No rewards by apb
Genre: Pop (Alternative)
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Keywords:
No rewards (1), piano (687), bass (277), apb (12)
Description:
The online jammers lament.
I had this concept lying around for a while .. and yesterday I tripped over it, and got a little inspiration in the form of some of the melody of this: I found myself whistling it as I came up the stairs.
My go at being more subtle and genteel .. er.. than normal .. and .. er.. no acoustic or electric guitars (just bass) this time.
I tried something unusual with the arrangement: a kinda outer and inner song structure, with enough 'bleed' from the outer into the inner to make them sound together in some way.
Enjoy. (sorry about the pop at the start, not sure what is causing that)
PS. I'm sure someone can sing this better than me, volunteers welcome, just let me know if you're working on it.
Influences: on reflection, prolly "Erin Shore" by the Corrs (outer) and the Black Crowes (implies 3rd generation Rolling Stones) for the inner. I find you can amuse yourself going "woo woo" like in 'Sympathy for the Devil' everynow and again .. ;o)
Coverart: is apparently "Mr. Fortune" :o) .. seemed appropriate.
I had this concept lying around for a while .. and yesterday I tripped over it, and got a little inspiration in the form of some of the melody of this: I found myself whistling it as I came up the stairs.
My go at being more subtle and genteel .. er.. than normal .. and .. er.. no acoustic or electric guitars (just bass) this time.
I tried something unusual with the arrangement: a kinda outer and inner song structure, with enough 'bleed' from the outer into the inner to make them sound together in some way.
Enjoy. (sorry about the pop at the start, not sure what is causing that)
PS. I'm sure someone can sing this better than me, volunteers welcome, just let me know if you're working on it.
Influences: on reflection, prolly "Erin Shore" by the Corrs (outer) and the Black Crowes (implies 3rd generation Rolling Stones) for the inner. I find you can amuse yourself going "woo woo" like in 'Sympathy for the Devil' everynow and again .. ;o)
Coverart: is apparently "Mr. Fortune" :o) .. seemed appropriate.
Lyrics:
Well hell yeah there,Y'all listening online.
I'm sure you got a new tune coming,
An' that's just fine.
But do you want money?
Fame?
Hmm.. girls?
Or lots more money?
Do you want someone to drive you round,
In a shiny limousine?
An' a model or two?
To share the dream.
But there's no rewards,
In those chords.
Playing to your friends,
For some applauds.
It's that thankless kinda livin',
That we do best.
Just keep on rollin',
An' to hell with the rest.
Cos' someday, eventually,
When this river ends,
They're be some real sour cat, that,
Missed their dividends.
We'll have money,
Fame,
Girls,
But no rewards,
We'll have money,
Fame,
Girls,
With no rewards,
No rewards,
No rewards.
Hardware:
Intel Mac mini 1.66GHz, 2GB RAMMOTU Traveler,
Kawai K1 (as mother keyboard),
Rode NT1-A mic+pop-shield,
USA made Fender precision bass.
Software:
GBv3,Ozone 3,
Drums on demand,
JP4.
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Vic Holman
... of Alan.
excellent tune. i really dig the transition from the gentle opening to the point you just get down and funky.
kassia
ALAN!!! This is fantastic!!! Man, I totally LOVE the intro with the strings and piano. And the strings all the way through are just great. The lyrics are fun and you did fine on the singing! i think this would do well with a smooth, light female voice, to meld with the beautiful sounds of the intro. Great percussion. Alan, I just love this song. Great job! Now I'M going to be whistling it!
kassia
and dude...that bass is KILLER
steck
Muchos diverse musical landscape going on on this one.
I think you could expand this into something even more dramatic, good as it is already. Horns/timpani etc. etc.
When I listened to is the second time, it flew past me much quicker than the first time. Why was that I wonder? I was left wanting a bit more. Say some form of solo, then chorus reprise.
