tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-247010512024-03-13T15:38:57.889-04:00brandon.blogstatus of recording projects, work, home, linkses, and taters-precious.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-20522453857344866742010-11-09T16:27:00.000-05:002010-11-09T16:28:45.301-05:00Archdale Building - a picture!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4jqVZSmVjC8/TNm8q2v3EDI/AAAAAAAAAQE/ggA6tggrLfA/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4jqVZSmVjC8/TNm8q2v3EDI/AAAAAAAAAQE/ggA6tggrLfA/s400/IMG_0065.JPG" /></a> </div><br />I've wanted to take this picture for a long time. Finally, right?<br />This is the Archdale Building and it's reflection in the Dobbs Building as seen from the stair approaching from Salisbury Street.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-9763067609782423072010-11-09T10:37:00.000-05:002010-11-09T10:37:30.990-05:00Soundtrack project underwayActual work on the soundtrack/scoring project in which I've been lucky enough to get involved has begun. And of course, when I say "actual work," I'm referring to my role only. The film had been shot and is nearly finished with rough edits (from what I understand).<br />
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I had a great meeting with the director last week. We went over the scenes that I am expected to be scoring and some new ones that I will get to score, too.<br />
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Seeing the scenes definitely got the wheels spinning. I spent a few days stewing and plotting - making some very abstract notes that only I might (hopefully) understand.<br />
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Last night I sent a rough mix of the first track to the director. I chose an easy scene to break the ice - one where my notes where less vague (and I think pointed me in the right direction) and one which isn't pivotal to the tone of the movie.<br />
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I've got my work cut out for me with some if the other scenes, so I felt the need to break myself in after several months of not recording anything of value because of things Real Life threw at me.<br />
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I'll upload the rough to my soundcloud site (<a href="http://soundcloud.com/brandonwhitesell">http://soundcloud.com/brandonwhitesell</a>).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-83904100635477256012010-08-16T11:45:00.000-04:002010-08-16T11:45:45.015-04:00the rounding up of crickets<div>
From the looks of things here at my blog, you'd think things have been quiet with me. If you follow my twitter feed or are a facebook friend, you might have noticed a severe decline in activity. NEVER FEAR! I've been busy as ever with all things personal, professional and musical.<br />
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The personal stuff, to quote a drea friend, "isn't blog-worthy." So, you don't get that - it's not why you read this anyway. I should like to my lady's store, though. <a href="http://www.eponaandoak.com/">www.eponaandoak.com</a>. First Fridays there have been great! </div>
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Professionally, facebook friends will have an inkling that the job was in jeopardy but is now "safe." I work for the State. We're havign budget problems. My particular position looked redundant on paper. Believe me, it's not. This place would crumble without me - so I like to think. Now i get to see some projects through and move to the new Green Square Complex next year-ish. (Providing the budget doesn't...well, you know...)</div>
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Musically, is where the fun stuff is. The Magic Babies had practice space troubles - flooding, crap landlords, theft, fire, you name it. So we packed up and moved out. We've been taking some time to write and try to get excited about our sound again. Playing the same songs for a year and a half can make them not the best part of practice (that falls to story telling and hanging about). So the writing is happening, and it's going well.</div>
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Close hasn't really gotten together in a while. we both got too busy and fell off. I feel like it's an open-ended project that we'll both get back to. I still have to release the EP "Shrugging Off Reincarnation" it comes up on random every now and again - not too bad!</div>
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In exchange for doing my album art for "books without pictures," I gave Roy my voice for one of his Offish tracks. I just got a copy of that EP emailed to me. Very nice collection. I hope he puts it up for release/purchase/download somewhere - i'd love to share. His style is very sparse. My vocals have new. He send me his instrumentals and a series of pictures with the title. I interpreted his idea into lyrics and it worked, apparently. Not a Poles Apart song, but definitely got the wheels turning again.</div>
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Travis and I (onlooker) haven't done much besides move our site over to <a href="http://onlooker.bandcamp.com/">bandcamp</a>. He's been busy raising the most adorable baby girl on the planet. </div>
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I've been asked to score a handful of scenes in an upcoming Indie film out of Durham. I've read the script, met the director and seen an extended trailer and footage. None of these disappointed. I am very excited about this project and can't wait to see where it goes. And what I end up creating for it! I'll get a "scored by" credit, i think. And possible residuals from soundtrack sales, i hope.<br />
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The Chapel Hill band, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/eriechoir">Erie Choir</a>, asked me to add some piano to their recordings. It was a great experience learning the songs and hitting the studio. The 100 year old upright piano at the studio was inspiring and definitely influenced my playing. The songs were kind of Costelloy-Kinksy. Horns and everything! Look out!</div>
