Song of the (Bi-)Week, Week 7: "I Gotta Feeling"

I'm going to be completely honest right now: I think "I Gotta a Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas is one of the most trite, mundane, and obnoxious songs ever written. And the fact that anyway — including but not limited to my left ass-cheek — could have written something so asinine makes even angrier, because neither me nor left ass-cheek did write it, and neither one of us is famous. The song came on while I was driving the other day, and I started thinking of ways to make it better (and by better, I mean worse, which means better, because it's already the worst. Get it?). So I grabbed my acoustic guitar, dropped it into a minor key, and suddenly America's moronic party anthem sounds...well, it sounds like a struggle with addiction, really. Not to make light of that issue, I do find it interesting how fine the line is between fun and self-destruction, as this musical, but not lyrical*, shift demonstrates.

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/13193367"]

*Okay, there's a slight lyrical shift. I know, it's slow, it's sad, but keep listening towards the end of the 2nd verse, and there might be a little surprise waiting for you....

Song of the (Bi-)Week, Week 6: "Sunday Morning"

Because for some reason, these things never go as planned. I was all set to post a slow pretty version of "Sunday Morning" by the Velvet Underground, using only a clean, warm electric guitar, and a bass synth pad. Then, around midnight on Thursday, I had a Eureka moment, and came up with this instead (and incidentally kept my girlfriend awake until about 3am WHOOPS). Realizing I had to be awake in 6 hours, I decided to postpone the release of the song until....well, Sunday morning. How do ya like that! Enjoy!

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/12593689"]

Le Fheile Padraig

Alright, so my commitment to posting a new cover song every 2 weeks has fallen behind. I've been recovering from a sinus infection, which of course has rendered me unable to sing. But serendipity shined its smiling Irish eyes on me, and I was able to finish just in time for the Feast of Saint Patrick (one of my personal favorite holidays). This entry into the Song of the (Bi-)Week series is a cover of "Streams of Whiskey" by the Irish rock group The Pogues. This song pays homage to two of my favorite things: drinking whiskey, and Irish playwright/author Brendan Behan, who is also the namesake of my favorite local pub (where I often enjoy drinking whiskey). The original song is an sloppy, upbeat drinking song in 4/4 time; my version follows more in the tradition of Americana, complete with plenty of lap steel guitar, and converts the meter to 3/4 time.

Enjoy, and have yourselves a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/12036874"]

Song of the (Bi-)Week, Week 4: “Alive”

Yeah, this is totally the song that Alyssa sang at the lesbian bar in Chasing Amy before Ben Affleck realized she was gay. What of it? It's a good tune! I tried going all Neutral Milk Hotel* on the chorus, which sounded great in the cans, but sounds a little thin on laptop speakers. Oh well. You'll live. Enjoy!

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/9517428"]

*Also? Their first and only concert in 10 years just sold out this morning in under a minute. You can bet I'm pissed.

Song of the (Bi-)Week, Week 3: "Don't Think Twice"

A little late — first because my internet access was out, and then because I was trapped on the worst MegaBus ride ever, and then because I was time traveling to 1920s Philadelphia, which caused all sorts of problems. But I'm back now, and I brought t-shirts for everybody! Well, maybe not t-shirts. But at least this song. Just out of time for Valentine's Day, enjoy an atmospheric Irish wake of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice." And tell my lap steel guitar how sorry you are for the awful things I did to it in order to make those sounds.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/10580248"]

Song of the (Bi-)Week, Week 2: "Magic"

This (bi-)week, I decided to go in the complete opposite direction of my last installment. Instead of a mellow, ambient cover of a jangly folk-pop song, I decided to cover "Magic" by The Cars, and inevitably spent way too much time on all of the synthesized parts and backing vocals. This one took me a LOT more time than I expected it to, thanks to all the (over) production, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/9746415"]