Mountain

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This one is interesting. It started life as a random keyboard riff, and somehow flourished into a full song. My mom ended up liking the beat enough to put it on her iPod as one of her workout songs, and what's more...it has a DRUM SOLO. I've been meaning to put one of those in one of my songs for some time, but I finally did it. Playing a drum solo on a keyboard is actually a lot harder than I thought it would be. I'll definitely take this into account for my next keyboard drum solo. Before I go any further, let me give a few of my "inspirations" for writing this song.

- Jimi Hendrix, "Voodoo Chile"

I had the chorus stuck in my head when I wrote part of the lyrics, even if the melody and the words ended up being (I hope) reasonably different.

- The Theme To Batman (campy 60's version)

There's really no excuse for a horn section that raunchy, but I put it in because it made me smile. It still does...the horns in this song rawk.

- Blue Oyster Cult, "Cities Aflame With Rock and Roll"

This one inspired parts of the solo more than anything. I tried to get a really cool, fast, face-melting guitar solo, but ultimately I fell short of that goal. I'm still fighting on, though.

- The Theme to about any campy cop show ever.

Can't you hear it, lol?

I hope the lyrics were easier to hear this time, but just in case you need them, here they are:

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1-2-3-4

I was standin' next to a mountain
'Til I tore him down
I was standin' next to a mountain
'Til he went and turned around
Can't stop me now baby
Devil can't drive me down

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I've said it before, and I'll say it again - this song is proof that I shouldn't quit my day job to become a blues singer.

Whatever Happened to Audrey Lane?

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The Lyrics -

Audrey Lane
She lived on
Audrey Lane
She lives on
Audrey Lane
Lane

Audrey was an actress
Such a pretty little actress
Dancing out her heart
On the stage

But Then no one
No one could find her
Just a letter
And her wage

Where have you gone my dear?

Letter waiting
Anticipation
Was this all a
Hallucination?

Open the letter
Do not delay
Reading the words
What do they say?

I'm sorry if
I'm sorry if I scared you
But it's time for me to go

This can be
Our little secret
No one else needs to know

I won't need this skin any more...

Audrey Lane
She lived on
Audrey Lane
She lives on
Audrey Lane
Lane

The Story -

I suppose I am going to be a little bit mysterious on this one, and not provide an explicit explanation. Any interested parties can feel free to e-mail me about what I had in mind when I was writing this song. What I would like to talk about here was the production and composition aspect of this song. It's been a roller-coaster thrill ride, for certain. For the first time ever, I composed EVERY track, including the drum beat. To be fair, it is basically just a bass hit, but it is definitely great to have control over more than just pre-made beats. I also consider this song a pretty big step forward in the quality of production for my songs. I've recorded almost everything in stereo, and the new box that I'm using has been good for the most past. Let me give you a few details.

Line 6 KB73 Computer Interface and MIDI Controller




Pros:

- MIDI control
- Line and Mic in
- Cool input dials that move in real-time
- Access to new tones through included software

Cons:

- No firewire support
- No 1.8 (standard) headphone support
- Not plug and play with my Mac
- Some buttons are useless unless they are programmed with additional software
- Some buttons are tempermental and only work some of the time (for me, the "pitch" and "mod" wheels)
- Somewhat unimpressive plastic construction

I bought this device to give me new creative freedom with GarageBand, and I think it has. It has replaced my ailing M-Audio box nicely. For me, the pros outweigh the cons. The lack of firewire support has not been a problem, and a headphone jack converter was acquired at RadioShack for a cool $3. The MIDI is limited by the quality of the loops, but for what I do, it has come together nicely. Though GearBox (the software you have to use to get everything connected, and to access tones) has not blown me away, but the interface has been easy enough to work around. The keys are small and plastic, but I'm not primarily a keyboard player, so this has not been an issue with me.

All in all, if you just want MIDI support, pay the $40 for a MIDI conversion cable, and grab one of the RadioShack keyboards that seem pervasive in closets, attics, and garages (depending on your location). However, if you want MIDI support, a decent way to record, and access to some reasonably good guitar and vocal tones, this is a good "all-in-one" to consider.

Score: 8.7 / 10.

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