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Lastly, "Books without pictures" has sold a whopping 5 copies and been streamed about 30 whole times, probably by me. I, obviously, have been having a hard time getting the word out... I'd rather make music than try to convince people to listen to it. That part feels slutty. </div>
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Thanks for bearing with the long catch-up post and the silence in-between. More posts of the less-lengthy variety will follow now that this initial round-up is finished!</div>
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-b</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-28397609061540701692010-06-04T11:13:00.000-04:002010-06-04T23:49:34.442-04:00Books Without Pictures - be part of my street team!Hello, readers.<br />
My solo instrumental recording, Books Without Pictures, has been out for a month and a half now. I've received some great feedback and comments via email and facebook from you all. Thank you so much.<br />
<br />
Since this is truly a solo endeavor - meaning I'm on my own for marketing, too - It's taken some time to get to promoting this collection of which i'm very proud... but terribly shy about. I'd like your help in spreading the word about this admittedly hard to market album.<br />
<br />
I've made the album available to stream for free over at <a href="http://soundcloud.com/brandonwhitesell/sets/books-without-pictures">SoundCloud.com</a> or on my <a href="http://brandonwhitesell.blogspot.com/">blog</a>. If you've streamed it and enjoyed it, I would appreciate a review or rating at <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/books-without-pictures/id367282620">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.emusic.com/album/Brandon-Whitesell-Books-Without-Pictures-MP3-Download/11902865.html">emusic</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Books-Without-Pictures-Brandon-Whitesell/dp/B003L782OA/">amazon</a>, or store of your choice.<br />
Naturally, i'd REALLY like it if you decided to purchase the whole release from <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/books-without-pictures/id367282620">iTunes</a>, <a href="http://www.emusic.com/album/Brandon-Whitesell-Books-Without-Pictures-MP3-Download/11902865.html">emusic</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Books-Without-Pictures-Brandon-Whitesell/dp/B003L782OA/">amazon (as a real CD even!)</a>.<br />
I would most sincerely appreciate any reviews or ratings on any of these sites. Your votes/ratings/reviews will help me promote this to a larger audience - it's just me here... hopefully it can be just me and you, too.<br />
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Here's a (long overdue) explanation of the album:<br />
<blockquote>
<i>I was struck by sudden and maddening inspiration to capture sounds, melodies and strategies that were running around in my head and had the unique privilege of actually having the time to capture them. I only had the slightest idea of what I wanted these songs to sound like when I started them; but one by one they began to take shape - a real shape - one that had faces, emotions, plots, twists, turns, ups and downs. </i></blockquote>
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<i>After these tracks started to accumulate, I caught onto their trend - their pattern - they were representing a vague sense of maturity through process, performance and arrangement. </i></blockquote>
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<i>When we all grew up to start reading books without pictures, we stepped into a realm of guided objectivity - pictures are painted in our minds by our relationship with what is happening on the page. It is my hope that "Books Without Pictures" can give you just that sort of experience with melody and arrangement.</i></blockquote>
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Thank you so much for listening and for being my "street team" by spreading the word and writing a review.<br />
I'll make it up to you with a new free track very soon.<br />
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yours,<br />
brandon<br />
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P.S. I broke all the links to the old horrible mixes (leaving the commentary intact ) of the tracks from "Books Without Pictures" on this blog. You'll thank me later.<br />
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-15350027878277000912010-03-06T16:01:00.000-05:002010-03-06T16:01:14.276-05:00Winter Finally Fading - piece for piano & two tubas<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/winter-finally-fading.mp3">http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/winter-finally-fading.mp3</a><br />
<br />
this winter has blown. lots of cold. lots of ramen. but it's sunny out now and i can tell it's going to break really soon.<br />
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i spent all last weekend stacking my <a href="http://www.nordkeyboards.com/main.asp?tm=Products&clpm=Nord_Electro_3">Nord</a> (man, oh man i love this keyboard) with a very nice Steinway and some orchestral samples. The Tuba is my new favorite cello. It blows, too - but in a much better way than this winter has.<br />
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This is for all of you up north.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-16551422954415467592010-02-18T12:17:00.000-05:002010-02-18T12:17:46.143-05:00Brian Eno Documentary{I needed to bookmark this video to watch later, so why not do it here for everyone.}<br />
Brian Eno on BBC - an hour long video.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #445566; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/9091096" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: #2786c2; cursor: pointer; font: normal normal normal 11px/normal arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Untitled">http://vimeo.com/9091096</a></span><br />
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Very very interested to hear what he has to say. Anyone who knows me knows that I love this man's music.<br />
