Restlessness Makes You Lazy

Fun in Rain Song tuning

2010-01-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

Messing around with some chords. Check it.

Miracle

Back in Action

2009-12-10T22:47:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, new borrowed guitar + abundance of free time equals some new recordings.

We Laugh Indoors (Death Cab Cover)

Tales of the Friendly Biker

2009-09-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

New Song, remember to always watch for pedestrians...and people who ride their bike to work

Tales of the Friendly Biker.mp3

Cold Love

2009-08-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

New song, lemme know what you think.

Also, working on a really lo fi album, which this song in a better form will be a part of, title is 'One Day Soon, One Day Soon, One Day Soon'. More on that later.

Cold Love.mp3

Scenes From The Coroner's Gambit

2009-08-24T21:36:00.000-07:00

In celebration of an upgrade to Windows 7, and everything still working and in tact, I've recorded three cover songs that I think people should hear. These are a couple songs off of an early Mountain Goats album that I think are just stellar, both lyrically and melodically. The final song, The Mess Inside, is from the album 'All Hail West Texas'. I can't express enough how much I hold these songs in high regard, so I hope you all enjoy them too!

There Will Be No Divorce.mp3

The Alphonse Mambo.mp3

The Mess Inside.mp3

Round and Round we go

2009-08-11T20:27:00.000-07:00

Check it, enjoy overproduction

Plastic Dreams of Porcelain People

New song

2009-08-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

This song is about things.

Better This Way.mp3

More Untitled

2009-07-06T21:17:00.001-07:00

Lemme know, ideas, thoughts, etc

Untitled3.mp3

Another song

2009-06-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

bam, songwriting streak, be prepared

Untitled Two.mp3

Booya

2009-06-10T20:23:00.001-07:00

New song tonight, too tired to think of a name, lemme know if you guys have any ideas, just kinda wrote it while playing around with tunings.

Untitled.mp3

new version

2009-06-02T20:43:00.001-07:00

anyone like this? its a rough cut, but its kinda what i want to do with the song

maybeitsme.mp3

Jay Bennett, Dead at 45

2009-05-27T11:06:00.001-07:00

Song For Jay.mp3

My new microphone and I made friends

2009-04-29T23:03:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,
Just did my first mix/match recording. Vox, guitar, and sax. Hope you like this new version of an old standard. Let me know what you think.

As I Recall

Peace Treaty

2009-04-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

I just revamped one of my first songs from the site, see if you like the new and improved, hopefully, version.

Peace Treaty.mp3

I Still Believe

2009-04-19T18:49:00.000-07:00

First song in awhile, hope you enjoy it

I Still Believe.mp3

New York Sunset And You

2009-04-08T23:09:00.000-07:00

New Song!

2008-12-21T23:36:00.001-08:00

i saw the future in a dream last night
somebody's gonna get screwed
it won't be me
one day i am gonna walk out of here free

just a quick hello to give an update. my sister and i did a show at brewed awakenings saturday, and i thought it went fantastic, it was a blast to just get up and play, and a special thank you to the few who braved the cold and snow in order to make it up to hear us. I'll be back with more consistent updates soon. until then, take care.

21

2008-12-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

Wrote this for my birthday, hope you enjoy it

21.mp3

Second Thoughts on a Midnight Hour

2008-11-13T00:47:00.000-08:00

Second Thoughts on a Midnight Hour

Walking In the Sky

2008-11-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

Happy November

Walking in the Sky.mp3

Maybe It's Me

2008-10-26T19:46:00.000-07:00

We're back after an extended hiatus...a couple big surprises in the future and such. For now, here's a one song update. I really like the chorus of this song, and have for awhile, but never really came up with good verses. Here is my most recent attempt.

Maybe It's Me.mp3

Black Pear Tree

2008-10-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

This song has quickly become my favorite song. I hope you enjoy it. John Darnielle is a demigod

Black Pear Tree.mp3

Update version 2

2008-10-15T21:57:00.001-07:00

I promise I have not forgotten to post songs. I'm working on something currently, and shall post it when i'm finished. Being home leaves me without a mic.

Update

2008-10-14T03:20:00.000-07:00

tomorrow comes a massive update, i promise, i've been too busy playing gta4 and hosting awesome weekend guests to post anything, but i promise tomorrow comes an update not seen since the last person updated 4 songs in one day.

