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
  • Title: Mix 2 (triton vocal)
  • Artist: Tripecac
  • Timespan: 2000-2010
  • Theme: trav's favorite vocal triton songs
  • Length: 129:02
  • Tracks: 20
  • Lyrics: 20
  • MP3s: 20 play all locally
  • Rating: (none) rate this album

Track List

# title lyrics time download listen started recorded rating
1 Renewal lyrics 10:35 download listen locally 2001-11-05 2001-11-11
2 Convenience lyrics 10:19 download listen locally 2002-08-22 2002-09-11
3 Click lyrics 6:05 download listen locally 2002-01-02 2004-03-23
4 No That lyrics 4:40 download listen locally 2005-07-05 2005-07-07
5 Security lyrics 3:44 download listen locally 2005-07-21 2005-07-22
6 Chick lyrics 4:10 download listen locally 2005-08-15 2005-08-16
7 Kitty lyrics 4:38 download listen locally 2005-08-24 2005-08-25
8 Owl lyrics 8:00 download listen locally 2005-11-01 2005-11-02
9 Hodgepog Plan lyrics 4:06 download listen locally 2006-01-20 2006-01-23
10 Ding lyrics 5:42 download listen locally 2006-01-25 2006-01-26
11 Gimme a Second lyrics 5:44 download listen locally 2006-08-02 2006-08-03
12 Seventh Sigh lyrics 5:17 download listen locally 2006-08-18 2006-08-22
13 Ottomoon lyrics 8:51 download listen locally 2006-09-27 2006-09-28
14 Ha Ha I'm Coping lyrics 7:07 download listen locally 2007-10-31 2007-11-06
15 Baby Dew lyrics 3:55 download listen locally 2008-05-15 2008-05-20
16 Par lyrics 5:49 download listen locally 2008-05-27 2008-06-07
17 Undigitize lyrics 7:48 download listen locally 2002-05-11 2008-07-17
18 Country Boy lyrics 8:24 download listen locally 2008-01-21 2008-07-29
19 Mellow Cootie lyrics 9:08 download listen locally 2008-10-16 2008-10-22
20 Dust Castles lyrics 5:00 download listen locally 2010-05-27 2010-07-01
Total 129:02 play all locally album rating: (none)

Notes

These are some of my favorite vocal songs from 2000 to 2010, when my main tool was the Korg Triton keyboard workstation. They are organized chronologically.

Since the Triton-based songs are significantly longer than the ones from the 1990s (thanks to hard disk recording), and since I recorded so many albums in the 2000s (37 in all!), it was much harder to [try to] limit this to a single CD. Even limiting it to around 2 CDs was tough.

I suppose the track list will evolve over time as my tastes change, but for now, this should act as a decent sampler of my lyrical efforts.

Songs

Renewal

This was my first "real" song with lyrics since 1997.

The music is light funk, maybe even easy listening. I wanted something that didn't get irritating over the course of twelve verses.

The lyrics are an "epic" retelling of my musical history. They conclude with the song itself. The last bit is improvised talking. You can barely hear it, and the song fades out in the middle of it, but I've kept the lyrics intact because I like what I was trying to say.

Lyrics to "Renewal":

INTRO
  Renewal, take one

VERSE 1:
  I've got a story that I want to tell
  About me (of course)... It's about my music
  I used to think that I would do pretty well
  With practice and a little patience

CHORUS:
  My big dream
  My big dream
  My big dream
  Was to be a rock star

VERSE 2:
  I started writing songs when I was thirteen
  For my cousin, who said she actually liked them
  (And) then I played in IPECAC and Anchovies
  With my best friends; we were pretty pathetic

CHORUS:
  But with every note
  And with every song
  And with every day
  We got a little bit better

BRIDGE:
  And then when we were seniors
  We played a couple parties
  But then Jon he quit the band

  oh it was a depressing time
  to be an anchovy or a friend of mine
  yes it was a depressing time
  to be an anchovyor a friend of mine

VERSE 3:
  When we went to college, the band broke up
  So I wrote my songs for my new-found friends
  They said the music was suprisingly good
  That I should make a CD or join a band

CHORUS:
  But then they laughed at me
  They laughed at me
  But then they laughed at me
  When they heard my singing

VERSE 4:
  I signed up for a class
  where they taught us to sing
  But I skipped.  A lot.
  I kept on writing songs for my family
  And my girlfriend, who was perpetually honest.

CHORUS:
  They said "that's pretty
  I like the melody
  The music flows nicely
  But what's with the singing?"
    Is that a joke?

BRIDGE:
  They said "Travis, you've got talent
  We really like your music
  But your voice...
  You gotta do something about that"

    (so what could i do?)
    (what could i do?)

VERSE 5:
  So next time I wrote a song without any words
  I said "okay guys, here's an instrumental."
  They smiled politely at the opening chords
  But within a couple minutes
  they were back at their chores

CHORUS:
  They said "that sounds pretty
  I like the melody
  You really play nicely
  But it sounds a little empty"
    (is that an echo?)

VERSE 6:
  The next time I waited until they were sitting
  Dad was reading and mom was knitting
  I said, "hey guys I got another song for you"
  But by the end of the song they had left the room

CHORUS:
  They had the TV on
  They had the blender on
  They had the vacuum on
  They said, "Yes, Travis, we heard it"
    (we did!)

BRIDGE:
  As the years went by
  Their enthusiasm
  Dwindled to a trickle
  And then it stopped
    (or maybe mine did)
    (so what could i do?)
      (so i just had to resort to solos)

SOLOS:
    (lots of solos)
      (and lots of tests)
    (gratuitous solos)
      (where's that guitar?)
    (endless solos)
      (i'm gonna make a experimental song)
    (experimental solos)
      (go travis)
    (precious solos)
      (go travis)
    (exciting solos)
    (but I continued to sing... offline)
    (I continued to sing... offline)

VERSE 7:
  I stuck to instrumentals for a couple years
  I bought a guitar and a synthesizer
  I spent a lot of money upgrading my gear
  And I practiced every morning; I'm an early riser

CHORUS:
  I worked on my technique
  And my sequencing
  But as for melody
  I just couldn't be bothered
    (you need to work on your harmony too)

VERSE 8:
  A year went by with my daily routine
  I stopped playing songs for my family
    (ohhhh)
  I felt a compulsion to record everything
  I had a billion "tests" but some were pretty neat

CHORUS:
  I put them on CD
  Uploaded mp3s
  Which some of my colleagues
  Said they thought were catchy

