Home Community Music Blog Old MJ More...      
No Words by Vic Holman [Email]
Genre: Indie Rock

Get Flash to see this player.


Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:

NoDerivs-NonCommercial
SONG STATS:
Hits: 581
Comments: 73
Votes:
Plays: 111
Last Played: Nov 28, 2008 - 12:40:29 PM
Downloads: 23
Fans: 37
Uploaded: Sep 11, 2008 - 02:57:18 PM
Last Updated: Sep 11, 2008 - 02:57:18 PM
Fan List
Description:
rather then getting into deep discussions at times. Sometimes i think it's better to let some things go. Peace of mind sure makes life more tolerable.

there is quite a bit of slide work on this. From the obvious to some textures.

On the solo is I used a whammy pedal that is part of my Digitech multi effect pedal board.

I put this under indie, because it doesn't seem to fit else where

Lyrics:
No Words

I wrote a note in the sand
but the rain washed it away
I could write a letter today

ch:
no words
I've said enough
I've got nothing more to say
no words no words
I've got nothing more to say
no words no words
I've got nothing more to say

everything is a blank page
my mind is pretty vacant
my mind can't afford the rent
a penny for my thoughts

ch:
no words
I've said enough
I've got nothing more to say
no words no words
I've got nothing more to say
no words no words
I've got nothing more to say

I will be silent today
communication breakdown
no one will hear from me

ch:
no words
I've said enough
I've got nothing more to say
no words no words
I've got nothing more to say
no words no words
I've got nothing more to say

Hardware:
iMac, Taylor 410 CE acoustic, Shector bass, Ibanez SA & Gibson SG electrics, Presonus Firebox interface, M-Audio keyboard, condensor mike. and a beat up, gouged slide.

Software:
Logic Pro 8
You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

Shut Your Trap &mdash 09/11/08 - 03:07:06 PM
Vic,

this is really clever writing. I like the nothingness of it all. You voice sounds great on this, kinda softer side of Vic. Excellent guitar work throughout the song (of course), but man, your lead is blowing me away!!

Good download for me!

[ Reply to This ]
Well Bob &mdash 09/11/08 - 08:39:39 PM
it is a song about nothing. I was wondering at one point if I should use flash cards for the vocals. I've been wanting to put the whammy effect on a song for a long time. You need to use few notes as possible to get the full effect of it.

[ Reply to This ]
Sweet music &mdash 09/11/08 - 03:09:43 PM
I love your music skill my friend.
Downloaded thanks.

Take care
----
Kenta

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Kenta &mdash 09/11/08 - 08:51:15 PM
this tune has been in the works for around three weeks. most of it was there from the start but I kept trying some different things with synth's which most of them I ended taking out or cutting large sections out. eventually it ended up being back to pretty close to what it was originally. it was worth a shot.

[ Reply to This ]
Love this! &mdash 09/11/08 - 03:34:37 PM
Excellent vocals and a really wonderful song!

Great guitar playing and some really superb sounds coming from your guitar here Vic!

How do you do it, you just keep producing really great songs and this is another, great stuff Vic!

Bob



[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Bob &mdash 09/11/08 - 08:58:49 PM
I usually kick back in the evenings figuring out parts while having a beer. I had the intro part for a while and when I came up with the chorus chords I began to think how I could put those together. So, I think in sections when I compose a song. or it's the magic beer or two in the evening that does it.

[ Reply to This ]
( : &mdash 09/11/08 - 03:35:47 PM
Agrree & no words can gve the music , songs 'rightness'.. ! Wonderful to hear this Your voice is GREAT & You hit the 'head on the nail' as we say.. KUDOS ! TX my pleasure : ) : )


[ Reply to This ]
you know &mdash 09/11/08 - 09:02:41 PM
it is kind of funny to sing about no words, but you have to use words to sing about it. I was also thinking that sometimes you have to be careful what you say on the internet because it can be taken wrong.

[ Reply to This ]
Lovely beatleish &mdash 09/11/08 - 03:46:17 PM
chord progressions/melody. Really like this song Vic - love the very well played guitar effects too. Great vocals and superb production, as always.
Cheers
Len



[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Len &mdash 09/11/08 - 09:17:38 PM
the chorus has a really interesting chord pattern to it. a lot of open strings. that is pretty much where I started for this song. the intro was another piece I was playing around with at the time. I then thought why not put them together and the rest fell into place right away.

[ Reply to This ]
beautiful Vic &mdash 09/11/08 - 03:53:11 PM
this is one of your best (if not the best). that slide and those melodies are killing me. this song would be great in pretty much any type of genre. crazy solo. really impressive.

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Michael &mdash 09/11/08 - 09:26:51 PM
when I was playing around with the verse chords i could hear the slides in my head. When I added those I just kept playing them all the way through. there's two at the same time. and the end i just did a bow effect with my pitted slide just for the heck of it, thinking that i would cut them off. I thought it worked in a way so i left those in. when i recorded the vocals the first time around they just didn't sound right. so i gave it a another shot on a different night and they came out much better.

[ Reply to This ]
No Words &mdash 09/11/08 - 04:04:51 PM
vic - i just always love your music! Wonderful guitar work, the whole production, love your vox and lyrics, i feel like a broken record. But really, this is GREAT!

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Karen &mdash 09/11/08 - 09:32:28 PM
i just took some time on this. especially the mixing. I spent a couple hours in the evening over the last three days just finding a balance that sounded just right to me.

thanks again I really appreciate your listen

[ Reply to This ]
All of a sudden.... &mdash 09/11/08 - 04:06:28 PM
..Bob is first. The "I've got nothing more to say" part, is so nice, Vic.

It sounds like something John Lennon would have gravitated to if he had lived. With a bit of a G.Harrison.

You're such a Beatle guy, aren't you?

Great tune. Perfect length, too.

Dave

[ Reply to This ]
Hey Dave &mdash 09/11/08 - 09:37:03 PM
Bob works in mysterious ways. It's not for us to question how.

I think the slide guitars is what really gave it the final Beatle thing.

I didn't want to go to long since after all I'm not suppose to have words.

Thanks Dave,

[ Reply to This ]
Fan's words &mdash 09/11/08 - 04:09:36 PM
Every new song of you is a true pleasure Vic. It is played and sung perfectly, the whole with a quality of sound excellent.
But how you make to create and interpret so many tunes, so rich some as the others, you are a music mine !
Marc

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Marc &mdash 09/12/08 - 08:16:39 PM
your continued support has been one of the things that make me try hard to do decent songs. I also feel lucky at times when something comes up out of the blue.

thanks again my friend.

[ Reply to This ]
No Words &mdash 09/11/08 - 04:27:07 PM
this is superb ..the emotional guitar pickin
in the intro was cool ..the tone so great !!
the guitars sets with the slide used in an
impressive way here ...made the whole song so
full ...You Rock ...thnx alot for sharin !!!!

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Feter &mdash 09/12/08 - 08:21:32 PM
The intro is 4 acoustic guitars playing the same passage. I had to practice that bit quite a bit so I would have the timing down. the slide parts I also used a long delay effect and volume pedal which gives a unconventional sound. I'm glad you liked it Feter, thanks.

[ Reply to This ]
Loved the guitar. &mdash 09/11/08 - 04:38:49 PM
Loved your singing. File the lessons of the past away in the recesses of the mind to re-mind to be mindful of everything we do and don't do in the now. Thanks.

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Char &mdash 09/12/08 - 08:28:30 PM
lessons learned. there are also instances when you just say "I don't know" sometimes it works out for the best once in a while.
when I also wrote the lyrics I was thinking about my visit to the dentist on Friday for some minor oral surgery and knowing i wasn't going to be talking much or singing in the next week or two

[ Reply to This ]
no words &mdash 09/11/08 - 05:14:37 PM
what a great track ... you know there's another tune hiding in there right?



[ Reply to This ]
Hey Jack &mdash 09/12/08 - 08:41:59 PM
actually I think there may be 4 songs in this. each part is fairly different from each other. with some luck they fell into place fairly well. and I almost thought of adding a bridge!

