Music made for a game jam that didn’t go super well.
This, too, ended up not going into a game that got released in time for the jam, due to time constraints and overly-ambitious scope. I’m detecting a theme, here.
This year did not have a good track record for me. I’d definitely prefer if people who come to me for music have a plan to release something even if it’s unfinished.
Originally made this for a game which got cancelled due to time constraints and overly-ambitious scope, so it’s unfinished.
Originally made this for a game which got cancelled due to time constraints and overly-ambitious scope, so I repurposed it for a different game, which also didn’t get finished for the jam due to time constraints and overly-ambitious scope.
Made for Rubber Wizard Can’t Catch A Break. I always enjoy making music for this series.
#GameJams #OST #StrawberryJam #EDM #BossaNova #Chiptune #Classical #Techno ]]>These are some of my oldest songs, all but one of them written back when I first started writing songs with lyrics. They have been slightly polished and cleaned up and remastered, but are otherwise as they were originally released.
Some of these are outtakes from aborted album projects. I still had a ways to go before I was ready to release these songs properly. Sometimes things take a while to ferment.
This is basically a companion album to Transitions, in which most of these songs were finally redone for modern ears, in a way I’m finally happy with. The artwork, on the other hand, is a reference to my very first album.
The Bandcamp version of this album comes with complete liner notes that go into detail about more of my history.
This version triggers my tinnitus something fierce.
Just like in a picture show I know where I want to go This is not the place for me And I’m moving on
There are people that I know In the place I want to go I can be what I wanna be I hope I’m not wrong
I think it’s time for me to get my five minutes of fame When I get there everybody will be so glad that I came And it won’t be so long before everyone knows my name Without a doubt we’ll talk about the Things I never ever thought I’d Find someone to talk to about
Just like in a picture show I know where I’m gonna go It just seems so right for me Like I’m already gone
All the people that I know Tell me where I need to go In a day or two or three Nothing will be wrong
It’s about time to start again with a brand new life Leave behind some of a past that has been filled with strife Start a new family, two kids, a husband, and a wife I sold my car I’m going far to Start again beginning friendship With five minutes left to the end
Just like in a picture show I know where I’m gonna go This is not the place for me Goodbye, and so long
The sun comes right up There’s nothing I can do But state my mind Recite my point of view
It warms up my hair Passes behind a cloud I’m sitting here Thinking here of you
It shines in my eyes Like a beautiful swirl It blows my mind Trembles in my view
I cannot think Of anyone in the world I’d rather spend my Whole life with than you
I cannot believe Our love could go askew I would rather think What it’s like to be with you
I take a deep breath Let it out real slow The air is warm, and Smells of sweetened dew
It warms up my head I can see it now I’m sitting here Madly loving you
The world closes in Everything’s a blur I’m feeling dizzy Look around for you
I can’t help but think This must have been a dream Because you are nowhere Within my view
I could not believe Our love would go askew I would rather think What it’s like to be with you
This is one of my first Song Fight! songs that I decided to try rerecording for an album, after I’d bought a cheap used four-track audio interface to try to improve my recording process.
It did not go well.
Okay, um… hello?
This program is a… h’LOooOOoo This program is a piece of shit But it came free with my, uh, USB audio… interface… thing… So I’m not complaining too much
Okay, okay
Let’s uh, try this again
I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
Things aren’t always gonna go my way But tomorrow is another day You’re not helping me to feel very steady, though Alright, alright
I get your point already No need to fight I’m just not feeling so steady Alright, alright
Please don’t try to cheer me up Yes I know I have enough coffee in my cup I get your point already Alright, alright
Your voice is getting me twisted up If you don’t stop… if you don’t stop talking I…
the fuck? Okay
Your voice is getting me twisted up
Damn it I can play this just fine when I’m not recording Yes I’m being “chatty”
Okay
I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
Things aren’t always going to go my way But tomorrow is another day You’re not helping me to feel very steady, though Alright, alright
I get your point already No need to fight I’m just not feeling so steady Alright, alright
Please don’t try to cheer me up Yes I know I have enough coffee in my cup I get your point already Alright, alright
Your voice is getting me twisted up If you don’t stop talking I am hanging up Your cheerfulness isn’t making me anymore Alright, alright
Don’t you even try To think that I Just need to have it pointed out that It… it’ll be alright
Metaphorically I I just wanna die Or at least have the world go away until I am alright
I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
THANK YOU Hopefully it’ll save the whole fucking file this time Just, okay Just wanna make sure It’s gonna save the whole thing Okay
For this one I was feeling super lazy and just recorded the keyboard and vocals separately in one take, and then I ran the result through a rather overdriven compressor, because I’d heard that compressors were good for audio production and so I should do that.
Frankie Big Face did an amazing cover of this which is what eventually led to the Love and Monsters version, which I consider to be the definitive version of this song.
One hundred twenty miles per hour It sure is cold outside alone One hundred twenty miles away After an hour far from home
One hundred twenty miles between us Why did you have to hurt me so One hundred twenty miles and counting I’m sorry that I had to go
Why did you hurt me bad, I did not want to lose you Why did you have to leave, I try and try and try and try Why did you want to hurt me, was it something that I said Why do I have to love you, ‘til the day I die?
One hundred twenty miles per hour The distance is now getting large One hundred twenty miles away From you and your stupid garage
One hundred twenty miles between us It is all crystal clear to me One hundred twenty miles and counting We simply were not meant to be
Why did I even put up with your stupidity Why did I bother with you, now I cannot see How could I let you lead me on so very, very, very long I hope that I never miss you, now that you are gone
One hundred twenty miles per hour I’m sure to get away from you One hundred twenty miles away It has vastly improved my view
One hundred twenty miles between us I do not need you anymore One hundred twenty miles and counting Good riddance, don’t wait at the door
Just as with I LOVE YOU, the Transitions version of this song is basically the Plus 5 version, done somewhat more competently.
