9th Annual Gift of Music

[Caravan Ray]

PACO!

That is awesome!

Not my gifter - but good as!

If I had had drawn that song - of course I would have done it - but I now think to myself - how would I have done it? I would not have thought of that. That is so cool.

I am going to copy you and do that that way solo g.n.g next open mic night.

[Caravan Ray]

Denni, so I guess I introduced you to Ladytron? Glad to help! I just went back and re-read all the gushing in that post
I like your cover, nicely different from the original. Moody. Might be neat to do an alternate version/remix that has a real heavy part at the end. Thanks! An unexpected treat - not the song I thought would be covered.
-bill

You were my Ladytron introduction. I had a really good day just following links as I went through your tunes. I almost went with 'Strange Overtones.' I actually started to record something for it, but it was not coalescing.

Am in full agreement with you on the end needing something more. I think the lot could do with more presence, but especially at the end. It is actually upon my list, as I am still working on layering and fine-tuneage.
But I am pleased that you liked it.

Jeez Louise girl - you can sing!!

I didn't know that song - so I googled the original - I think you wiped the floor with them.
Your arrangement is better and your vocals are superb.

Well done.

[Caravan Ray]

Real Sign:

That is very cool. I am not a big fan of the Who. My Generation and Magic Bus are the only songs of theirs I really like. I much prefer your version of this



And thank you for your choices. When I got my PM I thought - "yeah! Man of Constant Sorrow!" But...how can I play that ?!?!? Same with the Primus song - my bass skills would just ruin it. Then - whats this... an acapella song - cool - I can do that.....

I tried to record that a capella - but the more I sang the lyrics I thought - this song is awsome, and old Stans delivery hides the great lyrics. So I stripped it back to g/n/g. I felt a real visceral connection with the song - thousands of hours driving solo in the middle of nowhere will do that - I knew what that dude was singing about. Thanks for introducing me to it.

[RangerDenni]

Jeez Louise girl - you can sing!!

I didn't know that song - so I googled the original - I think you wiped the floor with them.
Your arrangement is better and your vocals are superb.

Well done.

that is very very nice.
i have to go out and do something unpleasant so I will go out and think "ha, ha, I can sing so there!" as I stare with blankly-fake compliance at the Difficult People today. not to judge (heh), but people are just ack sometimes. it's been very constructive to get things done around here (as much as Possible!) as of late and I enjoyed doing GOM. I'm actually remixing it a little before I go to make it more beef-tacular.

[fluffy]

So I was gonna try working on my gift this weekend, but then I developed YET ANOTHER ear infection, so I am deaf in one ear (the same ear as last time, even). What the fuck is wrong with my body, and when can I get it replaced?

[Ross]

Jim: Ross has organized a stiffee committee in years past, and he, myself, and others, gave the love. I'm guessing that Ross will be busy this year with FAWM. No great organizer of such things, am I, but I will gladly give a gift if someone wants to run the ship.

I would be willing to organize again if there is a lift of stifeess. The last time was abit of a downer since even many of those who jumped into say they would help did not come through. If there is a list and volunteers, I'm happy to organize ( and coninute one myself).

[Albatross]

I would be willing to organize again if there is a lift of stifeess. The last time was abit of a downer since even many of those who jumped into say they would help did not come through. If there is a list and volunteers, I'm happy to organize ( and coninute one myself).

I have the Stiffee Report made, but I'm gonna wait a bit longer before posting, at least until after I can take my own goddamned name out of the Stiffer list.

[Jim of Seattle]

Jim: Ross has organized a stiffee committee in years past, and he, myself, and others, gave the love. I'm guessing that Ross will be busy this year with FAWM. No great organizer of such things, am I, but I will gladly give a gift if someone wants to run the ship.

I would be willing to organize again if there is a lift of stifeess. The last time was abit of a downer since even many of those who jumped into say they would help did not come through. If there is a list and volunteers, I'm happy to organize ( and coninute one myself).

I abso-fucking-lutely guarantee I will not stiff anyone. I am dependable. I am on time to shit. I get back to people I say I'm going to get back to. I answer emails. I thank people who have done me a good deed. If I make an appointment, I don't reschedule it. I'm fucking dependable.

