albums
Underway
2006 Wonday
Compilations
1993 Songs to Sleep By
1997 Songs to Sleep By 2
2002 Sunday Sampler
2002 Dad's Picks
1999 Mix 1 (sy55)
2010 Mix 2 (triton vocal)
2010 Mix 3 (triton instr.)
SY55
1991 Archives
1992 College Collection
1993 College Collage
1994 The Hermit
1997 Where's My Muse
1999 South or Southeast
Triton
2001 In the Margins
2002 Renewal
2002 Re-treat
2002 Convenience
2002 Back Up
2003 So So
2003 So On
2003 So Long
2003 Baby Steps
2003 Baby Talk
2004 Schmocial
2004 Brroom
2004 Chuckadee
2004 Disco Hike
2004 Extra Extra
2005 Coma Pill
2005 Ourboretum
2005 Jaminy
2005 Padden Drift
2005 Gorilla Love
2005 Aminals
2005 Vegibles
2006 Fruitine
2006 Dignored
2006 Miner
2006 Mouseculine
2006 Yata
2007 Zipit
2007 Sixawon
2007 Halfdosin
2007 Whatcom Home
2008 What Roses
2008 Pho Kit
2008 Composed Pile
2009 Decomposed Pie
2009 Swaddlicious
2010 Lost Train
Soft Synths
2011 Out the Margins
2011 Redebut
2011 Reprogression
2012 Working Progress
2013 Tripico
2014 Aerosol Concrete
2015 Reduced to Clear
2016 Motions
2017 The Walking Dad
2018 Mockolate
2019 Still Testing
2020 Slow Wins Teddy
2024 Battle of the E-Bands

Track List

# title lyrics time download listen started recorded rating
1 Walkman Instrumental (DAD) - 3:01 download listen locally - 2001-11-26
2 Renewal Instrumental (DAD) - 3:39 download listen locally - 2001-11-12
3 Working Week (DAD) - 1:59 download listen locally - 2000-11-11
4 Close Your Eyes (DAD) - 2:51 download listen locally - 2000-09-01
5 Feeling Sharp (DAD) - 3:00 download listen locally - 1999-03-27
6 I Don't Do Hills (DAD) lyrics 3:55 download listen locally - 1996-05-12
7 Tick (DAD) lyrics 2:26 download listen locally - 1997-02-01
8 Keep On (DAD) lyrics 3:38 download listen locally - 2001-05-17
9 ...And Downs... (DAD) - 2:39 download listen locally - 1997-11-08
10 My Computer and Me (DAD) - 4:44 download listen locally - 1993-02-26
11 The Hermit (DAD) lyrics 5:38 download listen locally - 1993-07-29
12 Momiata Instrumental (DAD) - 2:53 download listen locally - 2002-05-04
13 Tension (DAD) - 6:27 download listen locally - 2002-05-18
14 Stuffy (DAD) - 3:02 download listen locally - 2002-05-22
15 My Old School Instrumental (DAD) - 4:22 download listen locally - 2002-05-15
16 Memorial (DAD) - 5:26 download listen locally - 2001-10-11
17 Trail Running Instrumental (DAD) - 5:21 download listen locally - 2001-12-02
18 Walkman (DAD) lyrics 7:49 download listen locally - 2001-11-25
Total 72:50 play all locally album rating:

Notes

Dad chose the songs, track order, and most fade points. I then edited every song. Here are the original liner notes:

2002-06-16

Happy Father's Day!!!

Great selection and song order, Dad! A lot of your picks surprised me. Here are some details...

I actually recorded "The Hermit" (my theme song) for your birthday, back in 1993! :) Glad you like it!

Tracks 1, 2, 12, and 15 are instrumental versions of my recent "proper" songs. I spent much more time on each of those songs than on any previous songs. The vocals are what made me take the songs so "seriously"; they motivated the polish and the focused structure. The instrumental versions inherit the precision and organizational "tightness" of the originals.

On the opposite end of the "tightness" axis are tracks 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9. These were "tests" and "throwaway" songs which I hastily assembled and dumped to tape or hard disk in order to free up memory on my keyboard or gain a sense of "closure", so that I could start a "real" song; I had essentially given up on these.

The extreme case is "Feeling Sharp" (track 5), which was the last song I recorded on my old SY55 keyboard. I forgot I had recorded it until 2001, when I stumbled across the master tape to South or Southeast; I'd been playing a backup copy of that tape for years, but had never even bothered to copy "Feeling Sharp" onto it!

