http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:27:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 en ©Get Help gethelp@midriffrecords.com (Get Help) gethelp@midriffrecords.com(Get Help) A supergroup of unknown musicians. 1440 indie rock, lo-fi, ambient, garageband, pro tools, diy, gbv, replacements Get Help is a songwriting project based in New York City. Our blog and podcast are a repository for our rough drafts, lo-fi experiments, and works-in-progress. All songs are free for download. Recommended if you like Guided by Voices, REM, the Replacement Get Help is a songwriting project based in New York City. Our blog and podcast are a repository for our rough drafts, lo-fi experiments, and works-in-progress. All songs are free for download. Recommended if you like Guided by Voices, REM, the Replacements, ambient sounds, echoey hallways, lawnmowers, and provolone. Get Help Get Help gethelp@midriffrecords.com No no http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/gethelplogo.gif http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp 144 144 ©Get Helpindie rock, lo-fi, ambient, garageband, pro tools, diy, gbv, replacementsMusicArts/Performing ArtsTechnology1942284http://www.feedburner.com http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/72 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/72#comments Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:54:57 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=72 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/72/feed 2:35 It is with much pride, conceit, vanity, and egotism that we announce our debut album The End of the New Country will be available on ... It is with much pride, conceit, vanity, and egotism that we announce our debut album The End of the New Country will be available on the mighty Midriff Records come Oct 14. Much to our astonishment, The End of the New Country was picked up early by the extremely, extremely intelligent and all-around-awesome Robin Hilton at NPR, who gave it a pretty positive review. Thus spake National Public Radio: September 8, 2008 - A self-proclaimed "supergroup of unknown musicians," Get Help makes gloomy but thoughtful guitar-rock that would fit comfortably in the post-punk era of the late '70s and early '80s. Get Help's two primary members, Tony Skalicky and Mike Ingenthron, were in elementary school when bands like Joy Division were making music. But on their new CD, The End of the New Country, the duo cribs from post-punk with enough honesty and talent to keep from sounding like a cheap knock-off. Skalicky and Ingenthron, who write and record in New York, take turns on lead vocals. Skalicky unabashedly channels Joy Division's Ian Curtis (or Interpol's Paul Banks), and for some listeners, that might be too much of a turnoff to get through the whole album. But Skalicky's time at the mic fuels the album's most compelling and memorable moments. The End of the New Country opens on a somber note with "Traveler's Shave Kit." Plaintive guitar strums, gentle rhythms, a little slide guitar and mellotron set an appropriate tone for an album that scarcely cracks a smile over the course of 15 tracks. The album's title cut, like much of the CD, is full of resignation, as Skalicky sings about a world on the brink of collapse, with mobbed streets lined by burning buildings. "I think we've reached the end of the new country," he sings. "And I think we know the rest of its history." It's grim, to be sure. But it could also signal a new beginning: By the end of the album, with the dramatic squalls of feedback on the closer "Growing Circles," the band seems to say that everything is going to be all right. "I am searching in growing circles," Skalicky sings. "And I will find you, I am certain." Despite its darkness, The End of the New Country isn't a downer, though it's undeniably brooding and introspective. But there's enough inspired beauty in the lyrics mdash; and consistently impressive guitar work mdash; to make the music uplifting at times. When not working as Get Help, Skalicky is the singer and guitarist for the Boston-based group The Beatings, while Ingenthron is in the New York group Strikes Again. The two collaborated on the songs for The End of the New Country over the Internet, with help from Rob Machold, William Scales, Daniel Parlin, Dennis Grabowski and Gene DiAvolio. Further readings, also by extraordinarily intelligent and wonderful people: Clicky Clicky Music Hard Times Blogcritics.org The End of the New Country contains many of the lo-fi doodlings featured on this blog, but we took our skeletal laptop recordings into the studio and rebuilt them from the ground up, recording just about everything over again until we reached a Foo Fighterish plain of production value. We've posted some mp3s below, and there some new tracks on our Myspace page, where they shall stream for all eternity. Now, to make the most of this blessed event, we are performing live several times before we retreat into our dens to hibernate: Sunday, Sept 28, 9:30, $8 PA's Lounge 345 Somerville Ave. Somerville, Mass. Mike and I will be performing an acoustic set as a duo. with: These United States (D.C.) Grampall Jookabox (Asthmatic Kitty Records/ Indianapolis) These United States also feature our friend Robby Catholic of the Fanged Robot, who our handful of readers may recall from an earlier post on this very blog. ******* Friday, Oct 10, 10pm Piano's 158 Ludlow St. NYC Come down to the LES to see Get Help in all its glory, with Will, Dan, and Gene rounding