So....Figured since Feb is coming up I'd ask who's doing it this year?

I'm finally good enough at guitar to not embarass myself and am giving it a go this year unlike last year where I got about halfway through then threw out all my stuff because it was crap. Got 3 songs sketched out already. Clocking in around 15 minutes.

http://rpmchallenge.com/

Awesome, glad someone brought this up.

I'm going for a three-peat!

Did an instrumental solo album for RPM 2009 which was hit-and-miss but had some cool shit. Did another instro solo album for RPM 2010 which I released myself and am trying to do something with. Plan on doing a third instro solo album for RPM 2011.

Such a great musical and creative exercise, I can't recommend it enough.

I might give it a go. I've got some new songs in progress, a new bass and plenty of free time on the weekends. All I need is a deal on a decent drum set

Yeah I'm really a bass player and held off last year because I didn't feel I was good enough at guitar to not embarass myself. Not really a big solo bass fan either and I didn't feel up to doing an Om style thing because programming that many fills would get obnoxious real fast. Right now I'm just debating whether to try singing myself or getting this chick I know to do it.

Ocean of Stars is a pretty decent album man I throw it on off your FB every now and then. It's got a real good vibe. Dig that Hole Deep is a great song.

Thanks man. Will be doing an official online release soon as I get the BandCamp page ready

Well I know sHEAVY did it last year (The Golden Age Of Daredevils) and for the past two years Snailface has released their RPM Challenge album for free. So I'm looking forward to that one too

Did a little pre-production work last week.

Tested drum sounds having them set up in my room as opposed to the garage like last year. So far so good. But I need new heads like a mofo, so pulling some strings this week to remedy that by Feb 1.

My housemate graciously offered a grab bag of old cords and mics (2 shure sm58's, an sm57 and 2 other Shure vocal mics I need to research) so will experiment with using my PA mixer board to mic the entire kit rather than using just 2 room mics like I have in the past (recorder only does 2 channels at once). Threw down some guitar and bass just to see what those will sound like (testing the acoustics of my bedroom, I swear I am not cheating!!! heh).

Had the bathroom set up as the control room/iso-booth so as not to be standing next to my cranked amp whilst tracking. Hello new/improved home studio!

Also included in housemate's bins of old gear (the origins of which I don't want to get into right now) were a pair of KRK powered studio monitors, a Tascam D1000 digital mixer (sans power adapter, rendering it currently useless), various cables of every sort and what may be an un-opened copy of Pro Tools 3.4 complete with instructional video. Too bad I don't have a Mac. I accepted these gifts from her with love an appreciation, honoring the memory of where they came from. And she knows I will put all this stuff to very good use. Glad we cleaned out the garage yesterday as opposed to waiting til March...!


Bring on RPM 2011!!!

I've been intrigued by this the last couple years. I think I'll attempt this as a solo thing. Or at least I'll sign up and see how far I get. I'm proficient on drums and bass and am a guitar player and singer first. My deficiencies are in the DAW area but i can get some tutorials from somebody.

Right now I'm going through some really tough relationship pains (this is why I haven't been around for a while) so maybe this will help me to not drive myself crazy with the other thing that is consuming my thoughts. There might be some good songs in all this mess.

Yo Rager! Yeah, maybe some good songs will come out of that relationship stuff. Best wishes. I still need to get some drums, or use the midi for that, which I sorta dread

I owe my last RPM Challenge album to my divorce. And making it helped me get through it.

Spent yesterday re-recording everything I did Tuesday and Wednesday. Tempos were just too fast, losing the groove. Takes were reasonably solid, but damn. But was able to do everything over in half the time since I now knew where I was going with it. Sounds better tho drums not as solid in places. Still have the original drums too in case I change my mind.

Realized yesterday also that my 8-track was full. Damn. Today learning to transfer song data from my 8-track to my laptop so I can free up space. Should have looked into that a long time ago.

Drums and basic guitar tracks done for 2 songs. Talking to some friends about guest tracking, guitar and *shock!* vocals...!

Danny, I have a song I'll be doing for RPM that I would have liked to collab with you on.
Mainly because you were present at (and inspired) the inception of the lyrics. Do you remember standing at the bar in Fairfax? You were telling me about Josh's guitar made from "all the best parts of cheap Teles.........."

Well.........As soon as you said that the gears started turning and I twisted it into "She's all the best parts of all the worst women I've ever loved" and the floodgates opened.