[ Reply to This ]
Yes! &mdash 09/11/08 - 06:56:17 PM
This is excellent, one of your best. Your vocal is really good, and the guitar on this is wild - lovely sound on that acoustic, and the slide is sweet. Then the solo! Wicked stuff, my man. Still got that trademark sound, but different, more reflective, reminds me of the vibe I got from Fire somehow, even though that's a much more melancholy song. The lyrics are effective and very well put together. Great stuff. You never disappoint. Peace.

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks David &mdash 09/12/08 - 08:48:30 PM
I had worked up the intro and what became the chorus separately and then i thought about combining them, so the verse was easy to fill in. on the solo i usually do a different chord arrangement on most of my songs, I had a different part originally but I thought to do something different, so that's where the whammy pedal came into play.

[ Reply to This ]
says alot &mdash 09/11/08 - 06:58:59 PM
the control in your choice of notes is outstanding nothing over done.. Your sounding more and more solid and polished with each post. My favorite part is at the end of the lead the bass is perfect. Keep them coming!!! I want to hear you say it!

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Tim &mdash 09/12/08 - 08:54:48 PM
I have to say that I hand picked only the choice notes.

I did the bass three different ways. the third worked the best. i just took time on getting this song to where i was somewhat satisfied.

[ Reply to This ]
Ahhhhh! &mdash 09/11/08 - 07:10:19 PM
Some lovely changes Vic - great vocal, and the usual fascinating guitars.

Love that solo.

A shot of music from when I was much younger, but very modern at the same time. The acoustic intro reminds me of something, but my memory isn't sufficiently operational to tell you what it is ;)

I've got nothing more to say!
Neil

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Neil &mdash 09/12/08 - 09:15:28 PM
The acoustic is a 10 year old Taylor that I purchased a few weeks back. I worked up this song on that. so some inspiration there.

There is a vintage guitar shop a block away from work. and they had this Taylor at a good price. Who ever owned it before obviously rarely played it. it's a small shop with cool older name brand instruments that haven't become highly collectable yet. they do however have a early 50's tele (waaaay out of my price range)

[ Reply to This ]
No words? &mdash 09/11/08 - 09:12:24 PM
It's a TRICK I tell ya! Ha ha...

Lovely Vic...(not you, the SONG!)...Just lovely. In every respect.

Lead solo is STELLAR!

Next you need to record an instrumental called "Speech."

Be well friend!

[ Reply to This ]
Yes Mike &mdash 09/12/08 - 09:20:59 PM
I am lov.... ah, darn.

It is kind of funny singing about no words. so it's a song about nothing.

the solo is the whammy pedal on the digitech multi effect. if you use it you can't use a lot of notes otherwise it just sounds squeely.

Speech for a instrumental, I like that. might have to use a talk box effect.




[ Reply to This ]
Awesome &mdash 09/11/08 - 10:45:44 PM
What a great tune! Loved every second of it.

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Dave &mdash 09/12/08 - 09:28:02 PM
I'm glad you liked it. It probably took me around three weeks to get this together. i would put it aside for a few day at a time relisten and change some small things here and there. I didn't want to rush this one.

[ Reply to This ]
Great track &mdash 09/11/08 - 11:16:19 PM
Everything is perfect about this track. My mixes tire my ears when I listen back to my songs. This is relaxed and the music takes center stage. I love that solo. Your vocals sound great on this.

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Eric &mdash 09/12/08 - 09:31:45 PM
I just took time to get this one right. I spent a couple hours for 4 evenings just playing with the mix and balances. this one for some reason required more attention then usual in that department

[ Reply to This ]
There always seems to be at least one thing... &mdash 09/11/08 - 11:26:02 PM
...in your songs that grab me. The vocal construction before the solo, and the solo itself are really memorable here. Musical as all get out!

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Pete &mdash 09/12/08 - 09:37:23 PM
I remember reading that Tom Petty said make the chorus catchy as hell. and get to it as fast as possible. seemed like good words to me.

the solo is very simple, the hard part was getting the notes on the whammy pedal to where you want them to start and end.

thanks again Pete

[ Reply to This ]
whammy bam &mdash 09/12/08 - 02:42:13 AM
thank you, Mr Holman.

Nothing more to say, of course.

