Trex - Fatiguitar

I was trying to say that I needed to feel anxious pressure in order to come up with cool musical ideas. I guess the day before (when I recorded Post-Key) I had felt that sort of tension, and was pleased with the result. And now, the next day, I felt merely tired, and was frustrated at my lack of ideas. The music is noisy and kinda dumb.

I hate to say it, but this piece of poop is one of the better songs on the album.

Yep. You're in for a real treat.

Messed up between-song chatter.

I was mimicking Frank Zappa. At least, that was what I decided mid-way through. In hindsight, it's not even close. Oh well.

This is a long, moody, vocal-centric improv. It's more of a catharsis than a jam. I don't regard it as "fun", "catchy", or "entertaining". More like "tedious" and "annoying". The slow flange effect is kinda cool at times, though.

The lyrics are about spying on someone using a magic mirror.

This is gloomy but tuneful. It tries to turn regret into optimism, but still ends up sounding blue. I kinda like it.

This long improv sounds really frustrated. The language is pretty rough, too. I tried to mix down the profanity, but a few bleepable words seep through. Oh well.

The music is brain-dead, tedious, and agitated, which is how I was feeling. I guess it was successful at capturing my mood.

It's really long. Fortunately, the energy picks up near the end. It gets kinda groovy, in a head-banging sort of way.

This is just a short, moody break from the long, moody catharses.

This song has a semi-cheesy tremelo feel. And annoying vocals in the beginning. And annoying chords in the middle. And annoying vocals and chords at the end. It gets louder and louder but doesn't progress musically. It's pretty bad.

You can't hear my vocals near the end, but honestly, you're not missing anything. The vocals and the music are seriously bad. Worse is to come.

For the record (no pun intended), I want to let you know that this song does not get my stamp of approval. Neither do most of the songs on this album (and many other Trex albums). It is, however, easier for me to slap these songs as-is onto a CD (or web site) than to spend hours editing them down to whatever tiny "good" bits might exist. I can't stand throwing things away, so deleting them is out of the question.

This is another boring, self-centered, self-conscious mess. It starts off about wanting to get my apartment deposit back (because I was planning to move), but then digresses into stream-of-consciousness babbling.

I was very aware of the fact that the day's improvs were duds. Little did I know, but they would get even worse on the second side of the tape.

When in doubt, crank up the volume. I guess that was my thinking at this point. I certainly didn't devote any brainpower to the notes or lyrics.

Nice stuttering.

The alarm sound is annoying but (I guess) appropriate given the lyrics. This is the spiritual sequel to "Bad Days".

This is the final bit of chatter on this side of the tape. It was a pretty good estimate at how much time was left (I was 8 seconds off).

Short, simple, tired. At least the lyrics are a little empathic, if annoying.

Thus ends side 1 (the "good" side) of this depressing tape.

This starts the second side of the tape. Not a very good start.

This is how I felt after babysitting. I've edited out the really negative bits.

The music is horrible and the lyrics are frustrated and accusatory. This pretty much sets the tone for the second side of the tape.

Finally some catchy moments! Seems like it took forever to stumble across a decent groove.

This starts off where the previous song ("Take Energy") left off, with percussive strumming and grumpy lyrics. Then it segues into an aggressive jam/chant. That's the cool bit.

This starts off instrumental, and is kinda cool. It's full of delay and harmonies, and sounds more sophisticated than the other songs on the album. When the vocals finally start, they're high-pitched and melodic.

Unfortunately, the prettiness doesn't last for long. It digresses into chanting and monotonous, single-chord strumming.

While I was flailing away, I started remembering a friend from my childhood (Richard). And I started singing about the adventures I had with him. And then I started chanting about one of his older sisters, on whom I had crush.

The end result is embarassing, but strangely catchy and trancy. So I'd hate to lose it.

Totally uncool. Horribly distorted and out of tune. No redeeming value.

So true.

Blaa blaa blaa.

Contemplating worst cases. Yep, all fun and games in Travis-land. :) Energy level very low.

Kinda boring chatter and messing around.

This starts distorted, but has surprisingly melodic vocals. Unforunately, just as it was getting intense, the phone rang.

This was part of some babbling on the tape over which I recorded the guitar stuff.

I was attempting to return to the cool melody of "Hungover". I had forgotten the melody. The guitar isn't as steady either.

Getting tired...

I was exhausted, yet somehow managed to bang out a relative steady pattern. It's very distorted, but felt full enough for me not to have to sing, which was a relief.

Eventually I started singing, but it wasn't very cool. Just the same old stressed-out, self-centered rambling. Luckily, the phone interrupted me again.

Mmm. We get up at 5:15 now. What was the big deal?

I convinced her to forego sleep and come over for a late night visit. The lyrics are pretty awful. The try to explain the difference between a "good" lie and a "bad" lie. Kinda stupid.

If I said I liked this song I would be lying.

Hooray! Finally the awful album is over!