Liquor Store

2008-10-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a special song of the day, written and performed by Brock

The Liquor Store.mp3

On Ice

2008-10-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

Chris Thile cover featuring special guest Brock O'Keefe all the way from Purdue

On Ice.mp3

2008-10-10T00:14:00.000-07:00

and even if my voice comes back again, maybe therell be no one listening
and even if you find the strength to stand, it doesnt mean you wont go missing

Remember When

2008-10-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

I'll regret this, I fought until the end. Our memories mean nothing if this is where we stand. I'm drunk and feeling fine, and you better be ready for all I'm gonna say. I'll scare you to death and push you away, but I don't want you to go. Bracelets and dimes, heading south for the day. Friendly fire, please stay. So what changes when everything is said. You're crying on the couch, and I'm feeling half dead. I'm still hollow inside, and there's no way for you to save me now. I'll blame you for this, and spit in your face. I'm not sorry anymore.
I remember feeling fine.

Remember When.mp3

Road Trip

2008-10-07T21:02:00.000-07:00

I wrote this song about a trip I took this summer by myself, hope you enjoy it. On a side not, guest artist this weekend, more details to come.

Setting sleep to the songs, and I swear it was you who remembered the name. Mumbling words and white lines, a terrible time on the interstate. It's harder with every mile but I'm going out in style. Crashing waysides and highway signs, I know whats mine. Trace the maps and the route looks better, it's a shame no one knew who to call. Gas and drinks for the lot and maybe I'm pissed off at no one at all. It's crossing state lines, and never reminded, I'm gone without care or remorse, I'm running my course. Driving 65 across the interstate, it gets lonely but I know you're there. I'm going without you, and I don't know what I'm going to do, but I know you care.

Road Trip.mp3

Good Night and Good Luck

2008-10-06T22:33:00.001-07:00

Tonights song took me a bit to write, but I like how it turned out. It's kinda a lullaby of sorts, good for falling asleep to.

You're sleeping alone again, it's been a long year. I'm finding my home again, and I'm finding my fears. It's nothing I'll remember, I'll make a few mistakes. Finding someone else but missing your embrace. Good night from this small lonely hole in the world. And if it's anything, I'd give up the world to be the glint in your eye. It's been a long time, but it's right. What happens to lonely souls, the hearts black with rage? Are they free like the others or trapped in their cage. Is it better off pretending that everything is fine? Fading through days and falling fast behind.
Good luck from this small lonely hole in the world.

Good Night and Good Luck.mp3

As I Recall

2008-10-05T20:38:00.000-07:00

This song has been my staple for like 2 years now. I'm not going to post lyrics because I don't feel like typing them, and honestly, if you're reading this blog, you probably have heard me play it too many times already.

As I Recall.mp3

Loser's Anthem (Inferiority)

2008-10-05T20:25:00.000-07:00

Let me get this out of the way--I hate this song. I really liked the chords when I first wrote it some 4 years ago, but yesterday when I found it in an old notebook and tried to re-write it, I realized that I still hated the song, so it's pretty much the same as it was years ago. If you have any ideas of how to improve it, I'm all ears. Right now, I just can't stand to listen to it anymore.

I'm not the best there is, so I won't even try. There's someone else who's better; A stand up kinda guy. I know I wont pretend to dress the part and go to town. The witty, fun, and clever, they're all better than me now. It's getting kind of lonely in this holed up kinda world. All I need's a purpose and a stand up kinda girl. But if I could breathe, than I would fly away.

Losers Anthem (Inferiority).mp3

Winter Song

2008-10-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

Massive updatage ahead. I owe myself 3 songs, heres the first one for tonight.

There are no leaves on these trees. The ground is bare as bones. Down the road at 3am, I'm heading home, and I'm hoping to see you. It's not the silence, but somethings gotta give. You've got that look again, saying I shouldn't bother but I will. I'm trying as hard as I can, and I'm screaming inside. There are no easy answers. There is no easy way. (I'm) trying hard to work it out, but every day's the same, and it's weighing me down. I'm sleepless again, a long night and heavy thoughts. Snow shines through the windows, I know I forgot to shovel. I'm staying in. Just a tune in my head and a lifetime to live. It's not about pain, it's not about love, it's not about making every day hopeful and free. I'm making the best of what I've got, but I know it's not the best for me.

Winter Song.mp3

Notification

2008-10-03T21:39:00.000-07:00

2 songs tomorrow, I have one written but i cannot record tonight due to sleeping roomates

We're Like Water

2008-10-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

Story time! The concept of this song was originally created by my brother, so I must admit, it is not an entirely original song. I stole the concept and the main riff you hear at the beginning from his song 'Hydrogen'. If you'd like to check out some of his stuff, his band's page is www.purevolume.com/publicradioneenah.