OK, this post isn't all about GoM. I have issues this evening. And 3 glasses of wine was not a good idea. Maybe 4 will be better....

[Jim of Seattle]

No one has said anything about my entry, so I'm just going out on a limb and posting this anyway, since I worked a long time on it and ended up really proud of it.

All four songs at one time or other were the "chosen" song, but I could never come up with a satisfactory approach to any of them. And I tried to figure out why that was. I finally realized that all four of those songs are "groove" based, meaning the main goodness of the song comes in its groove (with the possible exception of Cars and Parties). Once I realized this, I also know that my particular strengths do not lend themsleves to adding anything of any quality to the groove already established, and that trying to replicate or improve upon them was a fool's errand given my style. Cars and Parties was the obvious choice then, but it just didn't excite me enough. I really wanted to sound like Cold War Kids. But I know I never will.

Once I got into the idea of a mashup of all four, I was off and running and had a ton of fun with it. I also learned to really like all of them. I ended up extremely happy with it. The song was chosen for my upcoming album ( by the producer -- not me). Ultimately it was dropped because we realized what a hassle it was going to be obtaining rights to all four songs, but it's a testament to it having been a successful endeavor. I'm super proud of it.

[Paco Del Stinko]

I'm super proud of it.

As well you should be, sir. That song kicks ass!

[Albatross]

OK, I am very late to this party. Flat beer and stale chips for everybody! And some belated holiday tidings for Sportswriters:

"Shot By Both Sides" - Magazine

[Caravan Ray]

Some good covers in there. C Ray- deadly!!

Thank you.

As I have written - I loved that song. I am curious about the context of it.

Is is a Canadian classic? That drunk blokes hug and sing? It sounds like one.


It reminded me a lot of this - Diamantina Drover by Redgum:
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A song held in very high regard by people who wished they lived the sort of lives they were singing about. (Like me) - but they are really just boring public servants living in Brisbane.

[anti-m]

As I have written - I loved that song. I am curious about the context of it.

Is is a Canadian classic? That drunk blokes hug and sing?

I think you have just described heaven -- a place where, (although nothing ever happens) the barflies are not only singing songs -- but singing Stan Rogers. I want to go to that bar.

I grew up with NW Passage -- and nowadays have re purposed it as a metaphor how all we loose and untethered are eventually blown west. I can't speak well for our neighbors to the North, but in the US the myth of manifest destiny persists. (Although I think it got a little mixed up with some Walden along the way -- and it has carefully forgotten all the genocide.)

Anyhoo, I also love this song -- I think I even have a cover of it half-finished somewhere in the vault.

[signboy]

Yes, I have several friends who get all huggy & sing Northwest Passage when they're drunk.

[HeuristicsInc]

sooooo is the unstiffee committee getting together yet?
-bill

[Niveous]

It would be nice if the Unstiffs came together this year. I have been without my home computer all of February and haven't been able to record a thing. I would definitely like my person to get a gift of music, even if I'm unable to make it myself.

[Albatross]

I believe this to be the current stiffee status:

STIFFERS
Jeff DeSantis
fluffy
furrypedro
Tomski
Sportswriters

STIFFEES (direct links to lists provided)
j$
Boffo Yux Dudes
Anti-M
BBABM
Noah McLaughlin

STIFFEREES
Niveous
Eddiebangs

[fluffy]

Yep, I suck.

[Niveous]

STIFFEREES
Niveous
Eddiebangs

Wowza. So, the two Stifferees are the co-organizers. Something about that doesn't feel right.
Okay, hell or highwater, computer or no computer, I'm getting my song out somehow.

[JonPorobil]

STIFFEES (direct links to lists provided)
j$
Boffo Yux Dudes
Anti-M
BBABM
Noah McLaughlin
Albatross (every damn year...)

Who's managing the Stiffee committee this year? There are at least two songs in these lists that I'd like to tackle, if they're not already being worked upon, so do I need to contact someone about that, or should I just go and do it?

[fluffy]

JFDI. It's the GIFT of music, not the organized-by-committee mutual satisfaction brigade of music. (If it were then there wouldn't be so many problems at the end of each one.)

[j$]

Fluffy, one could also say to your good self, JFDI - it's the *gift* of music, not the *thought that counts* of music