Your selection of so many "throwaways" and the fact that they actually sound better to me in this new context (which you defined) than many of the more meticulously crafted songs is part of what inspires me to dive back into the past and bring some of the old, "forgotten" efforts back to the surface.

I appreciate your interest in this music and your willingness to provide feedback and suggestions. This CD was a lot of fun to make, and I enjoy listening to it; I hope you do too! Thanks again, and nice job!!! :)

-- Trav

User Comments:

  1. "I think since these are Dad's Picks, they don't necessarily go together as a planned album would, so some of them seem out of place. Those songs which I rated higher, are very good, very enjoyable. Nice album overall." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Songs

Walkman Instrumental (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Walkman Instrumental" (on Re-treat).

User Comments:

  1. "Good tune. I think if it were recorded with better eq it would yield a better sound. I can hear it wanting to come out." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Renewal Instrumental (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Renewal Instrumental" (on Re-treat).

User Comments:

  1. "Enjoyed this alot. Had me bobbin my head. Smooth Jazz!" - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Working Week (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Working Week" (on In the Margins).

User Comments:

  1. "Good tune. Could be me, but my brain perceived a bit of repetitiveness. Still good though, as I gave it a 4!" - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Close Your Eyes (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Close Your Eyes" (on In the Margins).

User Comments:

  1. "Enjoyed this alot. Had me bobbin my head. Smooth Jazz!" - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Feeling Sharp (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Feeling Sharp" (on South or Southeast).

User Comments:

  1. "Great into...loved that piano - good riff. Bass comes in well around the 30 sec mark too! The synth that joins in....perhaps something not so 'Casio' sounding? :shrugs: Otherwise, I did enjoy this." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

I Don't Do Hills (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "I Don't Do Hills" (on Where's My Muse).

Lyrics to "I Don't Do Hills (DAD)":

VERSE:
  i don't do hills
  i don't do hills
  i don't do hills
  i don't do hills

  come on mom

CHORUS:
  you can, you can
  you can make it if you try, you try
  pedal, push, or ask dad for help
  once you're at the top
  you'll fly, you'll fly,
  you'll fly and sigh and smile

VERSE:
  i don't do hills
  i don't do hills
  i don't do hills
  i don't do hills

  come on mom

CHORUS:
  you can, you can
  you can make it if you try, you try
  pedal, push, or ask dad for help
  once you're at the top
  you'll fly, you'll fly,
  you'll fly and sigh and smile

BRIDGE:

CHORUS:
  you can, you can
  you can make it if you try, you try
  pedal, push, or ask dad for help
  once you're at the top
  you'll fly, you'll fly,
  you'll fly and sigh and smile

VERSE:
  i don't do hills
  i don't do hills
  i don't do hills
  i don't do hills

  come on mom

CHORUS:
  you can, you can
  you can make it if you try, you try
  pedal, push, or ask dad for help
  once you're at the top
  you'll fly, you'll fly,
  you'll fly and sigh and smile

  you'll fly and sigh and smile

BRIDGE:
  people flying by
  roads flying by
  people flying by
  roads flying by
  

User Comments:

  1. "Diggin the whisper "I don't do hills". Catchy tune here. 1:37 to 1:52 <-- you tried something here...it didn't work well for me...a bit random..just my thoughts. When you do it at 3:23...that horn helps out alot...came across much better, and I liked the fade out at the end." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Tick (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Tick" (on Where's My Muse).

Lyrics to "Tick (DAD)":

INTRO:
  ha ha
  this one doesn't have a title or anything

VERSE:
  grow and grow and grow and grow

  [inaudible]

  'cause i'm a tick
  and i'll take every drop you've got

  oh yeah
  oh

  [inaudible]

  ha ha ha

  shoot, it's another ???
  i hate those things
  ??? everything

  yuck, i hate bugs
  

User Comments:

  1. "Nice evolution . Starts out strange, but just when it is close to becoming an annoyance, you start adding things...very cool. When that bass hits, I almost expected to hear Depeche Mode. Cool tune. I think it could continue it's dramatic evolution and get even funkier right up to the end. Nice change at track #7, after those jazzy tunes." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Keep On (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Keep On" (on In the Margins).