BRIDGE:
  And then I went on travel
  I tried to practice music in the car
  So I sang to myself
    (hey there's a bear)
    (we're almost to the end, folks)
    (just try to be a little more patient)
    (we're almost to the end)
      (yeah right)
    (i promise)
    (you can trust me)
      (trust in travis)
    (you can always trust me)

VERSE 9:
  Last month I finally completed a song
  It took a month to finish and it's way too long
  It has a nice beginning but as for the rest
  It's 10 minutes of solos, and the ending's a mess

CHORUS:
  But at least it's done
  I finished a song
  It's my first real one
  Since 1997

VERSE 10:
  So here I am, on November 11th
  I told myself today that I'd finish my second
  I like the chords and I like the rhythm
  And even though the lyrics were hastily written

CHORUS:
  That's fine with me
  It has a melody
  That I can sing
  In a manner of speaking

BRIDGE:
  Well if I can sing it
  Then anyone can sing it
  And maybe they'll feel tempted to sing along
    (again, how sloppy!)
    (the simpsons is gonna be on soon)
    (tv)

VERSE 11:
  Before I go I just wanted to say
    (yes, trav?)
  That I had an idea the other day
    (bing!)
  That maybe my voice doesn't do so much harm
  It might even lend the music a little charm

CHORUS:
  So now I sing
  And I'm happy
  And if you laugh at me
  At least I know you're listening

VERSE 12:
  So that's my story and I'm glad it's told
  And even though the repetition gets a little old
  I still like the tune and the sound of the gear
  And I'm feeling excited 'bout the coming year

CHORUS:
  And my big dream
  Yes, my big dream
  My big dream
  Is a little bit closer

BRIDGE:
  I'm gonna keep on singing
  Not because I like my singing
  But the words
  Keep the melody in mind

  I'm gonna keep on singing
  Not because I like my singing
  But maybe someday I'll actually improve
    (ha ha, improve?)
    (at this rate, it's gonna take a long time)

SPOKEN:
  But maybe, just maybe...  The quality of my
  singing in the long term doesn't really matter,
  or if anything it could be advantageous.

REFRAIN:
  maybe the quality of my singing
  in the long term doesn't matter
  [repeat]

  maybe the quality of my singing
  in the long term doesn't hurt me

  maybe the quality of my singing
  in the long term doesn't matter
  [repeat]

SPOKEN: [while refrain repeats, hard to hear]
  Maybe the quality of my singing in the long term
  doesn't matter.  Or if anything it might help me
  get the song across to the minds of those people
  who don't really want to listen.

  Not that I have anything to say.  Well, I guess
  I do have something to say.

  I think lyrics are a glue.  They take a melody
  and they glue it to our memory.  I think the
  lyrics act as an adhesive.

  They certainly simplify things if you think about
  it.  The lyrics are simple.  The song is simple.
  The song has a certain elegance.

[the song fades out before this point]

  So if I limit the voice in the song to simplicity
  it could actually make it more successful in terms
  of being listenable, enjoyable, and...

  There's so many notes I can play and of the ones
  I can sing only a handful.  I find that by
  restricting myself my melodies become more
  tuneful.  Because if I can sing it, anyone can
  sing along.

  "I can do better than that", they say, and then
  they start to hum.

  And then it sticks in their head.

  And that's all.

    (no more)
  

Convenience

This kicks off the album with fury, wit, and wild vocal effects, much as "Millions of Monkeys" did for The Hermit. It's far more "rock" than anything on Renewal. It tried very hard to inject raw passion and drama into the music (particularly the vocals), and it shows.

The lyrics are about (you guessed it) my dependence upon convenience. I wrote a couple verses and choruses, and then adlibbed the rest. There's often multiple vocal tracks at once, which makes it hard to understand what I was saying. I therefore decided to transcribe the main improvised vocal tracks serially instead of trying to interleave them. Hopefully that'll help add some clarity!

I finished the song exactly a year after I had started "Memorial". It felt like I had come a long way. Sure, my songs were still too long, but at least these were starting to rock.

Lyrics to "Convenience":

INTRO:
  Okay, everybody.  Put your hands together
  and welcome to the stage the little boy
  who stays all day in his room...
    (who stays in his room all day)
    (you screwed up, you screwed up)
  working on computers and chairs and couches
    (just... be quiet)
  and never seemed to do much more than
    (play and play and play and play)
  what he did yesterday
  what he did and what does he say?
  he says, "at least i'm having fun"
  'cause he is, in a way
    (play and play and play and play)
  things repeating, things repeating
    (play and play and play and play)
    (play and play and play and play)
  oh
  well, here's another song

VERSE 1:
  if it isn't at my feet
  i won't go to it
    (when you talk about convenience)
    (you talk about everything)
    (when you talk about convenience)
    (you talk about everything)

  if it isn't within my reach
  i just don't do it
    (when you talk about convenience)
    (you talk about everything)
    (when you talk about convenience)
    (you talk about everything)

  if it isn't nice and neat
  i won't plow through it
    (when you talk about convenience)
    (you talk about everything)
    (when you talk about convenience)
    (take a walkabout everything)

  and if i gotta get out of my seat
  i just won't do it
  no i won't
    (when you talk about convenience)
    (you talk about everything)
    (when you talk about convenience)
    (you talk about everything)

CHORUS:
  gotta talk about convenience
  gotta talk about everything
  'cause i've thought convenience
  and i've thought about everything

  take a walkabout convenience
  take a walkabout everything
  gotta talk about and walkabout
  and talk about and walkabout

VERSE 2:
  if it isn't at my feet
  i won't walk to it

  and if it isn't within arm's reach
  i won't reach to it

  if it isn't short and sweet
  i won't go view it
    (gotta talk about convenience)
    (gotta talk about everything)
    ('cause i've thought convenience)
    (and i've thought about everything)

  'cause if i gotta get out of this seat
  i just won't do it
  i won't
    (take a walkabout convenience)
    (take a walkabout everything)
    (take a walkabout convenience)
    (take a walkabout and talk about everything)

CHORUS:
    (gonna walkabout convenience -- oops)
    (gonna talk about everything)
    (gonna walkabout convenience)
    (gonna talk about everything)

  just shut up, travis
  just shut up and listen to the piano
  'cause that's the good part
  just shut up and stop doing
  what's convenient for you
  just listen to the piano
  because  that's all people wanna hear

BRIDGE:

[these next 3 parts were recorded together]

[part 1]
  so selfish, so selfish
  so selfish, so selfish
  so selfish, so selfish
  i'm so selfish, i'm so selfish
  so selfish, i'm so selfish
  go sell fish, go sell fish
  so selfish, so selfish
  i'm so selfish, so selfish
  so selfish, so selfish
  so selfish, so selfish
  so selfish, so selfish
  so selfish, so selfish
  so selfish, so selfish

[part 2]
  i won't, i won't, i won't, i won't
  i won't, i won't, i won't, i won't
  i won't, i won't, i won't, i won't
  i won't, i won't, i won't, i won't
  i can't, i can't, i can't, i can't
  i can't, i can't, i can't, i can't
  i won't, i won't, i won't, i won't
  i won't, i won't, i won't, i won't
  i won't, i won't, i won't, i won't
  i won't, i won't, i won't, i can't
  i can't, i can't, i can't, i can't
  i can't, i can't, i can't, i can't
  i can't!!!