[ Reply to This ]
whammo pedal &mdash 09/12/08 - 09:41:35 PM
I've been wanting to use that effect for a long time. now i have to wonder what would happen if i ran a voice through it. i better not say more.

[ Reply to This ]
This &mdash 09/12/08 - 08:36:19 AM
is a really well-constructed song.It just feels perfectly balanced.I always love your chord progressions- you rarely use the standard patterns.That truly is a great solo.I love the Beatles and Harrison- it's nice to see someone continuing/expanding that type of playing.

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Mark &mdash 09/12/08 - 09:48:13 PM
i think it was the slide that sealed the deal towards Beatlesque. the chorus chords are really interesting although it may be a bit hard to tell but the B & E high strings are played open on all the chords which are played fairly high up on the neck.



[ Reply to This ]
Love how &mdash 09/12/08 - 10:29:40 AM
your vocal sound is so intune, melodic, love the slide sound. Like those descending slide sounds as you sing "no words".

Seems to me Vic your putting out pop singin gems.

A pleasure to listening to, words and all. Enjoyed the ending as well.

Impressed!

WAY To GO

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Bill &mdash 09/12/08 - 09:57:16 PM
last weekend idid the vocals the chorus i was satisfied with but not the verses. i gave them a go the next day and did them totally different without thinking about it. I kind of surprised myself there. the slides i added a log delay and used a volume pedal to give it a smooth swell.

Tour new tune is excellent!

[ Reply to This ]
layers in the mix &mdash 09/12/08 - 03:39:20 PM
It's pretty brilliant how you have put the acoustic in contrast to the rest of the mix. It reminds me of someone sitting in a room with the guitar and jamming along to a new fab record spinning on the turntable... Oh wait... that was me 30 years ago;)

You certainly have your fingerprint on your songs. And its a good on!

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Thor &mdash 09/12/08 - 10:03:35 PM
I thought it would make for something interesting to mix in some different elements to the song. Mostly to keep it interesting but also in a subdued way to give it a different overall sound. when i was working out the verse chords i already heard the slides playing in my head, so they had to go in this.

[ Reply to This ]
drums &mdash 09/13/08 - 03:15:42 AM
you know, i always really like the percussion in your tunes. you make really unique fill choices. love the bg vocals and esp. the slide parts and that awesome tom morello flavored SOLO!! outstanding production as well on a great song, vic - one of your best.

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Ridd &mdash 09/13/08 - 11:01:42 PM
the drums i always play on the keyboard. and I break them up over 3 tracks. The fills have always been a bit Ringo inspired. The whammy for the solo can be a bit tricky you need to go a bit slow on raising the pitch and catch the sweep just right. I must have done it a dozen times to get a good take.

[ Reply to This ]
Great tune... &mdash 09/13/08 - 08:56:20 AM
...the chorus and solo sections are killer...truly fine stuff, Vic...

[ Reply to This ]
thanks Bob &mdash 09/13/08 - 11:07:21 PM
the chorus & the intro where bits that i came up with separately and work back from that. I had originally a different solo but thought something more dramatic and different would be cool. I've always played around with the effect but never got around to recording it.

[ Reply to This ]
Great track Vic &mdash 09/13/08 - 11:00:35 PM
I really love the bridge after the solo where the acoustic comes back and then you kick the bass a notch - very intelligent stuff and fun too. Your skill has become quite formidable in the time I've been listening. This is a really, really good one.

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Kevin &mdash 09/13/08 - 11:42:57 PM
I knew after the ramped up solo that I would need to bring it down a bit. so i reprised a little of the intro. this was my 3rd and different take on the bass. I just took some extra time on this song so it would turn out ok

[ Reply to This ]
loved &mdash 09/13/08 - 11:13:40 PM
it!

[ Reply to This ]
thanks John &mdash 09/13/08 - 11:45:01 PM
i actually like it too.

also really liked your last post. you are secretly James Taylor aren't you?

[ Reply to This ]
That's funny &mdash 09/14/08 - 10:37:46 AM
But I'll take that compliment any day.

[ Reply to This ]
There's a great &mdash 09/15/08 - 12:31:55 AM
pop sheen here and the arrangement feels like George Harrison at times and then gets big and powerful with that guitar. Great mix and production.

