downburst

downburst

JOINED:1 year ago
PROGRESS:56

Winner!
LOCATION:Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
INFLUENCES:You.* Ray Davies, Richard Thompson, Peter Blegvad, Nick Salomon, Laura Nyro, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gene Clark, Doug Sahm, the Walkabouts, Pete Townshend, Clive Gregson, Grant McLennan, Joni Mitchell, Teenage Fanclub, Amy Rigby, Chuck Prophet, the Green Pajamas, Loudon Wainwright III, Micky Jones and Deke Leonard, Hank Marvin, Terry Adams (here comes Terry), Joey Spampinato, "Big Al" Anderson, the Vulgar Boatmen and all who sail in her, Mott, Can, Oysterband, Marshall Crenshaw, the Celibate Rifles, Dean Wareham, Creedence, Leadbelly, Cordelia's Dad, Barry Tashian, Michael Fennelly, Curt Boettcher, Gary Usher, Gillian Welch, Procol Harum, Townes Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, Pavement, Bjork, Paul Simon, Brian Ferry, Brian Eno, Julian Cope, Martyn Phillips, Bob Scott, Graeme Downes, Kate Bush, My Bloody Valentine, Kitka, Charles Ives, Deniz Tek, Rob Younger, Chris "Klondike" Masuak, Chris Bailey, Mysteries of Life, Rory McLeod, Richard Fariña, Tom Jobim, Kim Salmon, Neil Young, Dylan, Bob Seger, Howe Gelb, Roky Erickson, Lucinda Williams, the Meters, the Mekons, Ian Tyson, John Martyn, John Coltrane, Alejandro Escovedo, Henry Cow, John Cale, Arthur Lee, Polly Jean Harvey, Pete Ham, Carole King, George Jones, George Bedard, Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Brian Wilson, Martin Newell, Beulah, Bonnie Hayes, Don Van Vliet, Steve Earle, Vic Chesnutt, Chuck Berry, Charles Mingus, Rod Argent, Jane Siberry, Fela, Emmitt Rhodes, Ed Kuepper, Blue Öyster Cult, Shuggie Otis, Thomas Mapfumo, D. Boon, Neu!, Robert Wyatt, Jan Akkerman, Robyn Hitchcock, Sandy Denny, Felix Cavaliere, Brinsley Schwarz, Alice Cooper, Dom Mariani, Mitch Easter, Chris Stamey, Peter Holsapple, Art Blakey, Ron Peno, God (the Australian band, not the deity), the Rev. Al Green, Bacharach and David, Kimberley Rew, Andy Partridge, Faust, Echo and the Bunnymen, Todd Rundgren, Turbonegro, the Wrens, Guadalcanal Diary, Lou Reed (sigh), Holland/Dozier/Holland, Olivier Messiaen, Anton Webern, Max Roach, the Dolls, Amon Düül II, Ron Asheton, Ronnie Lane, the Silos, Alex Harvey, the Shaggs, the Posies, Pentangle, the Mary Janes, Jackie Wilson, the Incredible String Band, Lulina, the Blake Babies, all John P. Strohm's bands, Buddy Holly, Daniel Johnston, Curved Air, Hawkwind, Calexico, Swervedriver, Stephen Stills, Hank Williams, Theodore Roethke, Ezra Pound, William Carlos Williams, Emily Dickinson, Graham Parker, Alan Dugan, Stephin Merrit, Vivian Stanshall, the Long Ryders, the Hollies, the Yardbirds (particularly the coolest man in the history of rock, Mr. Keith Relf), Cathal Coughlin, Jimmy Webb, the Feelies, the Pretty Things, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, Fleetwood Mac (old and new), Vanda and Young, the Connells, the Dismemberment Plan, the Clean, Jawbox, Jethro Tull (there, I said it), Mari Kozlowski, Ton Steine Sterben, Chris Knox, the Church, Neil Innes, Roy Wood, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, TV Smith, Ted Leo, Tenpole Tudor, Tanya Donnelly, Marc Bolan, Steely Dan, Sonny Rollins, Fred "Sonic" Smith, Ragnar Kvaran, Sloan, Rodd Keith the King of Song-Poetry Music, Peter Stampfel and Steve Weber, Frank O'Hara, Kenneth Koch, Charles Olson, Archie Ammons, Lee Krasner, Duane Eddy. That was fun.