Lyrics to "Keep On (DAD)":

INTRO:
  keep on

CHORUS:
  gotta keep on working
  gotta keep on cleaning
  gotta keep on jogging
  gotta keep on  believing
  and the rest will come your way

  gotta keep on reading
  gotta keep on watching
  gotta keep on zooming
  gotta keep on smiling
  and the rest will come your way

  gotta keep on playing
  gotta keep on ???
  gotta keep on watching
  gotta keep on seeing
  and the rest will come your way

  gotta keep on standing
  gotta keep on ???
  gotta keep on churning
  gotta keep on thinking
  and the rest will come your way

  gotta keep on watching
  gotta keep on seeing
  gotta keep on ???
  gotta keep on seeing
  and the rest will come your way

  gotta keep on prancing
  gotta keep on moving
  gotta keep on ???
  gotta keep on ???
  and the rest will come your way

  gotta keep on learning
  gotta keep on watching
  gotta keep on adjusting
  gotta keep on reading
  and the rest will come your way

  gotta keep on working
  and you keep on eating
  and you keep on jogging
  and you keep on sleeping
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the methodical

  you gotta keep on working
  and you keep on moving
  and you keep on smiling
  and keep on perfecting
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the travis way

  you gotta keep on working
  and you keep on believing
  and you keep on moving
  and you keep on reading
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the methodical way

  you gotta keep on moving
  and you keep on ???
  and you keep on ???
  and you keep on believing
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the travis way

  you gotta keep on ???
  and you keep on prancing
  and you keep on prancing
  and you keep on prancing
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the methodical way

  gotta keep on believing
  and you keep on moving
  and you keep on smiling
  and you keep on grooving
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the methodical way

  you gotta keep on ???
  and you keep on moving
  and you keep on smiling
  and you keep on swimming
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the methodical way

  you gotta keep on trying
  and you keep on moving
  and you keep on working
  and you keep on believing
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the travis way

  you gotta keep on moving
  and you keep on seeing
  and you keep on grooving
  and you keep on believing
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the methodical way

  you gotta keep on moving
  and you keep on ???
  and you keep on ???
  and you keep on ???
  and the rest will come your way
  this is the methodical way

  you gotta keep on smiling
  and you keep on wishing
  and you keep on ???
  and you keep on ???
  and the rest will come your way
  

User Comments:

  1. "I would have liked to have been able to hear the lyrics a bit louder...not much higher, just a bit so that they are able to be understood - i think the simplicity makes them catchy." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

...And Downs... (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "And Downs" (on South or Southeast).

User Comments:

  1. "Sorry...this one was just way too plain for me - and that Casio sound..after the previous tracks, this one sounds out of place, and much too simple." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

My Computer and Me (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "My Computer and Me" (on The Hermit).

User Comments:

  1. "PC voice too low. Cannot understand any of it, although I wanted to." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

The Hermit (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "The Hermit" (on The Hermit).

Lyrics to "The Hermit (DAD)":

VERSE 1:
  another day of sitting at home
  reading a book and staying close to the phone
  just in case somebody happens to call
  and when they do i hop in my car

  drive to the city, taking care not to wreck
  it's been 17 days since i've been out of my shack
  i've subsisted on pop tarts and cracker jacks
  my mother'd kill me if she knew 'bout that

CHORUS 1:
  oh i'm a hermit yes i know
  but i don't dress like a hobo
  i don't wear rags with holes in fact i...
  i look pretty normal

VERSE 2:
  i was pushing 20 livin' in a dorm
  my hallmates often came and knocked on my door
  they said "hey travis, wanna go out with us?"
  and i said "nah, i'm busy downloading from a bbs"

  pretty soon people stopped dropping by
  i guess i said "no" too many times
  a couple nights i tried to call them up
  but they were busy -
  so after that i pretty much kept to myself

CHORUS 2:
  oh i'm a hermit yes i know
  but i don't put on a show
  i don't beg like a bum in fact i...
  i act pretty normal

  oh i'm a hermit yes i know
  i know my life seems slow
  i don't have anywhere to go
  so i guess i'll stay at home sweet home

  stay at home, baby

VERSE 3:
  so here i am - driving to town
    (for games)
  got my seatbelt on and a worried frown
    (what if they're out of stock?)
  i feel like such a loser - look at me now
    (i used to have friends on the mud)
    (but it closed down)

CHORUS 3:
  oh i'm a hermit yes i know
  but i don't dress like a hobo
  i don't wear shoes full of holes in fact i...
  i look pretty normal

  oh i'm a hermit, yes i know
  i think real fast but i move too slow
  i had my youth and my looks but i threw it all away
  i can't think of anything else to say

CHORUS: [a capella]
  oh i'm a hermit, yes i know
  i know my life seems slow
  i don't have anywhere to go
  so i guess i'll stay at home sweet home

REGGAE:
  [humming]

  i've got my computer
  and i've got my radio
  and i've got my books to read
  and i've got my piano let's go!

  hit it trav!

  i've gotta get out on my own,
  i've just gotta get out on my own
  i've gotta get out on my own,
  i've just gotta get out on my own

  i've just gotta get out, gotta get out,
  gotta get out on my own
  i've just gotta get out, gotta get out,
  gotta get out on my own

  tomorrow.  tomorrow...