[part 3]
  i can't change
  i can't change
  i can't change


VERSE:
  i can't
  i guess i can't
    (can't do what?)
  what a shame

  i can't
    (can't do what?)
  i can't do it
  i can't
    (can't change?)
  what a shame
    (can't change)

[these next 3 parts were recorded together]

[part 1]
  if it isn't at my feet
  if it isn't within my reach
  if it isn't nice and neat
  if i gotta get out of my seat
  if it isn't within my reach
  if it isn't nice and neat
  if i gotta get out of my seat
  if it isn't at my feet
  ...
  i can't, i won't
  i can't, i won't
  i can't, i won't
  i can't, i woooooooon't
  [screaming]

[part  2]
  I just said that, didn't I?   Well, I couldn't
  get around to writing other lyrics, so this
  is what you get.  I'm sorry, but the song is
  not gonna end for another five minutes, ha ha!
  because I'm too lazy to shorten it, because
  shortening it takes time.  Well, here's a solo
  to comfort you during this time.  I can't
  think of anything else to say that's witty...

  except time
  is something
  that you have
  and you don't
  but you think you do
  and that's cryptic
  and pretentious
  but i'm too lazy
  to stop the music
  so i keep recording
  and i do whatever
  is convenient
  and it sounds like junk
  but that's what you get
  when you don't
  spend some time perfecting
  and polishing
  and doing other things
  and it sounds really stupid
  but that's okay
  because this is live
  it's as live as you get
  this sounds stupid
  but that's what you get
  when you don't
  do something
  like, like plan
  and just reach
  any futher
  than you did
  and you could
  and you want to
  just reach
  take a risk
  take chance
  i guess this is a risk
  i guess this is a chance
  i know i'm screwing up
  but that's okay because
  i guess i have a point
  i don't know what it is now
  this sounds stupid
  it sounds so stupid
  well maybe i'll think
  of something to say
  this is like a really bad rap
  really bad rap
  like IPECAC
  bad rap [laugh]
  all i can do
  is laugh and laugh
  and you know what today is?
  it's september 11th
  2002
  a year
  after
  i started
  my first song
  that i finished
  that's the only thing
  that i really care about
  is me
  and my creations
  because i don't have time
  to think about other people
  like new york citizens
  or people at the pentagon
  or people just
  in cities in general
  and people of different religions
  and different politics
  and all that gunk
  so i just sit in my room
  and i do what's convenient and safe
  and sometimes it's fun
  and catchy like this
  sometimes i'll get into a groove
  and i'll love it
  and i won't trade it for anything else
  i won't want to do anything else
  all i want to do
  is preserve the moments that are fun
  and re-experience them
  'cause that's all i can do
  it's the best i can do
  and that's what i do
  it's what i always do
  and if i say "do" a lot of times
  it's because
  i like to do
  i don't like to just watch
  i hate watching
  if i'm not doing something too
  and that didn't come out very clear
  or very organized
  or very wise
  or professional
  or even interesting
  but maybe in parts it was interesting
  and that's the whole point
  of making music and writing
  is everyone once in a while
  your synapses form something
  that you regard as interesting
  and there's always that hope
  and sometimes
  the reality that other people
  find it interesting too
  and then you gonna lose the energy
  because you get self-conscious
  because the music gets quieter
  and i can't stand quiet
  because it just...
  it takes away the din
  i like din
  i like lots of din
  din is good
  din, din is really good
  and so here's some more din!
  and i can't... won't
  can't and i won't
  and i can't and i won't
  i don't, that's the point
  i don't, i just don't
  and i won't, i can't
  and this is repeating
  'cause that's all i can do
  i just can't do anything else
  i can't, i don't
  i can't, and i won't
  i can't, i can't
  i can't break the cycle
  i can't, i can't
  i can't, i won't
  i can't, i don't
  i never get out of the rut
  it just keeps repeating
  just keeps repeating
  just keeps repeating...
    [repeat many times]
  just keep repeating
    [repeat until end]

[part 3]
  oh great
  i can't understand what i'm saying
  i know; it's obvious
  i'm gonna do my own thing
  gonna talk about convenience
  gonna talk about everything...
    [repeated variances many times]
  you're screwing me up
  stop it!
  stay in time
  1 2 3 4
  now you can do it
  just like this
  you blew it!
  [sigh]
  come on, i'm trying to sing here
  you're making it really inconvenient for me
  talk about...
  i can't even do it
  what a groove kill
  a buzz kill
  you kill everything
  you just go on and on
  and you kill everything
  all fun
  you tire me
  you tire us
  you tire everyone
  'cause all you do
  is cater to your own convenience
  talk about everything
  'supposed to talk about everything
  talk about...
  you screwed me up
  i'm gonna try
  to stay in time
  to do it right
  to be creative
  to do it all
  to be a success
  to do things cool
  to be cool
  to be okay
  to do things okay
  to get it okay
  to be all right
  to think ahead
  to plan ahead
  to sing ahead
  to see ahead
  to look ahead
  to look out
  to see out
  to think about
  to stay out
  gotta focus
  on ahead
  on forward
  on the future
  on the future
  on the future
  on the next measure
  talk about convenience
  you talk about everything
  when you talk about convenience
  you talk about everything
  when you talk about convenience
  you talk about everything
  you talk about convenience
  'cause you've thought about convenience
  and you think about convenience
  and you think about it every day
  you think about convenience
  your own convenience
  that's all you think about: convenience
  your own convenience
  you think about convenience
  and you think about it every day
  and you think about it every day
  and you think about it every day
  and you think about it every day
  and you think about it every day
  and you think about it every day
  and you think about it in the same old
  and you think about it every day
  and you do things in the same old way
  

Click

Woah, vocals! This is the first full-fleged vocal song since "Half Hour". I constructed the main groove and wrote the lyrics for the choruses ("I am bad...") back in 2002. In 2004 I fleshed out the rest of the music and improvised all of the chorus. I have no idea what the title has to do with the lyrics; it probably doesn't matter, since the lyrics themselves are mostly stream-of-consciousness. I really like the way this song turned out. It's a little muffled, but it's fun!