Yes, that’s a musical reference to Katamari Damacy.
(One, two, three four)
Life is like a riddle Stuck in the middle I have been such a fool A fool in the middle
Not so bad but not so good I don’t do the things that I should I have been such a fool A fool in the middle
Everything I do makes it worse Just a speck in the universe Have I been such a fool A fool in the middle
Everybody puts me down But they say they like having me around And that makes me a bitter fool A fool in the middle
One side pink and one side blue Purple’s gonna have to do People can be very cruel when you’re Stuck in the middle
Life is like a riddle Stuck in the middle I have been such a fool A fool in the middle
Life is like a riddle Stuck in the middle I have been such a fool A fool in the middle
I got your letter Addressed to me Don’t know why you sent it It’s such a mystery
You said you’re broken Trying to hide Asked me how I’m doing, said you’re Burning up inside
You tell a story A lover in the past You say you think this time will be different That we will last
I don’t need this kind of attention Please don’t show me your affection I don’t want you to always tell me How you think this is meant to be
Another letter You talk of dreams Seeing us together And everything’s serene
You tell a story How everything was wrong Until the day you met me, how I’m Wonderful and strong
I think you should know It’s hard on me The love you think you have is just a Cause of misery
I don’t need this kind of attention Please don’t show me your affection I don’t want you to always tell me How you think this is meant to be
Another letter The paper splattered red By the time I read this you think That you might be dead
You said you love me Why did I lead you on I’m pretty sure I didn’t want your Melancholy song
I call your lover She says you’re doing fine She told me that you said to tell me, “Please stay on the line”
I don’t need this kind of attention Please don’t show me your affection I don’t want you to always tell me How you think this is meant to be
You say you’re sorry For acting such a fool But can we still be friends if it would Not be cold and cruel
I say I’m sorry I never wanted you The image that you had of me was Anything but true
You say you’re sorry You hang your head in shame I’m sorry if you wanted me I just don’t feel the same
This is a version that I’d done for Plus 5. If it weren’t for the fact I’d already re-redone this song for Love and Monsters it’d have gone onto Transitions, so I figured I’d might as well put this version onto Deadnames for completeness’ sake.
This song, incidentally, was about the same breakup that Birds Of Our Own was sort of about.
One hundred twenty miles per hour It sure is cold outside alone One hundred twenty miles away After an hour far from home
One hundred twenty miles between us Why did you have to hurt me so One hundred twenty miles and counting I’m sorry that I had to go
Why did you hurt me was it (turn around and glare) Something that I said (aware) I try and try (unfair)
Why did you hurt me why (turn around and stare) Did I have to leave Why do I have to love you (nowhere) ‘Till the day I die (prepare)
One hundred twenty miles per hour It is now time to move along One hundred twenty miles away From everything that was so wrong
One hundred twenty miles between us It is now crystal clear to me One hundred twenty miles and counting We simply were not meant to be
Why did I even put up with (turn around and glare) your stupidity Why did I bother with you (aware) Now I cannot see (unfair)
How could I let you lead me (catch me unaware) On so very long I hope to never miss you (we share) Now that you are gone (repair)
One hundred twenty miles per hour I’m sure to get away from you One hundred twenty miles away It has vastly improved my view
One hundred twenty miles between us I just don’t need you anymore One hundred twenty miles and counting Good riddance, don’t wait at the door
In 2006 (after having settled on “Sockpuppet” as a band name), I decided to celebrate how far I’d come as a musician since I started doing Song Fight!, and started a project called Plus 5 where I’d remake my first year of Song Fight! songs and release them on the fifth anniversary of the original fight.
I didn’t get through the whole year before losing interest in the project, but due to the nature of this album, I decided that the Plus 5 versions should get remastered and re-released.
It’s funny how in 2006 I thought I’d completed a journey, when clearly I still had a long way to go. I still do, really, but this is at least a step in the right direction.
In any case, the ideas from this directly informed the version I did for Transitions.
The sun comes right up And there’s nothing I can do But state my mind Recite my point of view
It warms up my hair Passes behind a cloud I’m sitting here Thinking here of you
It shines in my eyes Like a beautiful swirl It blows my mind And trembles in my view
I cannot think Of anyone in this world I’d rather spend my Whole life with than you
I cannot believe Our love could go askew I would rather think What it’s like to be with you
I take a deep breath Let it out real slow The air is warm, and Smells of sweetened dew
It warms up my head I can see it now I’m sitting here Madly loving you
The world closes in Everything’s a blur I’m feeling dizzy Look around for you
I can’t help but think This must have been a dream Because you are nowhere Within my view
I could not believe Our love would go askew I would rather think What it’s like (I’d like) to be with you
I’d like to be with you
Lazy jazz turns into screamy punk. While going through my archives I found out that I’d actually tried resuscitating this project for a few other albums and it never quite worked out then either. I have scrapped versions in foodsexsleep and in Songs of Substance. I’d forgotten all about that.
I always wanted a bird of my own My mother had one but it had flown Away when she opened the window To let it be free as she loved it so
She always said that it would be, “If you love someone you set them free” And I know that I would love it so And I would open the window
It’s always sad when one’s not good Being in a cage made of Norwegian wood I’d hope that someone would love me so Much as to open my window
I once had a man, or should I say He once had me for a single day I thought that he had loved me so But he would not open my window
I flew away in a single day He chased me but I ran away Back to a place that I could be Myself and by myself be free
I always wanted a bird of my own My mother had one but it had flown Away when she opened the window To let it be free as she loved it so
It was a three-hour tour Looks like it’s gonna be more Now I’m stranded far from you And it looks like there’s nothing to do
I need someone to come Doesn’t matter where they are from I see a ship on the edge of my view And I’m hoping that it is you
Come on and rescue me I’m drowning, can’t you see that I Really need you all of the time so come Come on and rescue me
I am alone with nobody around It feels like I’ll never be found I have to hold on one more day To see if someone is coming my way
It was a three-hour tour Looks like it’s gonna be more Now I’m stranded far from you And I’m hoping that it is you
Come on and rescue me I’m drowning, can’t you see that I Really need you all of the time, so come Come on and rescue me
Come on and rescue me I’m begging for you to find me, and I Really need you all of the time, so come Come on and rescue me
I always wanted a bird of my own My mother had one but it had flown Away when she opened the window To let it be free as she loved it so
She always said that it would be, “If you love someone you set them free” And I know that I would love it so And I would open the window
It’s always sad when one’s not good Being in a cage made of Norwegian wood I’d hope that someone would love me so Much as to open my window
Dooo doo doo dooo doo
I once had a man, or should I say He once had me for a single day I thought that he had loved me so But he would not open my window
I flew away in a single day He chased me but I ran away Back to a place that I could be Myself and by myself be free
I always wanted a bird of my own My mother had one but it had flown Away when she opened the window To let it be free as she loved it so
Oh, it’s just another sunny day Why did someone have to chase the clouds away I just don’t want to come outside and play I just want the rain to wash my tears away
Don’t want you coming here, try to change my mind You don’t know just how I feel, I feel I’m feeling fine You don’t know what it’s like, living in my brain It’s not the things you think that keep me in this pain
Today is just another sunny day Why don’t you go and chase some fucking clouds away I don’t want to come outside and play today I just want the rain to wash my tears away
I’m being eaten at from every fucking side They smack me down, want me to drown, and take me for a ride You want to make me think it isn’t them it’s me It will not work you fucking jerk, I know how it should be
Oh it’s just another sunny day I wish the clouds could come and stay, for that I pray Please just leave me alone and go away Don’t want to see you now, just leave me alone today
I know I seem I’m on the edge of something bad You scream and shout I’m “flipping out,” you’re just making me mad I’m the one who’s fine, it’s everyone else who’s insane But people suck, I’m out of luck, I just can’t play this game
Oh, it’s just another sunny day Please let me be, don’t bother me today I’m sick of you trying to chase my clouds away I just want you to go the fuck away
Oh, it’s just another sunny day Why did someone have to chase my clouds away I just don’t want to come outside and play I just want you to stay
I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
Things aren’t always gonna go my way But tomorrow is just another day You’re not helping me to feel very steady though Alright, alright
I get your point already No need to fight I’m just not f…eeling so steady Alright, alright
Please don’t try to cheer me up Yes I know I have enough coffee in my cup I— I get your point already Alright, alright
Your voice is getting me twisted up If you don’t stop talking I am hanging up Your cheerfulness isn’t making me feel anymore Alright, alright
Don’t you even try To think that I Just need to have it pointed out that It’ll be alright
Metaphorically I I just wanna die Or at least have the world go away until I am alright
I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
I- I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
I am stronger than you Not a thing to do When you cried I knew I am stronger than you I will always try To live to see you die You know always that I I will always try I am stronger than you Not a thing to do When you cried I knew I am stronger than you Don’t know what I’m going through You can’t see from my point of view You will be on my mind You won’t be hard to find
I am stronger than you Not a thing to do When you cried I knew I am stronger than you I will always try To live to see you die You know always that I I will always try I am stronger than you Not a thing to do When you cried I knew I am stronger than you Don’t know what I’m going through You can’t see from my point of view You will be on my mind You won’t be hard to find
I am stronger than you Not a thing to do When you cried I knew I am stronger than you
The Plus 5 version of Shipwreck attempted to be a more highly-produced version of the original. It’s how I originally wanted to try to do the Transitions version as well, but the new version had other plans.
The outro of this version is intended to overemphasize the musical connection between Shipwreck and Fool in the Middle.
It was a three-hour tour Looks like it’s gonna be more Now I’m stranded far from you And it looks like there’s nothing to do
I need someone to come Doesn’t matter where they are from I see a ship on the edge of my view And I’m hoping that it is you
Come on and rescue me (life is like a riddle) I’m drowning, can’t you see that I (stuck in the middle) Really need you all of the time so come (I have been such a fool) Come on and rescue me (A fool in the middle)
I am alone with nobody around It feels like I’ll never be found I have to hold on one more day To see if someone is coming my way
It was a three-hour tour Looks like it’s gonna be more Now I’m stranded far from you And I’m hoping that it is you
Come on and rescue me (life is like a riddle) I’m drowning, can’t you see that I (stuck in the middle) Really need you all of the time, so come (I’ve been such a fool) Come on and rescue me (a fool in the middle)
Come on and rescue me (life is like a riddle) I’m begging for you to find me, and I (stuck in the middle) Really need you all of the time, so come (I’ve been such a fool) Come on and rescue me (a fool in the middle)
The Plus 5 version of Listen Close. For this version I just did it as introverted jazz and just left the angsty lyrics behind.
I didn’t update this one for Transitions because I don’t think the song says anything that needed to be said, and what few interesting musical things happen in it are better covered by the final version of Sunny Again.
This is the remade version of Stronger Than for Plus 5. I wasn’t able to do a full remaster as many of the Logic instruments no longer exist in the basic library and I didn’t have any bounce files that I could reuse, but oh well. This seems good enough.
I am stronger than you
I am stronger than you
I am stronger than you Not a thing to do When you cried I knew I am stronger than you I will always try To live to see you die You know always that I I will always try I am stronger than you Not a thing to do When you cried I knew I am stronger than you Don’t know what I’m going through You can’t see from my point of view You will be on my mind You won’t be hard to find
I am stronger than you Not a thing to do When you cried I knew I am stronger than you I will always try To live to see you die You know always that I I will always try I am stronger than you Not a thing to do When you cried I knew I am stronger than you Don’t know what I’m going through You can’t see from my point of view You will be on my mind You won’t be hard to find
I am stronger than you
This song is about me being super annoyed at the transphobia I was experiencing on the Song Fight! forums. I decided to turn it into a way-too-long jazz jam, which I mostly improvised in real-time (aside from the lyrics).