BIO:

(I realize I went a little overboard with the list of influences above. :)

Just a guy, struggling to create. Rudimentary guitarist and singer. Feel free to call me Rod.

I just realized "downburst" is an anagram of "Rod stun wb." Exciting. Also "brown stud" and "tub drowns." And "turd b sown" (you know, like Toys R Us).

"Now, come on. I don't believe in god, so I don't have to make elaborately sounded structures. I hate Vachel Lindsay, always have; I don't even like rhythm, assonance, all that stuff. You just go on your nerve. If someone's chasing you down the street with a knife you just run, you don't turn around and shout, 'Give it up! I was a track star for Mineola Prep.'"

--Frank O'Hara

Songs: 56 ( + = Songs posted by a different Songwriter that you Collaborated on.)

		Title	Collaborators	Comments	Post date
1		The Draftsman		14	46 weeks 20 hours
2	+	Rag And Bone Man	downburst Donna Devine	35	45 weeks 5 days
3	+	Fun in the Sun	downburst Dee	13	45 weeks 5 days
4		Lando and Dando		4	45 weeks 3 days
5		A Good Place To Be You		8	45 weeks 2 days
6	+	the stationery clerk	downburst tinam	9	45 weeks 4 hours
7		Headsqueezin' Time		9	44 weeks 6 days
8		Antidepressant Time		15	44 weeks 5 days
9		Can I Get In Your Queue	adventuresofamy	7	44 weeks 2 days
10		You Lied To Me	Dee	12	44 weeks 14 hours
11	+	Say Goodbye	downburst blindkiwi	9	44 weeks 13 hours
12	+	Acid Rain	downburst Donna Devine	8	43 weeks 4 days
13	+	Can't Complain	downburst FenderTele71 samhealer	13	43 weeks 2 days
14		The Nightingale's Code		10	43 weeks 2 hours
15	+	These Days	downburst Shay	12	42 weeks 6 days
16		κάλλιστον μὲν ἐγὼ λείπω φάος ἠελίοιο		12	42 weeks 4 days
17		Dubuque		7	42 weeks 4 days
18		Raleigh Was Right		8	42 weeks 21 hours
19		Eye For Windows		6	42 weeks 18 hours
20		Sixty Butterflies	Jane_ukey	11	40 weeks 5 days
21		Twisted Filberts	Jane_ukey	8	40 weeks 2 days
22	+	One Last Night	downburst colourcodedchaos	8	40 weeks 1 day
23		Attitude	Rod Cook	5	39 weeks 5 days
24		Never Born		2	39 weeks 5 days
25		Sugar Pie (downburst version)	cold comfort	9	39 weeks 4 days
26		E-I-E-I-O-hippus		12	39 weeks 3 days
27	+	I don`t hurry	downburst Arthur Rossi	5	38 weeks 4 days
28	+	Home Where Our Hearts Lie	downburst nightengale	8	38 weeks 4 days
29	+	You're Sure To Find Yourself	sapient plainwhitetoast Chris Adams Roddy_ downburst Matt Blick kristian orinoco Izaak musicsongwriter Negasi	23	38 weeks 3 days
30		We Can Do What We Want		3	38 weeks 3 days
31		Coffee and Snot	T.C. Elliott Dragondreams	13	38 weeks 1 day
32	+	At the same moment (finished collab)	downburst mike skliar	6	37 weeks 5 days
33	+	No Use	downburst jonniegrunge	4	37 weeks 5 days
34		Disappear	Dee	10	37 weeks 4 days
35		Something Somehow		5	37 weeks 2 days
36		The Bottom		4	36 weeks 20 hours
37		Underwater Handgun		3	36 weeks 18 hours
38	+	Bad Machines	downburst blindkiwi	2	35 weeks 3 days
39		Amazing Car (Bong Challenge)		4	35 weeks 2 days
40		Loved and Lost	Loved Lost EtC	11	34 weeks 5 days
41		Cannibananabal		2	34 weeks 4 days
42		The Graveyard of Envious Songwriters		7	34 weeks 4 days
43	+	An Antidote for Air Sickness	Chris Adams Number Six musicsongwriter downburst Izaak	4	34 weeks 2 days
44		Queen of the Satellites		2	34 weeks 2 days
45		The Only Thing In Your Way		1	34 weeks 2 days
46		Waste of Victory		6	34 weeks 1 day
47	+	You made me do it	downburst blindkiwi	5	34 weeks 19 hours
48		Carnivorous World		1	33 weeks 6 days
49		Michaela		1	33 weeks 1 day
50		Honk		1	33 weeks 1 day
51		Look Out Below		1	33 weeks 1 day
52		So Conquered		0	33 weeks 1 day
53		On Some Lonely Shore		2	33 weeks 1 day
54		Happy for the Spider		3	33 weeks 1 day
55		DInosaur on Rye		2	33 weeks 1 day
56		The Strangest Lasagna (for Tina)		1	33 weeks 1 day

