Song Description #2 - Hollywooden Face

Hol•ly•wood•en Face: 1. A stiff, awkward, or forced facial expression used when one is not being genuine. 2. The face of an individual who glorifies the mainstream media and the lifestyles associated with Hollywood. 3. The face of a person with a warped sense of reality and values, who places higher importance than necessary on their appearance and personal image.

Example: “The announcer on the Entertainment News program announced Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s divorce with a hollywooden face.”

I apologize to the people of Hollywood that do NOT have "Hollywooden Faces," in which this does not apply! I'm generalizing. I simply prefer a more down to earth way of thinking, rather than a "high-maintenance" attitude. I just hope that someday these people can wake up and smell the coffee and that all of us, who seem to be so interested in them, can too.

Bare Bones now at CD Baby.com!

As of today, you can order my album from CD Baby.com, the worlds largest independent online music store! It's a super cool site. Check it out. You can either purchase the physical CD, or the download. You can preview all 11 tracks of my album there as well.

Matt

Song Description #1 - Captain & Crew

I'm posting Song Descriptions for all the songs of Bare Bones to provide a bit more perspective. I'm starting with the oldest song and working my way up. Here's the first one:

Captain & Crew

This is the oldest song on the album. I wrote it back in 2003. When I began writing the lyrics for this it was all about imagery; military submarines, torpedoes, fear of battle, navy operations... But I also wrote it for other reasons. - Life is like a game of chess. It's like you send your pawns out to battle, sometimes moving them into the line of fire. You take risks. Sometimes you win and sometimes you fail. Sometimes you keep moving that Knight 2 spaces over and 3 spaces down, then back again... then in the other direction... and then something catches you off guard and your opponent takes out your Rook. "I didn't see it! It's not my fault!" you say, but really, it is. The key is, we must stay accountable for all our actions and admit when we've made a mistake. Chess is a really hard game but then again, so is life. There are a lot of pieces you have to think about all at once. We are all the "Captain" or the "King" at one time or another and it is in these situations, where we should be the most self aware.

Do you know what it's like when you've got a problem and you're at the point when you're damned if you do and damned if you don't? That's when the opponent's Bishop is lined up on a perfect diagonal to take out your King, and if you move it out of harm's way, the wrath of the Queen will fall upon you. If only you had thought it out better in the first place. It's way too late. Now It's checkmate, but you'll do better next time. At least you'll try harder anyway.

In my last band, we used to play this song quite a bit and every time we did, the song got longer. We called it our "epic." I think it was about 10 minutes long by the end. For this recording, I trimmed it back down a lot, however it's still almost 6 minutes. That little instrumental bit at the end is the torpedo coming, and then blowing the submarine to smithereens!

Bare Bones

Raw, acoustic rock n' roll... No bells. No whistles. That's my album. ...and today is the official release date! The album has 11 tracks and includes a full 8 page booklet with all the song lyrics. There are a few ways to purchase the album: You may contact me via Facebook to order one directly from me. You may also buy it at Backstreet Records in Fredericton. CD Baby.com will be selling it as well. I'm in the process of getting that set up and I will post when it's available to order and download.

The album is pretty fast paced however there are a few sombre moments. Most of the songs have an "alternative" style to them I suppose you could say, which basically means that I usually stay away from traditional styles of playing. ...Not that I do it intentionally really, I just play what I feel. I play what I think sounds good, making up chords as I go along. One thing I can say my music definitely has, is a steady rocking beat. At times it can be a little hidden on Bare Bones, since there are no drums present, but you can really tap your foot to the stuff. I can relate to Stompin' Tom. Not that my music sounds anything like his, but I understand why his foot never stops. He's always feeling it. So what does Bare Bones really sound like? Well it’s guitar and vocals... You can listen to a few tracks on my site. When people ask me to classify my music, I find it pretty difficult. Maybe it's a style to its own. I think Bare Bones is. I really like that idea.

Lyrically, the album is about taking in all the good stuff and not getting overwhelmed by the bad stuff. ...then doing what's right. It's also about challenging yourself. If you do, you'll learn something whether you succeed or you fail. Either way, you win.

On the whole, Bare Bones represents basic individuality. I made all the decisions on the music, lyrics, recording process, artwork design... everything, with virtually no input from anyone else. Did I make the best choices? Frig, I don't know. All I know is I didn't hold anything back and I didn't try to be anything I'm not. It is what it is. All I can wish for is that a few folks can relate to it.