Let's enjoy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-58369689915654518642010-02-12T15:05:00.000-05:002010-02-12T15:05:04.199-05:00new song - Heart Is Deep Space<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is another instrumental. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/heart-is-deep-space.mp3">Heart Is Deep Space</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The title comes from a chapter of a book that I'm reading - </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2081374.The_Raw_Shark_Texts"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Raw Shark Texts</span></a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"My Heart was deep space and my head was maths."</i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">enjoy.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-3026348212314738362010-01-16T12:51:00.000-05:002010-01-16T12:51:32.320-05:00First Song of the Year - Fake Flesh (instrumental)<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Fear not, listener - this one has no singing. </span></span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/fake-flesh.mp3">http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/fake-flesh.mp3</a><br />
It'a an ambient piece built solely for relaxation and transportation. Buckle up for this snooze fest!<br />
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I had been messing about with an arpeggiator and was scared of creating a dance hall anthem. Leave it to a Rhodes and a Reverb (and a session of deep breathing) to chill things out a bit. There's an obvious homage to Roedelius in here.<br />
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Enjoy.<br />
This collection of instrumentals (and maybe the singtastic Empty Vessel) is growing into something quite nice. I haven't really had a proper solo release since 2001! better get on it. Time is slipping away.<br />
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It's a personal goal to work on something every chance i have - which right now looks like saturdays. I'm not foolish enough to think that i can finish something each week; but the discipline is essential. I've been spending too much time reading and too little time creating. vacation is over. time to rock everyone to sleep.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-48076338895579405952009-11-30T09:06:00.000-05:002009-11-30T09:06:28.113-05:00Cinder Block Sleeper - new instrumental<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/cinder-block-sleeper_112709.mp3">Cinder Block Sleeper (an instrumental)</a><br />
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when i'm lying down looking out the window as the sun is coming up - or in the middle of the afternoon if i'm lucky - i think back to the days when i didn't have a bed. I had a hand-me-down mattress (an idea to make me shudder now) set on top of 4 planks of wood which were elevated off the ground - to give the impression of a bed because i didn't want to be that guy who only had a mattress on the floor - raised up with cinderblocks. There were spiders in there.<br />
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When the daylight slipped in through the 5 dollar blinds, streaking a path of orbiting dust across the carpet that must be under there somewhere, i was bound to be late for one of three jobs to pay for school or school itself.<br />
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I had so much going on in my head that I couldn't separate the subjects of my classes, my jobs and my music. I wrote an english report on Ms. Dalloway and stream of consciousness writing using calculus - and expanded the idea in Design Studios with clippings from old discards from the news stand - my place of employment - and lyrics to my new hot 4-track concept album recordings.<br />
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I think i was grasping at anything to make everything else seem important - something to make me forget that I was just a kid who couldn't pay for anything, couldn't keep his friends happy and only thought he was awesome because knew he never was. Every night reminded me of that. I was only a cinderblock sleeper. Some build houses out of them.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-57172992226586508212009-11-30T08:33:00.000-05:002009-11-30T08:33:09.061-05:00Now Ember - new instrumental<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/now-ember_112709.mp3">Now Ember (an instrumental)</a><br />
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The exhausting heat of contact<br />
the burning friction of gravity<br />
resting like a spent satellite.<br />
The glow of each breath<br />
the warmth of you.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-66124944498203510922009-09-07T19:51:00.000-04:002009-09-07T19:52:44.095-04:00Empty Vessel<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/empty-vessel.mp3">empty-vessel.mp3</a><br />
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An upright piano here sets up the chord structure. I used to write pieces on an upright that sounded a lot like this - back in high school and college - you know - before recording was easy and convenient.<br />
The sound of that bass rolling up underneath a simple melody hits me hard; so what better way to launch a song about not knowing exactly who we are without each other.<br />
I'm heavily (and obviously) influenced by Eno here. Eno's "Another Green World" and "Before and After Science" are keystones to my adult understanding of music. Referencing him here as the Next Stage (with the Farfisa and Synth) in the progress of the song sets the vector for telling a tale, i guess.<br />
Lyrically, as with most of my stuff, you may interpret it as you wish.<br />
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Enjoy. Try placing it after "furlough" in a playlist.<br />
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-----------------Lyrics-------------<br />
Stumbling over twenty thousand lines<br />
Settling up on the closest meaning<br />
To put an edge on emptiness inside<br />
Filling up each time we breath.<br />
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So much dirt the stuff I'm made of<br />
My temper has been fired to many times<br />
Just to break at the stress of living<br />
Fill me up and hold me tight<br />
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Spilling over the edge<br />
an empty light<br />
Am I gone or am i light?<br />
Fill me up and hold me tight<br />