That's my $0.02
chikoppi
The piano is terrific. Consistently melodic and understated, yet it works surprisingly well with the the energetic bass. The whole piece has a very open feel, both in terms of the mix and the lightness/playfulness of the themes. Love the lyrics - an anthem for Mac musicians!
saymme
Wow is this a thrill to hear Alan!!! Your voice is different so Grand..reminded me of someone for sure but don't know who!!! Always enjoy Your voice & songs but this is topnotch imo :) : ) Its perfect the way it is : ) GREAT bass Grand Lyrics - it's a really powerful song... You certainly cheering up my day (which has been kindof low..) - Are we glad you stumbled upon it !!!!! LUCKY US : ) ( : )
HIGH scores in my book - ratings - (don't vote as You probably know-whats been happening to the rate-pic window lately? no ppl voting..?)
Cheers Alan ! tx -
Feter
This is terrific loved how you drove a sweet elegant
piano piece into a funky rockin mood ..very very fine
singing my friend ..it need a chopping grunguie guitar
..cool one ...thnx alot for sharin !!!!
regulus
lyrics and production. As for the vox, not much a miss, other than on the fist line at the beginning. A little shaky. If you had sung through and the used that voice (of/with confidence and control) at the end of the song and dubbed over the first line you would have a total kill song. As is, it's just great and almost there. I enjoy it and will hang in here to hear what next you'll paste up with your plethora of tunes.
Good show..............
apb
Vic Holman Cheers Vic- I'm fond of that transition from the outer to the inner .. not quite as happy with the transition back from inner to outer .. but I'll keep an open mind and revisit this sometime.
kassiaThanks very much Shay- I'd be happy to add things to this: additional female vocals, relegate myself to backing vocals or even complete removal of my vocals. Glad you liked it: it is definitely somewhat inspired by the excellent piano pieces you, magnatone, paul f page etc have been producing.
steckdo you know, me old mucker .. I was consciously trying to go more horizontally in the canvas first than vertically (which I tend to do) and get some extra song length ... I was surprised too that it came in a 3:44 .. but still has the feeling it could be longer .. at least another 1:30 mins. Thanks for the excellent suggestions .. it's kinda set-up to add to el. guitar at some point .. been holding that in reserve ..
chikoppiThanks for stopping in Brian. You might be surprised to know .. I can't play piano for toffee .. alot of one handed parts .. played as best as I could .. then vastly cleaned up with patience and the pencil tool .. it was important to get some of the nuances though as a base .. and the sometimes odd, free-er sounding timing... which is often lost completely with just snapping the midi to grid etc. I'll keep at it... what would you suggest for improvement?
saymmeThanks very much Lena- sorry to hear you had a low day, but extremely pleased my music cheered you up... that is reward enough. Voting? Pfft, don't worry about that .. truth be known, I forgot to disable it... so I'll let it stay now.
FeterThank you Ghassan. I think the next 1:30mins of the song will feature some el. guitar.
regulusThanks Sir Richard. Truth be known, I dubbed 3 times to get that opening bit .. tricky when the vox are so exposed, naked like that .. as is often the case .. I think I had it better during warming up .. and kinda lost some of the lustre it requires by recording time .. I think I'll ditch the comical "y'all" .. make it easier. Good comments/feedback, things to address. Cheers.
magnatone
WOW!! This is fabulous Alan!! I love your piano intro, the build into the song is perfect - and then it ROCKS - great vocals! Terrific work!
apb
.. very much Karen, appreciate it- I'm no piano player .. but I like to dabble .. and then fix it with the pencil tool afterwards. :o)
lavalamp
Did not expect you to get down like this. GREAT vocal delivery and awesome bass line.
I very much enjoyed this.
Lyrics are very cool, brother.
Dave
apb
.. thanks Dave. I was going for something that might surprise people a little .. with this inner/outer song structure .. not a medely of 2 songs .. more encapsulated with echos of the outer bleeding in... the more contrasting the inner to the outer, the more challenging the idea was.
caroline
another imaginative facet of your musical creativity - thank you for sharing - as always, brunch xoxox
apb
.. there's no rewards for the wicked ;o)
Chewy xox
jiguma
Its .. the words. This is one of those songs that speaks to me at the moment. Great production - best I remember from you - everything sounds really well recorded and played.
Very cool concept.
Sounds like my frequent flyer program ;)
Neil
apb
.. the words hopefully sink in to a good few MJers.