Matt

Upcoming Shows:
Sept. 24th (8:00) - Crumbs Cafe, Fredericton
Sept. 26th (2:00) - Garrison District Ale House, Fredericton

Lyrics: Tea With The Devil

You hate, because you love to hate

And you joke, and wait for me to take the bait

You confide, until you bring out the dark side

And you lie, until you get the words you pry

You wait for me, you're waiting all the time

So come sit with me, I'll pour some tea, we'll talk "crime"

You poke and prod with that sinister smirk

That's why we think you're such a jerk

And every day i'll answer this lifetime...

"Do you take sugar? Well it's very nice to meet you sir," I said.

"Any milk? Oh, and what a pleasure it is to know you want me dead.

Are you sure you drink it black with arsenic?

Try a sip of mine. Acquiring the taste, yeah that's the real trick."

You wait for me, you're waiting all the time

So come sit with me, I'll pour some tea, we'll talk "crime"

You're waiting all the time

Coming from this space you think is mine

Do you like the taste of my sugar my

sweet

sweet

sir?

You wait for me, you're waiting all the time

So come sit with me, I'll pour some tea, we'll talk "crime"

You see the voice inside my head is dead

So I think I'll screw with yours instead

And every day i'll answer this lifetime...

Devil, aside

Album Release Date

It's almost here! Bare Bones will be released on September 15th, 2009. It will be available at Backstreet Records (located at 384 Queen Street, Fredericton). You may also purchase a copy by contacting me via Facebook or coming to a show. Other stores will be announced later, as well as an online store.

I'm playing a show this friday (July 31st) at Boom Nightclub where I'm opening for "The Absolute Fiction." I'll also be back at Boom the following friday (Aug. 7th) where I will be headlining.

I'll be posting lots more news as things unfold over the next few months.

See you soon!
Matt

Old Videos

I put these videos on Youtube back in March of 2008. It was more of an experiment than anything. Just no laughing at my hair okay? Alright you can laugh a little!

There are 3 videos:

Big Bang Baby (by Stone Temple Pilots)

Know One Knows (by Queens of The Stone Age)

At Your Command (an original)

Matt

My YouTube Page

Album Update #2

Just a quick update... I moved recently, which has delayed me from finishing my album. I’m trying to get back into a normal routine at my new place! I'm facing a bit of a dilemma as to which songs to cut from the final track list as I don't want it to be too long. I'll figure it out soon. I don't really have much else to tell, other than it's still in the works and it will be out sometime this summer.

Cheers,
Matt

Lyrics: Vicious Circle

Break this vicious circle and abide it
Kill the vicious scoundrels snapping at your feet
And everything you say makes perfect sense to me
...Or does it?

And you can sit and act like you've got it all so figured out
And you can think you're a perfect angel
You love it and it loves you
And you both see what you want to
And our capacity goes straight to hell
Straight to hell.

That spinning vicious circle’s got no entry
While the room gets dark and sticky with no exit
And where you are today makes perfect sense to me
…Or does it?

And you can sit and act like you've got it all so figured out
And you can think you are just as well
You love it and it loves you
And you both see what you want to
And our capacity goes straight to hell
Straight to hell.

Break this vicious circle
Break it…

And everything you say makes perfect sense to you
…Or does it?

Music… the greatest of all art forms.

…Yet the commercial mainstream can suck the music completely dry while it gasps for air. Then the music becomes bland and powerless. Art is lost. Man’s worst enemy, his currency, laughs in the face of art. But the art does not fight back. The art is at peace. It is beautiful. Where the enemy flees the art thrives and the music dominates, for it will always prevail over everything else in the end. It creates emotion like no other. Music … the greatest of all art forms.

Lyrics: Nostalgic Time Machine

You're thinking, "How did I end up here on this dusty shelf?"
"If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't be myself."
Just then there's a knock on the door
And you open it a moment before a machine appears
And its inviting presence urges you inside
And as you rise in the air, all of your cares...
Subside

This time machine's rusted motor runs on nostalgia
And it spins and spins
And the clock ticks
And the heart beats over and over

Why don't you finish what you began
This is no DeLorean
Paint these rusted parts
That power's off the charts

Existing, yet resisting
Designing, while declining
Nostalgia, of a prospect
Aviate, a shipwreck

A long time ago... It still wasn't perfect
And what you wanted was easy to dissect
How many seconds to amend me
These revolutions can assemble me

