RPM Challenge

I just signed up for the RPM challenge (am I crazy, yes, but that's another story). Whats that? Well, is an organization that presents a challenge for musicians, recording enthusiasts or whom ever would like to participate, to write an album consisting of 35 mins of music or 10 songs, in the month of Feb. You've got 28 days to write, record, tweek it, rerecord, tweek it, master, tweek it master again and mail. I've done the speed writing in day sessions, and I tell you its fun as hell and there is not that much time to allow yourself to get in the way. This coming month, no excuses, I am going to get off of my musical butt and get these odd tunes out.

So, anyone who is interested in this challenge and sign up, let me know, I'd love to hear from you. And,,,, if you happen to write some oddness I will include it in a podcast/show/oto playlist in March.

Ck the out at RPM Challenge

write, tweek it, write,

-B

OddTimeObsessed.com

The Flobots

Okay so now we're getting closer to some hiphop oddness.

The Flobots are an alternative live hip hop band from Denver with 2 emcees/vocalists, viola, guit, bass and REAL drums. Caleb, a wicked cool listener, sent me this suggestion and what a cool one it is. Check out:

"The Rhythm Method"

from their 2007 release "Fight with Tools" - mostly in 7/8 with a bit of 9/3 & 3/8

"Jetpack" from their 2005 EP "Flobots Presents....Platypus" - solely in 5/8! right on...

Its nice to hear real drums and emcees in the same recording and with the viola, very creative.

Check em out... and of course they will be on the Odd Time Obsessed radio playlist....

Keep the suggestions comin',

-B

OddTimeObsessed.com

Sir Mix-a-Lot?

Okay its a stretch, but I love Sir Mix-a-Lot especially his hits - "Hooptie" and "Baby Got Back". Ahhhh the pre-sampling days when rap had a shred of innocence left and some good old skooln' drum programming. Sir has his OWN should I say style, flare, humor, direction, mind... creativity... I would love to see where his style would have gone if he had kept rollin' in the limelight. And.... whether he knew it or not he ventured into the odd time realm - slightly...

Mack Daddy (1989) - "A Rappers Reputation"

- at the very end at the breakdown he goes into 5/4 for about 4 bars

Seminar (1992) - "Seminar"

- the outro has some 5/4 in this too

I know its slight oddness and leaves me wanting more, but its a start. At this point I am not too familiar with other rap/hiphop artists that like it ODD. hint, hint open for suggestions..

In Search of..., 

-B

OddTimeObsessed.com

Wild Turkey!

What's your Turkey?

Well mine is....

Wild Turkey - Kentucky Bourbon - NO
ohhhh the high school days, paaatein' in the New England woods, one Wild Turkey (mixed with who knows what else) night was enough thank you...

Wild Turkey - Wild Meat - NO

too gamey, I prefer Tofurkey.

Wild Turkey - 70's ProgRock - YES

Now we're talkin'.... This Thanksgiving I am going to be groovin' to 5 and singin' along.... 'See You Next Tuesday' ha...

Ah the 70s what a great time for music and experimentation and some musicians even ventured into the odd meter realms. Wild Turkey is one of these bands. WT was formed by Glenn Cornick (bassist for Jethro Tull) in the 70s and had some reincarnations since and according to internet sources (Wikipedia and link below) they are still alive and kickin'. They had two releases in the early 70s - 'Battle Hymn'-70 and 'Turkey' -71, then 'Stealer of Years' - 96 and 'Final Performance' - 00. I have the first two in my collection and found just a few oddies, but goodies.

Battle Hymn - 1970

Easter Pslam - 3/8, 5/8, 9/8, 12/8

Twelve Streets of Cobbled Black - 7/4, 4/4

Turkey - 1971

See You Next Tuesday - 5/4, 4/4

More info on Glenn Cornick:

Collecting Tull - Glenn Cornick

Happy Tofurkey,

-B

OddTimeObsessed.com

New this Week

Here's a few new oddy discoveries this week:

Artist - John Scofield
Album - A Go Go
Song - Southern Pacific
Meters - This is a true "Where's One" Tune

Artist - The Last Poets
Album - Chastisment
Songs - Hands Off & Tribute to Obabi (Ogun)
Meters - both songs are in 6/4 which isn't the oddest meter, but isn't that common either.

Artist - Jane's Addiction
Album - Strays
Song - Wrong Girl
Meters - 14/8, 15/8
You go JA!

Stay tuned for these and of course songs to honor November with 11/4 & 11/8 (see earlier blogs)

Foreva Oddly Yours,
-B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Happy 11/8

Here's to one of my favorite meters... yep 11/8 so many cool things that you can do with it and some have, but I wish there were WAY MORE...

Tunes totally in 11/8
Right in Two - Tool
Beach of Deception - Monks of Doom

Tunes partially in 11/8
Chemtrailku - BetZe (me) 12/8, 11/8
You - Radiohead 12/8, 11/8
Perverseerance - fred 11/8, 6/8
Cathode Ray Fantasy - fred 11/8, 5/4, 6/4, 4/4, 3/4
Serpent's Kiss - Symphony X 11/8, 44/, 12/8, 9/8
Cleanse the Soul - Slayer 4/4, 11/8
When Acting As A Wave - The Dillinger Escape Plan 11/8, 6/16, 13/8, 9/8, 4/8
All Gone Now - OSI 3/8, 5/8, 6/8, 11/8
Anesthetize - Porcupine Tree 4/4, 11/8, 19/8, 5/4, 4/4, 6/4
Bigger Wave - OSI 4/4, 11/8, 5/8
Day of the Baphomets - The Mars Volta 13/8, 11/8, 4/4
Elephants - Drums & Tuba 6/8, 5/8, 11/8
Midi Treat - BetZe (me) 11/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/8

Listen for these songs this month on Odd Time Obsessed Radio

Happy 11,
-B
OddTimeObsessed.com

Check out Michael Karwowski!

Michael Karwowski is an accomplished Classical, Jazz Fusion and Rock composer from Pittsburg, who mainly composes in odd meters and can play a mean Chapman stick. Now how cool is that? He graduated from Berklee (the same year I did) with a degree in Composition and if that wasn’t enough he went on to get a Masters in Composition from the Carnegie Mellon University. Check out his unique approach to harmonic movement, harmony/melody relationships, and polymeters which is sure to leave you wanting more.

Here are some samples of his compositions that will be featured on Odd Time Obsessed internet radio and more to come. And as if polymeters and Chapman Stick weren’t cool enough he’s got a piece all in 13! I’m diggin’!

Michael gives us the breakdown:

"Three Vignettes" composed by Michael Karwowski performed by "Of Birth and Death"

1.Lincoln Place - starts out in 4/4, the main idea is two measures broken into 3+3+3+3+4 eighth notes. There are short sections where the meter is 5/4, 9/8, and an occasional 3/4.

2. Is this all there is? - was created using a 9/8, 7/8 platform for the main idea. Each section has a dedicated pattern of time signatures.
3. Friday@5:00 - has the following setup for the A section. 6/8 + 4/4 + 3/4 + 4/4 + 4/4 + 3/4 + 3/4 + (5/8x4) + 3/4 + (5/8x3) = 89 eighth notes I call the ensemble


"The Day the Leaves Scattered From the Trees" A quintet for winds and string (Flt. Ob. Cl. Vla. and Cel).
13/8 divided into into a permutating 3+3+2+2+3.

You can visit him on MySpace.com/ofBirthandDeath

Forever Odd,
-B
OddTimeObsessed.com