Lyrics to "Click":

INTRO:
  woah! travis has got some vocals?
  this is the first time i've recorded
  vocals in over a year
  my accent has gotten worse and worse
  uh yeah

  all right this is just an idea of the vocals
  of course, i don't want to make it introverted
  so this isn't gonna be about me
  it's gotta be about someone else
    (you hear that? someone else)
  i don't know the title, maybe "this is bad"
  it's called "click" currently

VERSE 1:
  when i was a kid i sat by myself
  i didn't know as i boarded the plane

  when i was a kid i sang by myself
  i didn't know it would always be that way

CHORUS 1:
  this is bad
  this is bad
  this is bad
  this is really bad

  this is bad
    (so why do you try?)
  this is bad
    (why do you persist?)
  this is bad
    (tell me, why do you keep doing this?)
  this is really bad

VERSE 2:
  when i was i a student
  i studied really hard
  got lucky at my classes
  and i even had a guitar

  i was gonna say car
    (guitar)
  what's wrong with a car?
    (a guitar is better)
  okay

   who needs a car
  when you've got your feet?

CHORUS 2:
  if this is bad
  if this is bad
  if this is bad
    (they said this is bad, travis)
  then i'm a bad, bad boy
    (you're a bad, bad boy)

  if this is bad
  if this is bad
  if this is bad
  then i'm a bad, bad boy
    (i told myself i wouldn't sing about myself)
    (what am I doing?)

VERSE 3:  [clav solo #1]
  is this the work of a man?

  okay, drop the accent, drop the accent

  this is my real accent
  i sound like every day (sure)
  this is how the travis sounds
  when he's out in northwest way

  this is how he sounds
  this is how i sound
  this is how i want to sound

BRIDGE:
  operatic, operatic, operatic, operatic
  what have you got up there in the attic?
  that's a stupid rap
  this is stupid rap
  travis' all your raps sound like poo poo...
    (to the left, to the right...)
  poo poo poo poo...
    (you're not right, you're not right...)
    (you're not right in the head)

VERSE 4:
  thank god for the instrumental versions
  vocal versions go in the trash
  listen to what you want
  put it on dad's picks or anybody's picks

  why do you run?  why do you read?
  why do you run?  why do you read?
  what do you want?  what do you need?
  what do you want?  what do you need?

  why can't you be like everyone else?
    (where did the music go?)
  where did the music go?
    (where did the music go?)
  why can't you be like everyone else?
    (travis you should know)
  why must you be so solo?
    (travis you should know)

  where did the music go?
  where did the music go?
  don't talk during the solo
  don't talk during solo

CHORUS 4:
  what do you want?  what do you need?
  what do you want?  what do you need?
  can you tell i've been
  listening to public image ltd recently?

  what do you want?  what do you need?
  what do you want?  what do you need?
  do i need to give them credit
  for that idea or is it me?

VERSE 5:
  annoyance factor
    (to the left, to the right...)
  annoyance factor
    (stand all night)
  annoyance factor
  alert alert alert
  gotta really high annoyance factor

CHORUS 5:
  this is bad
  this is bad
  this is bad
  and i'm a bad bad boy

  this is bad
  this is bad
  this is really bad
  and i'm a bad bad boy

VERSE 6:
  ok one more solo
  it's called a clav
  clav trav clav clav trav
  clav likes the trav
  clav writes the trav
  whatever

CHORUS 6:
  what does it matter what i see?
  what does it matter what i see?
  what does it matter what i see?
  it always sounds the same

  i always say the same thing anyway
  i always say the same thing anyway
  i always say the same thing anyway
  i always say the same thing anyway

VERSE 7:
  i like the instrumentals
  do you like the instrumentals?
    (yes i do)
  do you like it when
  you can put on a cd and not get irritated
  by the sound of travis' vocal chords?
    (yes we do, trav)
    (yes we do, trav)
    (we like it when there's peace and quiet)
  sorry

CHORUS 7:
  i am bad
  yes i am bad
  i am bad
  'cause i'm a bad bad boy

  oh, i am bad
  this is bad
  i am really bad
  and i'm a bad bad boy
    (sing it again)

  i am bad bad
  this is bad
  and i am bad
  and i'm a bad bad boy

  this is bad
    (i'm singing about myself)
  this is bad
    (like i said i wouldn't)
  this is bad
    (i guess i broke my promise)
  and i'm a bad bad boy

  spank me
  

No That

I told G that I'd name this after the next two words she uttered. She said "No", and then "That..." and so there you go.

I started with the drums, and didn't add any other instruments the until the second day. I really didn't like the music, and felt the drums alone were more interesting. To make things better/worse, I added vocals, which were completely improvised. The chorus ties in with the song title. Yeah, I know: what wit!

Lyrics to "No That":

clickety clack, clickety clack...

step 1: place the cursor on the other side of the house
step 2: place the cursor on the other side of the house
step 3: place the cursor on the other side of the house
step 4: place the cursor on the other side of the house

'cause you gotta get out
you gotta get out

i bet they wonder if i'm a vampire
never leave my room
i bet they wonder if i have some skin disease

i bet they wonder if i'm okay
it's okay with me
i bet they wonder if i am related to jodie

gotta get out
gotta get out
gotta get out
gotta get away from the 1s and the 0s
and all that mechanical stuff

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
i laugh from my ivory tower
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
i feel the volts and the power

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
i laugh from my computer screen
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
while the world explodes and screams

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

no, that's not the way to be (they say)
no, that's not the way to see (okay)
no, that's not the way to live
no, that's not the way to give

if you hermit away this way
if you hermit away your way
if you hermit away you might get away
for another day

but it'll catch up to you

no, that's not the way to live
no, that's not the way to give
no, that's not the way to live
no, that's not the way to give

it'll catch up to you

no, that's not the way to be
no, that's not the way to see
no, that's not the way to live
no, that's not the way to give

it'll catch up to you

no, that's not the way to see
you've got to follow me
that's not the way to think
your isolation stinks

that's not the way to live
that's not the way to give
stop thinking for yourself
come down from your shelf

toy
  

Security

As an experiment, I grabbed some old lyrics (from 1999) and decided to start a song from them. There were some chord progressions scribbled down too, but I mostly ignored them. So technically, this isn't completely new, but who's counting?

