New Genesis

michael2

Get Flash to see this player.

Description

No idea what this song sounds like. I was actually picturing Roxy Music or Bowie when I wrote the melody and the chords, but since I did it all in the box, it sounds nothing like that. it's like electronic glam/art rock I guess.

Originally I was messing around with an iPhone app I really like (Chordbot) and ended up writing this song. I imported the piano part I had written, chopped it up and reversed it, then redid it with a wurli sound. the electronic drums are all stuff I ran through Ultrabeat and EZDrummer. I had done a scratch vocal with the pinhole mic, and since it sounded so terrible I glitched the track up and dropped it into the song every once in awhile. Nothing super interesting or tricky went into this one though.

The lyrics are about a homeless guy I know who really hates that people despise him without ever meeting him.

Leave a Comment

You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

Lyrics

i'm tempted
i'm weary
my heart, it burns like a cigarette
i'm hungry
i'm desperate
my heart, it feels like a tenement

until you reach the bottom
you'll never notice me
you'll see humanity thriving
you'll see there's something there

unnoticed, forgotten
my life, it feels like it never was
the people around me
they don't even see me in front of them

until you reach the bottom
you'll never notice me
you'll see humanity thriving
you'll see there's something there
something there

open your eyes and look around
open your eyes and look around
open your eyes and see
really see
take a look around

Song Stats

Hits: 1814
Comments: 56
Fans: 40
Plays: 305
Downloads: 65

Uploaded: Mar 18, 2011 - 07:18:28 PM
Last Updated: Mar 19, 2011 - 02:25:19 AM Last Played: Jun 09, 2013 - 09:58:54 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

melancholy (77)

Hardware:

iPhone4, my macbook and an MXL USB mic, I did the keyboard stuff with the caps lock keyboard.

Software:

logic 9, chordbot,ezdrummer, audiofinder (a cool program that builds a database of all your samples and lets you edit them inside it before exporting to logic).

Comments

magnatone	magnatone said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	New Genesis "Nothing super interesting or tricky went into this one though." - you really crack me up with that comment michael! - this is so very way cool - how about posting the lyrics? thanks for the back story - your voice is really doing it for me! Check out my latest song called Wave Goodbye

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	karen aww, now I feel geeky. i guess I meant that I didn't do anything that was worth describing the whole process (I get random emails from time to time asking "how did you make that noise?"). thanks so much for the compliment. very much appreciated. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

alackbass	alackbass said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	New Genesis The chord changes are beautiful! Nice melody! I hear a bit of Bowie in this. But I'm now so familiar with so much of your other material this just sounds unmistakably like.....well......you! Check out my latest song called Close to the Bone by Jerry Quinn

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	thanks been in a "i need to use better chords" phase. it'll probably last about 2 weeks before I get back into righting songs with only 1 chord. glad you like the melody (it kind of wrote itself). Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

racerat	racerat said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	New Genesis I love those little click/blips first of all. Great process description as always. Inventive and always inspiring. Very smooth and hypnotic. The piano is trance-like. Couldn't pull out the pinhole mic vox, but there is a lot going on, right? Killer photo, too! LOL. RR Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	thanks the clicky stuff at the beginning was some random samples I had (just realized you can load stuff into ultrabeat and do more tweaking than with exs). so glad you liked this one. and thanks so much for the kind words. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

dave_b	dave_b said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	New Genesis Who needs tricky stuff when there's a a good melody and lyric? I really like that chord progression, and that melody rides on top smooth and sweet. Great vocals, and an interesting sound despite the lack of trickery. Check out my latest song called Llarions Blues

michael2

michael2 said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)

thanks dave
i used chordbot to compose it. you basically decided what the rhythm and chords will be and then export it as a midi file to your computer. i find i spend a lot more time on the chord structure with it as i work on part of it, then save and pull it out again whenever i have a few spare moments. whenever I record at home, i'll bang out 3 chords, look at the clock and say "good enough." thanks for listening.

Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

particledots	particledots said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	really good michael much clearer mix than the one you previewed in the pod nice work with the drums Check out my latest song called copy-right

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	bryn thanks. i pulled out all of the high end stuff that was in that original version, and it instantly sounded a lot better. i'll throw the stems in the pod for you. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

jfisenne	jfisenne said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	Really interesting and cool sounding stuff going on here. Nice chord progression and vocals. Check out my latest song called She's One Of The Walking Dead

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	jfisenne thanks man, much appreciated. i need to check your stuff out now. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	the man who sold the world for a iphone cool process of the apps Michael. i've got some cool apps that i need to knuckle down and shape them into something Check out my latest song called They Must

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	vic what apps you got going? always looking for new ones. i wish that more of them allowed midi export. well what I really wish is that I had kept the ipad i bought my wife for xmas and bought her some earrings or something. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

Kicbal	Kicbal said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	Influences? Maybe there is a bit of Radiohead in the sound. Whatever it is its adventurous/catchy/interesting and innovative all in one. Very nice understated production. Check out my latest song called Dirt Oasis (rough mix)

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	kicbal thanks man. funny thing: i actually don't listen to a whole lot of Radiohead (bought the new one and haven't even listened to it yet), but I think they have a lot of the same influences I do (although they seem to pull it off a lot better than I do). thanks so much for the words of encouragement. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

kassia	kassia said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	your voice here reminds me of rufus wainwright. i love the mellowness of this. great chord changes - and just enough tricky stuff to make it super cool. Check out my latest song called Greensleeves

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 18th, 2011)
	kassia i loooove Rufus. that guy has more talent in his big toe than I will ever have in a lifetime. thanks so much though. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

particledots	particledots said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	you know i love rufus too but i was recently listening to his cigarettes and chocolate milk cd (or the cd with that song on it)...and i have to say by the time i got 2/3 way thru it, his voice sounded like a nasally droning irritation to my ears i think you are a much better singer than rufus btw Check out my latest song called copy-right

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	thanks Bryn i actually auditioned for his band right before that record came out. i still have no idea why they called me. let's just say they needed someone a lot more precise. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

kassia	kassia said 821 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	i agree Rufus is brilliant and I also agree that he's best in small doses. Oh, and I also agree that Michael's voice is similar but better, without the nasal quality that makes Rufus a little tough to handle sometimes. Check out my latest song called Greensleeves

sonic_magpie	sonic_magpie said 821 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	good! we all agree then :-) Check out my latest song called walking in the silence (Demo)

rok41	rok41 said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	New Genesis Michael, this is GREAT!...Wow, one of my favorite listens in awhile. The Radiohead comparisons are legit, but I hear something original in this apart from that... gives it character. Killer song! Check out my latest song called The Game

michael2	michael2 said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	wow thanks a lot. very kind of you. wasn't sure if anyone would like this one or not (not that it really matters in the long run), so that means a lot. thanks so much for listening. Check out my latest song called yes you told me (that you're cynical)

Garni	Garni said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	Awesome Definate Bowie essence in this, such a nice piece you have done! G-) Check out my latest song called Hong Kong Gem Chase (The Soundtrack) w/Retrotrend

Bob Rodgers	Bob Rodgers said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	Really great! I love this, really nice arrangement and chords used, that's a great melody. I like the vocals and the lyrics, very much enjoyed and thanks for the download. Bob Check out my latest song called We Can't Let It Go

KCsGROOVE	KCsGROOVE said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	unique song love the vibe here, mesmerizing! Enjoyed! KC Check out my latest song called I DON'T LIKE IT

bud	bud said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	This beats Bowie and Ferry - this could only be you Michael - from the lyrics to the production - I won't even try to define it. Just love it. I like how the drums turned out. Check out my latest song called fig field