I can still see your face, and I can still trace your outline but I'm missing the better part of me. Here's the place you hid yourself, and here's the door where you said "I'm still here, but I'm getting hard to see". If you're still how I remember, and If I'm still the man I see. I'm hydrogen, you're oxygen, I'd need two of you to ever be complete. Floating high and second thoughts crowd my head. It's getting clearer but it's getting hard to try. How could I know what I needed? How could I have let you down. I know I'm never satisfied.

We're Like Water.mp3

She Sings Sad Songs

2008-10-01T19:02:00.001-07:00

Today's post goes with a story. I was going to write this song a long time ago, came up with the title of the song and the chorus about 3 years ago. Today I was looking through some old notebooks and kinda just started writing verses on a riff to the chorus. It's choppy and kinda unformulaic, but I think I like how it turned out. Also, its tough playing guitar with a strained back, so I apologize if the playing sounds a bit rough. Enjoy-

I used to hope for someone else, but now it's only you. I spent weeks left alone and you pulled through. Tell me that story again; where it all works out fine in the end, I'm feeling bored again. So how can I feel the same? It's something I'd never say. It's something I'd never do. How about you? Please don't cry yourself to sleep tonight, you'll be fine in the morning. I don't remember how we met, but I'll never forget you. There was a time when I felt it, maybe that's gone. You were with me every day singing sad songs. Sing me anger, and hate, and bitterness. It's all my fault, I know that you're missing the spotlight and I'm not convinced.

She Sings Sad Songs.mp3

Forget the Words

2008-09-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

Talking to strangers there are no receptive eyes. It's lonelier than usual but I'll make it through tonight. It's hard enough to find yourself again in someone else's arms. I'm missing the meaning, but there's a song I used to know. Something about changing and letting you go. I'm trying hard as hell to find the words that will bring you back to me. What am I doing here? Gotta find another way to forget you today. Tell me you miss me. Tell me anything at all. It's four in the morning and I"m still waiting for a call. Suffer me this circumstantial way and let me breathe. What am I doing here? Gotta find another way to forget you today

Forget the Words.mp3

September 29th, 3pm

2008-09-29T12:41:00.000-07:00

Here it is. The first song in this series. I'm not promising anything groundbreaking or even anything good, I'm just promising a song every day.

Song For Construction Noise

I've been sleeping so long so I know its gotta be time. The sun rises on a new day, and I'm feeling the fire. No more empty promises, and no more time for change. I'm better than I'll ever be, and I'm more than ever the same. Fuck, all that insight: it's bullshit, you're feeding me lies. I can't stand to live with the way I've been wasting my time. No more sitting idle, and no more tempting fate. I'm moving on to higher ground, and I'm moving far away. I cant live another empty day. I cant waste another minute of my time. Hoping for answers has taken me so long, so I'm taking what's mine.

Song For Construction Noise.mp3

BONUS SONG

Whenever I get a request for a cover, I'll tag it on with a normal post for the day. Here's James Morrison's 'You Give Me Something', recorded earlier this afternoon.

You Give Me Something.mp3

September 29th, 3am

2008-09-29T00:53:00.000-07:00

I'm starting. I'm sick of sitting around. I'm sick of being unmotivated. I'm sick of music not being a bigger part of my life. Starting now, this is going to change.
If you're reading this, you probably know me pretty well, and have heard some of my songs before. Starting now, there's going to be alot more out there.
I havn't exactly thought this through, but a beam of inspiration hit me earlier tonight. I was browsing various music blogs, and stumbled upon 'intoitoverit'. Evan Weiss, the writer/ musician who sponsors it, agreed to write a song a week for an entire year. 52 songs in all. This kinda stuck with me...sure, some of the songs suck, but theres effort in there, its a creative goal to shoot for.
I need to start writing songs again, and I know I'm not going to start until I have some sort of goal.
So here it is- starting right now, 3am, monday morning, september 29th, I am going to write music. A song a day, if I can keep it up. I'll post the lyrics and perhaps a link to the song up here for all to view, that is of course once I can figure out some place to host my mp3 files. I am going to do this until my birthday, December 19th, and maybe even after that. Consider this an early 'new years resolution' of sorts...an early birthday present to my future self.

Check back often, I want people to hear this music, I want people to enjoy it, I'll even take song requests/ subject requests/ style requests....anything to keep me creative and motivated to do this.

Heres a toast to the future, and a toast to getting back to what you love to do, whatever that may be.

James