Soundboard

oneslowtyper

33 weeks 12 hours ago

Hi Rod, if you've been to Lake Placid you may have heard of the Northville-Lake Placid Trail... well, I don't live on the Lake Placid end of the trail. LOL

Dawnsoap

33 weeks 14 hours ago

Thank you so much for the kind comment on my sound board, and congradulations to you as well for getting over 50 songs! I totally should write a song for Pueto Rico, good thinking :) I also kind of want to go to each state now, and sing my song for that state when I'm there. We'll see if that dream becomes a reality. Thank you again for all your kind comments.

oneslowtyper

33 weeks 15 hours ago

You made it with a sprint to the finish line Rod. Way to go!!

kiwafruit

33 weeks 5 days ago

I was just being silly ;)
Glad you enjoy it. I must say, I'm liking it too. Thanks for the suggestion :)

kiwafruit

33 weeks 5 days ago

Thanks for the comment on "Sunset Dreaming" - I take it that's a bit better, more space to breathe? ;)

Pistols Pete

33 weeks 5 days ago

Hey there Downburst! Thanks so much for the comment on The Rescue! Much appreciated :)

oneslowtyper

33 weeks 6 days ago

HOLY CRAP ROD!! I'd say you're under the influence of too many influences. LOL
You listed so many names and bands I haven't even thought about for years... also noticed Buddy Holly at least 3 times. haha

33 weeks 6 days ago

You give the best refs - I do remember MC 900ft Jesus, although only the 2 or 3 cuts that got played on the radio or MTV. I liked them, and they are kind of a precursor to Soul Coughing, whose first two albums were awesome.

And Holsapple?! Two of my favorite 80s albums were the two dBs albums after Stamey left (probably heresy to fans)... I liked the first two also, but Like This and The Sound Of Music were less mildly self-conscious twitchy new wave, and more great tunes. I've always liked Stamey better post-dBs.

cold comfort

33 weeks 6 days ago

Hey Rod,
I'm putting together a compilation album of Cold Comfort collabs. (Listen only / no sales / no downloads) If you want me to include your version of "Sugar Pie" please send me a note with your permission to include it and upload a WAV version to soundcloud 16-bit/44.1kHz ("CD quality") for me to get at. No rush.
CC

blindkiwi

34 weeks 20 hours ago

Thanks Rod. Sun is shining here, come on over 8)

T.C. Elliott

34 weeks 3 days ago

It's too late to re-record and it's a better demo than most of mine. So while I completely understand your feelings it is much too late for goodbyes. errmm.. And it's too late baby, now it's too late... or umm, Now you say you want to stay, It's too late, it's too late... (okay, the last one was a stretch)

Jane_ukey

34 weeks 4 days ago

lol - I'm playing in a duo now with a guitarist (who is also a great singer) but I must admit I do have a hankering for some drums and bass from time to time... :)

blindkiwi

34 weeks 5 days ago

Well, dogs can be trained...

TomS

34 weeks 6 days ago

Never too much hi hat! Also, more cowbell! :)

S'pose you are right about it, however.

TomS

35 weeks 1 day ago

Them Tigers is tigers. Why do you want to learn about old trackers and hellishly difficult ways of getting sounds that are easy to get with VSTi?

airbagtester

35 weeks 1 day ago

If you just want to get a fairly faithful synth sound (i.e. using a wave generator instead of samples) I'd suggest trying LMMS (Linux Multimedia System, which also works in Windows) and using their built in triple oscillator:
http://lmms.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/TripleOscillator
...which you can play using the computer keyboard or external midi controller. This is what I used for the synths on the first song I did in July: http://fiftyninety.fawmers.org/songs/7067

If you want any help at all or a detailed walkthrough let me know and I'd be glad to help!

