I released the EP version of “UBIK”

This Week:

The first Batch of CDs for the upcoming EP came in!

Human Relations CD in Hand

Plus… another Acoustic Video:
This week it’s “Distress Signal” which is the oldest song on the upcoming EP. Wrote this with help from Drummer Jason Joy back in 2002-2003.

Next Week:

The EP version of the final Track from the impending EP.

I switched it up with an acoustic video of  this week’s song.

This Week:

This song is based on the novel by the same name by Philip K. Dick (of Total Recall and Blade Runner fame). I’m rather proud of the fact that the first Chorus of this song is nearly verbatim from the only 2 stanzas in the book. They happen to be written by a dead-character on the bathroom wall in the midst of the action of the book. That kinda sums up PKD.

Next Week:

The Acoustic version of Distress Signal.

I released the EP version of “High Gloss Photos”

This Week:

This week, I ordered a Batch of CDs for the upcoming EP, plus it’s St. Patricks Day, plus… it’s long past time for a song a week(ish). How about an Acoustic Prog-Pop song?. Here’s “UBIK” with just me and my guitar. If this song doesn’t make sense, let me google it for you.

And as a Bonus, This week I did up the Song a week as a Video.

Next Week:

Back story and EP version time.

I released the acoustic of “High Gloss Photo“.

This Week:

This week, I’m posting the EP version of “High Gloss Photos”. This was one of those “written in 5 minutes” sort of songs (Except it really took about an hour).
As soon as I found the guitar part for the verse the lyrics just came out. When I got to the second verse I realized the lyrics were one big long run-on sentence. So I kept going with that idea and tried to make the whole song one big run-on-sentence. Unfortunately the damn bridge got in the way and broke up the pattern. Oh well. Still a kick-ass song.

Next Week:

The Acoustic version of UBIK

I enjoy making  cover art a little too much sometimes… and this would be one of those times.

The Front Cover

The Cover image was done in 3 steps (as all things are).

Step #1:

Take photo of a handshake.

Handshake

Step#2:

Carefully take one hand away so the remaining hand doesn’t move…. much

One Handed Handshake

Step #3:

Lots of Photoshop. (using the original hand as a guide for the robot hand)

Human Relations Cover Image

The Back Cover

I’d had the idea of a heart gear in my mind for a while. It’s not intended to be steam-punk, but it’s hard to escape anytime you use a gear in anything these days.

There was a minor amount of insanity in the mix when I traced this gear….

100 tooth gear

Human Relations “Heart Gear”

This is the results of 2-3 hours of coffee fueled crazy.

Next…  I get to do up the text for the back and the front.

•••

I released the EP version of “Connections Lost”

This Week:

This week, it’s the big old Super Bowl. All kinds of testosterone fueled power outages and musical reunions. So it’s the perfect time for an acoustic Pop song. Here’s “High Gloss Photo” with just me and my guitar. One of those beautifully simple and short pop songs.

Next Week:

Back story and EP version time.

Turns out my favorite structure in Oregon is there. It’s a tiny structure built in the 60′s that looks like something from Tatooine. So she took a bunch of awesome shots of me looking all Future-boy in the awesome Concrete structure.

A Panorama of Panorama Point in Hood River, OR

I took a couple nice Sci-Fi shoots of the structure

Sci-Fi Shot of some concrete and sunlight

And here are a couple of the shots Lynne threw down:

I’m sure I’ll go back their for more photos some day.

I released the acoustic of “Connections Lost”.

This Week:

Now you’ll see the firepower of this fully armed and studio mixed song. Here’s the EP version of “Connections Lost” with all the Auto-tuned background vocals you always wanted.

The background on this song is pretty apparent from the lyrics. A long time ago in a city relatively far away from most people reading this, I was in a long distance relationship. As anyone who’s been in such relationships will tell you; your relationship is put on hold when you’re apart. Some needs have to wait. And sometimes people can’t wait.

Next Week:

The Acoustic Version of the big hit single; “High Gloss Photos”. Folks who’ve heard a sneak preview of the EP like this one a lot.

I released the Robert A. Heinlein inspired song, “Space”.

This Week:

This week, the acoustic version of “Connections Lost”. This is a song about all the beautiful USB cables I’ve lost in my life. Or long distance relationships. It’s really up to interpretation. I’ll give more background next time.

I don’t play a lot of live shows, but when I do this is a favorite of mine. This song seems to take on a different personality every time I play it. This version is a good example of that as you’ll see next week when I release the EP version. This was recorded at a house on the beach in Manzanita, OR in November.

Next Week:

Story time and EP version time.

Deal?

Deal!

Last “Week”:

I put out the acoustic version of the song “Space”.

The Back-story:

I mentioned the subject of this week’s song is “Polyamory”, and I figured it’s be pertinent to throw out some back-story on this:

I wrote this song while reading the Robert A. Heinlein novel “Stranger in a Strange Land”. This book has been credited with introducing the concept of “Free-Love” to the 60’s Hippie generation. More recently it’s been accepted as founding literature of a growing culture of open relationships in western culture. Be grateful I didn’t try to slip the word “Grok” into this song.

This Week’s Release:

This week I give you the EP version of “Space”. If you’re a fan of Heinlein’s “Stranger in a Strange Land” you’ll probably catch the shameless references to ideologies of the main character (Valentine Michael Smith).

Next Week: The next song in the Song-a-Week series, “Connections Lost”.