For the recording I used my Yamaha DD-50 drum machine for the backing track, and played my keyboard with the MIDI piped in through my SIDstation, and recorded both simultaneously while improvisationally changing the SIDstation’s patch and parameters.
I guess it’s okay. The “In a [time] or two or three” idea would eventually get reused for Five Minutes; this was basically a lyrical gimmick which I used to mean “eventually, hopefully soon, possibly never.”
It did eventually become the case that I have to sit down to pee, though.
Listen close, close to me I’m changing can’t you see In a year or two or three No one will recognize me
I know your point of view Knows not how this can be true But the demographics I skew Don’t care about what I do
Listen close, close to me This is not some malarkey I’m the door and you the key Please try to unlock me
You can see the way I move In every way I groove For you it would behoove Of this change to approve
Listen close, close to me I am changing, can’t you see In a year or two or three I’ll have to sit down to pee
I know your point of view Knows not what I’m going through But the demographics that I skew Don’t care about what I do
Listen close, close to me This is not some malarkey I’m the door and you the key Please unlock me Unlock me Unlock me Unlock meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Eeeeeeeee
[7 minutes of aimless jamming later…]
Listen close, close to me This is not some malarkey I’m the door and you the key Please try to unlock me
Listen close, close to me I’m changing, can’t you see In a year or two or three No one will recognize me
Listen
This was my second attempt at recording this song for an album.
It did not go well.
I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
Things aren’t always gonna go my way But tomorrow is just another day You’re not helping me to feel very steady though Alright, alright
I get your point already No need to fight I’m just not feeling so steady Alright, alright
Please don’t try to cheer me up Yes I know I have enough coffee in my cup I get your point already Alright, alright
Your voice is getting me twisted up If you don’t stop talking I am hanging up Your cheer isn’t making me anymore Alright, alright
I get your point already No need to fight I’m just not feeling so steady Alright, alright
Don’t you even try To think that I Just need to have it pointed out that It’ll be alright
Metaphorically I I just wanna die Or at least have the world go away until I am alright
I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
I know what you’re gonna say Today just must not be my day I get your point already Alright, alright
#CD #SongFight #LoFi #Origins #Instrumental #Lyrical ]]>I make a lot of music for things. Some of it ends up being used, some of it doesn’t. Much of it deserves to be heard anyway.
Some of the things that this music was originally made for:
Are you interested in having music like this in your project? Drop me a line, or see my commissions page.
Background music for an informational video welcoming visitors to the Trans Academy.
The video this was for was intended to be an overview of the Trans Academy and what it does, with several different motifs to indicate the different aspects of the world and community. The video’s scope had to be pulled back somewhat, but this became the basis of the overall musical design and audio logos I developed for the Academy going forward. You will hear the Academy themes and motifs in several of the other songs on this album.
Prototype battle theme made for an abandoned, untitled Pokémon fangame.
I ended up using this in one of my own games, although it was basically a last-minute shitpost meant specifically to have something that actually used the music in it.
A soundtrack done for a seasons greetings video for the Trans Academy.
This was done as a stylistic riff on the front half of “Linus and Lucy” by Vince Guaraldi, with a Motown-inspired jazz sound (and an anachronistic touch of disco, as has been my tendency lately).
Main menu music from Spooky Sushi, a VR game jam game.
In this track I decided to play with the idea of having the same simple looping melody that repeats while being recontextualized by the changing chords underneath it.
The composite soundtrack for Magnolia’s Early Morning Walk, a short game done for a game jam.
The different sections of this piece are the short looping motifs for the various scenes in the intended game, with different emotional variations on two overall themes that represent the protagonist’s state of mind.
This is another track that I composed Just Because. I was treading on the edge of consciousness and then this just popped into my head. I tend to write a lot of my music that way.
Diana’s character theme song from Full Course.
Diana was meant to be a very posh, aristocratic person with refined tastes, and this is the music that popped into my head based on that description.
Sometimes I compose music just for the heck of it. This is one of those songs that just kinda popped into my head and I had to make it.
Music made for the obligatory underwater level of an abandoned game jam prototype.
There are a few game jams where I regularly sign up to make a lot of music for others, and usually err on the side of making too much because more often than not, the music I make ends up going unused in the jam itself. It’s always a little disappointing when that happens, but at least it gives me more music to release later.
Caroline’s date scene from Full Course.
The idea I had for Full Course’s soundtrack was that each character would have a musical theme and a style, and different situations would cause one theme to play in another one’s style. I had decided that the dating scenes would be in the style of cheezy lounge jazz.
I also had started a jazz version of “Water to Wine,” Morgan’s theme, to represent their inner thoughts when alone in the restaurant, and I planned on completing it for this album, but without the impetus of completing the game it felt a bit gratuitous.
Caroline’s character theme from Full Course.
Caroline was to have an interesting story arc, and was going to have two character theme songs because of one of her traits. This particular song is for her extrovert mode (“Candy”), and was inspired by modern anime music. Its working title was “Every Anime Themesong.”
She also had an introvert mode, “Strawberry,” although I never started work on that theme before the game was canceled.
The main theme from Full Course, a canceled visual novel project.
In this game you would have played Morgan, a young adult who experiences multiple mental health challenges, and also “sees” other people as various foods befitting their personalities. This theme song is also Morgan’s theme, and was going to have several variations based on different moods and situations.
Prototype battle theme made for an abandoned, untitled Pokémon fangame.
