard anything like it. it's on a planet of its own. Like Dick, I feel things arrive on different planes- maybe because of sound levels between guitar and synths at the beginning - though for me they gel at some point ( the cukoo crakers/part, the backing vocals on the empty seats, the bridge)and get really good.

i'm not too nuts about the big drums alone before the chorus, though I like it on the talk-over bridge and in the end.

great violent-femmes-like singing and synth noises.

You guys are crazy.

Check out my latest song called shortbus spaceship (feat. the Flying Monggz from the Ninth Planet) by the Monggz

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

Who Cares?
Carlo really put a ton of work into this song long before he sent it to me, so I didn't get to sing back ups like I had hoped too. Oh yeah, I tried, but having heard his backups, mine were useless. I did use my famous Ghost Shepherd vocal trick at about 2:40 for the talkie parts (copied the vocal track - pasted it into a new track and dropped the pitch with the Vocal Transformer). Is that an effective use of the pitch drop to lower his voice?

I'm undecided about the big drums alone before the chorus. A decade ago we had a song where we used a clanging aluminum drum and I think Carlo was after that. I like it in the other parts, but not so much in the part you mentioned. Thanks for addressing one of my big concerns.

Crazy?

Guilty as charged.

Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

guitapick	guitapick said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	It's nice... ...in this minimalist style. Enough changes to keep it interested. Lyrics are cool... If anything, as far as changes; maybe work that distortion in, far in the distance, before the solo, and building up. Then throw it in, occasionally, in the end verse. But I think it's cool as is, too... Check out my latest song called Outside the Corral

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	Work That Distortion In Hey Bob, thanks for your thoughts. I thought to myself that I may need to grind the edges off of the grinding edge. I am glad to hear from you. Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

Lennon714

Lennon714 said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

I'm
an idiot. But I love this as it is. I'm sure whatever changes you put in will make it even better. I like the absence of low end. the REALLY fuzzy bass (i think) that comes in at 2:41 is great.

I get wicked excited to see new Telephone Booth material roll in. What I like so much about you two is how original and unexpected the songs are. So where they may "lack" certain elements, that's what helps set them apart.

I won't say "Don't change a thing" because I'm sure if you did change something, it would only add to the song.

Check out my latest song called Anarchy, Inc.

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

Idiot
Wow man, you officially made my day. Thanks for the support. It's like when we used to play out in Tampa, there were always about 6 or 7 people at our shows (or less) and one time there was a guy we saw at a previous show and he was rockin' out trying to sing along and we thought, "hey! That guy's our first fan!!" Of course we never saw him again, but the moment was magical, even if it turned out that he was there to see the headliner.

Thanks again for the vote of confidence, the good comments and for letting us know that there might be halfway to a double digit fan base!

Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

Lennon714	Lennon714 said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	haha My band used to play and the security would outnumber the audience. You just never know when the two guys watching football highlights would get out of control. When that would happen we were too embarrassed to go collect our pay. Perhaps Tampa just doesn't know what it's got. F*ck Tampa. I'm rocking out. Check out my latest song called Anarchy, Inc.

rsorensen

rsorensen said 448 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

yeah
damn this is cool. like early jane's addiction but with better vocals and cooler stuff going on. love this. I like the rawness of it and maybe the only thing I'd change is the drums. they don't seem to live up to the rest of the song's energy - though I do really like the big drums at the end. other than that, a fave. really good, loving the telephone booth stuff.

Check out my latest song called Keep Your Chin Up

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)

Big Drums In The End
It seems that we've always been draw to kind of live raw feel when we write songs. I'd stink in a real recording studio if I had to play my parts til perfection. I really enjoy a stray note and a squeak here and there. Now the synths on the other hand... I'm a stickler for those. It's a drawing for me so every midi note matters and trust me, I touch every one of them. Oh yeah, duh, you held the actual GB file from verse versus chorus. I'm sure you looked under the hood for hours. I'm waiting for your songs to start sounding like mine.

Thanks Ridd.

Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

Vic Holman

Vic Holman said 447 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)

watching the man
Devo yes I hear that. and those wicked synths are cool.

Some good points are made. but you know some times you have to rip off the shirts and let it hang out. there is a lot of really good stuff here.

The fast synth sound is that programmed or just all those extra arms working into a frenzy? It's real cool. and yeah I can see incorporating that Rat pedal on the bass in places.

Check out my latest song called November

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)

Midi Figgited Synth Tracks
I have a few "secret" "patented" techniques that I use when writing a whacked out synth track. Sometimes I start with my Oxygen 8 and just try something nuts and ALWAYS go back and fix every single midi note, usually not using a single one originally played. Another trick I do is move that track to someplace it ought not to be in the arrangement. It sometimes sounds better in a place that I would never guess. I let accidents happen around me and I just modify them if they sound interesting. My other patented secret technique is to drag a green midi drum loop up into a synth track and modify it. If you use simple midi drum loops, like egg shakers or maracas, you'll be able to duplicate any of my extraordinary manic synth leads. But I can't give you any real details, because all of this is secret and patented.

