Pity Party

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milo
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Pity Party

Post by milo »

Here is the project I have been working on with my cousin Tom, which I shared a couple of songs from last week. The whole mini-album is done now, and you can listen here while you peruse the detailed album notes written by Tom: https://alansanderson.band/albums/pity-party/.

Or you can listen on YouTube, paired with pictures of us sitting on couches and wearing flannel pajamas: https://youtu.be/UeFYLisv5rw

I did tweak the organ sound slightly in The Beach is Closed, adding some vibrato. Let me know if you think it's any better.

Enjoy!
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ufug
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Re: Pity Party

Post by ufug »

Funny, fun, and really good music. You both have excellent harmony/compositional skills, and the recording is full of charm. If Brian Wilson was in They Might Be Giants perhaps?

The pictures of Tom on the couch totally cracked me up BTW. :lol: :lol:
listenable at c6a7.org
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Re: Pity Party

Post by Michael Willis »

I'm not surprised that ufug beat me to it. This album is so hilarious, it's almost criminal. Usually when reviewing an album, I try to find a favorite piece to discuss, but I just can't pick a favorite on this one.
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Re: Pity Party

Post by milo »

@ufug and @Michael Willis, thanks for your comments. I had the same reaction when Tom sent the pictures of him sitting on the couch holding a roll of TP. I laughed out loud so many times while making this album! The "Pity Party - reprise" harpsichord solo - turned art rock anthem makes me laugh the most because it is so far out of my normal style. I also get an indulgent chuckle out of the TP Song.

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'll send your comments to Tom, and I'm sure he'll enjoy reading them.
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Re: Pity Party

Post by ChuggnBlues »

I'm just starting listening to this but so far it really gives me a smile :lol:

Sounds like a well produced album so far.

EDIT: Wish it was longer but I love the consistency of the music throughout. I liked the metronome transition into the electric drums at the end of Chronocide, nice touch.
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Re: Pity Party

Post by milo »

Thanks @ChuggnBlues. Tom wanted to do something like the Beach Boys' "Smile" album where the tracks are modular and blended into each other. Not sure how well we pulled that off, but I did like that metronome transition a lot.
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Re: Pity Party

Post by folderol »

First class take on the current situation. Some really nice singing and playing too - love the Surf section :D
Nice touch with the streaks of film noise and frame jitter.
The Yoshimi guy {apparently now an 'elderly'}
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Re: Pity Party

Post by milo »

Thanks @folderol. I used Yoshimi on Chronocide, and I think it was just what the song needed. That was my first time using it, beyond just messing around. Thanks for all the work you do on that synth!
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Re: Pity Party

Post by jeanette_c »

Yes, it is a funny album. Good pastiches and consistency. It feels like not only one album, but one work to be performed in total.
The organ sits a lot better in the surf sound now. I'd love to know which trumpet/brass you used around the 4:55 mark. I love the vocals and harmonies in this one particularly! Thanks for sharing this!
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Re: Pity Party

Post by milo »

@jeanette_c, that is exactly what Tom hoped for, an album that feels like one song.

The trumpet is actually three tracks: two takes on an actual trumpet, augmented by the trumpet sound from a Casio WK-6500.

Thanks for listening, and I'm glad you liked it!
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Re: Pity Party

Post by GMaq »

Hi!

Bravo guys! This was a really fun listen, loved the transitions between the songs! Some really great sounds and arrangements and some of the harmonies are absolutely sublime! Great vocals throughout too!

Lol, it kind of sequences out like some sort of prog album which I think is really cool!

Hope you get to do more projects in the same physical space in the future!!
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Re: Pity Party

Post by Ove »

I just love it! Best I've heard in a long time. Thank you!
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Re: Pity Party

Post by lilith »

I was listening to it on sunday and I liked it. Reminded me a bit on THE RESIDENTS and THE TIGER LILLIES sometimes.

Some frequencies at 1-2 kHz (estimated) sounded a bit uncomfortable, especially in the first track. I would lower these a bit
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Re: Pity Party

Post by milo »

@GMaq, @Ove, @lilith, thanks for listening and for your comments. We sure had a fun time with this album, and are already planning some new collaborations.

I will take a look at the EQ in the 1-2KHz range. Thanks for the heads up!
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Re: Pity Party

Post by Gps »

I am seriously impressed on how good it sounds. :)
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