If I had a nickel for every time someone wanted me to make battle theme music for a Pokémon fan game for a game jam and then disappeared on me without apparently having even started to make the game, I’d have ten cents, which isn’t a lot of money, but it’s annoying that it happened twice.
A looping background motif for an augmented art installation.
I composed a prototype of this while playing with a Sawbench, a minimal MIDI-controlled analog synthesizer, and eventually repurposed it for the art piece, making it a bit more ambient in the process.
People keep comparing it to Boards of Canada, which seems like a band I need to actually listen to someday.
A lo-fi background music track for a series of videos by the Trans Academy.
This is the primary “logo” motif of the Trans Academy, with my favorite gimmick of using an evolving chord progression to recontextualize the simple motif in different ways.
An alternate soundtrack for Magnolia’s Early Morning Walk.
This was done as a prototype while trying to figure out the right mood for the game, and was not going to be used in the game itself as it didn’t end up fitting the vibe. I still like it, though.
The screeching “synth” sound for the second half (the “walkies” section) is a guitar whose strings are being excited by electromagnetic coupling with an eBow. It’s a great sound and I don’t get to use it in my music very much.
An extended/enhanced version of the battle theme from Deck of Desire, an extremely NSFW card trading game.
In the original game there was a much shorter version of this song, in both chiptune and symphonic versions, as well as a bunch of other music. The game itself has been essentially abandoned as a “prototype” (despite having been very popular, and still tops my download analytics on itch.io years later!), but I had some ideas about how to expand the soundtrack into a full musical experience.
Maybe someday.
Paige’s character theme song from Full Course.
The request for Paige’s theme from the game’s creator was that it should be “That Distant Shore” from Steven Universe, which I took to mean being a nice gentle bossa nova tune where you can relax while swaying in the breeze.
Gameplay music from Spooky Sushi, a VR game jam game.
In this game you play the part of a conveyor sushi restaurant waiter, and must quickly tally up the bill for patrons based on the colors of their plates. I was trying to evoke the feeling of having to juggle several things at once while being simultaneously single-minded about it.
#CD #GameJams #GamesMadeQuick #OST #Disco #Rock #Instrumental ]]>Most of these songs are things done for Song Fight! or Song Fight!-adjacent contests, and represent a real turning point in Sockpuppet’s composition and production without forgetting the roots of where this music came from.
Two of these songs are covers, and are subject to standard copyright:
All other songs are Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.
Hippy likes Hippy snacks. Hippy thinks they taste so good. Hippy likes the Hippy snacks. They’re made of whole grain wholesome wood.
Hippy snacks make them better than me, make them better than you. Hippy snacks make them better than me, make them better than you. Hippy snacks make them better than me, make them better than you. Hippy snacks make them better than me, make them better.
Yuppie likes Yuppie snacks. Yuppie likes them made of meat. Yuppie likes the Yuppie snacks. Suck them from the Yuppie teat.
Yuppie snacks make them better than me, make them better than you. Yuppie snacks make them better than me, make them better than you. Yuppie snacks make them better than me, make them better than you. Yuppie snacks make them better than me, make them better, better, better, better.
Hippy don’t like Yuppie snacks. They prefer things made of soy. Yuppie don’t like hippy snacks. Would rather play with shiny toy.
Hippy snacks make them better than me, make them better than you. Hippy snacks make them better than me, make them better than you. Hippy snacks make them better than me, make them better than you. Hippy snacks make them better than me, make them bitter.
I was going through a breakup, with someone who really wanted me to do more than I was able.
You shouldn’t fall For anyone at all Eventually you’re gonna hit the ground
Everything you do Please do it just for you Because you are so great to have around
And if you should fall From something ten feet tall I’ll try to catch you and make it okay
But everything I do I can’t do just for you I won’t always be there to save the day
And then if I should fall From fifty stories tall I hope that you’ll be there right next to me
And everything we do We ask each other to Even if we sometimes disagree
But you shouldn’t fall For anyone at all No matter what you think that you have found
And everything you do Please do it just for you Because I don’t want you to hit the ground
I wrote this song the night after I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, based on the then-current understanding of the condition (before new research showed that it’s actually an autoimmune condition), and also about my long-time frustration with just how people who don’t experience chronic pain talk to people who do.
Every day I’m just a little older I feel a little twinge up in my shoulder Icing up my limbs until they’re colder Reduce the burning pain into a smolder
I’ve got fibromyalgia I’ve got fibromyalgia I feel a lot of pain but it’s Mostly in my brain I have Fibromyalgia
I’ve got Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia There’s something in my brain that makes me Sensitive to pain I’ve got Fibromyalgia
Well I think it’s pretty nice To eat turmeric and rice With a spicy Indian curry
And I get so much advice And I’ve heard it once or twice About swimming and Pilates and so much yoga (You should swim do Pilates and so much yoga!)
Fibromyalgia, I’ve got Fibromyalgia It’s excruciating pain That comes from my defective brain I’ve got fibromyalgia
This was the 2016 Live Fight entry for Song Fight! Live! in New York City.
It’s just a happy accident that these two Live Fight entries from the same city happened to go next to each other on this album.
This thing I found lying in the street Don’t know what it is but it’s pretty neat When I picked it up, it filled me with energy
Now everyone’s always lookin’ around Turning their head to see this thing I found Give me a look, I think that it’s jealousy
It’ll always be my lucky charm Keeping me safe and free from harm I know everything will always be okay
Everything all said, I’m good At least long as I’m touching wood My good luck charm will always save the day
It looks kind of like a rocket ship Keep it on my belt, held it with a clip And suddenly nobody wants to fight
Walking through the village green, Lots of people say “that’s keen!” Some of them even cheer and shout “All right!”