Lyrically, it's a sequel to "The Trap", but is simpler and (hopefully) funnier. I pre-wrote all the words except the bridges, which were adlibs. And no, this is not autobiographical in the least!

The music aims to be simple, short, and (I hope) catchy. Only time will determine whether we (I) remember this as enjoyable or irritating (can anyone say "My Old School"?).

Lyrics to "Security":

INTRO:
  y'all ready for some old-school tripecac?

VERSE 1:
  she's a little bit older than me
  but that's my security
  she's a little bit dumber than me
  but that's my security

CHORUS 1:
  she is plainer, duller, fatter, shier
  lazier, uglier, smellier, and stupider
  she's a loser in anyone's eyes but mine
  conveniently

VERSE 2:
  she's a little bit uglier than me
  but that's my security
  and she's a little bit meaner than me
  but that's my security

CHORUS 2:
  she is plainer, duller, fatter, shier
  lazier, uglier, smellier, and stupider
  she's a loser in anyone's eyes but mine
  luckily

BRIDGE 1:
  i made a bet with her the other day
  i said, "if i pay will you go away?"
  she said, "that's not a bet, but it's okay
  'cause i understand that i'm pretty lame"

  f.e.y. spells fey for those of you
  who do not go to dictionary.com
  if you do not know what dictionary.com is
  then you are just like her

VERSE 3:
  she's a little bit backwards from me
  but that's my security
  and she always needs things from me
  but i guess that's my security

CHORUS 3:
  okay maybe i made a mistake when i picked her
  maybe i was being a little too hasty
  maybe i should throw her back in the water
  and catch me another fish

  go fishin'

BRIDGE 2:
  run, run, travis
  escape her embrace for just one day
  run, run, travis
  and you find yourself running away

  i thought she's a blessing
  but maybe she's a curse
  come to think of it, things can't get much worse
  they can't get much worse

  but i'm stuck 'cause...

VERSE 4:
  she's a she and I am a he
  and that's her security
  she knows i can never leave
  and that's her security

CHORUS 4:
  i am trapped here, tethered, imprisoned, ensnared
  but my own doing, oh it's just not fair
  inertia has caught me at my own game
  and now i know just who is lame

  i am trapped here, tethered, imprisoned, ensnared
  but my own doing, oh it's just not fair
  inertia has caught me at my own game
  and now i know which one is lame
  

Chick

After an egg comes a chick. After a chick come drooling guys. That was the original idea behind this song.

But then it turned into a barnyard horror story. It's ambiguous whether the song's about eating animals or lusting after girls, or, um, lusting after animals. Whatever piques your interest, you know? The lyrics were improvised, and are very dumb. So's the music.

Okay, this song made me hungry. I have to eat now.

Lyrics to "Chick":

INTRO:
  peep peep peep peep...

VERSE 1:
  i see the chickies in the yard
  i see them pecking so hard

CHORUS 1:
  do the chickies notice me?
  'cause i see them and they are so cute
  do the chickies notice me?
  are they afraid of me?

VERSE 2:
  i see the rooster in the yard
  he's a very scary looking fellow

CHORUS 2:
  does the rooster notice me?
  does he see me?
  go away rooster, stop looking at me
  i'm gonna rip your head off
  hey

VERSE 3: [organ solo]
  cock-a-doodle-doo goes the rooster
  peep peep peep go the little baby chickies
  cock-a-doodle-doo goes the rooster
  cock-a-doodle-doo goes the rooster

CHORUS 3:
  all the aminals
  having so much musical fun
  how i wish i could join them
  but when i go there they run

VERSE 4: [guitar solo]
  all the aminals
  seem to be afraid of me

CHORUS 4:
  why are all the aminals running away from me?
  i try so hard not to be scary
  come here beautiful

VERSE 5:
  i see the farmer in the yard
  with one hand around his sheep
  what's in that other hand?

CHORUS 5:
  does the farmer notice me?
  does he see me?
  on your knees, boy
  uh-oh i think he saw he me and he's coming this way
  i better get away from him

VERSE 6:
  i'm running away so very hard
  and the chickies are following close behind

CHORUS 6:
  speaking of behinds
  here comes the farmer
  with a hungry look in his eyes
  i can hear him drooling and panting
  i bet he's estimating my size

CODA:
  estimating estimating estimating...
  double meaning, double meaning...

  hey cutie, you're a baby
  hey sexy, little chicky
  how i like you and your feathers
  you're so yummy, you're so fluffy

  little chicky, how i love you
  will you come into my home tonight?
  little chicky, you're so sexy
  i want to eat you up

  those barnyard beauties
  yum yum yum...
  

Kitty

The title is a pun on kitty (as in poker) and kitten. This music is a slow guitar/keyboard jam. It has a couple organ solos, but most of it is geared around the vocals.

Lyrically, it's about, um, poker, I guess. Or maybe it's about investments in relationships. Like when you keep giving and giving and you want something in return. Or perhaps it's about a girl who's tired of watching her sibling's children and wants kids of her own.

Or maybe it's an expression of my disgust towards the idea of (unearned) entitlement. An Ayn Randian criticism of welfare, perhaps. Or whatever. Not that any of this has any autobiographical relevance. It just sounded melodic and witty!

Lyrics to "Kitty":

VERSE:
  i keep on antein'
  i keep on antein'
  but i get nothing

  i keep on antein'
  i keep on antein'
  but i get nothing

CHORUS:
  gimme the kitty
  i want the kitty
  gimme the kitty
  it's my turn for the kitty

VERSE: [same sound, different spelling]
  i keep on auntie-n'
  i keep on auntie-n'
  but i get nothing

  i keep on auntie-n'
  i keep on auntie-n'
  but i get nothing

CHORUS:
  i want the kiddie
  it's my turn for the kiddie
  gimme the kiddie
  i want the kiddie

VERSE:
  meow
  i want it now
  meow
  we want it now

CHORUS:
  gimme the kitty
  gimme the kitty
  i want the kitty
  it's time to have that kitty

BRIDGE:
  meow meow meow
  hi little puss
  how are you doing today?
  beware the racoonies
  the racoonies will eat you up
  they will bite you and break your neck
  and then chew you up into little bits
  and use their little miniscule hands
  to paw through your innards
  they will digest you slowly
  and when they burp they will have
  kitten innards on their breath
  beware the racoonies
  beware the racoonies!