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Interestingly enough, as I set to mix this down today, I wondered what a beat would sound like if it dropped in for the end chorus stuff. great idea right? whoah. that was crazy. the song's in 160bpm, so it was either going to be a wicked fast break beat or a laughable slow jam. Best to let the Bass pad keep the pace. I would certainly welcome a remix because it was, I admit, dancey and delicious - but it was a little of of my mark for this mix.</div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-56849952061878530282009-07-11T19:52:00.000-04:002009-07-11T19:52:44.900-04:00another instrumental - hypnogogia I<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/hypnogogia-I.mp3">Hypnogogia I</a><br />
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I woke up at 4:30 this morning with the sounds of the fans in the room making this particular drone sound that sounded like strings to me. chords shifted were shifting in and out around an A minor while this really strangely low in the mix (somewhere in the corner of the room under the night table? weird) repeating double bass was bowing in an E minor pattern. It really had me entranced, especially since i knew i was imagining it and it was a really unusual pattern.<br />
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So, i made it my goal today to translate that into something real - something that reflected my process of waking up this morning. I was lucky enough to remember the bass line.<br />
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All the strings here are Melotron, as are the pipe organ flutes. The grand is the same one that I used in <a href="http://brandonwhitesell.blogspot.com/2009/07/furlough.html">Furlough</a>.<br />
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I'm falling back in love with the idea of scoring films or even video games.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-48433304086430986592009-07-09T09:15:00.000-04:002009-07-09T09:15:36.689-04:00Furlough<a href="http://bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/furlough.mp3">furlough</a><br />
<a href="http://bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/furlough.mp3"></a>this is an instrumental piece.<br />i have a new addition to my arsenal, which has the best acoustic grand i've ever heard, except for the Steinway in Fountain Street Church... which i think may have been the last "real" piano that i really put my heart into playing. Now, i'm playing an emulator, but it's got full polyphony and every note and action is sampled. it's amazing.
I wrote this piece on it to try to wake up that part of my brain again.
In High School, i used to play the upright in the cafetorium all the time. I'm only just now remembering that i had written a nice bunch of songs like this. I wish i remembered how they went... I will just have to write new ones.
The title, furlough is from the day off i took - a N.C. state employee furlough day. I had between July 1 and December to take it, so i figured i'd take it now before they take it away or realize that they are not supposed to PAY for furlough leave (the gov messed this one up, i think). I also spent the day re-writing a chorus for a Magic Babies song that was tragically going to be scrapped because of the lazy predictable chorus. I hope i did better - I've at least regenerated interest in it again.
Enjoy the mp3 up there. sorry about the volume, i haven't figured out how to compress the piano yet (at least i don't have to worry about placing microphones!).
oh yeah. the synthy bits at the tail end are there because i might extend this into a longer set. who knows.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-65874016679685889412009-06-03T21:42:00.000-04:002009-06-03T21:42:04.863-04:00not so bloggy of latei think maybe facebook ate my blognocity.
...that and other non-computerized social and marketing ventures.
My Wife has opened a store with her sisters. That was a lot of work to get off the ground and it's still taking some of my spare time... although i'm not spending as much time on it as i should - i'm trying to not be involved because it's really not my store and i don't want to turn into a control freak over trivial things like how the logo is used and which typefaces go on the tiniest insignificant tags - i would drive myself and my sisters-in-law crazy (i already drive my wife crazy).
musically, mostly the magic babies and related adventures, i.e. broken wurlitzer, borrowed replacements, returned replacements, new borrows, then my own damn replacement that is the best freaking set of keys ever. I haven't had a proper keyboard for 14 years (at last estimate) when the last one was stolen. I've been spending a lot of time figuring out how to work it right and just enjoying playing what sounds and feels like a real steinway grand. I'm only two cables away from recording it, but i'd have to stop playing in order to plug it in.
Another recent acquisition has been a MIDI controller so i can bring the funk with Poles Apart and Onlooker. I need to program a template for all the knobs to control fruity loops. that's been fun, but i tend to get distracted with twisting EQs and filters, so i don't get much done. Roy and Travis can attest to this twisting "problem" of mine. I used to ruin plenty of listening parties by slowly fading the EQ bands of their stereo up and down. I used to do it in the car, too - danger danger!
Also reading a lot. Can't seem to read enough or fast enough lately. will work on that.
out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-84149201559351927332009-06-03T21:30:00.000-04:002009-06-03T21:30:02.513-04:00Having Done Read It<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6220815.Funny_Misshapen_Body_A_Memoir" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Funny Misshapen Body: A Memoir" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51InfMt0CHL._SX106_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6220815.Funny_Misshapen_Body_A_Memoir">Funny Misshapen Body: A Memoir</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/45429.Jeffrey_Brown">Jeffrey Brown</a><br/><br/>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/58070064"><h3>My review</h3></a>
rating: 5 of 5 stars<br/>I loved each and every panel, beat and nuance of this book. I look for his books at every visit to the comic shop. I got lucky this time. I win. Boy do I ever. Perfect (ironically) read. Recommend.