It’ll always be my lucky charm Keeping me safe and free from harm I know everything will always be okay
Everything all said, I’m good At least long as I’m touching wood My good luck charm will always save the day
A baker must be what I be Because everybody says to me Something about the dough made of dill that I wear
I’m not quite sure what they mean But I don’t want to make a scene Anyway they said to look out for a bear
I walked on by a man in blue He took one look and said “how do you do, I think I’m gonna take you into custody”
I wasn’t sure just what he meant But then it was clear this was heaven-sent Because that bear can never get to me
It’ll always be my lucky charm Keeping me safe and free from harm I know everything will always be okay
Everything all said, I’m good At least long as I’m touching wood My good luck charm will always save the day
It’ll always be my lucky charm Keeping me safe and free from harm I know everything will always be okay
Everything all said, I’m good At least long as I’m touching wood My good luck charm will always save the day
This was recorded in posthumous tribute to its composer, Seth Gibbs, who probably did not intend for this song to be about himself.
His old band’s original version is available on Song Fight!.
Space cadet, what can you bring us To bring us together
Space cadet, what can you bring us To bring us together
Space cadet can you see all of the planets and stars Lifeless and empty but they know who they are He is so alone But we are really alone
Fly away, leave us alone, we don’t want you anyway I hope you’re happy floating free up in space It’s so nice up there But it’s so rotten down here
Space cadet, what can you bring us To bring us together
Space cadet, what can you bring us To bring us together
You watch the universe go You wishing on the last star What do you think of us now How can you live with us now
Hey cadet, where do you think You’re going don’t float away Take us with you, we’ll miss you so
Space cadet, what can you bring us To bring us together
Space cadet, what can you bring us To bring us together
This song was written as a 20th anniversary celebration of the very first Song Fight!.
20 years ago I knew this guy, you probably know the type. His name was Gary or Greg or something, but everyone knew him as Golfpunk. His whole thing was breaking in windows of expensive cars using a golf club to protest the wealth gap or… somethin' like that.
Anyway, he called himself a performance artist, and some rich dude decided it would be funny to give him a Cadillac to drive around, you know, “ironically?” Golfpunk, he changed, man… He changed.
(Golfpunk, he drives a Cadillac) (Golfpunk, he drives a Cadillac) (Golfpunk, he drives a Cadillac) (Golfpunk, he drives a Cadillac)
Now that he had a Cadillac of his own he suddenly felt a lot of empathy for the other Cadillac owners and stopped smashing windows. He wanted to smash things, though, so… he took his golf club to the golf course and… he started playing.
You know, golf.
The rich peoples' sport.
And he was good at it.
(Golfpunk, he drives a nine iron) (Golfpunk, he drives a nine iron) (Golfpunk, he drives a nine iron) (Golfpunk, he’s gonna crash and burn)
He ended up entering into a tournament and won a lot of money, but then his past caught up with him and all these rich assholes, like, sued him for the windows he broke. And then he had to go on a big ol' apology tour, ‘cause it’s not like he hurt anyone or said anything racist, but God forbid some windows get smashed up.
Anyway, we all kind of lost track of him for a long time, but then a few weeks ago he reached out to me and was like, “Hey, remember me?” And I was like, “Hey, I remember you! Man, Golfpunk! It’s been a long heckin’ time.” Then he kinda went silent.
And then he says to me, “So, um, I’m not Golfpunk anymore. I got married, settled down, had kids… now I’m more of a… golf dad.”
And I was like, “Oh. Huh. Weird.”
And then he said the most offensive thing to me ever:
“And now I drive a Prius.”
(Golfpunk, he drove a Cadillac) (Golfpunk, he drove a Cadillac) (Golfpunk, he drove a Cadillac) (Golfpunk, he drove a Cadillac)
Anyway, I guess the moral of the story is it’s okay to grow up sometimes, and maybe you’re going to grow apart too. And that’s alright.
Just don’t become an asshole.
The original version of this song was written by King Arthur for the A Problem of Perspective edition of Song Fight!.
Here is the problem: The way I see you is Colored by all of the things we’ve been through. Here is the problem: The way you see me is All about the things that you think I did to you.
That’s how a problem of perspective seems to work; Gets in the way of love. We think we’ve been hurt, We say we’ve had enough, we lose the will to trust. That’s what a problem of perspective does to us.
Love keeps no score of wrongs, they tell me, but my Eyes won’t open and my heart won’t let go. I make assumptions, despite the things I see, I… I deny the evidence, I trust what I think I know.
That’s how a problem of perspective seems to work; Gets in the way of love. We think we’ve been hurt, We say we’ve had enough, we lose the will to trust. That’s what a problem of perspective does to us.
At least two sides to every story. At least one truth for every lie. The optimist afraid to disbelieve, The pessimist afraid to try.
That’s how a problem of perspective seems to work; Gets in the way of love. We think we’ve been hurt, We say we’ve had enough, we lose the will to trust. That’s what a problem of perspective does to us.
This song was written for Song Fight! Live 2020, and I don’t think people got the joke that it was a song about how 2020 was going to have been so much better than 2019 was.
(For those reading this from the distant future: It very much wasn’t.)
This year had its challenges All my flowers dead, my pain got worse, my brain got worse, there’s something wrong with my head
What happened to my career, it didn’t go my way Things feel bad, and I’m in fear I won’t live another day
oh, it can only get better oh, I know it will get better
we see the rise of fascists who think many lives don’t matter a president who’s on the brink, only cares to be flattered
where can our people go from here it all just seems too much famine devastation fear we need a human touch
oh, it can only get better oh, I know it will get better
but it wasn’t all so bad some of it was swell remember all the good times we had Song Fight! Live went well
We take the hand we have been dealt this year’s problems were a-plenty 2019 really smelt, so here’s to 2020
oh, it can only get better oh, I know it will get better oh, it can only get better oh, I know it will get better
My isle dauphine She’ll never come clean What does she mean She’ll never go clean Oh, isle dauphine
She walks down the aisle All of the while I’m thinking I’ll Walk single file Oh, isle dauphine
I heard what she said, and She’s turning all red Might as well be dead for Everything she said Oh, isle dauphine
She’s walking the border with everything in order and takes off the garter and Runs a bit harder Oh, isle dauphine
My isle dauphine She’ll never come clean What does she mean She’ll never go clean Oh, isle dauphine
This was written for Circle of Titles in 2016, when I was assigned the title “Strategies to Live,” which felt super relevant given the then-recent Presidential election which was at odds with my safety as a trans person.
