I spent a few minutes playing around with "Soul Sister" by Train until I decided there's just no way to cover that song and still feel good about myself. I'm going to have to settle for 2nd most hated artist/band.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:18 AM on May 3, 2011

I actually think they write decent pop songs, for the most part, and even "Soul Sister" is catchy. But I also really, really despise them, too, particularly that song. Something about him singing about his untrimmed chest makes me do a sort of super-cringe.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 3:26 PM on May 3, 2011

I want ORthey to teach us how to make some good sourdough bread!

I was totally thinking about doing that. I probably have to now.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 12:16 PM on March 12, 2011

It's odd that MeTa is treated as such hallowed ground. I mean, Music is a subsite, after all, one that also happens to be immensely awesome, and it pains my soul to think anyone would be against highlighting that awesome-ry on a regular basis.

I'd love to see the Collaboration become a yearly challenge. I just love MeFi collaboration so damn much, and I'll tell you why: it means we're not just about the music. Not that I'd have any issue with that,... [more]
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 6:56 PM on February 1, 2011

I am really stoked about collaboration, and am certainly going to be reaching out for some help. I'd love to offer my banjo, guitar, or vocals for anyone who's interested.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 7:38 PM on November 6, 2010

Dude. You are amazing.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:12 PM on October 11, 2010

I have serious Taylor-lust. Every time I go into a music store I head straight for the Taylors, find the most expensive one, and play it for as long as they'll let me. They just feel so delicious on the fingers.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 5:54 PM on June 17, 2010

Ooh, great thread.

Francis and The Lights. 'Francis' is a guy I went to high school with who moved to New York and changed his name to Francis Farewell Starlite. He's just freaking fantastic. Sort of 80s pop rock, great songwriting, beautiful and dancetastic stuff. I'm just waiting for him to blow up.

Here's his band's muxtape page, where you can stream it all for free. I recommend starting with the "Striking" EP.... [more]
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 12:12 PM on June 5, 2010

I'm certainly game to contribute.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 5:12 PM on May 22, 2010

This link may be of interest. Mine is "Lady" by Kenny Rogers - I'll have to check that one out.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 7:01 PM on May 1, 2010

The more I listen to Lady, the more I realize it may well be my destiny to cover it.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 7:06 PM on May 3, 2010

This is a great effing challenge. I can't wait to see what comes out of this.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 11:05 AM on May 5, 2010

I've struggled over the years, especially recently, with using recording as a songwriting tool - it's something that I do all the time and wish I would do less, because I actually think it's counterproductive. It puts way too much focus on the recording and not the songwriting itself (nor the actual playing). But I'm really impatient, and that's why I do it so much - I get an idea in my head and I need to record it NOW. In the old days, way before I ever recorded anything, I would actually write... [more]
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 4:25 PM on April 10, 2010

Oh man, just what I've been looking for.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 5:50 PM on April 9, 2010

This is all awesome and very helpful info for me - I'm pretty much a novice when it comes to recording. Well, I've done a fair amount of recording, but I've never learned any techniques, I've just been sort of figuring it out on my own.

MajorDundee, you can keep commenting as many times as you want!
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 4:22 PM on March 22, 2010

The advice about the guitar's role in the mix is extremely helpful - I think this is going to help me a lot. When I fingerpick, which I do on most songs, I often have to suppress the urge to play very fast and with lots going on string-wise, and it definitely muddies the sound. I'll start playing around with identifying the sounds that I really need and the ones that are superfluous, as well as highlighting the sounds that I want in the mix.

I often do double my acoustic... [more]
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 5:05 PM on March 24, 2010

I haven't done a challenge in forever... this sounds like a winner though.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 3:21 PM on March 9, 2010

Thanks for all the helpful mic stuff! I'm willing to break the bank a bit if the right one comes along. I'll look into the AKG C414B XLS and the others.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 5:18 PM on February 5, 2010

I'm going to (a) buy myself a desktop computer, most likely an iMac, and (b) finally get real about (1) recording and (2) playing with other musicians. I am considering getting Logic, and if anyone has any advice or opinions on it I'd love to hear them, as well as a cheap-ish interface or mixer to use with it. My little Tascam/Garageband setup is not working for me that well anymore and I seriously need an upgrade.

Oh, and maybe get back into that album I started. Sigh.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 8:29 PM on January 10, 2010

I was also wondering where they both went! I miss their music too.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:54 AM on July 11, 2009

I agree with cortex (and those who agree with cortex) that we oughtta set aside the covers, at least for a bit. But I don't see any reason we can't have unofficial challenges, or bonus challenges, or whatever you want to call them, and the current unofficial challenge can be do an MJ song.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:23 AM on July 9, 2009

Wow, run run run is gonna be an interesting cover for me. I'm excited to get started!
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 1:07 PM on June 30, 2009

I am late, but totally in!!!
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 4:22 PM on June 9, 2009

Others include Suzanne, Eleanor Rigby, Summertime, Cry me a river (original). This is a great idea!
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 2:54 PM on May 23, 2009

which was a crude, sing-songy takedown of all of my jr. high school teachers

Um.... I really, really want to hear this.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:46 AM on May 5, 2009

I also like dagosto's idea, btw.

My vote is Nay, but not because I don't like the idea of amnesty... more that I just think we still haven't hit on some of the most exciting challenge ideas yet (not that I have those ideas, but I do believe they're out there, lurking, waiting to strike). We've had a few wildly successful ones and I believe we can have more.