VERSE/CHORUS:
  [combination of previous VERSES and CHORUSES]
  

Owl

Funkorama. I wanted to make this dark and ominous. Is it? It's inspired by a video we saw about a proposed development project.

Lyrics to "Owl":

owls live in a deep wood
and the deep wood's gonna die today
if we plow the owls' deep wood
all the owls will fly away

developers kill the deep wood
hear the owls howl today
developers plow the deep wood
plow the owls' howls away

deep wood to desert...

developers drain the wetlands
drain the wetlands
drain the wetlands into desert

developers drain the wetlands
kill the wetlands
turn the wetlands into desert

vote no vote no vote no vote...
the animals have no vote

no vote no vote no vote no
the animals have no vote
no vote no vote no vote no
the owls have no vote

that was a stinky!
what are you doing, travis?
this is a serious issue

shake your fist at the developers
and that will make you get your way
uh-huh uh-huh...

  [repeat bits of the above]
  

Hodgepog Plan

Is this about procreation? Or just escape? Into juvenilia perhaps?

I turned 33 the day I started the song. Getting old, I guess. Does it sound like it?

Lyrics to "Hodgepog Plan":

bum bum bum bum bum...

i got a hodgepog
so i got a plan
and inside my hodgepog
is another plan

a little baby hodgepog
is my hodgepog's plan
inside the little baby hodgepog
is yet another plan
  

User Comments:

  1. "original" - Giovanna (2008-06-02)

Ding

I had just finished updating the IPECAC web site. For some reason, I got some of lyrics and the "ding ding ding" chant stuck in my head. I felt compelled to turn them into a song, so here it is: a silly, sloppy ode to IPECAC.

At first it was a capella. I then added the drums and bass line, and gradually filled in bits until it no longer sounded empty (although it still sounds mindless and overly repetitive). I guess that's house most songs are created, right? So no insight here; sorry!

The lyrics exaggerate a bit (like most of mine do). You see, we actually did have friends, and we ultimately chose them (and girls) over IPECAC. Perhaps this song was wishful thinking? You know, like: what would have happened if we had stayed down there in the basement?

I don't know. Sometimes I feel like I'm still down in the basement. But hey, as long as I keep churning out songs (good ones and bad ones like this), the basement's a fine place for me.

Lyrics to "Ding":

ding ding ding ding...
is this thing on?

we banged on pots and pans
we dented the bottles and cans
we irritated our parents
they were annoyed by all the dents

we abandoned all our friends
we avoided social events
we hermited in my basement
created our own instruments

cacepi, cacepi...
i gotta pee

  [repeat combinations of the above]
  

Gimme a Second

This chorus ("second glance") for this song had been running around my head for years. It mimics the rhythm of a Fall song ("Tempo House").

I kept putting off working on it because I wanted to wait until I had a knack for post-punk. I still don't have the knack, but I decided to give it a shot anyway.

It doesn't sound like the Fall, except for maybe the repetition, which I like.

I ended up remixing this song the day after I "finished it". I figured: if any song deserves a second chance, it's this one... right? So I simplified the kick drum, shortened the final chorus, tightened up the drum breaks, and made the clav a little groovier. It feels a little dancier now, which is good. I like dancy.

Lyrics to "Gimme a Second":

they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance
they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance

they never give me the time of day
they never listen to what i say
they never try to see things my way
they just want me to go away, i say

they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance
they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance

they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance
they never look to me for romance
they never ask me if i wanna dance

they never give me the time of day
they never try to see things my way
they never listen to what i say
they just want me to go away, i say

a second, a second, a second, a second
a second, a second, a second, a second
a second, a second, a second, a second
a second, a second, a second, a second

they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance
they never look to me for romance
they never ask me if i wanna dance

i don't merit a second glance
i don't deserve a second chance
i don't emanate romance
i don't pretend to like to dance

i don't want your second glance
i don't need a second chance
i don't care about your stupid romance
'cause i don't want to have to dance

they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance
they never give me the time of day
they pretend not to see my way

they never give me a second chance
they never give me a second chance
they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance

they never never ask me dance
they never come to me for romance
they never never ask me dance
they never come to me for romance

they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance
they never give me a second glance
they never give me a second chance

they never give me a second
they never give me a second...
  

Seventh Sigh

The title is a pun on "seventh sign". Duh. :)

The lyrics are my reaction to people's feedback about some of my songs. Double-duh. :)

Lyrics to "Seventh Sigh":

they say that i have no ideas
they say that i have no inspiration
  [repeat]

you say that i have no ideas
you say that i have no inspiration
  [repeat]

i admit that i have no ideas
i admit that i have no inspiration
  [repeat]

minimal effort, it all sounds canned
why don't you go back to your computers, man?
why don't you leave us alone
so we can listen to the real bands?

minimal effort, that's your name
minimal effort, you're so lame
your minimal effort causes us pain
and because of that you're gonna lose this game

you're so lame
you're so lame
you're so lame
you're so lame

so what if i compose a song in about 20 minutes?
so what if i finish and upload it the very next day?
so what if the patches and mix sound amateurish?
so what if the lyrics are shallow, cryptic, and cliche?

'cause it's all about having fun
and if you feel it then i have won
if you tap your foot i've won
if you wiggle your hips i've won

and if it gets stuck in your head
and if it gets stuck in your head
and if it gets stuck in your head
then i've won, i've won, i've won, i've won

if you get this stuck in your head
and if you get this stuck in your head
i've won

  [repeat bits of the above]
  

Ottomoon

Weird, slow, weird, slow.

Not much else to say about this one. At least not right now. I'm tired.

Lyrics to "Ottomoon":

i look up at the moon
and i wonder: will i be living there soon?
will i look back at my life down here
as a waste or as my golden years?

will i feel sadness
when i remember my days here on earth
or will i fill with pride at the thought of
all that i accomplished since birth?

i'm an auto-man, an auto-man
cruisin' down the highway in my auto-van
i can go a thousand miles without ever leaving my room

i'm an auto-man, an auto-man
cruisin' in my clunker down the autobahn
as long as i am steady i will never need to zoom

i like to stay in my own lane
get passed on the left, get passed on the right
to drive like the rest would seem insane
too fast on the left, too fast on the right

i like to trust my own brain
like i trust my hearing and i trust my sight
keeping it steady is the name of my game
so i keep on drivin' all through the night

eventually i had to pull over at a gas station
you know, relieve myself, fuel up a bit
buy a few dozen cases of bottled water
the attendant was a really nice guy
a proper german type; his name was otto
i said "hi otto"
he said "i like your auto"
i said "well, i like your name, otto"
it'd be a great title for a tripecac song

hey, yeah, yes it would
uh huh, it would sound so good
so i did it; i put his name in the title
yes, i did it; and now it sounds so right-o, right-o

  [repeat bits of the above]
  

Ha Ha I'm Coping

This is a very loose interpretation of "Ha Ha I'm Drowning" by The Teardrop Explodes. I recorded it for the third Julian Cope tribute album (Triple Vegetation).