This time machine's rusted motor runs on nostalgia
And it spins and spins
And the clock ticks
And the heart beats over and over

Album Update

Well I've been busy recording and have 15 songs down. Here's my track list:

Captain & Crew
Amnesiac
Tea With The Devil
Mind Over Matter
What's Left Unsaid
Duct Tape
Hollywooden Face
Right Here
Glorify
Pub Girl
Rock Band
One Lane Highway
Nostalgic Time Machine
Bittersweet Goodbyes
Vicious Circle

I have lots more I want to record, but I've got enough done for the album already. I'm going to have to cut some of these tracks for the album as it is. I guess I'll hold off recording more for another future project. Now comes the fun part! I've got to tweak & mix everything. That's what I'll be doing over the next few weeks.

Lyrics: Bittersweet Goodbyes

It’s too late
It’s too dark
It looks to bleak to embark
On this bridge that’s burning down
And descending to the ocean

It’s been too long
No, it’s been too short
He feels torn again
Maybe she feels born again
And everyone grasps at straws
And as the sun goes down we close our eyes
‘Till all we become are powerless minds

Bittersweet…
These bittersweet goodbyes

It’s all her fault
No, no, it’s all his
She’s all he knows and he’s all she is
This family tree comes crashing down
Branches addled and broken

Open eyes in a field of greener grass
But this flag in the distance flies permanently at half mast
And the bigger you laughed the harder you cried
The bride, the groom
The mom, the dad
Roof overhead and the essence of the past

These bittersweet…
These bittersweet goodbyes

Sometimes a little sweeter than bitter
Sometimes a little more bitter than sweet
Between dust and glitter
Like a rich man begging on the street
You want to see a smile
You want them together
You want to touch her face
You want the past forever

Goodbye…
If only I could fly...
If only you could have loved her the way she wanted you to
You would have… would have… would have… would have

Bittersweet…
These bittersweet goodbyes

But we’ll all be fine.

Bare Bones CD

I'm recording a CD titled "Bare Bones." The concept is pretty basic. All of the songs are going to be accurate representations of my live solo stuff; just me and my acoustic guitar... no bells & whistles, just the bare bones.

I am challenging myself here. I’ve always been impressed by simplicity and I believe that great songs ultimately come from the core, not from many effects, gimmicks or flashy stuff. These things can be great, but that’s not what I’m trying to do here. The goal this time is to create an exciting CD using just the “bare bones” technique; One guitar track & one vocal track. …Good luck me!

The first two songs I’ve recorded are “One Lane Highway” & “Vicious Circle.” I’ve uploaded them to my music player already. These may not be the final versions for the CD, but you’ll get the idea. I may record as many as 20 songs, but I'll narrow it down for the CD. I've got some new material that's quite different from my older stuff that I'm excited about. I'll probably release it sometime in the spring, however I'll post a few more songs here over the next little while.

Matt

Lyrics: One Lane Highway

Slam the door the vehicle is secure
You can’t always know what you’ll endure
Wheels connecting this pavement seems obscure
But what’s done is done

The Highway almost cries when you re-invent the wheel
This one lane highway… Yeah yeah

Looking straight ahead right down the guardrail
Where do you get on and ride to prevail?
And can you get off this if you fail?
You can’t turn around

The Highway almost cries when you re-invent the wheel
This one lane highway… Yeah yeah
The highway cracks and dies when you turn to steel
This one lane highway… Yeah yeah

Prairies, mountains and along the coast
The end out of sight, out of mind
Still driving when your mind’s a ghost
Speed-bump solutions for mankind

You can’t change your past
Where the highways intertwine
But you predict your forecast
Between these two white lines.

I’m not ready for this
No, I’m ready for this
I’m not ready for this
No, I’m ready for this

The Highway almost cries when you re-invent the wheel
This one lane highway… Yeah yeah
The highway cracks and dies when you turn to steel
This one lane highway… Yeah yeah

Roll with the punches!

Welcome!

How is everyone out there? Welcome to my blog! I'll be posting stuff here regularly soon. This blog will remain viewable on my Facebook, Reverb Nation & of course Blogger. For now, you can visit me at the links below.

(Facebook) www.facebook.com/mattmcfarlaneband
(Reverb Nation) www.reverbnation.com/mattmcfarlane
(Myspace) www.myspace.com/matthewmcfarlane
(Blogger) www.mattmcfarlane.blogspot.com/

See you soon,
Matt