Unfortunately, my schedule is kinda fucked without factoring in anyone else's time too.

[quote="Neighbor664"]Well.........As soon as you said that the gears started turning and I twisted it into "She's all the best parts of all the worst women I've ever loved" and the floodgates opened.[quote]
Is this song a tear-jerker about your dog?

Sorry I couldn't resist.

I am not sure what that is s'posed to mean, but I'm glad you're amused.

Awesome, glad I could be the source of unintentional inspiration, heh!


By all means hell yeah. Not sure how we could long-distance collaborate tho entirely possible. Hopefully will be coming somewhere near the West Coast with Eric Tessmer Band this summer...



But boy am I glad I re-tracked. Sounds much better, arrangements are tighter was is the execution (in general, drums are a little looser but grooves much better). Basic tracking of those two just about done save for bass tracks. Probably get to that tomorrow.

May have guest players this time around, not sure I've mentioned that. My rock singer housemate interested in laying vocals, have sent tracks to an awesome guitar player friend, and my sax/keys player bandmate is down for anything I send his way. Be great to let him go nuts on an awesome sax solo or three.

try a site like indaba for long distance collaboration. I've had one good experience on that site some years back with a kickass drummer.

It just reminded me of one of those awesome old-school folk country songs. Where its like a 70 year old dude on a porch with a shotgun, a bottle of jack, his dog, and hes playing guitar. I love that shit man trust me its not a bash at all people don't write that kind of music anymore.

I couldn't resist posting it because the imagery was so strong in my head I know from that lyric that that could be a really personal lyric/song for you but I couldn't get that image out of my head felt I had to share it. I'm a little retarded like that sometimes.

Man I haven't done hardly shit but try and get my drum chops back a bit and play some of the riffs I'm gonna use.

I've been getting a little better at drumming, but on some stuff I still suck.

I've got three demos up. Check em out. Kinda heavy psych rock stuff
http://rpmchallenge.com/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userprofile&user=9285

Have basic drums, bass and guitar done for 2 songs. Listening to the mixes today to make sure they are up to snuff. Then passing these 2 songs along to friends for aforementioned possible guest tracking.

Came up with 2 more useable songs yesterday and a third idea which just needs another part.

Last month was kicking around the idea of doing an instrumental concept album based on the book "House of Leaves," but abandoned the idea as too ambitious for the RPM Challenge time constraints (that, and 1/3 of Ocean of Stars would have been PERFECT for it...). But one of the new songs I came up with yesterday I could easily see turning into at least a three-part trilogy based on the book. First track I am already calling "The Five and a Half Minute Hallway," which fittingly turned out to be 5:30 long. Nice.

Hell, may have the album be a split EP and call it 'Sunrise on the Sea Floor/House of Leaves'.

got another done. sort of ended up as an e wiz ripoff, but that's ok with me. over halfway finished with this project!

What I have thus far:

Basic rhythm tracks and rough mix for 4 songs: "Sunrise on the Sea Floor," "untitled," and parts I and II of "House of Leaves" (will be one continuous song, if possible).

First 2 awaiting guest vocals and possibly guest guitar (and a title), and need a remix as the bass is waaaay too boomy. Last awaiting one or two more parts, might go back and clean some things up or add some more layers.

This is about 21 minutes so far. Have material for rest of the album, just need to finish it!!!


http://rpmchallenge.com/userplayer/7723 ... 0Floor.mp3

http://rpmchallenge.com/userplayer/7723 ... titled.mp3

http://rpmchallenge.com/userplayer/7723 ... titled.mp3

Danny,

can I recommend a title for song 01 untitled?

"Trucks and Trophy Bucks"

Very rough mix of part 2 of "House of Leaves". Had to break "House of Leaves" into 2 separate songs for uploading and mixing purposes. No bass, and you can hear me coughing in the background because apparently when you mix down on my 8-track and there is a mic plugged in it will record sound.

I am already admitting defeat for the RPM deadline. Have too much goin on in my life I need to attend to and was sick for 3 days with a full gig schedule. However, I will finish this music in my own free goddam time and do it right.

House of Leaves pt. II http://rpmchallenge.com/userplayer/7723/02%20Track%2002%201.mp3

Here's mine. 9 tracks finished. Experimental heavy psych. So far people seem to be diggin' it.

http://alonetone.com/eyeprod/playlists/shiny-eyes