By "loose" I mean Tripecac-ish. Repetitive, groove-based, with lots of improvisation. And lots of percussion. And geeky, self-referential gabbing.

Most of the guitar and vocals were recorded first take, with very little planning. I probably spent no more than half an hour recording them. It then took me several hours (spanning multiple days) to arrange and mix them together with the rest of the song.

To make it tie in with the theme of Whatcom Home, I gave it a slightly dark, unbalanced vibe. I don't know if it works or not, but what's done is done, and I'm glad this is finally done!

Lyrics to "Ha Ha I'm Coping":

INTRO:
  oh baby, oh baby, oh baby, oh baby
    here we go
  ha ha ha ha ha

use your common sense
don't take things for granted
you've got to use your common sense
don't take things for granted

you've got to use your common sense
don't take things for granted
you've got to use your common sense
don't take things for granted

  [repeat]

all right
  ha ha ha
here we go
i'm gonna tackle the vocals
i'm gonna cope
  ha ha ha

use your common sense
  yeah
and don't take things for granted
you know it's not like that
  it's not
it isn't how you said
  who wrote these lyrics anyway?

you ask me if i love you
  do you love me?
well i don't think that's fair
  why not?
you ask me if i love you
  do you love me?
well i don't think that's real
  not real?
to criticize our love

hey, what happened to the chorus?
  i don't know
what's this stuff?
oh god, travis
  come on travis
you're not even changing chords

the stupid things you said
  the stupid things you say
you only try to hurt me
  try to hurt me
the stupid things you say
  the stupid things you say
you hurt me deep inside
  they hurt me deep inside

you ask me if i love you
  do you love me
well i don't think that's fair
  why not?
you ask me if i love you
  do you love me?
well i don't think that's real
  real?
to criticize our chorus
  what?  our chorus?

our chorus
'cause there isn't one
ha ha ha ha
  ok travis

well ask me once again
  ask me once again
and ask me for the third time
  triple vegetation
ask me how i feel
  how do you feel
i say i'm drowning in your love
  drowning in your love
ha ha i'm drowning in your love
  i'm drowning in your love

and i'm coping with your love
  i'm coping with your love
and i'm coping with your love
  i'm coping with your love

so you can cope with the lack of a chorus
the lack of chord progressions
i forgot to put them in
so is that a cardinal sin?

come on, cupid, cope with my love
come on, cupid, cope with my love
come on, cupid, cope with my love
come on, cupid, cope with my love

i'm coping with your love
i'm coping with your love
i'm coping with your love
i'm coping with your love

i'm coping with your love
i'm coping with your love
i'm coping with your love
barely coping with your love

criticise my love
criticise my love
criticise my love
criticise my love

you always criticise my love
you always criticise my love
you always criticise my love
you always criticise my love

you always criticise my clothes
you always criticise my hair
you always criticise my shoes
you always criticise my friends

you always criticise my taste
you always criticise my body
you always criticise my debts
you always criticise my family

you always criticise my love
you always criticise my love
you always criticise my love
you always criticise my love

  you gotta use your common sense
  don't take things for granted
  you gotta use your common sense
  don't take things for granted

    [repeat]
  

User Comments:

  1. "Wild disco music?" - Giovanna (2010-07-20)

Baby Dew

I figured it's time for some baby steps on the mandolin. This is my first attempt at using it in a Tripecac song. I really didn't (and still don't) know what I'm doing, so bear with me.

I mixed the mandolin and vocals completely dry, as an experiment. I wanted to see how "immediate" I could make them sound. The Triton's sounds all have a usual dose of reverb. The vocals are a little out of sync with the rest of the music part of the time, but that's what I get for singing to the mandolin rather than [just] a metronome.

As for the lyrics, well, lots of people seem to be having babies these days, including celebrities. It seems to be the "cool" thing to do. I wanted to create some cute lyrics exploring the "coolness", all based on a pun (do/due/doo). Hope you like it!

Lyrics to "Baby Dew":

VERSE 1:

  i've noticed something and maybe you've too
  everybody's joining the baby do
  family and friends and celebrities too
  they all want a part in the baby do

  they all want a baby so how about you
  do you want a baby yes you do
  let's hop on the bandwagon too
  i'll be happy if it's half as cool as you

CHORUS 1:

  baby do, let's do the baby do
  baby do, let's do the baby do

VERSE 2:

  we're gonna have a baby that is true
  so when's our lovely baby due
  i'm getting impatient how 'bout you
  boy or a girl i wish i knew

  i can't drink coffee or wine with you
  and pretty soon i gotta stop biking too
  if i grumble and gripe and snap at you
  just blame it on my gestational moods

  i wake up every morning with an urge to spew
  eat a carton of crackers and my belly's a balloon
  aching back and pimples and clumbsiness too
  so when's that bleeping baby due

CHORUS 2:

  baby due, when is the baby due
  baby due, when is the baby due

VERSE 3:

  now we have a baby and isn't it cute
  with a ga ga ga and a goo goo goo
  i want another one, how 'bout you
  let's get to work on number 2

  and speaking of number 2, p u
  i never knew how many diapers we would go through
  keep plowing through the pricy baby food
  keep cleaning up the smelly baby doo

  then it starts crying no matter whatcha do
  with a wah wah wah and a boo hoo hoo
  it keeps on wailing the whole night through
  we only get to sleep an hour or two

CHORUS 3:

  baby doo, i smell like baby doo
  baby doo, i smell like baby doo

VERSE 4:

  look at our baby learning to chew
  soon it'll be walking and talking too
  it's a little like me and a little like you
  some day it'll have its own baby too

END:

  soon it'll be walking and talking too
  some day it'll have its own baby too
  some day it'll have its own baby too
  waah
  

Par

A couple songs ago, I used the mandolin. This time, I wanted to take my acoustic guitar for a whirl.

I sketched out the idea on a cassette a few days earlier (destined for Trex). It was a pure improv, but I liked the energy. So I decided to turn it into a Tripecac song.

The mistake I made with the mandolin song ("Baby Dew") was settling for sloppy timing. So, this time I used both a hi-hat and a thumping kick drum as a metronome while I added the guitar parts. I had to play some bits several times before nailing the timing. It's not perfect, but much better than before.