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<br/>Full Disclosure: Jeff and I went to the same high school. Seeing my old math teacher's obnoxious mustache again was a treat! Thanks, Jeff!
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1256038-brandon">View all my reviews.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-15322689893814788512009-05-20T09:19:00.000-04:002009-05-20T09:19:53.450-04:00shark!I was cleaning up my documents folder today and found my illustrator file for my wife's halloween costume last year. She wanted to be Jaws, so based on the costume in the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0494222/">Eagle vs. Shark</a>, I whipped up this diagram of how i thought (with my very limited sewing skills) one might assemble a shark costume. I thought it was cute, so here it is.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/photos/jaws.jpg">
<img border="0" height="270" src="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/photos/jaws.jpg" width="420" /><br />click for biggish</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-60923121712314239892009-05-03T22:28:00.000-04:002009-05-03T22:28:48.238-04:00Close - River of Blood - demoFor posterity:<br />
Vince and I (the "acoustic" duo known - limitedly - as Close) are going to start recording again. Here is a song i've been working on. The chord structure is solid - i just need to practice it to get it more fluid. There are lots of open chords picked in odd positions. Lyrically, I've got the first two verses as heard here:<br />
<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/river-of-blood-demo-050309(short).mp3">http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/river-of-blood-demo-050309(short).mp3</a><br />
and yes, i am beat boxing. i had some wine.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
It tasted slightly of blood<br />
and bitter consent<br />
laying my head in this river of love<br />
I let go<br />
again<br />
<br />
Betting the odds on a bed<br />
and a long ride home<br />
the tickets aren't cheap [awkward phrasing on the recording here - must fix it]<br />
but they're going for free<br />
just let go.</blockquote>
the last verse is something like this[not heard on the recording for the sake of not having to listen to me mumble over uncertain chorus]:<br />
<blockquote>
You heard me call your name<br />
when they called my number<br />
Honey, I'm sorry. I'm not coming home from this war.</blockquote>
The idea or image i have in my head is of someone who keeps getting shot in battle in order to get sent home to his (or her, i guess) love, no matter the risks... only to have it not work out with the inevitable head shot. or IED.<br />
<br />
Inspired (thus far) by Alan Alda in M*A*S*H.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-562915766622042422008-12-22T11:46:00.000-05:002008-12-22T12:13:46.765-05:00Close - Give It UpI'm not certain about the mix of this yet, but here is the latest (with all instruments & vocals) version of Give It Up, which up until last week was an instrumental - not because it sounded good as an instrumental, but because we hadn't fleshed out the ideas yet.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/giveItUp_Mixdown(122008).mp3">Give It Up - mixed 122008 - right click to download (control click if your a one button mac user)</a><br />
<br />
There are two parts to the song in two different keys. We thought it was begging for a cause/effect or /problem/resolution relationship between the two parts. we managed it lyrically; but i also wanted to "get there" with the production. I drew inspiration from ye olde scottish islands - not really - but Wicker Man did come to mind as i was laying out what sounded like very VERY traditional folksy tracks. This made sense for the more lyrically grounded front end of the song. The second part needed to space out a little, as a voice of reason or something definable yet unobtainable. Go go gadget reverb machine. <br />
<br />
The reason I'm not sold on the mix as of yet is that I can't hear the bass drop quite as well as i want. There really needs to be that foundation underneath the treble and midrange... acoustically and metaphorically, i guess.<br />
<br />
The lyric:
<br />
<blockquote>
All alone a 6a.m. even though there's someone sleeping on the edge of the hole you made when your feet hit the cold day dreaming - porch lights in snow, side walking slow.<br />
<br />
Shake your head full of memory of a day when nothing mattere; weren't you only there yesterday - faces behind you open in side you.<br />
<br />
The weight of every bleeding heart pulls the knot of your hangman's windsor. Hit the street to face the day. It's the same everyday's the same everyday. the same. thesamethesame.<br />
<br />
If you want to make it end, make it end.<br />
If you want to give it up, give it up.<br />
<br />
Eternal daydream tortured past weight of ashes feather crashes it crashes down.<br />
From dirt to dirt it's just that plain irrational but not insane you're not insane.<br />
You're not insane</blockquote>
{First wordy part is my fault. second crazy part is vince's.}Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-19711733338731402742008-12-15T11:25:00.000-05:002008-12-15T11:29:31.875-05:00Magic Babies - review of Cytunes launch party.A really nice review of ths Cytunes.org benefit on friday night - during which the Magic Babeis "killed."<br />
<blockquote>
