The Bulwark
Mar 17, 2024
Ben
Mostly Melody
What a wonderfully challenging assignment—I gave up on it three times and kept coming back. I’ve never felt so out of my comfort zone with a song, and this assignment made me realize how I often hide within song’s structural complexity or effects, when the true heart of a song really just ought to be the melody. It’s what makes Radiohead’s Creep work, and let’s be honest, we all love that song. I’ll probably think about this assignment every time I write a song from here on out.
In terms of what I actually came up with, I liken it to a child’s craft project where all you can say is “wow, you really tried with this one!” It’s sloppy as all hell, and I’ll probably never listen to it after today, but again, the process was fascinating. It came out a little more showtuney that I would have liked, but that’s likely to happen when the vocal melody is so front and center.
I’ll trade every existing effect just to get my reverb back.
Looking for feedback on
I'm well aware of this one being rough around the edges, but I'll take any feedback!
Discussion
nick March 29, 2024 2:00pm
wow what an undertaking! glad you stuck with it, and I think that’s a great attitude for trying something like this. sloppy as all hell? people love sloppy joes. aint nothing wrong with a sloppy joe. reminds of eating mardi gras beads covered in acid jelly and remembering i’m an old piano.
alechutson March 24, 2024 3:02pm
Sometimes you have to lose the things you have come to rely on in order to grow! Personally I really dig this song, and I think you did a great job of differentiating between different sections. Sure it’s a little bit loose time-wise, but you could even argue that it’s an intentional choice.
Carseat March 18, 2024 3:04pm (edited)
I dig the showtunes + mental space interaction, I always find these sorts of things so entertaining. I think some silly little hits would make the words spike out in a more intentional way and will create some more contrast. Like what if “Craigslist” had a massive BLONK on it.?. Also, I feel like silly lil piano trills will hit, just placed wisely.