The lyrics are kinda dumb (since they were mostly improvised), but they're not the point of the song. Neither is accurate playing. The groove is the point. And that's kinda what the lyrics are saying.

Lyrics to "Par":

i can't go very far
unless i take the car
but i do not want to take the car
gas prices what they are

i can't get very far
if i do not practice the guitar
but i do not practice the guitar
because at best i can be only par

par par par par par par par par par par
par par par par par par par par par par

[scat]

yeah yeah yeah, the best i can hope for is par
yeah yeah yeah, the best i can hope for is par
yeah yeah yeah, the best i can hope for is par
yeah yeah yeah, the best i can hope for is par
  hope for is par

  [repeat]
  

User Comments:

  1. "I like the rhythm" - Giovanna (2008-06-07)

Undigitize

I started the lyrics back in 2002 (when I had a concrete floor), edited them in 2004, and then put them to music in 2008. They're not very deep, but they rhyme.

The music was "composed" on the fly. It was, at first listen, catchy enough for me to not mind bending the rules a bit (about composing the words and music beforehand). Unfortunately, I never got around to writing a chorus or bridge, so it's the same thing over and over. I gradually got tired of it. As I always do with "mindless" songs (and mindless people).

In a way, this reminds me of "Red Rumor". I briefly considered adding background talking, but then decided against it. The music just isn't good enough to justify the amount of time it takes to synchronize old recordings to it. Plus, I already created "Red Rumor" once; why do it again?

On the positive side, the lyrics (which are composed) are kinda insightful, and in places, the groove is a kinda catchy. And some of the vocals sound kinda cool. So it's not a complete disaster. More like a pathetic dud.

Lyrics to "Undigitize":

and on a whim, I head out the door
don't wanna be inside no more
i'm tired of walls and a concrete floor
i need some stimulation

and it's outside that flickering screen
beyond the box of the rgb
and into the brownish, blueish green
this ain't no simulation

some songs they putter and putter
some songs they mutter and mutter
some songs they stutter and stutter
they can't get past your lips

some songs spew out, spew out
some songs they shout, they shout
some songs work out, they work out
and they feel like iceberg tips

[scat]

there's words and sounds and images and dreams
building up inside of me
they just can't fit on a CRT
do you see what i mean?

if i tap my well, will it run dry?
should i save my thoughts for a rainy night?
will i have the time to fully transcribe
the ideas as they come to me?

undigitize
unfasten your eyes
untether your mind
from the simulated skies

undigitize
untether your mind
unglue your eyes
from the simulated skies

i go outside and see all this stuff
and i feel compelled to write it down
but scribbled notes just aren't enough
to capture all the sights and sounds

there's smells that i cannot describe
they come too fast to document
my memory fails to trap inside
the experiences vanishing by the minute

the experiences vanishing by the minute
the experiences vanishing

so what am i supposed to do?
stay outside 'til i become jaded?
settle for passive consumption?
admit my life will mean nothing after i'm dead?

see, when i'm cooped up, my awareness expands
my senses heighten, i let my instincts command
i'm receptive, attentive, and i'm ready to absorb
the sensations a lot better when i'm indoors

and then i go outside into the data flow
it's information overload
or total sensory overflow
i want to save it all but my pen's too slow

and my camera can't smell
no my camera can't smell
and my camera can't smell
no my camera can't smell
  [repeat]

there's words and sounds and images and dreams
building up inside of me
they just can't fit on a CRT
do you see what i mean?

if i tap my well, will it run dry?
should i save my thoughts for a rainy night?
will i have the time to fully transcribe
the ideas as they come to me?

some songs they putter and putter
some songs they mutter and mutter
some songs they stutter and stutter
they can't get past your lips

some songs spew out, spew out
some songs they shout, they shout
some songs work out, they work out
and they feel like iceberg tips

undigitize
unfasten your eyes
from the simulated skies

[scat]

there's words and sounds and images and dreams
building up inside of me
they just can't fit on a CRT
do you see what i mean?

if i tap my well, will it run dry?
should i save my thoughts for a rainy night?
will i have the time to fully transcribe
the ideas as they come to me?

undigitize
unfasten your eyes
untether your mind
from the simulated skies
  

User Comments:

  1. "I can't stop humming this song!" - Giovanna (2010-07-20)

Country Boy

The first version of this song was recorded for Trex exactly six months before I started working on this remake. The Trex version was airheaded garage rock; this Tripecac version is much darker and trancier.

The lyrics are about getting my first mp3 player up and running. I was testing the voice recording using the improvised song as a guinea pig.

The original version had acoustic guitar, but for Tripecac I switched to electric guitar and played completely different patterns. Really, except for the rhythm of the vocals, it really is a complete different song.

This is one of the few songs which felt better and better to work on each day. Usually I get bored of songs, but this one was a "late bloomer", if that makes any sense.

Lyrics to "Country Boy":

i'm a country boy with a brand new toy
but i don't know how to use it
i'm a country boy with a brand new toy
but i can only abuse it

oh i can only abuse it
oh i can only amuse it

yeah

  [repeat bits of the above]
  

Mellow Cootie

This is my second attempt at creating Afrobeat.

This time around, I listened carefully to some Fela CDs, and came up with several rules which the first song didn't follow:

  1. The key has to be minor (not major).
  2. The song has to be modal; the key cannot change.
  3. It needs to swing.
  4. It needs a spacious bassline, like in dub and reggae.

Hopefully those rules will help give it a more "Fela" feel. If they don't, then I will just have to try, try again!

Again, the title is a play on "Fela Kuti"; I felt like this song was too mellow, too close to easy listening.

Lyrics to "Mellow Cootie":

yes, it sounds a little bit better
i guess, it sounds a little more real  	
  
ok, it's not afro-beat
it's more like elevator bop
  
   [repeat bits of the above]
  

Dust Castles

This was Giovanna's phrase for some houses on that we saw at the beach. We came upon them abruptly, and as they were up on stilts, they seemed like castles rising out of the sand.

My goal for this album is to try something different engineering-wise with each song. For this one I experimented with effects automation. This was the first time I was able to change the Triton's effects on-the-fly from within Sonar. The differences are subtle, definitely not as groundbreaking or impressive as I'd hoped. Neither is the song itself.

Oh well, we can't expect a whole lot after all this time off. So I'll in invoke my usual motto, which is: I'm leaving plenty of room for improvement in the next song! :)

Lyrics to "Dust Castles":

dust castles
  [repeat]