- 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 | ***** (1) |
2 | Convenience | lyrics | 10:19 | download | listen locally | 2002-08-22 | 2002-09-11 | ****½ (2) |
3 | Click | lyrics | 6:05 | download | listen locally | 2002-01-02 | 2004-03-23 | ****½ (2) |
4 | No That | lyrics | 4:40 | download | listen locally | 2005-07-05 | 2005-07-07 | **** (2) |
5 | Security | lyrics | 3:44 | download | listen locally | 2005-07-21 | 2005-07-22 | ****½ (2) |
6 | Chick | lyrics | 4:10 | download | listen locally | 2005-08-15 | 2005-08-16 | ***** (2) |
7 | Kitty | lyrics | 4:38 | download | listen locally | 2005-08-24 | 2005-08-25 | ***** (2) |
8 | Owl | lyrics | 8:00 | download | listen locally | 2005-11-01 | 2005-11-02 | ****½ (2) |
9 | Hodgepog Plan | lyrics | 4:06 | download | listen locally | 2006-01-20 | 2006-01-23 | ****½ (2) |
10 | Ding | lyrics | 5:42 | download | listen locally | 2006-01-25 | 2006-01-26 | ***½ (2) |
11 | Gimme a Second | lyrics | 5:44 | download | listen locally | 2006-08-02 | 2006-08-03 | ****½ (2) |
12 | Seventh Sigh | lyrics | 5:17 | download | listen locally | 2006-08-18 | 2006-08-22 | ***½ (2) |
13 | Ottomoon | lyrics | 8:51 | download | listen locally | 2006-09-27 | 2006-09-28 | ***** (2) |
14 | Ha Ha I'm Coping | lyrics | 7:07 | download | listen locally | 2007-10-31 | 2007-11-06 | **** (2) |
15 | Baby Dew | lyrics | 3:55 | download | listen locally | 2008-05-15 | 2008-05-20 | ***** (2) |
16 | Par | lyrics | 5:49 | download | listen locally | 2008-05-27 | 2008-06-07 | **** (2) |
17 | Undigitize | lyrics | 7:48 | download | listen locally | 2002-05-11 | 2008-07-17 | ***** (2) |
18 | Country Boy | lyrics | 8:24 | download | listen locally | 2008-01-21 | 2008-07-29 | ***** (2) |
19 | Mellow Cootie | lyrics | 9:08 | download | listen locally | 2008-10-16 | 2008-10-22 | ****½ (2) |
20 | Dust Castles | lyrics | 5:00 | download | listen locally | 2010-05-27 | 2010-07-01 | ****½ (1) |
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
- Sunday Sampler track 15
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 1
- Renewal track 1
- started: 2001-11-05
- recorded: 2001-11-11
- length: 10:35
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 2
- Convenience track 1
- started: 2002-08-22
- recorded: 2002-09-11
- length: 10:19
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 3
- Brroom track 1
- started: 2002-01-02
- recorded: 2004-03-23
- length: 6:05
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 4
- Gorilla Love track 4
- started: 2005-07-05
- recorded: 2005-07-07
- length: 4:40
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 5
- Gorilla Love track 10
- started: 2005-07-21
- recorded: 2005-07-22
- remixed: 2005-08-08
- length: 3:44
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 6
- Aminals track 2
- started: 2005-08-15
- recorded: 2005-08-16
- remixed: 2005-08-17
- length: 4:10
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 7
- Aminals track 4
- started: 2005-08-24
- recorded: 2005-08-25
- remixed: 2005-08-26
- length: 4:38
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, Ibanez StageStar, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 8
- Aminals track 13
- started: 2005-11-01
- recorded: 2005-11-02
- length: 8:00
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 9
- Fruitine track 4
- started: 2006-01-20
- recorded: 2006-01-23
- length: 4:06
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
Ding
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 10
- Fruitine track 5
- started: 2006-01-25
- recorded: 2006-01-26
- length: 5:42
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 11
- Mouseculine track 2
- started: 2006-08-02
- recorded: 2006-08-03
- remixed: 2006-08-04
- other names: Second Glance
- length: 5:44
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 12
- Mouseculine track 7
- started: 2006-08-18
- recorded: 2006-08-22
- remixed: 2006-08-23
- length: 5:17
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 13
- Yata track 3
- started: 2006-09-27
- recorded: 2006-09-28
- length: 8:51
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 14
- Whatcom Home track 14
- started: 2007-10-31
- recorded: 2007-11-06
- length: 7:07
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, Ibanez StageStar, vocals | wrote: music, words
- The Teardrop Explodes | wrote: music, words
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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:
- "Wild disco music?" [****] - (2010-07-20)
Baby Dew
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 15
- Composed Pile track 2
- started: 2008-05-15
- recorded: 2008-05-20
- length: 3:55
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, mandolin, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 16
- Composed Pile track 4
- started: 2008-05-27
- recorded: 2008-06-07
- length: 5:49
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, acoustic guitar, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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:
- "I like the rhythm" [****] - (2008-06-07)
Undigitize
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 17
- Composed Pile track 7
- lyrics: 2002-05-11
- started: 2008-07-02
- recorded: 2008-07-17
- remixed: 2008-07-18
- length: 7:48
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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:
- "I can't stop humming this song!" [****½] - (2010-07-20)
Country Boy
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 18
- Composed Pile track 8
- rough: 2008-01-21
- started: 2008-07-21
- recorded: 2008-07-29
- length: 8:24
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, electric guitar, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 19
- Decomposed Pie track 2
- started: 2008-10-16
- recorded: 2008-10-22
- length: 9:08
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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:
- The key has to be minor (not major).
- The song has to be modal; the key cannot change.
- It needs to swing.
- 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
- Mix 2 (triton vocal) track 20
- Lost Train track 1
- started: 2010-05-27
- recorded: 2010-07-01
- length: 5:00
- Travis Emmitt - Korg Triton, vocals
- mp3: download listen locally (flash player)(HTML5 player)
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]
User Comments: