Monday
Jan282008
Need your input
Monday, January 28, 2008 at 03:09PM
Ok, so I'm printing up versions of the Letters EP to give away on the upcoming Caedmon's tour. I want to add a pair of songs from each of my full-length albums after the EP, as a bit of a sampler. I've got these picked so far:
After the Garden (The Morning)
Kara (Photographs)
New Mexico - Bonus Version (Photographs Remastered)
Early in the Morning (The Morning)
It's not feeling quite right. "After the Garden" seems too much after "Swing Wide" and the other three are all spacious, atmospheric numbers. Which I tend to love the most. Any better ideas? I've got three or four hours tops, so if you have an idea leave it as a comment quickly! Thanks!!!
(By the way, in a few days I'll have a page up where folks can help both chip in financially to give these away and also request some for themselves to give out. If anybody has any suggestions for setting that stuff up, I've got ideas but, again, don't feel they're quite right. Rock!!!)
After the Garden (The Morning)
Kara (Photographs)
New Mexico - Bonus Version (Photographs Remastered)
Early in the Morning (The Morning)
It's not feeling quite right. "After the Garden" seems too much after "Swing Wide" and the other three are all spacious, atmospheric numbers. Which I tend to love the most. Any better ideas? I've got three or four hours tops, so if you have an idea leave it as a comment quickly! Thanks!!!
(By the way, in a few days I'll have a page up where folks can help both chip in financially to give these away and also request some for themselves to give out. If anybody has any suggestions for setting that stuff up, I've got ideas but, again, don't feel they're quite right. Rock!!!)
Reader Comments (49)
"High School Band" all the way.
Songs I love:
New Beginning
White Dove
Kankakee
The Phoenix
I'd say White Dove would be a great one to come in after Swing Wide. It's starts out with enough of an atmospheric feel, but then builds into something that gives the listener a sample of your "bigger" sound. Of course, after that I'd bust into After the Garden or Santa Barbara, but that's me.
Can't wait to buy a couple!
How about
Kara
House of Mirrors
New Mexico
EITM
?
I love rocking out with Santa Barbara or After the Garden, but you're right, they don't fit. House of Mirrors has some excellent writing and a more spacious sound while still rocking out.
dude after swing wide you should follow up with house of mirrors then into after the garden i think it would be a great flow
new beginning
House of Mirrors, and I'll tell you why.
I bought my first AO CD based on the streaming "House of Mirrors" from "The Morning." It has that atmospheric quality to it, but it builds up to a measure of intensity that made me want to go back and hear it again. It seems to be the track for me that strikes the balance of what you get on the rest of the CD. It "feels" similar to "Hold the Light," as far as the vibe goes.
Also, what about throwing one of those little chapter songs on it too. Those are memorable because they're brief. They're unlike anything you're getting on most records these days in that they are little snippets-- glimpses through a hole in the fence. I like "Just a Kid" or "All the Wrong Reasons" best for a project like this one. Weren't you going to make a fuller length version for one of those? That might come in handy for some future album sales as well.
is having Kankakee on there too much from Photographs? That is a delightful song, an essential in my small opinion.
Can anything really follow Swing Wide???
I guess I'm with Russ on House of Mirrors. And short of being able to put "hold the light" on this one, that'd be my pick.
I love "If I had wings"...
i think "early in the morning" or "new beginning" would be great!
I think I'd put "White Dove" after "Swing Wide..." instead of "After the Garden." It transitions a little better and it builds and builds until it rocks your socks off. I like the other three selections for the EP.
If you're going to use anything from The Morning it absolutely has to be "Early in the Morning." So what would contrast that but not be so aurally shocking? I'd have to go with "White Dove." I like "House of Mirrors" but I think it's a bit too mellow here. As far as stuff from Photographs I think "Kara" is an excellent choice, but I've never been a fan of "New Mexico" (sorry). :) "High School Band" is the reason I bought Photographs in the first place and I particularly love the bonus version on the remastered edition. So there's my two cents worth of opinion!
Could you play any of your Letters EP on this tour?
Oh, and could you bring Andy Gullahorn with you, please? :)
High School Band
After the garden
White Dove
-both of those for sure.....top form
then
Kara
The High School band
I feel that the latter is an overlooked yet tremendous testament to the craft of songwriting.Think about it...it's good, you know it.
After "Swing Wide", I'd go into White Dove, then House of Mirrors, Kara, and HSB (a better choice than New Mexico, to my mind). If you have to slip "Early in the Morning" in there, put it in after Kara in place of HSB.
But what the hey - it's all good!
Ok, first of all...
Who the heck puts up a blog and gets over a dozen suggestions in an hour? Some crazy lucky guy, that's who. You guys are amazing.
Secondly, but you're making my job harder. You reminded me of songs I forgot about. Now I have more to have to choose from.
I was able to get an extension and so I can sneak this in first thing in the morning. Keep the suggestions coming and we'll figure it out.
I am so honored and grateful to have you guys. If only the internet could give you a great big group hug....
I know you feel like there are too many mellow/vibey songs on there, but I really would love to see "It's Too Far to Walk Tonight" and "When Will I Run". And of course you have to have EITM.
I also vote for "White Dove" over "After the Garden", if it's between the two. And "New Beginning". And "We Were So Sure We Would Change the World".
Just be sure to specify for people on the free cd that this is a sampler and not a best of, because the rest of each album is just as good.
Andy I would vote for New Beginning. Or White Dove.
Can't wait to see you all in the L town soon!
Yeah, I don't see how you can not have EITM. If there's a single song that has to be on the album, that's it.
If you're gonna keep the whole thing more or less atmospheric, then I'd still stick with my original recommendation -
House of Mirrors
Kara
New Mexico
EITM
I know some people love High School Band, but let's face it, you've played that at most every concert you've had a chance to play in the last couple of years. Folks won't be as familiar with something like House of Mirrors or New Mexico, and they are EXCELLENT songs that folks should be introduced to.
If you have to choose between Kara and Kankakee, I'd go with Kara every time. And don't even think about pulling New Mexico in order to sneak something else on. :-)
My vote is for "Early in the Morning" or "The Priest and the Iron Rain". PLEASE.
High School Band. It was the first song of yours I heard, I think, and I loved it immediately.
But you have to figure out a way to get one of those rockin' songs from The Morning on there, too. I think you should include "Santa Barbara" I could listen to that a million times...and it might flow a little bit better with some of your other choices....
Just my $.02.
House of mirrors is an excellent song, but you really need to give the people listening to this sampler an actual sample of the range of different styles and feels you are capable of. Having every song be mellow and atmospheric like Kara and House of mirrors doesn't showcase that range. It gives people the impression that all your stuff sounds too much alike, which it actually doesn't...
So with that in mind I say use Kankakee after Swing wide, then go to White Dove (or even Santa Barbra would work here), then on to New Mexico (either version), then Early in the morning... That way you get an acoustic folky song with Kankakee, a rocker with White Dove, a great display of lyrical ability with New Mexico, and a taste of your flair for the atmospheric with Early in the Morning...
White Dove
The Man of the House
Dance Away the City
New Mexico