It took me five years to release this album, and I kept on feeling like it was too late to release this topical song, and yet, somehow it manages to remain topical.
You can hide yourself down a deep, dark hole Or hoist yourself on a really tall pole Anything that’ll help you get away
You can do heavy drugs to numb the pain, or Ask a surgeon to remove your brain So you can fit right in and start to play
Change your face and change your name Hide everything that brings you shame Or go on a preemptive sneak attack
Dig deep into the viper’s pit Embroil yourself in petty shit Just commit ‘coz there’s no turning back
Oh, I wish I didn’t worry oh so much Oh, I wish I could feel fine Oh, if only all my hopes weren’t out of touch I wish my safety wasn’t on the line
If you’re accused of doing a bad crime Want to hide for a very very very long time Consider all the possibilities
Make a run for President Convince the people you are heaven sent You might just win and then you are home free
Even if you’re caught lying Everyone gives you points for trying It’s not that the bear stakes well, it skates at all
Even if you destroy the world It doesn’t matter, you can fuck every girl And then you can go home and take your ball
Oh, I wish I didn’t worry oh so much Oh, I wish I could feel fine Oh, if only all my hopes weren’t out of touch I wish my safety wasn’t on the line
In the long run everything will be fine It will just be a matter of time, in Twelve billion years this will all be gone
In the meantime just try to survive The world is better with you alive Outliving him is a reason to go on
This song was inspired by repeatedly tapping the tuning fork button on my portable amp.
it’s inimical inimitable and so predictable not a miracle
it’s despicable deliverable get irritable, with a thread to pull, feeling minimal
a seeming emptiness encroaching loneliness result of pettiness, try to redress the phoniness
acrimonious sanctimonious a former holiness, the brokenness melodious
finding time to spare sit in the broken chair being unaware, without a care all thoughts laid bare
a tantric suicide already dead inside climb up the hillside, across the divide, smell insecticide
there’s a new tomorrow, it’s falling into place there’s a new tomorrow, it’s running out of space there’s a new tomorrow, it’s all fucked up get your new tomorrow, you’re out of luck
get a steady job, and another piece of me get a big tv, and another take get a new degree, stuck in the machinery in the new tomorrow, you get what you make
it’s inimical counterfactual and so predictable not a miracle
it’s despicable deliverable get irritable, with a thread to pull, feeling minimal
and you simply cannot see what this all has done to me simply cannot see through the crooked lies simply cannot see everything that’s eating me nobody is looking through each others’ eyes
simply cannot see what this all has meant to me simply cannot see through the skin disguise simply cannot see all the greater piece of me walking through the hallway something on the rise
feeling critical and irritable analytical parasitical
apocalyptical stereotypical it’s predictable, hypocritical, a miracle
Everything you like, anything that gets you high Something there for everyone, something you can try Getting murry with a furry in the simulated leather Bondage in a dungeon where you can do it one better
Get your freak flag on Get your freak flag on
Everything is good in our carved out sexy spaces From the horniest of normies to the kinkiest of aces Post it on social if you’re into humiliation But remember to use content warnings – it’s just polite!
Get your freak flag on Get your freak flag on (Get your freak flag on)
Everything is good as long as everyone’s consenting Couple with some trans girls who are really into fencing Peg a strapping young lad with your strapping strap-on cock Only if he’s legal though, I’ve been around the block
Get your freak flag on Get your freak flag on (Ooh yeah, get your freak flag on)
You can be a top or bottom or an indecisive switch Take ‘em out for breakfast afterwards, if you feel the itch Safety first, remember to wear rubber, use protection And get it nice and shiny so you can see your own reflection Mmm, yeah…
Get your freak flag on Get your freak flag on Get it on and on Get your freak flag on
(freak flag) Safeword to your mother But not your actual mother (freak flag) 'Cuz that’d be gross
I mean, yuck
This song was originally written for Song Fight!, as part of the “Live Fight” challenge for Song Fight! Live 2021.
On the blog I have written up a detailed explanation of the lyrics and video.
Feeling lost in an elephant’s dream Caught up in the digital stream Cave of shadows, can’t say what I mean A million miles far from home
Best foot forward, take a step back Play defense while on the attack Sowing discord, can’t cut them no slack Everybody so alone
If everyone could see Themselves through some other eyes Innocent, caught up in the machinery An algorithmic disguise
Making everything great again Forget about your family and friends Looking for a means to an end Just don’t want to be alone
Fragile gem, split in two Internal dialogue of them vs. you Find acceptance with nothing to do The voices there are all your own
If everyone could see Themselves through some other eyes Innocent, caught up in the machinery An algorithmic disguise
A deeper body ache, and make a bad mistake A million jumping on Sharing a bad take, Nobody can quite shake The feeling that you’re gone
Feeling lost in an elephant’s dream Getting washed away by the digital stream If it feels better to share another meme Doesn’t make you less alone
If everyone could see Themselves through some other eyes Innocent, caught up in the machinery An algorithmic disguise
If everyone could see Themselves through some other eyes Innocent, caught up in the machinery An algorithmic disguise
This song isn’t about Portland, but it also isn’t not about Portland.
It’s also about Seattle.
