Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 25 - Downstream by Chris Devine
Chris gets (relatively) funky, employing rhythms and guitar stuff never before seen in one of his songs. But what does it mean?
Jul 30, 2009•3 min
The Song-a-Week Podcast
Totally new, never-heard-before music every week! The SAW is a loose collective of artists led by the former members of the band Haiku Rd., engaging in a creative experiment to write and record a song in one week, and post it here. We managed at least one every week through 2007 and one new one in 2008. Now, in 2009, we're back in earnest! Anyone who's game is welcome to participate.
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Episodes
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 24 - You Already Know by Erik Matthew Hendel
EMH contemplates the idea of being set in one's ways, especially if the ways aren't that beneficial.
Jul 08, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 23 - Natural Disasters by Chris Devine
OK, so the SAW has slipped to a schedule that might be more aptly termed 'occasional', but we're still determined to get caught up. For this week, Chris cuts it up with a KLF/JAMs/Timelords-inspired dance number containing little other than drum loops and samples from other sources (and some other synths to round things out). The samples included come from CDs by Consolidated, Shawn Colvin, Ashley MacIsaac and Leonard Cohen. How's that for an eclectic mix?
Jun 26, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 22 - Firing Line by Erik Matthew Hendel
Still behind schedule, but destined to catch up (someday), SAW plows forward with this EMH contribution. Enjoy the Bruce Springsteen inspired vocal performance in this rocked up acoustic gem of mixed metaphors.
Jun 17, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 21 - I Wanted to Be by Chris Devine
Vacation, desperate illness, writer's block ... These all had a hand in much delaying this latest creation from Chris. He says he's really sorry. This difficult slice of soul-searching was written at the guitar in a few minutes and recorded in under two hours. After weeks or months of desperate nothingness, this is a good thing. The arrangement is pretty spare ... just guitars, bass, piano and vocal. A bonus song will follow within a few days, then Erik will be back next week to get us back on s...
Jun 04, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 20 - Difficult Goodbye by Erik Matthew Hendel
Erik is very late with his submission for this week's SAW, and though he'd like to solely blame his malfunctioning computer for this tardy tune, procrastination is definitely a co-conspirator. Enjoy the nonsense!
May 22, 2009•4 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 19 - Richard E. Moore
Chris finally gets a break with this song from the NyQuil-addled mind of Richard. He blames illness for a lack of polish and weak vocals ... Honestly, though, he sounds fine!
May 13, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 18 - There Are No Words by Chris Devine
'There Are No Words' is more of a description than a title for this one, but titling instrumentals is always tough. Chris offers up his second-in-a-row SAW, this one a blatant attempt at dance pop, only without words.
May 06, 2009•4 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 17 - Naked by Chris Devine
Chris lopes slowly into view with this laid back slice of weirdness. A sparse arrangement and more comfortable songwriting ground than his previous couple contributions. He had trouble coming up with a title for this one -- it was almost called Song 17, but that seemed a little too 'Blur'. By the way, have you checked out the SAW Blog yet? www.haikurd.com/SAW ...
Apr 29, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 16 - Miles More Pain by Erik Matthew Hendel
Enjoy this poetry inspired folk song of how waiting out corporate downsizing is something akin to riding a slow and demented train ride.
Apr 22, 2009•4 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 15 - Go Through Me by Richard E. Moore
Says the composer: "Let's see: Melody and title came to me while driving and notated on my cell phone. Not safe, don't recommend it. Debut of my mandolin (if I remember correctly) in the SAW, hello to that - not safe, wouldn't recommend it. That's about all I gotta say about that. Be safe, y'all."
Apr 15, 2009•5 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 14 - Cathedral Prayers by Chris Devine
After a week or two of ingesting entirely too much John Foxx (in his ambient music mode) and Throbbing Gristle, Chris offers up this ... um ... 'song' to a weary world. Lacking a fixed structure, melody, lyrics, or even an identifiable chord progression, this one certainly falls into the experimental category. Thoughtful, urgent at times ... and far too short.
Apr 08, 2009•4 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 13 - Disgrace by Erik Matthew Hendel
Better late than never, EMH offers this take on greed in 2009 ... from the point of view of children (or maybe aliens). Chalk it all up to some weird nightmares - and current, real-world events.
Apr 02, 2009•5 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 12 - How True is Your Love? by Chris Devine
Chris set off with a few things in mind ... A title, a first line and a determination to do an '80s techno-pop style ballad. While this one, like his last couple, wandered off in some unexpected directions, he was at least closer to the neighborhood he had in mind than the last couple times. Consider it also, in some ways, a tribute to one of his favorite bands, Spandau Ballet, who announced their reunion today after almost 20 years apart. Probably has more in common with Pet Shop Boys, to be ho...
Mar 25, 2009•5 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 11 - Before I Fall by Richard E. Moore
Richard makes use of hand-brushed acoustic, strummed acoustic, solo electric (x2), three vocals and bass to prepare what might almost be termed a .. erm ... happy song!
Mar 19, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 10 - Home by Erik Matthew Hendel
This number by Mr. Hendel examines the attitude of the modern home owner.
Mar 12, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 9 - This Conversation by Chris Devine
Nothing about this offering from Chris came out exactly as planned. Slow, meditative fingerpick? Gone. Lush, dense arrangement? Gone. Happy, uplifting lyrics? Oh, so gone. That said, this sparse piece of lovelorn desperation features Chris's first ever guest performer, the fine fiddler Becky Wolfe from his regular band, Inis. The fiddle bits were recorded on stage between sets at an Irish pub and hence are a bit rough but add a nice touch. And lest his recent string of love-gone-wrong songs give...