out the band. We may even crack a smile or two. ***** Wed, Oct 1... Shows,,Trivia Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/56 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/56#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:13:55 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=56 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/56/feed 4:07 One of the greatest listening experiences in the world is We're an American Band by Yo La Tengo. There are days when it is, without ... One of the greatest listening experiences in the world is We're an American Band by Yo La Tengo. There are days when it is, without question, the greatest listening experience in the universe --- even without headphones --- and nothing else, not even Dave Atell's "Skanks for the Memories", comes close. Tied for first is Visions of Johanna. If Jimi Hendrix did to Visions of Johanna what he did to All Along the Watchtower, there would be no need for a top 10 songs in the world, because it would be all ten. Probably more. Top twelves would need to be invented. And Mike and I would probably have to shut down the blog, because, why bother? None of this has anything to do with anything, but every so often I hear Yo La Tengo in the right light and it makes me very happy. Thank you. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/58 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/58#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:59:38 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=58 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/58/feed 00:01:01 The building I work in is about the size of a city block, and we share it with a lighting design company. While venturing into ... The building I work in is about the size of a city block, and we share it with a lighting design company. While venturing into the beeping nether regions of our castle in my quest for snail mail, I heard through the walls a repeating bassline from some mix tape one of the lighting design people was playing. Through walls, the guitars, bass and vocals of familiar songs can take on quite enjoyable alien forms, especially when combined with unseen motors, roaring exhaust fans, and the continuous renovation of a workplace's life-support system. Whatever the song was, I went away humming its bassline, which over the course of the rest of the work day evolved into what we have here for you today. Headphones are recommended, but you should really be a room apart from this one to stay in its spirit. Enjoy. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/55 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/55#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:26:59 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=55 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/55/feed 00:01:01 We recently got a nice couple of mentions from Ryan of Ryan's Smashing Life. He plugged our recent Boston show and posted Red Jacket ... We recently got a nice couple of mentions from Ryan of Ryan's Smashing Life. He plugged our recent Boston show and posted Red Jacket Orchards (from our upcoming record) as, well, a song to listen to, over at his recent guest spot at The Plugg.. Thanks, Ryan. I'm a big Fugazi fan. Not because of the $5-$7 show thing; that was just an excuse for men who were 36 to keep dressing like 18-year olds. Believe me, I'm 36. Those baggy shorts and 20 year old t-shirts prolong your life. In this song's case, I was drawn to a Fugazi song lyric from 'Red Medicine': "It's cold outside and my hands are dry Skin is cracked and I realize That I hate the sound of guitars A thousand grudging young millionaires Forcing silence sucking sound" Yeah. That line's been stuck in my head for a long time--long enough to realize that you could build a song around a piano riff without sounding like Billy Joel, Elton John or Wayne Hornsby. At times, the piano can sound sinister. PS Oh, and there's a piano coda on this one, which was a complete accident. But I like to include these for my parents, who paid for piano lessons. Mom Dad, if you're reading, I wanted to play Sonatas for a living, before it became economically unfeasible. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/54 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/54#comments Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:08:43 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=54 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/54/feed http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/52 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/52#comments Sun, 08 Jun 2008 16:02:46 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=52 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/52/feed 4:29 This song was originally conceived one day on the Light Rail when I decided I was going to go home and write an entire concept ... This song was originally conceived one day on the Light Rail when I decided I was going to go home and write an entire concept album in one sitting. If there is anyone left still reading after that sentence, let me just say that I didn't even come close to achieving this goal. Not even an EP. It was a complete disaster, both in terms of mateacute;riel and morale, not unlike the German invasion of the Soviet Union. It was dead on arrival. Fortunately there were no witnesses and I had an alibi. Possibly, I might be exaggerating. Let's just say if I were going to compose a concept album, this is how it would begin. General Winter appears on our new album in a somewhat abbreviated form, pretty much as is. In fact, several songs on the new record are supported with the original audio files from either Mike's Pro Tools or my Garageband recordings. Our producer, Chris Pace, is a madman. A more selfish or less enthusiastic producer would probably insist on re-recording our lo-fi elements. But Chris's mania for Get Help extended back to the original tracks. The record would have been a completely different beast without his input, ideas, and mixing, and much for the worse. Digression aside, after I began this song and struggled over the course of a few weeks to envision how it would end, I would joke to Mike about how the next Get Help album would be a concept album with no concept. Or vice versa. Neither joke was particularly funny. That's why the truth hurts. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/51 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/51#comments Sat, 17 May 2008 01:10:03 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=51 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/51/feed 2:42 Mike and I have finished recording an album. Our friend Eric is mastering it, and doing a superlative job at that. His enthusiasm for the ... Mike and I have finished recording an album. Our friend Eric is mastering it, and doing a superlative job at that. His enthusiasm for the record, thus far, has only been matched by Chris and Ted, who engineered it. I'm not sure even Mike and I are as excited about the welfare of this album as these guys are. Anyways, I was headed over to Mike's apartment one night when Eric called to discuss his first roughs of the album, and vent about some technical difficulties that were plaguing us (which later proved to be my fault entirely). He was understandably frustrated. He concluded with the request that since Mike and I were going to be meeting that evening, we write him a song. It was less a request than a sandwich order, actually. I like to think that by saying "yes", I alleviated his aggravation and made him feel all better (but I really don't understand Eric all that well). So we hotwired a keyboard with an air conditioner, gave the singer some 3D glasses, tossed in a drunken master guitar solo, and voila. This is what happens when Get Help drinks and drives. Enjoy, if you can. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/50 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/50#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:59:12 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=50 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/50/feed 4:03 Months ago, I saw a motorcycle cop wipe out on First Avenue here in New York. Ever been walking down a street with your ... Months ago, I saw a motorcycle cop wipe out on First Avenue here in New York. Ever been walking down a street with your iPod and heard some city sound that infiltrated the song, and weren't sure if it was a part of the song? This happens to me all the time. Usually construction noises, as my east village turns into a skyscraper Epcot, but on this day, I distinctly heard the Doppler siren in my ear as I walked up. It turns out that some sheepishly-dressed maggot on a cellphone didn't, and was crossing the street as this 5-0 tore up the street. There would've been a head-on collision, and the cop had two choices: ram into the back of a cab, or lie down and slide. Somehow, our wayward pedestrian didn't get arrested, only chewed out. But it made me realize that all it takes to beat a cop in this city is crosswalks, and impeccable timing. Dystopia isn't nearly as scary when it has a beat to keep time to, or I've found, when I'm trying to describe it lyrically. But at least we aren't writing songs about 'The Hills'. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/49 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/49#comments Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:42:49 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=49 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/49/feed http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/48 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/48#comments Sat, 19 Apr 2008 23:47:49 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=48 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/48/feed 2:06 Another product of goofing off at the Yamaha station with a recently purchased RC-20 XL (now with loop fade-out!). This was mostly done using a ... Another product of goofing off at the Yamaha station with a recently purchased RC-20 XL (now with loop fade-out!). This was mostly done using a finger bass setting, and overlaying the same part multiple times through an RV-3 pedal, which generated that weird scratchy sound I find so spooky. Mike swears he's going to put words to this one and when he does, he can change the name. I don't think it's finished by a long shot, but still, people seem to like it. Then again, those people are my friends. Anyways, along with Early Hours this song reminds me of the end of an era, my last days as an NYC fella, sitting around in the back yard of 51st street drinking Modelo Especial, watching birdfeeders. Instrumental,,Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/47 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/47#comments Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:38:21 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/47 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/47/feed 3:26 Clearing out the backlog with a