But also it was just written for the Song Fight! Live Fight in Portland, in 2015.
We’re so happy that you want to stay But our city’s full please go away We don’t want to turn away your kind So come anyway, I guess we won’t mind
We know what you’ve seen on the TV How we live our lives totally fancy free But you really ought to know Portlandia is just a show
We are passive, and aggressive Sacred bike rights often start fights But we all drive, when you arrive We say you’ll never need a car
We have hipsters – Silly tricksters We’re ironic – Catatonic Brew our own beer, but please don’t fear ‘Cause there’s always PBR
So you live here now, you want a job? I guess that’s cool – you’re not a slob You could work at a restaurant If that is the kind of job you want
What’s that you say? You have a degree? A master’s in sustainability? That’s really great, but you oughta know I just got mine an hour ago
We are passive, and aggressive Sacred bike rights often start fights But we all drive, when you arrive We say you’ll never need a car
We have hipsters – Silly tricksters We’re ironic – Catatonic Brew our own beer, but please don’t fear ‘Cause there’s always PBR
I guess we can’t talk you out of it So welcome to Portland, We Give A Shit™ What’s that you say, you love the sky so blue? Well I guess I’ve got some news for you…
We are passive, and aggressive Sacred bike rights often start fights But we all drive, when you arrive We say you’ll never need a car
We have hipsters – Silly tricksters We’re ironic – Catatonic Brew our own beer, but please don’t fear ‘Cause there’s always PBR And there’s always PBR And there’s always PBR
#CD #SongFight #Vinyl #Popular #Dancepop #Electropop #IndiePop #Rock #Funny #Cover #Lyrical ]]>As is tradition I tried to record one short song every day in November. I didn’t get every day this year and some of the tracks really sucked but a lot of them were a lot higher-effort than usual for Novembeat so I’m satisfied enough I guess.
binaural microphone experiment
I don’t know what I’m saying But I’ll say it to you
I don’t know what I’m saying But I’ll say it to you
I don’t know what I’m saying But I’ll say it to you
I don’t know what I’m saying But I’ll say it to you
I don’t know what I’m saying But I’ll say it to you
I don’t know what I’m saying But I’ll say it to you
I don’t know what I’m saying But I’ll say it to you
I don’t know what I’m saying But I’ll say it to you
The Song Fight! version of Lumetri
try me you want to fall to sleep try me i’m better than counting sheep
try me you’ll finally rest at last try me don’t think about the past
try me it’s time to tuck you in try me you’ll be asleep again
what it says on the tin
smooshing keys until something interesting comes out
I needed a new outgoing voicemail message
[dial tone] [DTMF tones spelling out NOVEMBEAT#]
I can’t take your call right now Or I’m not picking up anyhow I will try to get back to you If you leave a message at the beep
I can’t take your call right now Or I’m not picking up anyhow I will try to get back to you If you leave a message at the beep
I can’t take your call right now Or I’m not picking up anyhow I will try to get back to you If you leave a message at the beep But I’d rather text
A song I wrote while waiting for the bus
it’s a bit long innit
an ode to what keeps me functional
i don’t know what i’m doing
this is problematic and appropriative
more garage than garage
like something from a vidya game
It all goes downhill from here
I don’t know what I’m doing But I’ll do it to you
images of childhood
A song done to celebrate the birthday of my friend Heather “moboid” Kelley.
Specific works referenced:
What’s going on there is nothing to do Everything I have makes me think of you What’s on the TV please give me a clue Maybe I’ll try to find something that’s new So I try to play a game But they’re all just all the same
Throw me some blocks flying through outer space Wearing a helmet that’s strapped to my face Something artistic, something with grace Something experimental that takes place In a world I call my own Makes me feel at home
I think that I’ve played that game I think that I’ve played that game
I think that I’ve played that game I think that I’ve played that game
Experiment with all the feelings inside Help me to find something i can provide Give me ideas, try not to hide from the Animals concrete the organs implied (I wanna pet the rabbit) (please help me pet the rabbit)
Look around corners that no-one could see Making a difference quite expressively Craving rapport as we drift to the sea What are we saying, let’s talk about me, ‘cause I’m Valid and I’m proud Quiet scream out loud
I think that I’ve played that game I think that I’ve played that game
I think that I’ve played that game I think that I’ve played that game
Falling down through space Make friends with a place Keeping a straight face Save the human race
I think that I’ve played that game I think that I’ve played that game
I think that I’ve played that game I think that I’ve played that game
I think that I’ll play that game I think that I’ll play that game
I think that I’ll make a game I think that I’ll make a game
Sort of a fitting conclusion to the month I guess
another video game soundtrack in my head
#Novembeat #SongFight #Instrumental #Lyrical ]]>Songs composed for games entered into the Strawberry Jam 3 game jam on itch.io, which is NSFW so keep that in mind when you look for it.
This is from a visual novel where you’re supposed to date various bugs or something. I wasn’t quite clear on it and unfortunately the project never got very far. Oh well.
Ludum Dare is a regular game jam event. The 41st installment had a theme of “Combine two incompatible genres.” During this jam I worked with a team to make “Brickris Tetout,” which was a mashup of Tetris with a blockbreaker game (such as Breakout or Arkanoid).
For the soundtrack I made two different and complementary takes on Korobeiniki that mix together seamlessly as the game progresses.
The best way to listen to the soundtrack is by playing the game, but you can hear the constituent parts here as well.
Throughout November 2016 I recorded one short song every day. Because why not.
I went downtown to buy me a stapler So I could put together a couple pieces of paper Office Depot was shutting down They had all the best deals in town For the low, low price of 27 bucks I got a bunch of stuff, who cares if it sucks Anyway I completed my task, it Is great they even let me keep the shopping basket
He actually said “proggy as fuck” but I didn’t want this song to get marked explicit on the streaming services.