A/D VOL 1 is a new e.p. that i've released this week. it is the first in a series of 3 (at least), and most of what you will hear in this series is improvised and recorded in one take. we're still working on the full-length, which i'm very excited about - i can't wait for people to hear, which means i should get moving!
giants
i haven't posted much in awhile, and i have a number of excuses, but my favourite one is that i've been very slowly working on a new album. this will be the second official album, and i shall bore you with some of it's challenges.
i want to make something that is quite a bit different from the last one, but i still want it to sound like economics, whatever that means. this song is called 'giants' and it is the first one that i recorded with the intention of being a 'new album' song. i was quite happy with it, even though the autoharp is out of tune (tuning an autoharp requires much more patience than i possess). when i listen to this song, though, it's clear that i wasn't sure how i wanted the new record to sound like. this song sounds like it would fit fine on the first album. it's typical economics: simple, minor-keyed chord progression, a few more instruments come in, the drums kick in, the song builds steam, then falls back down again. it's fine but it doesn't sound 'new' to me. it won't be on the album (at least not in this form), so i've decided to post it here for your enjoyment and/or criticism.
recording and listening to this song did, however, help me (sort of) figure out how i wanted the new album to sound. i'm still not sure if that sound is what will come out in the end. we shall see.
giants by economics
i want to make something that is quite a bit different from the last one, but i still want it to sound like economics, whatever that means. this song is called 'giants' and it is the first one that i recorded with the intention of being a 'new album' song. i was quite happy with it, even though the autoharp is out of tune (tuning an autoharp requires much more patience than i possess). when i listen to this song, though, it's clear that i wasn't sure how i wanted the new record to sound like. this song sounds like it would fit fine on the first album. it's typical economics: simple, minor-keyed chord progression, a few more instruments come in, the drums kick in, the song builds steam, then falls back down again. it's fine but it doesn't sound 'new' to me. it won't be on the album (at least not in this form), so i've decided to post it here for your enjoyment and/or criticism.
recording and listening to this song did, however, help me (sort of) figure out how i wanted the new album to sound. i'm still not sure if that sound is what will come out in the end. we shall see.
giants by economics
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Monday, September 27, 2010
dj shadow remix project
for anyone who has heard anything that i have ever recorded, you may have noticed that i really like dj shadow. a few months ago, dj shadow announced on his website that he was inviting his fans to remix any of his songs and send them in. i found this rather exciting, so, over a weekend, i recorded a version of 'mongrel meets his maker.' i was not very pleased with the result, but was tickled to see that mr. shadow himself commented on the track - he typed 'like it.' so i tried another one - 'what does your soul look like part 2' - which i was quite pleased with.
dj shadow has decided to release a series of these remixes - called the dj shadow remix project - on a cd which will be included for free with any order from his website. in what i assume was some sort of clerical error, my version of 'what does your soul look like part 2' was selected for the album. this is amazing for me. it means many many more people will hear something i have made. it's just great.
and i am in very good company. i have heard a few of these remixes, and they are fantastic - i can't wait to hear the rest.
here is a teaser:
Remix Project Teaser-CD Coming Soon! by djshadow
if you're not familiar with dj shadow, i suggest you head over to djshadow.com, order one or more of his albums (they're all good), and you'll get a copy of the remix project cd. for those who are familiar with dj shadow, there are plenty of other goodies for sale on the website, such as some lovely handmade vinyl, and some nice rare funk and soul records.
dj shadow has decided to release a series of these remixes - called the dj shadow remix project - on a cd which will be included for free with any order from his website. in what i assume was some sort of clerical error, my version of 'what does your soul look like part 2' was selected for the album. this is amazing for me. it means many many more people will hear something i have made. it's just great.
and i am in very good company. i have heard a few of these remixes, and they are fantastic - i can't wait to hear the rest.
here is a teaser:
Remix Project Teaser-CD Coming Soon! by djshadow
if you're not familiar with dj shadow, i suggest you head over to djshadow.com, order one or more of his albums (they're all good), and you'll get a copy of the remix project cd. for those who are familiar with dj shadow, there are plenty of other goodies for sale on the website, such as some lovely handmade vinyl, and some nice rare funk and soul records.