good old instrumental. After moving to Jersey, I went through some withdrawal from being separated from the 500-channel Yamaha. ... Clearing out the backlog with a good old instrumental. After moving to Jersey, I went through some withdrawal from being separated from the 500-channel Yamaha. I compensated by learning Garageband's software instruments, the musical typing feature, and how to edit its digital "notes", which increases the amount of potential instrumentation by at least, oh, six hundred bazillion. I spent a few weeks getting nowhere with all the beeps and blips and hip-hop beats and synthy violins, but from it comes some self-made morning-commute music, if nothing else. Only time will tell. To some people, synthy violins are cheesy. To others, uplifting. One day those people will meet and go to war. I'll be on the Light Rail to Remco, headphones on, listening to this song. indie,rock,,lo-fi,,ambient,,garageband,,pro,tools,,diy,,gbv,,replacements Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/46 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/46#comments Sat, 22 Mar 2008 01:56:24 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/46 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/46/feed http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/45 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/45#comments Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:04:56 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/45 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/45/feed http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/44 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/44#comments Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:33:29 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/44 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/44/feed http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/41 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/41#comments Tue, 10 Jul 2007 01:17:13 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/41 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/41/feed 4:07 We conclude today's Sasquatch sighting with a new track, 'New Low'. This is the Get Help wheelhouse of distorted reverb guitars, this is a ... We conclude today's Sasquatch sighting with a new track, 'New Low'. This is the Get Help wheelhouse of distorted reverb guitars, this is a back-to-base guitar anthem, something you might have heard on a mid-90's Matador sampler. This was my first blow-through with my shiny new Pod, a wonderful tool for making music late at night in an apartment with paper thin walls and, uh, thinner-than-paper floors and ceilings. Everything about this track was invented from finding the guitar sound. I've noticed that once I get a particular sound, in this case the distorted-reverb rhythm track, song ideas from my memory banks are triggered, and the song writes itself. Writing in this method usually presents the uncopyrightable danger of completely ripping off a song without realizing it. But in this regard my memory is much like the squirrel's in autumn, who hides food in multiple locations so that their winter pantry isn't decimated by a single winter theft, yet inevitably ends up forgetting where they hid 10-20% of their spoils. In the squirrel's case, these lost acorns grow into oak trees. In my case, it remains to be seen. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/42 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/42#comments Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:37:30 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/42 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/42/feed 3:16 It's hot in the city streets, and the city streets are hot. Help yourself to two flavors of Get Help this month: Tuesday July 17, 9pm PA's ... It's hot in the city streets, and the city streets are hot. Help yourself to two flavors of Get Help this month: Tuesday July 17, 9pm PA's LOUNGE (Band in Boston Residency) Somerville, MA Our very first show was at the Band in Boston Flophouse, and its necessity mothered some invention; invention which has left an enduring imprint on how we go about writing and playing our songs. So while we may not exactly owe them our first born...um, no. We owe them our first born. Moving on, this concert will feature the full experience: Bill, Dennis and Dan will be bringing the noise as well. Friday July 27, 8pm CLUB MIDWAY New York, NY There isn't much of story here, other than to say it's Mike and I performing as a duo, it's an early show, and we may be joined by some special guests. We hope to see you there. Oh and because they were lying around, here are two more mp3s from our first Band in Boston set. Remix,,Shows Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/40 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/40#comments Sun, 08 Jul 2007 09:30:16 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/40 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/40/feed 4:05 Compression is a (the?) wonderful beast. Used incorrectly, it's a weapon; it's the metal spatula, squeezing the bejesus out of the already tired-looking chicken about ... Compression is a (the?) wonderful beast. Used incorrectly, it's a weapon; it's the metal spatula, squeezing the bejesus out of the already tired-looking chicken about to be laid to rest in a grave of yellow rice at your local Halal truck. When overused, it's also a weapon I guess, but something more along the lines of the Death Star. It makes drums