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American Girl

Todd Kulesza — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:03:15 +0000

Finally, new tune! This one works in some harmonica (be kind, I just started learning it this week). I’ve actually been playing a *far* more upbeat version of this for the past month, but am not really feeling like I could carry that off with any conviction at the moment, so you get the tension-strung edition instead.

American Girl – MP3 download

Glisterine

Todd Kulesza — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:35:29 +0000

Two songs in one night! Incredible!

Actually I’m cheating: just like with Ol’ 55, the guitar on this tune was recorded a while ago. Tonight I just redid the vocals. Unlike Ol’ 55, these vocals were done post-martinis, though at the moment I’m not certain if that makes any obvious difference. I suppose we’ll see in the morning.

Update: Oh god. Oh god. Yeah, gin makes a difference. I’ll try redoing this one some other time, I’m removing it for now.

Glisterine – MP3 download

Ol’ 55

Todd Kulesza — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 07:40:28 +0000

I recorded the guitar track for this over the summer. It was the first piece I recorded in Cubase that I was really happy with, but somehow I got distracted from recording the vocal track and left it alone for a couple of days. By the time I came back to it, my computer’s monitor had died a tragic death, just a few months shy of the warranty expiration. Kudos to Viewsonic for promptly shipping a replacement, but it didn’t arrive until I’d left for a two-week trip to visit family in Detroit. The day I returned to Corvallis was moving day… I spent the next month living out of a suitcase, and by the time I finally had my own place again, Twinkle was sick and I was in no mood for recording. So this has been sitting on my hard drive for months, waiting for the inspiration to come back and finish it.

Last night I went out with Erica and her friends to catch a bluegrass show at Fireworks, and by the end of their first number I had my inspiration back. How that woman could sing! This evening I finally loaded up the old project and finished it off. The original Tom Waits demo of this tune is one of my favorite songs, and I know I can’t do the original any proper justice, but I think it’s an appropriate tribute to the man whose music inspired me to really focus on song-crafting again.

Ol’ 55- MP3 download

Romeo and Juliet

Todd Kulesza — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:51:52 +0000

It’s nearly 1 in the morning, and instead of prepping for tomorrow’s 9am user study, I can’t seem to pull myself away from my guitar. This tune has been ringing in my head for a few days… I tried to record it yesterday, did about 20 takes but there didn’t seem to be any feeling behind any of them. Today I got what I wanted almost straight-off.

So here’s my second try at recording in my new home studio. This one is (intentionally) a lot rawer than my last attempt, just me and an acoustic guitar. I’ve been learning how to use the EQ in Cubase, which was able to knock out the hum of my furnace in the background, plus (I think) make the piece sound a little richer. Comments and suggestions are more than welcome.

Romeo and Juliet – MP3 download

Walking in Memphis

Todd Kulesza — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:17:03 +0000

For a host of reason’s I’m not about to discuss here, last Friday night was a pretty bad night. The evening ended with me drinking alone in my apartment and watching X-Files DVDs. Not one of my better days, but these things happen. One of the episodes, however, was The Post-Modern Prometheus, and even inebriated, I was keenly aware that it was the finest hour of television I’d ever before seen. The show ends with Mulder and Scully dancing to the tune Walking in Memphis, which I suddenly found myself so in love with that I had to learn how to play it right then and there. It was about 1 a.m. by the time I’d figured it out, so I decided against recording it that night, but I meant to come back to it.

Tonight I finally found the time to lay down the tracks and mix them into something that, at the least, I’m not entirely embarrassed by. Feedback is completely welcome, though I should point out in advance that I’m not a good singer and am very much aware of that. I’m still working on it.

Walking in Memphis – MP3 download

P.S. – My new neighbor totally rocks! She knocked on my door while I was recording this and I thought it was to tell me hey, it’s late, keep it down over there, but no: she was just bringing over cupcakes!