Mail Mr. Gray

I write these tunes...
		... and I play all of the instruments, record them, edit them, and post them to the web. For some of the pieces, I use a tool called Acid Pro. This is a tool that uses a technique called "looping", so the instruments that appear in the loops are NOT me playing; I am just assembling loops into backgrounds or interesting sounds. The way some people do it, looping is an interesting art all by itself. I wish that my loops were that good. Instead, I use them sparingly and only as "seasoning". The pieces posted below are 100% solo efforts, as are the pieces posted on this other page; that's the way I typically work. Also, here is another page that features work by other artists with whom I have collaborated or of whom I am fond. Obviously, one can get good results when working in groups, but for me these things happen quickly and you weren't around at 3am when I urgently needed a tambourine player! Some people tell me that my stuff is a little dark. You are invited to write me if you have comments OR if you have questions about equipment or instrumentation OR if you would like a CD or an MP3 file. MP3's have better fidelity than the streaming audio that I offer here, but the file sizes are about 5 times bigger, so I offer them by request.
	Title Description / Remarks     The Only Thing (Vocal) Contrary to first impressions, this one is NOT about how tough it is to be a musician, nor the regrets that some musicians express when they find out how tough it is. This song is about a guy that LOVES being a musician - he's just not very good. He wonders why he does it, but will probably never do anything else.            Technotic This is a song that is done in a style sometimes called "techno". I find it hypnotic. Get it?            I Feel Betrayed (Vocal) Someone asked how I sound when I'm not tracking pieces, just playing guitar and singing. I wrote this one to answer that. Of course, I could have just played ANYBODY'S tune to illustrate, but it wouldn't be the same. Besides...I like the lyric.            Sleep, Children, Sleep (Vocal) A guy wakes up one day with god-like powers. In order to prove this to himself, he kills everyone on the planet by covering the sun with his hands. I mean...who wouldn't?.            C'Ora Mardjii There is a moon called C'Ora that orbits a planet whose name escapes me. On this moon, they mine a spice called Mardjii. This is about the time we spent there mining on a work detail.           Dangerous and Precious (Vocal) This was actual advice I gave to a girl once. A guy I repect told me it sounds like it could be a Jimmy Webb song. I take that as a high compliment. The guitar bit at the end just came to me. Turned out nicely, you think?            Pistol#1 When Pistol screams, people listen.           Eastbound Greyhound A moody piece. A young girl (that doesn't want to) gets on the first bus leaving town on a gray day. I think things go better for her after she arrives at her destination, but I'm not sure. Things don't ALWAYS get better, you know.            Dark Angel Time A Dark Angel came to me and stole my breath. I thought I would surely die. I awoke later, not sure if I had dreamed it.           The Situation (Vocal) This is Dark Angel Time...re-done...with vocals. The lyric is about a guy that gets greedy and gets caught. I left DarkAngel Time on the site, though, because I like it.            Ritmo Rumba (Vocal) Some of us love the sea more than others. My uncle loved the ea and taught me to love it as well. He loved it enough for both of us. Our version of camping when I was a kid was going out on my uncle's little fishing boat for the weekend. When he died, I wrote this. The very next day.            Rhetoric Me talking to you, presenting old ideas as if they were new. You are too polite to interrupt. I will talk your leg off if allowed.           Stomp A simple rhythm, a stomp in B minor. Lo-fi recording. I thought I could somehow leverage my participation in the lo-fidelity craze of the 90's with this. I didn't. It just sounds....funny.           Apple Dreams When my daughter was little, she would kiss me goodnight and say "apple dreams" instead of "sweet dreams". I wrote this for her. She and my grandaughter are both perfect.           Hold Me This is about being in love. It makes me want to kiss your neck for hours.            Gypsy Tune The torment of 10,000 years is captured in a woman's tears. Just so we're clear, this song is NOT meant to sound like a gypsy song. The lyrics contain the line "I'm just a Gypsy tune - A flash of light, that's all", indicating one's temporary nature.            Soft Two lovers, spent, breathing each other's breath.           Big Hot Hands An abused boy's memories of his father's brutality. Picture a little boy looking at his father's HUGE hands with terror as they fall on him.             Change the Way I Think Many times in my life, this is something I have done too late. I encourage you to help me do this.            Life's Soup Inspired by Dr. B. Pathos' poem of the same name, this is about the rich mix.            Snow (sunset mix) This is the essential primal sound, set against a blazing fireplace and a silent, snowy night.           Forecast As he reads the paper at night in silence, a picture of the future forms in his mind.           Mental Disease (Vocal) An ode dedicated to that "funny" feeling some people get after everything they've done comes home to roost.           Live Like Fire, Cry Like Rain Dedicated to those who feel things deeply and are proud of it.           One Thing (Vocal) Buddhism for Dummies...just something I wanted to say.
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