<a href="http://trianglemusic.blogspot.com/2008/12/flute-flies-magic-babies-celebrate.html">The Magic Babies played first and killed with a set of groovy power-pop songs. The band's music is reminiscent of Big Star's more upbeat tunes. The set included a great Hollies cover that I can't remember now (if anyone knows what it was, drop us a line in the comments). Definitely check The Magic Babies out if you have a chance.</a></blockquote>
There are photos of each of us. nice photos! this has never happened to me in this band before - my super-power is lense dodging. you can see why. i'm putzish, galen is cute, charles is thoughtfully crapping and dave is plainly rocking.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-78420981628168668322008-12-12T14:11:00.000-05:002008-12-12T14:29:34.306-05:00lunch with the wurly and an evening with youi just got back from lunch with the wurlitzer.<br />he's going to be D-less <a href="http://mannsworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/this-weeks-cool-shows-cytunes-launch.html">tonight</a>. i removed the reed (a metal plate that get's struck instead of a string) so i won't need to tape the key down or risk hitting a sour note(and i mean RANK! - halfway between the C# and the D. oof.). There are only a few songs where this note gets tickled, and given the live club sound, i'm thinking it won't be missed. plus, if i'm on my game i can compensate <br />
<br />i experimented a little with tuning it, though . it started off flat, which means that it needs more solder on it - apparently, as the physics goes, the as mass and/or the surface area of the solder increases the pitch raises (this makes some sense as far as the surface area goes because it's like frets on a guitar or holes in a flute - but, i didn't have any solder on me. so, i thought i'd file away at what was there to get myself familiar with it and see how much make a difference in notes. i'm pretty confident (and i have to read up on the type of solder and procure a file that i can squeeze inbetween the dampers and arms) that i can solder onto the reed to tune up without having to spend too much money.<br /><br />
this is the same reed that i had to buy before, so i'm thinking that i either play that particular not very roughly, or the replacement was a little weaker than the rest. It's hard to say. <br />
<br />
Regardless of my D-less-ness, I hope to see a lot of people out tonight. The Flute Flies are debuting their stuff tonight. Cytunes is launched online, so go buy music. Might i recommend <a href="http://www.cytunes.org/album/11/">The Ready Set</a>? Ryan Pound's long awaited recording of my one-time Raleigh's favorite band ever finally gets out. They were the greatest. His songs, Dustin's guitar, Brian's drums, anne's cello, and katrina's voice made for a perfect ensemble. The Ready Set isn't playing tonight (or probably ever) but you might get to hear some from the DJ.<br />
<br />
Hope to see you there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-50021982770723174352008-12-03T09:20:00.000-05:002008-12-03T09:46:48.400-05:00I have a new favorite book designerI am in no way ousting <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Designed-nbsp-by-nbsp-Roy-nbsp-Brooks/lm/R1GJFLUM548TF0/ref=cm_srch_res_rpli_alt_1">Roy Brooks</a> from top dog in my favorite designer list; but, I have discovered someone who should be on everybody's list of Person Who's Books I Will Always Buy Given The Choice Or The Money:<br />
<a href="http://www.cb-smith.com/">Coralie Bickford-Smith</a><br />
<br />
Following links from <a href="http://www.underconsideration.com/quipsologies">Under Consideration's Quipsologies</a> I happened upon <a href="http://thepenguinblog.typepad.com/the_penguin_blog/2008/11/fine-books-from-penguin.html">this blog post from Penguin UK</a>, which employs a unique (although <a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG10/">inaccessible</a>) interview style.<br />
It has been a long time since i've been so freshly enamored by and taken with a specific designer's style -- the last being <a href="http://www.brianwood.com/">Brian Wood</a>, who has since ventured into and dragged me along into the world of comic books.<br />
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_1228313725980"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.penguin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780140911664,00.html?strSrchSql=arabian+nights/The_Arabian_Nights:_Tales_of_1001_nights_Giftset">The Arabian Nights set</a> is f*&king fantastic. I'm a sucker for a box of identically themed items, but the box itself usually falls flat - more of a wrapper or packaging for a retail shelf. not in this case. Bickford-Smith seems to design specifically for the shelf and the tactile experience Her use of patterns is leaving me dizzy and giddy. I can't even imagine how much time i would spend oggling and running my fingers over (and, yes, probably smelling) <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26408069@N05/sets/72157609349507225">The Penguin Classics Set</a> - which is only available from the <a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/simpleSearch.do?simpleSearchString=Waterstone%27s+Exclusive+-+Penguin+Classics&searchType=3&Image1.x=21&Image1.y=12">Waterstone</a> shop in Engerland, apparently - better for me and my financial situation, for certain! <br />
<br />
I am curious about her pages, too - that, is if Penguin let's her monkey with the insides too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-74966944967805732722008-11-27T07:15:00.000-05:002008-11-27T08:01:16.876-05:00Things that are or have happened.I'm not particularly interested in "giving Thanks." That is not to say that I'm "ungrateful" or a Pilgrim-shaped Scrooge. I'm just not interested in the notion of bowing in supplication to a hypothesized entity that, frankly, could have done a lot better, if indeed anything was "done."<br />