1 comments
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
sled island
economics is going to sled island!
we have applied to play at festivals in the past, but like my highschool and college days, have been faced with harsh rejection. i get the feeling, however, that many festivals base their selection criteria on name recognition, without really taking the time to listen to all of the submissions. the fact that the folks at sled island chose economics, who do no touring, get no radio play, and have no charisma, means an awful lot. it means that there will be plenty of artists at the festival that you have not heard of. this is what festivals need: some small, unknown, talented acts playing alongside some big guns like dinosaur jr., built to spill, and les savy fav. it's a great opportunity for the little fish like us.
the festival takes places from june 30 to july 3 in calgary. the schedule will be posted on june 1 - stay tuned to find out when are where we are playing. i am hoping to construct a set that will make people lose their minds, although i am sure it will just be mildly enjoyable.
we have applied to play at festivals in the past, but like my highschool and college days, have been faced with harsh rejection. i get the feeling, however, that many festivals base their selection criteria on name recognition, without really taking the time to listen to all of the submissions. the fact that the folks at sled island chose economics, who do no touring, get no radio play, and have no charisma, means an awful lot. it means that there will be plenty of artists at the festival that you have not heard of. this is what festivals need: some small, unknown, talented acts playing alongside some big guns like dinosaur jr., built to spill, and les savy fav. it's a great opportunity for the little fish like us.
the festival takes places from june 30 to july 3 in calgary. the schedule will be posted on june 1 - stay tuned to find out when are where we are playing. i am hoping to construct a set that will make people lose their minds, although i am sure it will just be mildly enjoyable.
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Thursday, May 6, 2010
damon albarn: talented
my earliest exposure to blur was the video for 'boys & girls.' i hated it, i thought it was annoying, and i was a 12-year old little snot. ever so slowly, blur has become one of my most favourite acts, as their songs picked their way into my brain. if i were somehow forced to make i list of my top 100 pop songs, i think i would have about 5 blur songs on the list: beetlebum, there's no other way, coffee & tv, ambulance, and clover over dover. perhaps more.
i was obviously sad when blur decided to call it quits, and happy when they reformed recently, but i have since become mightily impressed by damon albarn's various side-projects. 'the good, the bad, and the queen' is a wonderful album, and i think people may have been scared off by the 'supergroup' stigma attached to it. take a look at the performance embedded below. i hope they do another album together soon.
as the weather warms, i find myself unable to resist the newest gorillaz album, 'plastic beach.' like many blur albums, it could use some editing, but has some really amazing songs. have a gander at 'stylo' below. it's simple and fun, like previous gorillaz singles, but there's something intangible about it that brings it to near-perfection.
about a month ago, damon albarn turned 47. there are few artists who can keep turning out interesting material for decades - many seem to drift into folk-pop or 'classic rock' territory and camp out there for awhile - but albarn keeps throwing himself into unfamiliar genres, and succeeding. after listening to 'plastic beach' over the last couple of months, i'm hoping for an electro-pop solo album, or perhaps a movie score, but i'm sure he'll surprise me with something completely different.
i was obviously sad when blur decided to call it quits, and happy when they reformed recently, but i have since become mightily impressed by damon albarn's various side-projects. 'the good, the bad, and the queen' is a wonderful album, and i think people may have been scared off by the 'supergroup' stigma attached to it. take a look at the performance embedded below. i hope they do another album together soon.
as the weather warms, i find myself unable to resist the newest gorillaz album, 'plastic beach.' like many blur albums, it could use some editing, but has some really amazing songs. have a gander at 'stylo' below. it's simple and fun, like previous gorillaz singles, but there's something intangible about it that brings it to near-perfection.
about a month ago, damon albarn turned 47. there are few artists who can keep turning out interesting material for decades - many seem to drift into folk-pop or 'classic rock' territory and camp out there for awhile - but albarn keeps throwing himself into unfamiliar genres, and succeeding. after listening to 'plastic beach' over the last couple of months, i'm hoping for an electro-pop solo album, or perhaps a movie score, but i'm sure he'll surprise me with something completely different.
