Bad News, Worse News, hope?

So first the good news that didn't seem to find its way into the title. I finally finished (for the most part) the song I have been trying to write for a couple of months now. To say that I am pretty excited would be a mild understatement. The bad news was that as I was playing to the first person (Dana) to hear it, in fact as I strummed the last triumphant variation of a D chord, the D string snapped. This means that, until I put new strings on the guitar, I can't record the song as either a demo to send to Greg or to post here. In fact I can't record anything to post here (yeah yeah excuses excuses). The worse news is that Greg in his wisdom did some research and it would appear that the booking agency I was so excited about is a scam so that's kinda the end of that.

In far more positive news I went on a bit of a buying spree at my local independent record store and picked up among other things the (comparatively) new album from Canadian Indie rockers The New Pornographers, Challengers. I was surprised to notice that apparently I had been ignoring my itunes labels and have been enjoying a track off of Challengers for quite some time now. For me at least, the song Mutiny, I Promise You is the standout of the track from the pipe organ hook at the beginning to the echo-y boy girl vocal build of the chorus and finally the chorus itself a simple two line affair that was what attracted me to the song in the first place. Other favorite tracks on the album include the call and answer Myriad Harbor and the opener My Rights Versus Yours. As far as the overall sound of album its the same catchy and melodically complex stuff as previous Pornographer's albums but it struck me that it seemed there was a bit more of a folk/country elements to a number of songs which I hadn't remembered from other work by them. Even when she wasn't singing, it reminded me a bit of singer Neko Case's solo work. In all an excellent use of my money I feel (and I so rarely feel that way).

A final note about formats. I bought the album on vinyl and since the band is on Matador records the vinyl comes with a free mp3 download of the songs. A couple other labels do this as well including my personal favorite Saddle Creek. It is without a doubt my favorite trend in music today. Singlehandedly it has made vinyl a reasonable format to purchase music in again. I guess the new mp3/usb turntables do too but I don't have one, so screw 'em.

No new music but a new resolution.

I haven't got a new recording yet because my room is still utterly filthy but I thought I'd let everyone in my new idea for the blog. Besides the theoretical recordings which I hope to begin posting again soon, I will be adding some more links soon and hopefully be doing some reviews. If i get a new album, finish a book, see a new movie or go to a concert I will provide you, my readers, with my thoughts on it. If this sucks please let me know and I'll stop but for a while there I was kind of doing this anyway and it seemed to be going pretty well. Also I'm hoping I'll have news about the band to impart so that will find it's way in here. The current news is that BigTime booking out of Boston has contacted us (which I was sure was never going to happen again) and they have added us to their roster and will be trying to find us some shows in the area. This is exciting.
Going back to a previous note, I recently saw the new National Treasure two movie with my friend Lauren (that's Bama to most of you). and it is........kind of awful. But funny if you're into that sort of thing.
I promise that the new reviews will be better than that.

Lots of apologies to anyone still tuning in

As the title says, I'm really sorry about the dearth of new posts/ recordings of late. For a while there I was trying to get through finals with tests to be studied for and papers to be written and I couldn't really spend the hour and a half or so I spend a night trying to figure out what to play let alone actually recording it and posting it. Now that the semester is over and I am back home I have only to clean up my room enough to set up the mic stand without breaking things. The good news though is that the blog should be back in a couple of days and the better news is that I'm going to be doing a bunch of original bits of songs and complete songs so I can get them in there before people realize that I'm doing the blog again.

Also: Tautology is my word of the week. Look it up and if you see me try to get me to use it so that it becomes part of my vocabulary. The prize for this game is that if you do it and remind me, I will write you a song of thanks. (I know, I know "pretty super duper prize there Keegan!")

Riff Numero Tres

Today's recording is another riff because as the semester winds down, I am less and less inclined to sit down and record a song. I would like to give special thanks to Greg Burton, for showing me how to play the D7 chord that comes in towards the end of this so

***The Wonky D Riff

Back Again

So I said I was back and then I disappeared again and I'm really sorry about that. I understand that the only way to get ahead in the blogosphere is consistency and in failing that, I not only let myself down, but I let you my readers/listeners (?) down as well and I apologize. Hopefully it won't happened again thought I think it is more likely I will be taking weekends off more often. That said, I have what I think is a really good reason for being away. I spent quite a good bit of time this week working with Greg recording his Christmas song for the Asthmatic Kitty and personally I think it sounds pretty awesome. But don't take my word for it because the finished product that was sent off to the label is today's recording. NOTE: The format for this one is a bit different from what I've used before it will probably make you download the song. But thats not the end of the world right?? A whole free Kid Omega song just for you (and whoever else).

Drawing In Fog

I'm Back!!!! and it's a little lame

Whew! So yeah I slightly longer hiatus than I said I would but now I'm back. Today's recording is another 'just-a-riff.' This is a little riff that I came up with while I was home. It sounded better originally on the instrument I wrote it on which was the only one left in my room; a 5 string Egmund acoustic. I actually liked the song better when the guitar was missing its 'D' string because it separated the two low strings from the three highest making a banjo or dulcimer like sound. I furthered this effect by playing with a metal pick. Unfortunately all that is rather moot because on this recording I'm playing my Washburn, freshly tuned, with all its strings. And of course I'm not letting metal pick anywhere near my good guitar.

The Riff!

P.S. I would also like to thank my wonderful and highly literate parents for doing some necessary quality control for me.

Hiatus

In case you're wondering where yesterday's recording was, I am taking the week a thanksgiving off because I will be home without my guitar or recording setup. I'll be back hopefully on Sunday night but definitely by Monday.