I love the two chord idea, and like chococat says, it really sounds like a... [more]
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 3:53 PM on March 28, 2009

Time to bust out my old tune about ol' man Brisk (who is a Cupcake), sailing around the world on his trusty Interstitial (a ship).
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 9:33 AM on March 4, 2009

Someone needs to do a podcast retrospective on the challenges, telling the history, playing clips of some of the most interesting/best ones, and foretelling the future.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 12:01 PM on March 5, 2009

Man. I cannot wait to hear this.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:24 AM on February 11, 2009

Band name: "K the J's MeMail."
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 4:11 PM on February 11, 2009

For the 'wrong' challenge, can we sing along, too? Or just the instrument?
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:30 AM on February 11, 2009

This is coinciding with my first effort to record a real album over many months, but it might actually be a good companion piece to try this as well.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 6:39 PM on January 15, 2009

Thanks, all. This is really helpful.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 11:31 AM on January 5, 2009

What's that sound?

Oh... that's my mind blowing.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 8:55 AM on December 5, 2008

Yeah, I'd be totally down with this. I also think spiffing up the playlists would make people listen to them more. All I would want, really, is just a way to rearrange - nothing more. A new tab, as ageispolis suggests, would rock also.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 11:59 AM on November 17, 2008

A little late but here are a few of mine I'd be tickled to see:

- chococat: Country Death Song by the Viokent Femmes. For some reason I see your sweet, smooth voice contrasting well with the terrifying lyrics
- cortex: Smell Yo Dick (once again)
- corduroy: Hollow Log by Beck
- snsranch: Butterfly by Mason Jennings
- flapjax: Stacey Grove by Tyrannosaurus Rex (sorry, couldn't find much in the way of video)
-... [more]
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 6:33 PM on November 8, 2008

Also folks, don't forget about songerize to listen to songs.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 6:35 PM on November 8, 2008

Umbú, please write a song called "Unmasking the Shins forefather."
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 7:08 PM on November 8, 2008

Karlos, I challenge thee to cover The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side by the Magnetic Fields with your autoharp and drum machine!
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:00 AM on November 11, 2008

Gosh, By The Grace of God, this is tricky... I've been trying to think of just the right song for your beautiful voice to cover.

But since I just can't think of just the one perfect song, I'll suggest I Think it's Going to Rain Today by Randy Newman. The aching beauty of the song I think would fit your voice to a T.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 6:24 PM on November 12, 2008

I agree wholeheartedly with the barrel through approach - at least something to try. I know exactly what you mean, too, about the record button suddenly ruining my beautiful, free-flowing, unrecorded groove. I think, though, that it's sometimes in your/my head - I'll often think the recorded version isn't as good, but hearing something played back after you recorded it is probably never as good as when you heard yourself playing live... if that makes any sense.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 11:07 AM on November 9, 2008

I am totally into this, and I reckon I'll do pretty much any song asked. Warning: it will probably be folksy, banjo-heavy, and in my style of music that I can't seem to break out of no matter how I try.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:07 AM on October 31, 2008

I actually really want to hear Cortex do Smell Yo Dick, by Riskay. I think he'd KILL. Seriously.

Also, something I haven't quite grasped - are we meant to MeFimail folks individually, or post 'em here? Or either or?
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:11 AM on October 31, 2008

My dad has always loved music. He has an awesome record collection, and he's played alto sax since he was in high school. He held weekly "jams" in my house when I was a kid, where he would play his guitarron as a bass and his friends came over with guitars, keyboards, drums, and other instruments. Still to this day, anytime there's any sort of gathering of people, a dinner or a ski trip or anything like that, my dad's the first one to take out a guitar or two and turn the evening into... [more]
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 1:28 PM on August 23, 2008

I've had this problem with EVERY GUITAR EVER and it drives me batty. I'm also really anal about tuning, and the b string drives me crazy.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 2:26 PM on August 2, 2008

since so many mefites are so good with words, we could have a challenge/competition - announced/held in Metatalk - for people to write lyrics that the musicians on here can pick and choose to write and record music to?

I REALLY REALLY like this idea. I have major troubles writing my own lyrics, and I almost never like them. I never have any shortage of guitar ditties and melodies, but the words, man! The words!
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:05 AM on August 1, 2008

Happy accidents make up a decent-sized portion of my music. In fact, most of my guitar melodies come from random, idle picking while I'm sitting down something else (reading, online, writing) and something will happen with my fingers and I'll think, dang, that sounds good!
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 11:44 AM on July 30, 2008

Dang, I wish I'd seen this thread earlier. Cortex, great post.

Personally, my favorite song of mine is one that got some of the least attention. Or at least, less than I was hoping. But then some others attracted way more than I expected. Whatcha gonna do?

Thoughts:

- I wish Adrian_h would post more. Great fingerpicking.
- This song by snsranch is deceptively simple, and very beautiful, and makes me happy... [more]
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 11:42 AM on July 30, 2008

My favorite thing is being able to get feedback on my tunes, and, in turn, leave it for others. Also, it's a lovely haven nestled in MeFi where people are polite, nice, and thoughtful almost 100% of the time.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 11:00 AM on July 2, 2008

And hopefully one day we will have a MeMuPalooza somewhere. Maybe at the 10th anniversary party... I would love to see a bunch of live performances from a lot of you folks.
posted to Music Talk by ORthey at 10:32 AM on July 3, 2008