I found a copy of just the kick, snare, and hihat tracks from some Bob Marley recording sessions. I broke out my Boss ME-50 effects pedal and just started laying guitar tracks over the drums. I think it turned out pretty cool. My hope is that somebody will throw their beats on the guitars and get rid of the original drums.

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0 Comments | Posted by Michael Spaly in Songs

Wrote this one as metaphorical  ‘relationship’ between me and the city of Boston. Written from the perspective of leaving and feeling inadequate. Please don’t read too much into the negative side of things. This song is a flash of a thought explored at length.

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0 Comments | Posted by Michael Spaly in Songs

Twas the first year of christmas
that all through the house
was quiet and without family
just me and my spouse – and Oliver and Ghia, of course ;)

Writing lyrics on a computer sucks. So I’m trying out just recording melodic and/or lyric ideas directly. This one was just that. Played and sang, then reworked the lyrics based on what came out the first time.
This was the first year we weren’t with my family in Michigan, hence the mellow feel.

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0 Comments | Posted by Michael Spaly in Songs

The Boston roots scene is full of great ‘rootsy americana’ music that’s filled with folky instruments and iced with just enough edge and electricity to “make my big toe shoot up in my boot” (Little Richard). Guys like Bow Thayer and Tim Gearan sit especially comfortably in the groove. This is an attempt to conjur their feel. Rough demo as the lyrics, drums/bass, and killer solo are all missing and/or awaiting improvement.

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0 Comments | Posted by Michael Spaly in Songs

This list of songs was transferred from my old site. Rather than uploading each song individually, here is an archive of the entire list. It spans songs from the last 8 or 9 years. Enjoy!

Wet Town 5.7 MB

Wrote the first set of verses while living in Seattle. Finished the final section after moving to Boston. A nostalgia tune that incorporates Sam Russell style of ‘too many overdubs’ as well as some of his melodies. This one’s been finished for a while, but I waited to get some Bass and Drum additions – as added so kindly by Adam Cat and Matt ‘Cutty’ Foster.

Just Fine 3.7 MB

Lyrics I wrote a while ago. Michal and Oliver were out of town so I took a few hours to record it – trying out some Tom Waits vocals.

Ocean View (version 2) 2.7 MB & Ocean View 1 (original) 3.2 MB

I had this melody stuck in my head so I wrote it down and added a B part. When the lyrics wouldn’t come, I asked Michali for some help. She gave me a general idea, including the first few lines. I recorded it and she thought it was too slow and boring. So I recorded it again (with some lyric tweaks) with her feedback in mind. It was a great exercise and I hope it will convince her to help me more often :)

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0 Comments | Posted by Michael Spaly in Songs