<br />
For the same or similar reasons I am most certainly not feeling "blessed." I don't think that any of my conditions or situations makes me superior to anyone. Being "blessed" certainly implies that there are those among us who are unworthy of an imagined superiority.<br />
<br />
However awful this may sound to you, there <i>are</i> things that happen and things that take place in my life or that I bear witness to in the lives of others - things that fill me with contentedness and a bright sense of identity - a sense of connectedness to the planet on which I stand and the people and things standing here with me. These things that simply are or that have happened to me make me feel happy and fulfilled:
<br />
<ul>
<li>Leeann and lots of very personal things about her, which I'm keeping to myself.</li>
<li>Roy's healing heart and the doctors who know their stuff</li>
<li>The ever expanding list of Best Friends</li>
<li>I own a house that I can pay for <br /></li>
<li>Bike rides and bus rides to work</li>
<li>Shapes of buildings against a clear blue sky</li>
<li>The color of trees or the shapes of their branches</li>
<li>Music</li>
<li>Writing and then playing music with friends</li>
<li>Writing and the recording music alone</li>
<li>Comic books</li>
<li><i>Good</i> comic books and graphic novels<br /></li>
<li>Small, meaningful and respectful contact with respected creative-types on teh internets</li>
<li>Insightful or whimsical contact with re-discovered friends as if you've only last seen them yesterday - yes, specifically Facebook</li>
<li>President-elect Obama</li>
<li>Millions of families saying "Obama" around their tables, too.</li>
<li>Great books - for their writing, design, age, or smell.</li>
<li>My Nieces, Nephews, Brother, Sisters, Mother, Father, Steps and In-Laws. (They are all more important to me than my proximity and phone-bill indicate.) <br /></li>
</ul>
Of course, I could go on. That in itself should go on the list.<br />
<br />
I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Please eat well, nap better, feel "blessed" if you like, give "thanks" if you want to; but, do take the time to look around and inside yourself and consider the things that compel you onward through the day.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Brandon<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-14091297860933798952008-11-23T15:43:00.000-05:002008-11-23T15:44:12.248-05:00having done read it: The Armegeddon Rag<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1281217.The_Armageddon_Rag?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Armageddon Rag" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JBx6Bw3VL._SL160_.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1281217.The_Armageddon_Rag?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Armageddon Rag</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/346732.George_R_R_Martin">George R.R. Martin</a><br/><br/><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/37101998?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a><br />
rating: 4 of 5 stars<br/>I cannot think of a more perfect book for me to have read in the wake of the most exciting presidential election I may ever witness. This book, although pure escapism, packed just the right punches to rank it not only on the "dad was right" list but also on my own all-time favorites list. Here are the reasons it resonated with me:<br />
<br/><br />
<br/>1. The author: I'm one of those who loves his epic fantasy series, the Song of Ice and Fire for reasons way beyond "I like me some swords and dragons" I'm in it for the political/familial sprawling drama. So, I was very pleased to see that his ability to set the stage, paint the characters and deliver the intrigue was all present.<br />
<br/><br />
<br/>2. The peace movement: As a youth, I was envious of my parents for living through the tumultuous 60s. Dad was a musician, so he had the records for me to grow up on. For me, those records go hand in hand with the notion of passive resistance, marching for what you think is right and loving the planet and the people on it. The Armageddon Rag is set up<br />
<br/>around an aging activist who is having identity issues because he has lost the drive for activism that fueled everything he did in the late 60s. There is a lot of action and reference to Grant Park in Chicago, which resonated with me because of the celebration on election night. In fact, the entire energy surrounding Obama's campaign gave perspective and connectivity to the rising action of this novel.<br />
<br/><br />
<br/>3. The music: I have a wound. I joke about it; but, it still haunts. My mother took away my KISS records and gave me Chicago tapes. Talk about scarring a child! (I'm not missing the irony of the band's name). Even at 14, when I was convincing my dad that I <i>needed</i> a CD player, I promised him (and I'm sure it saddened him to hear) that I would never buy a Rock and Roll CD. Can you imagine! {I've rationalized every CD purchase since - in other words, I've broken that promise, thank you.) Regardless, when the author talks about activism in the 60s being so closely associated with music, I get it. When the room you're in is filled with people all listening to the overwhelming sound of a song that you know and love and real people are up there making it happen, it IS magic. It's the good fight.<br />
<br/><br />