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Friday, April 23, 2010
i am no fun
i've been told several times that i am no fun. here are some people who are less fun than i:
people on diets
exhibit a: they have coined the phrase "nothing tastes as good as thin feels"
if you ever go to a restaurant with someone on a diet, prepare to have no fun. you will be criticized no matter what you order ("there's alot of carbs in that pasta there") and you will have to hear about all the nutritional benefits of the spinach salad they just ordered. i'm quite sure mozza burgers taste much better than thin feels. i used to be thin, and i was miserable. almost as miserable as people on diets.
people who exercise
exhibit a: your facebook friend's bench press update
the gym is one of the least fun places in the whole wide world. go to an underdeveloped country and try to explain to people the concept of recreational exercise. it will blow their minds as to how boring and unnecessary that is. for those of you who do exercise, just know that we are not impressed by how much you exercise, even though i am sure that you will let me know anyways.
food snobs
exhibit a: the popularity if 'asian fusion'
food snobs will make you feel guilty for enjoying food. that is my new definition of no fun. i feel guilty enough for eating fast food, chips, and slurpees from the people on diets, so i don't need to feel guilty because the food i eat "isn't real food." you know what the three best restaurants in the whole world are? taco bell, IHOP, and chili's. food snobs will pretend to despise such places, and secretly (or perhaps openly) despise you for enjoying them.
workaholics
exhibit a: your co-workers
i am convinced that most workaholics have become such because they do not like their families, so they would rather spend their time at work. it's great if you love, or even like, your job. but if you love your job so much that you spend extra time on it - that your job is better than free time to do whatever you want - you are no fun. for the workaholic, they would rather work than do anything else! this is remarkable. me:"say, what are you doing this weekend?" you:"putting in some extra work for a company that doesn't really care about me. you?" me:"i'm going to eat some nachos and watch some march madness. then i'm going to have a nap. then i'll listen to some records before heading out to chili's to have dinner with friends" who is more fun, me or you? me.
people on diets
exhibit a: they have coined the phrase "nothing tastes as good as thin feels"
if you ever go to a restaurant with someone on a diet, prepare to have no fun. you will be criticized no matter what you order ("there's alot of carbs in that pasta there") and you will have to hear about all the nutritional benefits of the spinach salad they just ordered. i'm quite sure mozza burgers taste much better than thin feels. i used to be thin, and i was miserable. almost as miserable as people on diets.
people who exercise
exhibit a: your facebook friend's bench press update
the gym is one of the least fun places in the whole wide world. go to an underdeveloped country and try to explain to people the concept of recreational exercise. it will blow their minds as to how boring and unnecessary that is. for those of you who do exercise, just know that we are not impressed by how much you exercise, even though i am sure that you will let me know anyways.
food snobs
exhibit a: the popularity if 'asian fusion'
food snobs will make you feel guilty for enjoying food. that is my new definition of no fun. i feel guilty enough for eating fast food, chips, and slurpees from the people on diets, so i don't need to feel guilty because the food i eat "isn't real food." you know what the three best restaurants in the whole world are? taco bell, IHOP, and chili's. food snobs will pretend to despise such places, and secretly (or perhaps openly) despise you for enjoying them.
workaholics
exhibit a: your co-workers
i am convinced that most workaholics have become such because they do not like their families, so they would rather spend their time at work. it's great if you love, or even like, your job. but if you love your job so much that you spend extra time on it - that your job is better than free time to do whatever you want - you are no fun. for the workaholic, they would rather work than do anything else! this is remarkable. me:"say, what are you doing this weekend?" you:"putting in some extra work for a company that doesn't really care about me. you?" me:"i'm going to eat some nachos and watch some march madness. then i'm going to have a nap. then i'll listen to some records before heading out to chili's to have dinner with friends" who is more fun, me or you? me.
1 comments
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
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