We're due a new Australian soap opera by now .. the flying therapists might as well be it ;o)
Hmm .. I used to have silver status with SAS
Roxylee
Cool song, Alan. I like the restrained fervency in your voice. It makes it powerful without overwhelming. The reward I get here is being able to actually write a song, even if they are enjoyed by a few. Also the great friends I have made, even though we will probably never meet in person. Fame is fleeting, money is a trap, but music is music. :-)
apb
.. confess, the vibe of this song stems more from occupational life .. that I set in a musical backdrop .. and I should make it clear I value the many rewards online sites like MJs give me .. it's more about those seeking fame and accolades.
lengold
strings/cello introduction, builds to a really lovely surprise when the vocal kicks off. I really like the vocal - very direct. Great bass sound.
Lovely song with great production Alan that can be listened to and enjoyed often. Downloaded. Thanks.
Cheers
Len
apb
..I feel I'm getting a bit better with bass .. been my instrument of producion focus of late .. as you might have noticed :o)
rtcooper
TRULY a Lovely piece.
Really Fine Production Values
Compliments and Regards,
Cooper
apb
Thanks- glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the plug on Facebook as well- too kind.
The Infinites
Great words - funny sitting listening to someone describing all of us here - (y'all listening online).
There is no genre to describe this, it's unique. And straight to the point.
Like it a lot.
Jim
apb
thanks Jim- I could just about picture Rab C. Nesbit going "Ah tell ye this boy, there's nae rewards nae rewards"..waving his finger etc. :o)
estellie
This is great!
How are ya, my friend?
apb
Thanks for stopping in and glad you enjoyed this effort.
I'm fine .. being kept busy on all fronts at the mo.
MIRx
when your vox came in, such a sudden unexpected twist! and i almos had the impression joe strummer from the clash was back :) but it works terrific to me, and i don't think you need anybody else to sing this better, it's your style that keeps it together, imo ;)
apb
..never been compared to Joe Strummer before- I'll take it :o) I am full of shurplises ;o)
Drew Kopr
Great writing and production. Very melodic and cool.
apb
for stopping in.. was a pleasant shurplise .. I think it
might be the first time .. hopefully not last. Cheers.
apb
.. thanks too to Harold, Bill and Marc .. for the listen and faving. Appreciate it.
echoroom
... really sweeping and emotional. Typically xcellet production, and just a ovely mood - you're voice really works on this.
apb
'ank 'ou 'teve- 'ou 'ut 'e 'n a 'ovely 'ood.
Kev3136
lol WoW I wasn't expecting such a change in music type xD Gets sort of funky after the piano. I like it though. caught me off guard xDDD
apb
.. the Spanish transition .. lol .. well it wasn't Spanish .. what am I on .. er .. about.. :o) Thanks for the continued listens Kev.
haribo
it is very rewarding that you tuned into your subtle side.
the instrumental build up is beautiful - it has that bright, romantic, sublime vangelis-kinda energy to it, still within your preferred bluesy expression palette. the plucked string line was so sweet.
the intro section sounded like springtime with the new lives on the rise and i liked the transition into your voice, it was almost like an opening credit to a national geographic documentary.
btw, i agree with the point you make in this lyric, that the thankless f-all kinda self-pleasing taste/attitude eventually prevails creation-wise and deliver something meaningful to others, which is often hard not to compromise, to maintain.
Mcboy
the job vocally...quite nicely....
leap4rog
This is a knock out for me in most ways. I wanted more of the strings at about the 2/3 mark to give it one more level of climb, perhaps with some far away guitar to help describe that empty feeling the lyrics talk about.
Great song.
abfkingsport
I want my MTV. How did I miss this one. Cool tune Alan. I like the lyrics and the way you sang them. Love the slow beginning into a cool groove. Very nice.
The King
Bob6stringer
This is a fine note to: Us! All I can say is that while we don't always draw HUGE crowds here, I can say more people may cumulatively heard my noise online than in person. Self-satisfaction is the only reward for this stuff most of the time... especially when people really actually criticize the tunes. You're humble about your voice, but it's fine. The bass riff and tone--that tone!--sound fantastic.
Sadly I'm short on critique here, unless you want me to be subjectively picky. If so I'll say I don't do "beautiful" well, and while your intro is that, I was a little impatient with it. Once it got rolling I dug it fully. A great tune that hits us where we live (virtually speaking).