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks John &mdash 09/15/08 - 08:44:52 PM
I knew i was going to use some slides on the verse, but i kept playing them all the way through. harmony slides always seem to = harrison. Thanks for the listen.

I really liked your new one mr. Lennon.lol

[ Reply to This ]
Splndid stuff Vic &mdash 09/15/08 - 03:51:46 AM
The guitars are sounding brilliant as always and one of MJ's best lyricists shows his class again.

Cheers

Dick

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Dick &mdash 09/15/08 - 08:54:16 PM
Since it was suppose to be no words. I had to go and explain it. ironic.
I kept them simple and as short as I could. Because I can't whistle worth crap. :)

[ Reply to This ]
Great song &mdash 09/15/08 - 08:06:26 AM
Great guitar - George Harrison meets Adrian Belew. Vocals really work with the psych. groove, no doubt everyone tells you that you sound like Bowie but since it's so obv. i'll tell you again - you sound like Bowie. Great stuff.

[ Reply to This ]
true &mdash 09/15/08 - 08:59:35 PM
that i get Harrison comparisons often. but rarely Bowie ones. but that's cool by me, considering I am a big Bowie fan.... and Adrian as well.

Thanks for the listen, I appreciate it!

[ Reply to This ]
hey Vic! &mdash 09/15/08 - 09:41:41 PM
Those lyrics are really excellent.
You know, I felt a lot of times like that and I could relate a lot to your words.
The quieter than usual way you deliver them make them even more poingnant.
Downloaded for sure!

[ Reply to This ]
sometimes &mdash 09/16/08 - 11:43:31 PM
you just don't know what to say or know better not to say, that is the question. We've all been there.

thanks for the listen. i really appreciate it

[ Reply to This ]
Great as always &mdash 09/17/08 - 08:54:37 PM
You're doing a great job of making mixes that are dense yet transparent. Various parts in the background stay intelligble, yet never get in the way of the foreground parts. You have my admiration.



[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Victor &mdash 09/19/08 - 09:45:05 PM
believe it or not I actually ended cutting some things out like a piano track and synth track. I knew I was starting to get carried away at that point.

[ Reply to This ]
No Bowie, No Harrison &mdash 09/17/08 - 10:12:10 PM
Hmm.. more than Harrison or Bowie, I'll shoot for XTC's "Senses Working Overtime" crossed with Flaming Lips. There. I said it. Really nothing compares, this is an excellent original tune, everything is distinctive and superbly mixed.

[ Reply to This ]
thanks Bob &mdash 09/19/08 - 09:48:31 PM
a little of everyone I ever listened has rubbed off in one way or another.

Thanks for the listen!

Just listened to your new tune, impressive licks!

[ Reply to This ]
Great Mix Vic! &mdash 09/18/08 - 07:44:47 PM
I really love the sound of that Taylor and the lead has great texture; the overall sound is really clean and listenable. Damn good mix.

Joe

[ Reply to This ]
Thanks Joe &mdash 09/19/08 - 09:52:12 PM
I spent several evenings trying different mixes on this. chances are that the last one ended up being just like the first. you never know until you experiment around.

thanks for the listen, I appreciate it.

[ Reply to This ]
I love it &mdash 09/19/08 - 07:54:26 AM
I love it again!

[ Reply to This ]
thanks Cori &mdash 09/19/08 - 09:55:01 PM
i bought the taylor acoustic a week before recording this song. so it was interesting to hear how it would record.

I appreciate you giving the time for the listen.

[ Reply to This ]
"We read to know we're not alone..." &mdash 09/26/08 - 10:26:18 PM
We listen to music for the same reason - reaching out with words in different mediums - words are all we have. And the small words between friends are a blessing. Peace Vic. : )

[ Reply to This ]
thanks CJ &mdash 09/27/08 - 10:08:29 PM
i couldn't think of lyrics on this one, so that gave me the idea to write about no words, kinda ironic, huh? plus i was getting close to have some oral surgery done on a part of my gums and knew i was not going to feel like talking much for a while. all good now, since it's been a month.

[ Reply to This ]