<br/>4. sci-fi-fantasy-elves-and-shit: A rock and roll book about self-recognition and magic that heavily references Tolkien? sold.<br />
<br/><br />
<br/>The first half of this book rolls by incredibly quickly. There is a marked sense of realism in which you start to identify with or recognize the main character and all of his associates. Midway through the ground shifts from under you and you're reminded that it's a fake story on a page; but, this doesn't mean the quality of the story telling drops. If anything it indicates how amazing George R.R. Martin is at his craft. <br />
<br/><br />
<br/>I recommend this book to anyone who likes the horror genre, to anyone who got moved by the election results, to anyone who really likes what music can do to you, to lovers of the Song of Ice and Fire sage (break out of the genre from time to time, it's good for you), and to anyone who is in their 30s and struggling or in the 50s or 60s and remembers.<br />
<br/><br />
<br/>----------<br />
<br/>before reading, I said:<br />
<br/><br />
<br/>Dad calls this one of his favorite books; so, I'm excited to start it in the rare and fleeting free moments of the weekend (which starts Friday, right? right). I had it shipped in from Charlotte though the Interlibrary Loan program, which I highly recommend.<br />
<br/><br/><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1256038?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-72783915633093825972008-10-27T22:55:00.000-04:002008-10-27T23:19:55.472-04:00Onlooker - The Closest Distance NEW DEMOThere are a couple of songs that I wrote a while ago that died on the table when i brought them to Vince for new Close songs or when i tried to record them myself as new Boar tracks (see "<a href="http://brandonwhitesell.blogspot.com/2008/02/helping-hands-old-demo.html">Helping Hands</a>" for a good example - that one died again with the Magic Babies. oh well.)<br />
<br />
One in particular, The Closest Distance," managed to get played once or twice at a close show; but, it was a little to torchsongy - or maybe too emo - but definitely too personal to sing on acoustic guitars to a cross-legged crowd of 15 acquaintances. The subject matter is probably more elusive than I give it credit for - nobody ever said anything about it (although Vince kindly forgot to include it in additional sets) - But then nobody ever says anything really about any song, do they. Not a bad thing - but with this one in particular, I felt funny enough or too close to the topic that i needed to shelve it.<br />
<br />
It's been long enough and it occurred to me that Onlooker is just the right project to give it the attention it deserves (I do think it's a good song at heart, it just needs guidance). Travis may or may not know what it is I'm singing about; but, he always knows (or guesses closely enough) where I'm coming from and (i think) he takes pleasure in this sort of vague portraiture. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/closestDistance(102708)bw.mp3">Right Click and save to hear an extremely rough take and mix</a>.<br />
<br />
Lyrics:<br />
--<br />
The closest distance possible<br />
between two lonely people -<br />
the smooth communion<br />
of inhibitions -<br />
it is the point<br />
where communication<br />
can <br />
break<br />
down<br />
your best defense.<br />
Your closest friends<br />
are nowhere around.<br />
Please, forgive me.<br />
Find a reason<br />
to do this all again.<br />
This isn't how this ends.<br />
<br />
<br />
-<br />
a light romp, eh?<br />
<br />
It took me a few days to get the vocal delivery right (although the quality needs to be examined for peaking in some parts). The rang on this song is... well... soaring - It used to be that at "are nowhere around" I crept further up the scale. That is precisely where the emo lived, i think.<br />
<br />
I recorded this all to a metronome at 100bpm to allow for Onlooker madness to ensure. I hope that it does. I think this will be a good start to a new 2 song EP (to follow up Folow Me Down / 93 and Cry). <br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy this very early version.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24701051.post-32665641911234276402008-10-22T23:25:00.000-04:002008-10-22T23:43:02.837-04:00Onlooker - shoulda posted a while back - 2 new songs (rough mixes)<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/93andcry092908roughmix.mp3">93 and cry (right-click or control click for you mac users and save)</a><br />
This electroacoustipop jam was named for the BPM and a Bowie song. But, if you take it a step further and infer stuff from our separate personal historys, you can paint some rather bleak possible snapshots of what this song might be about (93 was the last year we lived in Michigan). I think whatever think you imagined, though, would be more of what the song is about for you and little to do with what it means for either Travis or myself.<br />
<br />
Acoustic guitars, Etsy pump organ, fruity loops, ebows, banjo, vocals. dig it<br />
<br />
-<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bsidedesign.com/blogger/audio/FollowMeDown092908roughmix.mp3">Follow Me Down (right click blah blah blah)</a><br />
Finally finished this one. It needed a new vocal recording. I may have posted about it before; but, basically, this is a song about floods, the river styx, bad choices, futility. oh, and good times. <br />
<br />
Acoustic Guitars, iBook's garageband string patch through LabSeries Reverb channel, banjo re-recorded vocals.<br />
<br />
I love the end of this song - the "space out" section.<br />
enjoy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0