airbagtester

35 weeks 1 day ago

Tracker programs (milkytracker, fast tracker, etc.) are relativey old (like MS DOS old) programs that sequence looped waves that you can create in the sample editor. For each instrument, you draw a sine/triangle/saw/square/noise/etc. wave with a certain frequency and amplitude; these are the instruments. They have a vertical scrolling grid with 8 or so columns for each "instrument" where you manually assign for each row: N-x xx yy z/zz, where N=note, -x=octave, xx=instrument, yy=volume, and z/zz=effect/amount. It's really like programming from what I'm told, and probably not the best way to get into using synths, but I was curious to try it.

blindkiwi

35 weeks 2 days ago

Actually, it sounds awesome :D Thanks so much Rod.

blindkiwi

35 weeks 2 days ago

Sounds excellent Rod ;)

Jane_ukey

35 weeks 6 days ago

hehe, oh yes - how are the Filberts going?

jonniegrunge

36 weeks 2 hours ago

Hey, we've been podcasted! of course, that's not news to you, since you posted on my soundboard. I'm glad No Use got played. Your take is awesome. I know I alluded to it being country originally, but your punk version is *it*. I can't think of it any other way. Rock on, sir.

T.C. Elliott

36 weeks 1 day ago

Rumor has it* that another podcast is already done and in queue and that yet another should be finished today or tomorrow. So there should be two more in the next 5 or 6 days, I'd guess.

*Since I started the rumor, I know it's out there. Well, really, it's only here, but still.

angelinapowersuit

36 weeks 5 days ago

Hi again! Re: "Circle of Sisters" - I record vocals and all real instruments with a Snowball mic. Is that terrible? I record in Garageband, which I understand is very limited. I rarely use compression because I don't understand how (and when) to use it effectively. Didn't even know that it could improve the drum sound. But I will definitely try it. Will also focus on the vocals, I'm not sure what it could be. Question - do you record vocals with effects or add them after? Thank you SO much for all of your thoughts, I really, really appreciate specific advice because my technical threshold is very low.

angelinapowersuit

36 weeks 5 days ago

Yes, agreed about the drum thread, though I need help in almost every aspect of recording I think. It's like I took 1 year of French and I'm now trying to have fluent conversations (if that makes any sense). I'll take all the help I can get!!

Outasync

36 weeks 6 days ago

The demo for "Beautiful People" is up at last! http://fiftyninety.fawmers.org/songs/9731

Thanks for your help working this out.

37 weeks 1 day ago

The Q are the only band I've seen live double figure times - probably approaching 20. Always amazing!

When we were dating, I took Patty to three Q shows in three nights. Then I married her. She passed the test...

Paul Milne

37 weeks 5 days ago

Hi downburst, as a fellow Arthur Rossi collaborator you might want to check out my song with him: A Better Man Than Me: http://fiftyninety.fawmers.org/songs/9205

thebschip

37 weeks 5 days ago

Sounds like fun! What time and where?

thebschip

37 weeks 5 days ago

I don't know, maybe it's more vibe than sound? I think you need to be less of a shy boy and play out more; I'd come see you play. I play/sing in a couple bands/choirs in the area, but when it comes to originals, I'm also pretty shy. ;) I performed one of my 50/90 songs at a rock and roll camp I worked at this past summer, and that took huge guts for me to do it. I'm slowly but surely getting more confident. :) Keep up the great work!

itneverhappened

37 weeks 5 days ago

Hey, thanks a lot for your very nice comments. Appreciated! Jesus, you're productive.. will check out your stuff later.

kiwafruit

37 weeks 6 days ago

Hiya :)
Thanks for the feedback on "Sunset Dreaming". I think I understand where you're coming from in regards to the harmonies - I love the melody in this and it's been stuck in my head since I demo'd it last week for @blindkiwi. But, I wouldn't be me if I didn't add at least one harmony to just about everything I make lol Hopefully, I'll get around to updating the harmonies and backing for it before too long.
The chords for the chorus are Em G Am F... I think? hahaha

38 weeks 3 hours ago

Clive Gregson YES! Loved Any Trouble back in the day - I've played at least three of their songs in bands over the years, plus their cover version of Name Of The Game. Not to mention that he worked with Richard Thompson, guitar god.

I gotta go pull out my Any Trouble vinyl now...