  [repeat]
  

User Comments:

  1. "Funny. Funny lyrics. I can imagine that guy....fun track. I think it's good to let loose, so I appreciated this one." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Momiata Instrumental (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Momiata Instrumental" (on Re-treat).

User Comments:

  1. "Good tune. Nothing to say about it really..." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Tension (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Tension" (on Re-treat).

User Comments:

  1. "Nice. This one sounds like it tells a story. Its constantly changing, and I can imagine a dance from start to end. Lots of emotion here. Bravo." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Stuffy (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Stuffy" (on Re-treat).

User Comments:

  1. "Dreamy. Nice soft song." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

My Old School Instrumental (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "My Old School Instrumental" (on Re-treat).

User Comments:

  1. "Yepp - Old School sound, but good. I was imagining a big brass band doing a cover of this." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Memorial (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Memorial" (on Re-treat).

User Comments:

  1. "This one just didn't get me. Maybe a bit old? Sounds too simple after some of the others." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Trail Running Instrumental (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Trail Running Instrumental" (on Re-treat).

User Comments:

  1. "Cool tune here. I would dig hearing it with a some bigger sounds." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)

Walkman (DAD)

This is a shorter version of "Walkman" (on Renewal).

Lyrics to "Walkman (DAD)":

INTRO:
  W A L K M A N
  Heaven

VERSE 1:
  When I go jogging on Saturday
  I bring along my walkman
  My book and my walkman

  And when I go biking in the rain
  I bring along my walkman
  My durable walkman

  Or crossin' country on a train
  I bring along my walkman
  My travelling walkman

  Or sleeping in the Circle K
  I bring along my walkman
  My comforting walkman

CHORUS:
  Music has been very good to me
  It's excellent at keeping me happy
  High morale is critical, you see
  Essential to high productivity

VERSE 2:
  When we go on family vacation
    (Camping, Skiing, and Relatives)
  I bring along my walkman
  Thank God I bought my walkman

  'Cause Dad controls the radio station
    (Sports or News it's a boring biz)
  But I control my walkman
  Yes, I control my walkman

  And when my family start to fight
    (Pout and bicker all through the night)
  I turn up my walkman
  Drown 'em out with my walkman

  And as they're falling asleep tonight
    (Exhausted from their fickle fight)
  I stay up with my walkman
  I keep awake with my walkman

CHORUS:
  Music provides pleasant company
  It's kind of like an imaginary buddy
  It keeps me smiling perpertually
  And that is what's important to me

BRIDGE 1:
  Music, I use it
  Music, I use it

VERSE 4:
  So maybe I cannot navigate
    (i can't believe you got lost again)
  But I can always walk, man
  Yes, I prefer to walk, man

  Never learned to cook a fancy plate
    (you can call that a sandwich?)
  But I can use a wok, man
  Just throw it in a wok, man

  I think I had too much to eat
  So I gotta take a walk, man
  With my walkman

  God, I love the empty street
  It's just me and my walkman
  Going for a walk, man

CHORUS:
  Tell me why should I pay attention to you?
  All you ever seem to make is poo-poo
  Tell me: what beauty did you create today?
  I made a song and had fun on the way

BRIDGE 2:
  Music, I use it
  Music, never gonna lose it
  Music, I use it
  Music, never gonna lose it

VERSE 5:
  When the fighting gets too intense
    (you never listen to me)
  I turn on my walkman
  Protective walkman

  It's a form of self-defense
  Hiding in my walkman
  Sanctuary walkman

  I remember vivid scenes
    (oh yes...)
  Thanks to my walkman
  Reminding walkman

  Smells awaken memories
    (oh yeah)
  And so does my walkman
  Rewinding walkman

VERSE 6:
  I was running the other day
  I tripped and broke my walkman
    (oh no)
  Busted walkman

  Fortunately I found a way
  To fix my walkman
  Beloved walkman

  What would happen if I went deaf?
  That would really suck, man
  Silent walkman

  And what will I say with my last breath?
  Just bury me with my walkman
  Eternal walkman

VERSE 7:
  W A L K M A N  Heaven
  W A L K M A N  Heaven
  W A L K M A N  Heaven
  W A L K M A N  Heaven
  

User Comments:

  1. "This version with lyrics being longer helps it I think, vs. the instrumental version. It is a good song." - BraziMan (2012-09-10)