Mar 04, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 8 - Salt Bones by Richard E. Moore
Richard pinch-hits this week for Chris, who had to leave town on a family emergency and then for vacation, for which Richard has Chris's undying gratitude. This week, he offers up 'Salt Bones', which he bills as 'kind of a love song to my wife.' He continues, 'I set out to play with finger-picking, and, well, mischief managed.' Oh, dear.
Feb 26, 2009•5 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 7 - Chance Has Favored You by Erik Matthew Hendel
This contribution was written to be an up-tempo duet, but conflicting schedules couldn't get the other vocalist recorded for this week. So, Erik makes a new arrangement of the song and sings it himself, with a cold. He wasn't doing a Tom Waits impersonation. Really. And this vocal was done in almost one take ... because he couldn't possibly muster up a second one. (This also explains why there are no back-ups or harmonies.)
Feb 19, 2009•4 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 6 - Always Too Much by Richard E. Moore
Quoth Richard: I set out to finally use my Long-Scale 3 String Chromatic Strumstick in a SAW! Hooray me! I actually tooled around with 2 other mellow singer/songwriter type songs, but neither came to fruition, so I returned to an instrumental that I had done late last week. I filled it out, but it still wasn't quite busy enough to be JUST and instrumental, so I put some fitting lyrics on the first part. And VOILA: SAW! I also finally employed my Boss DR-670 drum machine, marking its SAW debut as...
Feb 11, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 5 - Only When I'm With You by Chris Devine
This song wasn't supposed to turn out this way! The lyrics were written first, and the guitar-composed music seemed to point to a sensitive singer-songwriter approach. But the thematic similarities to the Pet Shop Boys' 'You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk' and the general PSB-like melody eventually saw Chris's comfortable guitar strum give way to this more lush, mostly-electronic arrangement topped with four-part harmonies. He's almost unbecomingly proud of this one.
Feb 04, 2009•4 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 4 - Where the Grass is Greener by Son of Rust
With this week's SAW, we are pleased to welcome a new contributor, Portland's renowned Son of Rust! 'Where the Grass is Greener' is a buzzing, urgent and oddly tuneful bit of synthpop reminiscent of She Wants Revenge, Nine Inch Nails on a (relatively) calm day or Depeche Mode on a fussy one. Comparisons to Camouflage, Cause and Effect and Information Society, while warranted, don't give SoR enough credit! Learn more at www.sonofrust.com ... you'll be glad you did.
Jan 28, 2009•4 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 3 - Attach Another Line by Erik M. Hendel
For week three, yet another former Haiku Rd. alum offers up his song, 'Attach Another Line'. This song seems to be about a girl, but it is really about an addiction to that series of tubes we call the Internet. Or, if you like, it could be about cocaine ... or a girl.
Jan 21, 2009•4 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 2 - Stand Up by Richard E. Moore
Welcome back for another installment of the Song-a-Week Podcast! This week, former Haiku Roadster and current Portland, Oregon, resident offers up his song, 'Stand Up', without further comment. Punctuated by various bursts of guitar noise and echoey background vocals, the song's arrangement is spare, bordering on ascetic. Stay tuned for next Wednesday, when we learn if 'EMH' stands for something only Star Trek geeks would get, or if they're the initials of a Phoenix-area singer-songwriter-guitar...
Jan 14, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2009, No. 1 - Distortion by Chris Devine
And with this song, the SAW buzzes to life once again! Yes, it's true, folks, the Song a Week Podcast is back for 2009. Expect a new song at least every Wednesday by midnight. This one comes in a little early, though ... Chris was champing at the bit to get moving again! Chris plays around with a BUNCH of layered drum loops, electric guitar and bass. Add vocals, and that's all! Oh, plus some very clever editing. Both of the instruments and one of the drum lines are distorted; hence the title! SO...
Jan 07, 2009•3 min
Song a Week Podcast 2008, No. 1 - Ordinary by Running Still
The band Running Still adds our first of the revamped SAW of 2008. Band member, Ben Zwerin explains "It was all done within a week. Our singer and writer Asi writes really fast and we were already in the studio at that point so we were able to do it all in a couple of days!" Enjoy this track and learn more at www.runningstillmusic.com.
Jan 23, 2008•4 min
Song a Week Podcast No. 52 - End O Year by Richard E. Moore
Richard rounds out one whole year of creativity-with-a-deadline with his new Breedlove guitar (thanks Santa!). Unfortunately, he cannot finish due to the arrival of his newborn daughter, Desert Rose! As you listen, know that we thank for you interest in our year-long new-music project and hope that you'll be hearing everyone who participated again very soon.
Jan 01, 2008•1 min
Song a Week Podcast No. 51 - Send Her an Angel by Michael J. Munn
Better late than never, we welcome a newcomer to the SAW fold, Michael J. Munn. This one's a slow-burning acoustic pop song with an almost bluesy feel, emotional delivery and instantly hummable melody. Enjoy!
Dec 25, 2007•4 min
Song a Week Podcast No. 50 - Sleepless by Chris Devine
Chris pulls out a squeaker, uploading this one just before midnight Monday! Truth be told, it didn't look like he'd finish in time, what with the holidays and the parties and all that rot. This one was inspired by actual events -- waking up in the middle of the night realizing his life was probably close to halfway over, his useful years coming to an end far sooner than that, and so much left to DO! It has a happy ending, though.
Dec 18, 2007•4 min
Song a Week Podcast No. 49 - Missed Opportunity by Erik Matthew Hendel
Erik went back to a full band production for this number and lyrically, it is more literal than most of EMH's past works. Enjoy this acoustic rocker with a beat James Brown would feel right at home in.
Dec 11, 2007•4 min
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