T.C. Elliott

38 weeks 3 hours ago

I love coming over to your profile and seeing Stampfel and Weber as an influence. You did great with the thread song, thanks for doing it.

blindkiwi

38 weeks 1 day ago

Thanks for your kind comments on my lyrics Rod. Some will get music when I get back home, some deserve a better music treatment than I can give them so collabs still welcome and some will be consigned to oblivion

Calum Carlyle

38 weeks 2 days ago

hi, your comment on my Radio Friendly lyrics made me actually laugh out loud. Thanks for making my morning :-)

TomS

38 weeks 2 days ago

Hardly anyone, and only cool people, will say "bitchin' riff" these days, and I thank you! :) As penance, would you please alphabetize your list of influences?

Arthur Rossi

38 weeks 3 days ago

Rod, thank you so much for this wonderful song! I love all about it, the instrumentisation, your vocal and this melody that I cannot get off my head... I also love this musical break between the last verse and the chorus, beginning at about 2.10 min, fantastic! Thanks once again for this wonderful music, I LOVE IT! Whenever you like and anything strikes you, it would be an honour for me to collab with you...

ultravioleteyejeff

38 weeks 3 days ago

Lordy Miss Mody. Regarding my modal songs http://fiftyninety.fawmers.org/content/song-series , they are just trying to take stabs at modes through songwriting attempts. Every music teacher and book explains modes in their own way. My music teacher said that "minor modes" start on a first chord that is minor. Themiller spelled out church modes in a way I hadn't seen before, so I thought I'd mess around with those too. It's funny that, since the tritone was forbidden by The Church, that the mode beginning on F uses Bb, so it's really just a song in the key of F.

nightengale

38 weeks 3 days ago

Hi Rod Thank You! You sound awesome, I love the song! Anytime another one works for you, please go for it!

Arthur Rossi

38 weeks 4 days ago

Read your email only now... Of course, you can alterate the lyrics as you like to... I would be very grateful for this...

Arthur Rossi

38 weeks 4 days ago

Thanks a lot for the nice comment! I would feel honoured if you gave it a go...

Blue Haint 1

38 weeks 5 days ago

"Bud, where are you, man?"

Hey, Downburst, I'm still here, pal, just had to do a bunch of other stuff that pulled me away for a bit...
I teach in a two year college and the last month or so was the transition between semesters; that is, I had to grade projects, do paperwork, more paperwork, yet more paperwork, and get ready for the Fall semester, which we have just begun. Just now getting some breathing room again and I hope I can get to fifty songs.

Thanks for checking in on me!

starsinmyeyes

38 weeks 5 days ago

Hi downburst, I really appreciated your comments on my lyric My Gisele, and I totally agree with you, thank you for pointing out where I could make improvements. I will certainly work on those areas and tag it re-write when it's done. Thanks again!

Rob From Amersfoort

39 weeks 23 hours ago

Thanks for the comment! I discovered the mellotron sound by accidentally applying the 'George Bensons unique fat jazz is mellow and with an attack' effect (I didn't came up with that name) at my Zoom R24 to the strings sound at my keyboard. I immediately got the urge to record my own 'Satanic Majesties Request' album but I will suppress that urge for the moment.

rittmo

39 weeks 3 days ago

Hey Rod

Thanks for the comment on One Plum At A Time

basically, a casual yet intimate relationship with Jesus, you know like hey buddy...so hopefully not preachy, and not to far out of the box.... :)

rittmo'

Kristi

39 weeks 4 days ago

Thanks for your very kind comments on "Maybe." It’s interesting to hear your ideas for the structure of it. Good feedback. I appreciate it. Listen, I have heard your music and you are being way too modest! Nothing can match enthusiasm for a piece of work, so if you'd like to play around with it and see what happens...I’m open to that!

Arthur Rossi

39 weeks 6 days ago

Hey Rod, I left you a note under your track "κάλλιστον μὲν ἐγὼ λείπω φάος ἠελίοιο". I also hope ellen will not get angry with me... ;-)
If so, I`d like to beg for pardon...

ellen

39 weeks 6 days ago

hi!

I haven't logged onto here or done anything for weeks....shame on me.
But the kids started school today, perhaps I'll have a bit of free time.
Hope you are well.

Negasi

40 weeks 1 hour ago

Hey! I'm mostly lyrics if you want to choose a set of my lyrics, or I can write something new for you :P

Jane_ukey

40 weeks 12 hours ago

Thanks Rod, but at least it seems to have spurred on my songwriting so there's an upside :)

downburst

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