Anyone that wants to see exactly what I'm talking about, just ask and I'll send you the actual GB file.

RATT Pedal! Thanks Vic!

Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)
	oh.... I get it I won't tell a soul on what you just wrote about your patented super secret Check out my latest song called November

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 446 days ago (September 4th, 2008)
	Patented Secret Stuff Thanks Vic. If anyone ever discovered my secret, there'd be at least 2 extra five extra arms too many. Thanks for your commitment to secrecy. Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

racerat	racerat said 447 days ago (September 3rd, 2008)
	fi-lo-fi-fum Bob and Carlo, Love the lo-fi take on this. The claen-no verb guitar is refreshing. I think the best thing about this apart from the crazy ass synths is the delivery of the vocals, really energetic and honest. OMG the guitar just came in distorto-matic in a RAT pedal kind of way. Really inventive and original. P Check out my latest song called Frank's Song

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)

No Verb Guitar
As long as Carlo and I have been friends, I can't think of one time when he lied to me, so I'd say his vocal delivery is honest and definitely super hyper energetic.

We both like the strummy jangly guitar sounds he makes and we try hard to avoid to many typical tendencies to write a predictable song. I'm not good at that anyway, so I'll go crazy and try to build a volume of work under the difficult listening catagory that Simon wants to add.

Thanks for your comments Phil. You know what you're talking about!

Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

psexnyc	psexnyc said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)
	Raw and.... Minimalist....Quirky and big drums. I personally love the use of big drums in this song. It's the drums and the vocal delivery that hold my attention. I'd like the song even more if the bass guitar was thumping as hard as those big drums were bumping. Check out my latest song called C'Mon Get Ready LIVE (MJRF)

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)
	Quirky Minimalists Thanks psexnyc. I agree with you about the need for thumping bass guitars. I'm gonna plug in the RATT and turn everything up on the heavy side. Thanks for the useful comments. Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

dajama

dajama said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)

I really
like this, as is. I get what some are saying about a slightly disjointed feel in the earlier parts of the song. The guitar sound on the verse stabs is also a little raw for my taste, but that's not a criticism, just a taste thing. The vocal is very cool, and i really like the drums. The bass that is there is really nice; pump it up! Great lyrics, and terrific energy. Can't wait to hear where this goes. Peace.

Check out my latest song called Across the Wire (MJRF)

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)
	Pump It Up!! Thank David. We'll continue to work this out. The comments we've received already are a true blessing. I can only imagine what Sgt Pepper would've sounded like if the Beatles had you guys to bounce their ideas off of. The album could've gone gold and they'd be a household name. Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

egobandit	egobandit said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)
	crazy synth this has tons of energy carlo sounds a bit like robert smith. very complex and simple at the same time breakin new ground Check out my latest song called when its love

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 447 days ago (September 4th, 2008)
	Crazy Synth Hey Tim, when are we going to get together again? I miss ya man. Bob PS - thanks for the comments. Coming from a ground breaker like you, this means a lot. Kiss that baby for me. Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

lavalamp	lavalamp said 446 days ago (September 5th, 2008)
	JEEPERS I should do a cover of this one. Punk on you rock punker. Punkalicious. Dave Check out my latest song called Googolplex Times Zero

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 442 days ago (September 9th, 2008)
	PEEPERS You should do a cover of this. Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

michael2	michael2 said 446 days ago (September 5th, 2008)
	great track i like the sparse bass, but would probably make it a bit bigger when it is in (god i love a Rat pedal). i like the real drums when they come in, and the synths are freaking me out they're so good. this is 98% of the way there. you guys are incredible. Check out my latest song called Behind Enemy Lines (w/Bud and Particle Dots)

five_extra_arms	five_extra_arms said 442 days ago (September 9th, 2008)
	Big Bass Thanks m2 - we've been working on it this weekend and it's really sounding bigger. I'll post the new version as soon as it's done. Thanks all! Check out my latest song called Michael Pool

lengold	lengold said 442 days ago (September 9th, 2008)
	Love the busy synth sounds in my right ear. This sounds really original to me. I like the big drums. I am also missing the bass - but you are right not to just do a usual rock type riff - needs something original sounding (over to you Bob). The Telephone Booth concept works brilliantly in my opinion. Cheers Len Check out my latest song called Dodgy Doughnut

ic42	ic42 said 439 days ago (September 12th, 2008)
	451 it is future punk. lyric is reminiscent of a science fiction movie. singing and music conveys feeling well, to escape from the experiment, from being watched and from watching. it is well made music, it squirms. 0x0 Check out my latest song called futatsu 0x01

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DWL

Artist Info

Name: Bob Dorsey

I am busier now than ever before - work, parenthood, husbandry, new house, new house projects... Bear with me as I try to squeeze in a few songs between life. My Monday Night music nights are few and far between so I'm forced to hit it and quit it. W... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

The terms alternative rock and alternative music[1] were coined in the early 1980s to describe punk rock-inspired music genres which didn't fit into the mainstream genres of the time. At times it was used as catch-all phrase for rock music from under

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