RochaMalhada	RochaMalhada said 817 days ago (March 23rd, 2011)
	I was going to say something like this, but not as well . - Harold Check out my latest song called Ascent of a Tree (w Mike_D & FEEL)

Corporal Beef	Corporal Beef said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	New Genesis I'm not going to comment on specifics; I'm just going to say I really, really liked this track. It's now on the iPod. Check out my latest song called 12.31.12

ShadowofNine	ShadowofNine said 822 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	Excellent In every way... Check out my latest song called Theres a Prog in my Soup

Symphony101	Symphony101 said 821 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	coolness until you reach the bottom you'll never notice me I love these verses. Great song and music nicely made ! It's impressive, after so much treatment you manage keeping great sound quality ! Very cool work. Check out my latest song called The Wish Granter

neilh79	neilh79 said 821 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	New Genesis Really good music here dude. I'm getting hints of Radiohead flying through my brain! Good work Check out my latest song called Resurrection of Life Final Mix! (w/ Loob, Rok41, Symphony101, Gadzooks)

PeterB7858	PeterB7858 said 821 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	Unique Hi Michael. You sure have a unique style - and it works. Liked this from the first notes (even if they were reversed :)). Hypnotic in its way. Thanks for D/L. Take care, Peter. Check out my latest song called Sailor's Warning w jiguma, Philip18

Daugrin	Daugrin said 821 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	Hello Pop Star Evocative of lots of things, and excellent production supports the piece. The "homeless", is an interesting conception, my compassion for the homeless is not in doubt though... I think I have more compassion for the homed. Thanks for sharing your work with us... Daug Check out my latest song called Other Mutha Brother's Reggae

papag	papag said 821 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	just plain WOW this one has a ton of atmosphere. lyrics make me think. music makes me float. vocals are touching. good work indeed. thanks for the download :) Check out my latest song called How Can I Know?

AcetyleneJukebox	AcetyleneJukebox said 821 days ago (March 19th, 2011)
	impressive Superb song writing. Great lyrics. Has a Radiohead quality to it circa"Kid A". Well done, Check out my latest song called Camino Embrujado

michaeljayklein	michaeljayklein said 821 days ago (March 20th, 2011)
	Masterpiece.... Check out my latest song called Old Man Mose is Dead

ste	ste said 821 days ago (March 20th, 2011)
	like a cigarette like your choice of percussion. has a feel of the eraser about it. right up my street Check out my latest song called friday

TracyVosh	TracyVosh said 821 days ago (March 20th, 2011)
	Judging the book... by it's cover. Your music and lyrics paint the perfect picture here...the sadness of people's judgementalness towards what they fear, the unknown. This is a lovely piece Michael! Check out my latest song called Disappearance of The Earth Army (MJ SpaceRace Challenge)

RAVENS	RAVENS said 821 days ago (March 20th, 2011)
	iPhone App I have been wanting to buy a few music apps for the iPhone but couldn't imagine working on such a small screen. This turned out great, has such a laid back feel. The lyrics, how sad. Diggin' the vocals, great stuff! RAVEN ;-) Check out my latest song called Tattooed Scars (w/ Sigmund, Scofugate, Rok41)

ramonaji	ramonaji said 820 days ago (March 20th, 2011)
	I really like this... Just... wonderful work! Check out my latest song called Nobody Knows You (Italian Dance Remix by Andy Fox!)

sammydix	sammydix said 820 days ago (March 20th, 2011)
	NG One of the best melodies I've heard here so far. Very pro. I strongly hear Radiohead even tho they may not have been a particular influence. First thing that came to mind. Still, original in it's sound and performance, tho. Check out my latest song called House Terrace w/Yomar

Doadars Uncle	Doadars Uncle said 820 days ago (March 20th, 2011)
	Chewy! and warm. Love the lyrics... lost/overlooked. Check out my latest song called Alone (reboot)

tempie

tempie said 820 days ago (March 21st, 2011)

pinhole
that 'burns like a cigarette/feels like a tenement' set of lines is fantastic. nothing better than a well turned lyric. love the keys - is that mellotron? also really like the backups, as usual they hover someplace between pop and the apocalypse. cool stuff, thanks for the DL man.

ps just as observation, reading about the pinhole mic in your description and free associating as i'm wont to do it occurred to me that your music has a camera obscura feel to it (the machine, not the band). you're a technologist but also a humanist, and the kind of technology you make is always mated to the body in some way.

Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

jibes	jibes said 819 days ago (March 21st, 2011)
	New Genesis I like it! It's great how these things evolve and turn into a song. Check out my latest song called JESSICA

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 819 days ago (March 22nd, 2011)
	Lovely I'm not sure that this sounds like glam, or any other kind of rock, but I like it. It sounds more like garbage, eh, the electronic pop group Garbage. Or something. Anyway, I like it. The clicky percussion is cool. Check out my latest song called Fourth Candle

Ibstrat	Ibstrat said 819 days ago (March 22nd, 2011)
	This is really good.I am blown away by your creativity and incredible vocals. Check out my latest song called I Could Write a Book

RochaMalhada	RochaMalhada said 817 days ago (March 23rd, 2011)
	I was actually picturing michael2. This is great vintage YOU . - Harold Check out my latest song called Ascent of a Tree (w Mike_D & FEEL)

Relic67	Relic67 said 817 days ago (March 23rd, 2011)
	new genesis wow, i'll echo the other opinions re: great changes, melody, singing. the glitchy stuff is nice and organic sounding. really cool song. Check out my latest song called Someone Else's Thing

fasteddie	fasteddie said 817 days ago (March 23rd, 2011)
	Melancholy Cool song man; it evoches emotion (melancholy) very well. I like the downtempo feel too. Plus the random glitchy stuff is righteous! Can I use the word "righteous" still? Good stuff. Crazy art work! Check out my latest song called A Friend to the End

Parichayaka

Parichayaka said 815 days ago (March 25th, 2011)

I'm with Karen here.
Even if you hadn't done such a great job with the instrumentation, mix and songwriting I would have fav'd this song for the chord progressions alone. I'd love to hear this kind of creativity and fresh musical energy in mainstream music - boy is it time your kind of talent to be more appreciated. The comments you got so far are a good start! Awesome post again.

Check out my latest song called Highlands

egobandit	egobandit said 815 days ago (March 25th, 2011)
	looks like Im late to the party, all this from an ipod incredible love the tone and the low end from your description you make it sound so easy but its far from that. Beautiful .. it seems that every song from you becomes a download thank you for all the great music! Check out my latest song called piece it together

J_Gretch	J_Gretch said 790 days ago (April 19th, 2011)
	Deep Dark,with just enough shimmer....Love it! Check out my latest song called Psycho

Estella	Estella said 780 days ago (April 29th, 2011)
	New Genesis Wooh. I LOVE this one. I LOVE it more than anything I've heard in a while. THANK YOU! *Estella P.S. I want to cover this some day, with your permission and help. P.P.S. I also like pictures of dolls doing human things like wearing earphones. Check out my latest song called Insomnia

TobinMueller	TobinMueller said 756 days ago (May 24th, 2011)
	Bowie Yes, I can hear Bowie doing this. Moody, hypnotic, unique mashup sounds. My son used to be a bellman at The W in NYC. He had many homeless friends from the nearby streets and Union Square. They saved his life more than once. He worked the night shift. He used to give the more desperate ones sleeping bags and such. Nice similes. Apropos. Check out my latest song called Dignity

Fan List

Artist Info

Name: michael2
Location: Los Angeles Cali USA

I'm a guy who never wanted to do anything but play music. I grew up with classic rock and prog rock before discovering punk and the new york dolls once I got to high school. As i got a little older (and less angry), I developed a love of ... [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

More songs in Alternative Rock:

Chat

Dadai.2	57
edpdx	61