sound like surface-to-air missiles. Listen to this version with headphones. Remix,,Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/39 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/39#comments Sun, 08 Jul 2007 09:15:44 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/39 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/39/feed 2:55 Get Help has long studied Japanese "just-in-time" management techniques as a model of efficiency. This slightly updated version of It Begins Well grows leaps and ... Get Help has long studied Japanese "just-in-time" management techniques as a model of efficiency. This slightly updated version of It Begins Well grows leaps and bounds over its predecessor, it's the 15,000 cars in a month that Hunt Stevenson had promised us; all we've done is throw in three gallon-drums full of drums and a tub of fuzz guitar. A new song is born, and damn if this isn't the definitive version. I had intimated in the previous posting that this song borrowed generously from an already commercially released recording, and all of our listener calls have missed the answer. Here's a clue: this is a song recorded by a Flying Nun band, and later covered by an Elephant 6 band. C'mon people, we're here to educate. Do the research. Remix,,Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/38 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/38#comments Sun, 08 Jul 2007 09:00:30 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/38 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/38/feed noA supergroup of unknown musicians.Get Help is a songwriting project based in New York City. Our blog and podcast are a repository for our rough drafts, lo-fi experiments, and works-in-progress. All songs are free for download. Recommended if you like Guided by Voices, REM, the Replacements, ambient sounds, echoey hallways, lawnmowers, and provolone.Trivia http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/37 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/37#comments Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:12:23 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/37 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/37/feed 2:27 Every once in a while I still manage to delude myself into thinking I can encapsulate, in a single song, my obsession with the mnemonic ... Every once in a while I still manage to delude myself into thinking I can encapsulate, in a single song, my obsession with the mnemonic redshift that comes with "growing older". Once the earth has cooled after such an attempt, I consider myself lucky if I have scraped off something akin to lemon zest. But there are worse places to start from. I think this tune has a lot of zest. It is a salty salute, soundwise, to REM and the Rock*A*Teens, the former a part of my DNA; and the latter one of the bigger muses to my post-doctorate work here at Get Help U: dark, elegiac, inscrutably uplifting. I can't get enough of those guys. I spliced a buttload of Garageband drum loops putting this together, and used the Yamaha for the bassline. Reverb makes everyone get along. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/36 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/36#comments Fri, 01 Jun 2007 23:11:22 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/36 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/36/feed http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/35 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/35#comments Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:47:49 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/35 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/35/feed 3:23 A considerable upgrade to the original, done entirely by Mike on live guitar and drums. I had always been quite satisfied with the original guitar ... A considerable upgrade to the original, done entirely by Mike on live guitar and drums. I had always been quite satisfied with the original guitar lead, which tickled my one-take-takes-all, leave-in-the-dropped-wine-glass, GBV mentality. But Mike apparently had bigger and better ideas, which have since left said mentality under the bookcase with the old Tascam. Remix,,Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/34 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/34#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:45:09 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/34 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/34/feed 3:59 Another instrumental. I moved into my friend Damon's place in Sunset Park for a while this year, and as a result gained access to his ... Another instrumental. I moved into my friend Damon's place in Sunset Park for a while this year, and as a result gained access to his Yamaha DGX220. I think I became as much a piece of furniture as the keyboard itself for a while there. There are about 500+ sounds on that thing, and I am pretty sure that when I moved out I had only five or six more to go. The strings and the beats are samples from Garageband. Everything else is from the trusty DGX220. The main inspiration was to have something easy on the ears for the morning subway ride into the city. Hopefully someday I will recut the strings with the ole DGX. Who knows. Either way, I must be honest here, it's so choice. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend picking one up. Instrumental,,Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/33 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/33#comments Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:05:48 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/33 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/33/feed http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/31 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/31#comments Tue, 06 Feb 2007 17:48:48 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/31 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/31/feed 3:50 In the midst of frustration with a long-premeditated idea that wasn't coming together, I recorded a D to G transition with a hip-hop drum beat, ... In the midst of frustration with a long-premeditated idea that wasn't coming together, I recorded a D to G transition with a hip-hop drum beat, just to hear something pleasant to my ears. Lo and behold, two weeks and about 40 tracks later, numerous lessons have been learned, about songwriting, computers, panning, and yes, myself. Like we are constantly reminded that the foremost predator on earth is ... man ... I find it pounded into me time and again that the most spontaneous and least conceptualized ideas usually lead to the most fulfilling results. Also, drop-D is slowly becoming my Water Lilies, if it hasn't already. It never hurts to think too little about something. Recent update: this track has been used (in edited form) as the soundtrack to a certain artist's video reel. Click on the big 3D image to see it in use. Instrumental,,Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/28 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/28#comments Tue, 30 Jan 2007 22:04:17 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/28 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/28/feed 3:00 The Loop Station is a great tool for making a Get Help song, which features layers and layers of sound, like so much paint on ... The Loop Station is a great tool for making a Get Help song, which features layers and layers of sound, like so much paint on a 50 year-old building in the East Village...say, mine. Paint so thick that you know the building will never fall. Starting with a harmonic track that you can kinda hear in the back of the left side of your head, I built all these sounds rather quickly and then set to give them a decent recording. When I was most of the way through, I realize why it came so easily; it was very closely based on another song, a song whose name I won't mention, so you can guess if you like. It's kinda obscure, but I realize I'd heard it within the week, and that took a little joy out of piecing it together so quickly. So I guess this is from our Subconscious Cover Song files. The line 'missing man formation' was the basis for the song; I think that's something they fly at the end of Iron Eagle. Remember when hating Middle Eastern despots was easy? Remix,,Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/3 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/3#comments Tue, 02 Jan 2007 01:28:54 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=3 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/3/feed http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/12 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/12#comments Mon, 01 Jan 2007 04:19:42 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=12 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/12/feed 2:48 I was spending a Saturday in, preparing mentally for New Year's Eve, determined to finish Light in August. I did. Makes a guy want to ... I was spending a Saturday in, preparing mentally for New Year's Eve, determined to finish Light in August. I did. Makes a guy want to populate a small fictional world with gamblers, reluctant widows, and old folks full of quiet mystery. Not to mention hills and valleys of tremelo. Enjoy. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/11 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/11#comments Wed, 13 Dec 2006 04:12:42 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=11 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/11/feed 2:33 This one brings a smile to my face for some reason. A strange coming-of-age tale, full of unbridled enthusiasm. A regular three dollar bill. Started ... This one brings a smile to my face for some reason. A strange coming-of-age tale, full of unbridled enthusiasm. A regular three dollar bill. Started one night while insomnial. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/16 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/16#comments Tue, 28 Nov 2006 04:59:48 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=16 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/16/feed 4:05 Bought some delicious juice at a local farmers market from a place called 'Red Jacket Orchards'. Growing up there was a 8-foot fence that ... Bought some delicious juice at a local farmers market from a place called 'Red Jacket Orchards'. Growing up there was a 8-foot fence that separated my backyard from an expansive orchard, and all I could see were the tops of trees. I always wondered what it would be like to live there. As is often the case, the lyrics don't mean anything, but it's always nice to have words prepared when there's a microphone in front of me. The music does a pretty good job of describing the terrain on its own. Remix,,Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/10 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/10#comments Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:02:39 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=10 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/10/feed 4:10 Mike wrote the music, I wrote the words. The fair-trade deal with Carne Asada. He sent me the original audio while he was undergoing some ... Mike wrote the music, I wrote the words. The fair-trade deal with Carne Asada. He sent me the original audio while he was undergoing some gastrointestinal distress, hence the title. So of course after you look at something for a few weeks you can't imagine it being called anything else, and you'd break the legs of someone who would suggest such a thing. Fortunately, it never came to that. I think Mike is much better now. The lyrics to the song have nothing to do with being physically ill. Something to do with yo-yo-ing bus rides from Boston to New York and the better-off-unpondered ponderables one ponders upon. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/9 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/9#comments Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:00:02 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=9 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/9/feed 3:04 The aftermath of Punishing Good Deeds. Took about 1/8 the time. I originally amused myself by thinking of this as the fallout of an 80's ... The aftermath of Punishing Good Deeds. Took about 1/8 the time. I originally amused myself by thinking of this as the fallout of an 80's style-conflagration, sort of like Nightranger, Loverboy, and REM going up in a hot air balloon and getting plowed into by Def Leppard in a Lear, but now, I'm not really sure what it is. But then again I had very little idea what was going on in the 80's when I was actually there. Listen closely and you can hear Sonny telling Michael to try and get Luca Brasi on the phone. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/8 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/8#comments Sun, 26 Nov 2006 03:28:19 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=8 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/8/feed http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/13 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/13#comments Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:31:31 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=13 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/13/feed 3:50 In preparation for our first gig ever, Get Help performs our first gig ever. Out of the approximately 36 hours Mike and I spent in ... In preparation for our first gig ever, Get Help performs our first gig ever. Out of the approximately 36 hours Mike and I spent in Boston this weekend, I would say 28 of them were probably spent either rehearsing or performing one of the six songs we ultimately recorded live at Andy and Jen's Flophouse. Mike also got to meet Bill for the first time, which I think is very important: Get Help members should have a vague idea who other Get Help members are. The setlist: Traveler's Shaving Kit, End of the New Country, Carne Asada, Temporary Speed Zone, Town Fires, and All Else Fails. All six tracks are available in the podcast on the Band in Boston site, but we knifed out two mp3s for ourselves. Remix,,Shows,,Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/15 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/15#comments Thu, 16 Nov 2006 04:58:10 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=15 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/15/feed 2:59 I am disenfranchised by the New York City music scene, and it's fun to use a footstep sound effect as a snare drum. That's ... I am disenfranchised by the New York City music scene, and it's fun to use a footstep sound effect as a snare drum. That's all it takes to write a song. I found the music on my 8-track from a year ago, recorded as part of a project where Tony and I drunkenly agreed to write music specifically to sell cars and rug deodorizers. Get Help may still be that project, but as of this date I have no car and dirty rugs, so maybe not. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/14 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/14#comments Wed, 15 Nov 2006 04:55:40 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=14 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/14/feed 3:22 When this whole project started, we were just building instrumentals, little nuggets that would waft towards the country's collective brain. Like pie cooling on ... When this whole project started, we were just building instrumentals, little nuggets that would waft towards the country's collective brain. Like pie cooling on a window sill, you know? And we needed a way to keep the instrumentals sorted; so we named them after one of our favorite things in the world: Mexican foods. It was a brilliant idea at first because naming instrumentals anything when you're making so many is a bit, well, self-conscious. And after 10-12, well, it looks like a menu. This music's Tony's and the lyrics are mine in case you're interested, or a royalty lawyer sitting at your computer with a checkbook. And now that I listen to it, these lyrics are slightly out-of-date. We'll post the new version soon. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/17 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/17#comments Tue, 14 Nov 2006 05:02:53 +0000 mike http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=17 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/17/feed 3:21 I built a silly drum beat in Pro Tools and the music came 15 minutes later. sent the idea to Tony and he sent ... I built a silly drum beat in Pro Tools and the music came 15 minutes later. sent the idea to Tony and he sent it back a day later with the 'teardrop' guitar and noise wash, and I realized how satisfying it is to collaborate on a song with someone who works on your idea when you're doing something much less worthy of collaboration. Like in this case, there was a pretty good chance I was watching 'My Name is Earl' and drinking box wine. Also, a tip of the hat to Lou Barlow for the lyrical theme. A mighty good version of this song so far was the two-guitars-and-organ rendition recorded at the Band in Boston podcast, details of which will be posted later this week. But at the time I remember thinking how still music is without a rhythm section and how that's sometimes ok. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/7 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/7#comments Fri, 27 Oct 2006 03:14:29 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=7 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/7/feed 3:33 A song about songs, I guess. Recorded with Pro Tools at Mike's apartment. A riff that was laying around for a loooong time and a ... A song about songs, I guess. Recorded with Pro Tools at Mike's apartment. A riff that was laying around for a loooong time and a lyrical idea about random radios. All coming together thanks to red, red wine and the egg of rhythm. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/6 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/6#comments Thu, 21 Sep 2006 02:55:13 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=6 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/6/feed 2:52 I had some serious writer's block so I sat down with the opening guitar line and just slogged through it until it was over, determined ... I had some serious writer's block so I sat down with the opening guitar line and just slogged through it until it was over, determined to get something done. The guitars, drums, and vocals were done in Garageband. Mike and I added the bass and the keys at his apt the next week in ProTools. I was so in love with the modulated organ sound I would have formed a civil union with it if such a thing were legal. Upon repeated listening this song strikes me as more of short story than anything else. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/24 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/24#comments Sat, 05 Aug 2006 02:16:48 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=24 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/24/feed 3:03 Started out with an odd drum beat, dueling leads, big hair; a lotta foofaraw that just didn't cut the mustard. It has grown into a ... Started out with an odd drum beat, dueling leads, big hair; a lotta foofaraw that just didn't cut the mustard. It has grown into a big sweaty rocker when played live, however. Good boy. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/5 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/5#comments Sat, 15 Jul 2006 02:34:18 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=5 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/5/feed 2:51 I feel a bit the tawdry whore because I came up with the verse structure while soundchecking on stage with The Beatings. One of my ... I feel a bit the tawdry whore because I came up with the verse structure while soundchecking on stage with The Beatings. One of my earlier Garageband experiments. Mike and I have played this tune live in various incarnations, and have re-recorded it in some high-fidelity environments, but this version still does it for me. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/4 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/4#comments Wed, 05 Jul 2006 02:28:15 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=4 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/4/feed 2:59 Originally intended to be a big, acoustic, reverby ghost of a song. Not quite how it turned out, but if it wasn't for happy accidents ... Originally intended to be a big, acoustic, reverby ghost of a song. Not quite how it turned out, but if it wasn't for happy accidents you just might get no happy at all. You may need to jack up the volume on this one, the recording level is a little low. Songs Get Help no No http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/25 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/25#comments Sat, 24 Jun 2006 03:06:08 +0000 tony http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/?p=25 http://www.midriffrecords.com/gethelp/archives/25/feed 3:20 And with a clink of beer bottles in the East Village, Get Help was born. Our initial intent was to craft gossamer wisps of irresistable ... And with a clink of beer bottles in the East Village, Get Help was born. Our initial intent was to craft gossamer wisps of irresistable dittiness for commercial licensing. So of course our first composition together must have a refrigerator compressor as a backing track. Glastender still has yet to call. And we were titling all of our songs after Mexican menu items at the time. As we both evidently order the same thing every time we go to Taco Bell, our naming practice died out soon enough. Instrumental,,Songs Get Help no No Get HelpnonadultGet Help is a songwriting project based in New York City. Our blog and podcast are a repository for our rough drafts, lo-fi experiments, and works-in-progress. All songs are free for download. Recommended if you like Guided by Voices, REM, the Replacement