THIS ALBUM WAS RECORDED WITH: Tony Mason, Cheesy Yamaha MT-100 4-Track Recorder, Korg M1 synth, Roland S-50 sampler (on the fritz), Korg Monopoly synth, Korg DDD-1 Drum machine, Scott Connell's Fender Stratocaster, Brandless acoustic guitar.
SIDE 1: The Silly Stuff / SIDE 2: The Only Slightly Less Silly Stuff
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 01 - Little Bits Of BlueDownload
And they wanted it to be the title for a jazz tune. Wrong!
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 02 - Shit CookieDownload
Lyrics: Dan Earle. Dan said, "Ok man, how about a song that goes, 'Shit cookie. Shit cookie, I found it on the ground...'". The rest is history. What's it about? I don't know. I'm sure it has some deep meaning. You'll have to ask Dan.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 03 - Happy Car SongDownload
Just about everything described in this song came true with one car of mine or another. The sad thing is, the night I recorded this, my car got stolen and was never recovered. Personally, I think it ran away from home after hearing me sing this.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 04 - Dumb SongDownload
Parody of "Good Stuff" by the B-52's. Music: Don Was...er...I mean the B-52's. I hated the original version so much I had to let the world know.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 05 - American WomanDownload
Original song: The Guess Who. Not sure why I recorded this. I thought it might sound good with a slapped bass line, and it also gave me an excuse to use the old Korg Monopoly keyboard for something. Too bad I can't solo to save my life.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 06 - Don'tcha Wanna FuckDownload
This is dedicated to a girl who actually likes songs like this. I was in a bad mood when I wrote this, anyway. Sorry.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 07 - Cabbage HeadDownload
Lyrics: Dan Earle. I bought a Cabbage Patch Kids holder by mistake. I thought it was the tree top to the Star Wars 'Ewok Village' playset. The 'head' fit very nicely, thank you. There's even a video to this, but nobody in their right mind would ever want to see it, as we were very drunk at the time. Never mind the fact it was filmed with a "Fisher Price" toy camera.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 08 - Baby I Love You TrulyDownload
This is for my beloved Patty. Nobody ever said I could write serious lyrics (or sing for that matter).
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 09 - MondaysDownload
Yes, I know it sounds like a "They Might Be Giants" song. It's supposed to. I wrote this during an extended trip to the bathroom.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 10 - BarforamaDownload
Don't even ask.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 11 - Bill Bonds Vs. GodzillaDownload
Bill Bonds is an annoying newscaster in Detroit. I always thought it would be fitting if Godzilla came up and ate his head. I played the guitar on this but I had to tune all the strings to a chord since I don't have the slightest idea how to play guitar. Lastly, the battery in the 'Heavy Metal Pedal' I was using was dying and it was a race to record the song before it bit the big one.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 12 - Pizza DriverDownload
Music: Made up as we went along by Tony Mason & Scott Connell. Guitar: Scott Connell. Pizza Driver Vocals: Dan Earle. Subdued Vocals: Tony Mason. "Hit this key, John" Bass: John Mullaney. Just made this one up as we went along. Can you tell?
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 13 - Hamster Wheel (original)Download
Guitar solo: Satisfaction...kinda. Maybe not. Another of the famous "Tony tries to play guitar" songs. Be thankful I didn't put the version with 4 simultaneous backwards guitar solos on this tape.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 14 - Love Is A LieDownload
Well, maybe not. This was a "test song" I recorded to see if I could overload my new computer sequencer program. That's why it's such a mess.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 15 - I Hate No PoptartsDownload
Music & Faint Background Vocals: Tony Mason. Lyrics & Vocals: Dan Earle. Aaaaaaagh: Tony Mason, Dan Earle, Steve & Scott Stanchfield. True story, each and every word (Or so Dan says).
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 16 - YYZ (acapella)Download
YYZ unplugged ("Parody" of "YYZ" by Rush). Vocals & Spitting: Tony Mason. This is dedicated to all the people in "Rush cover bands" who think they're great because they can play the first 15 seconds of YYZ. I used a big hotel desk bell at the beginning, and I was ringing it manually so I don't want to hear anyone bitching about this not being totally acoustic. Thhhpth.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 17 - The Cow Said MooDownload
This happy little song popped into my head while on a walk with Patty one afternoon. Moo! MOOOOO!!
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 18 - One Chord SongDownload
Crowd Cheering: Taken from various "live" albums. Finally, I'd like to say I really *HATE* live songs where there's cheering after everything the singer says. They'll cheer for anything!
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 19 - DreamcastlesDownload
This song started as an attempt at crossing U2 and The Cure, but ended up sounding much too airy for either. I liked the title "Dreamcastle" and decided it fit with this song, somewhat.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 20 - You Really Are The OneDownload
Originally this song was called "The One" but Elton John had to go and write a song with the same title. Come to think of it, the piano is pretty similar as well.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 21 - Death in my sleep at 344amDownload
This song came about one night when I woke up at 3:44 to find the girl I had a huge crush on making out with my roommate in the living room of our apartment. She muttered, "Oh, Hi Tony!" and I slowly made my way back into my room. After listening to Jane's Addiction "Nothings Shocking" in the headphones full blast, I came up with this song. Everything was done one take - I know I hit a bad note in the saxophone solo near the end, but I didn't particularly care at the time. It bugs me now though and I cringe every time I hear it - I hope you do, as well.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 22 - Poffles Goes Ice SkatingDownload
I used to work for a company that produced cute little porcelain figurines of wizards and dragons and such. At one time they were talking about making an animated movie, and I got it in my head that I would write the soundtrack. This song is about one of the "snow-critters", "Poffles".
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 23 - Krystonia Main TitleDownload
This was the "main title" for the movie. (See "Poffles Goes Ice Skating") Kind of like the "Star Wars" theme meets Peter and the Wolf. But, since those are the only "classical" things I've ever listened to, that's not so surprising.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 24 - Frustrated LoveDownload
Listed on the original liner as "Generic Movie Love Theme #1": I have tons of songs like this. I never got around to giving titles to any of them, so they just have numbers. This one is pretty, except for the odd chord change in the middle of the song. Everyone who I play this for looks at the tape player like it might be eating the tape at this point. Oh well. I can put whatever chord I want there. I live by the theory that there are no bad chords, just strange ones.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 25 - Death Of The IguanaDownload
This song was written in one night when I was 18 with one keyboard doing everything. The old ESQ-1 had exactly 32K of memory, and I used it all for this song - when I finished recording, the display read "00000" memory remaining. I even had to erase some of the drum fills to make it fit! Every sound in the song was programmed from scratch, that's why the cymbals and drums sound so cheesy.
The storyline about the iguana came about one day when a friend came over, heard the song, and asked what it was about. Dan and I just made up a bunch of bullshit as the song played..."Ok, this is where the iguana gets rushed to the vet..", etc. There are 7 "parts" to the song: 1) At the pet store 2) Home from the pet store 3) The iguana throws up 4) The iguana dies 5) The iguana visits hell 6) The iguana visits heaven 7) The iguana is re-incarnated
As I said, it was a bunch of bullshit! I didn't really have anything in mind when I wrote it. People have pointed out that it sounds a lot like the "Drama" album by Yes, this is probably where I got some of the inspiration.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 26 - Hold OnDownload
Kevin Someone - Guitar. Tony Mason - Everything else. I recorded this on my first and last trip to a "real studio". Kevin was the guitarist in the studio at the time, and we threw this together. It has words but I disliked them so much I never bothered recording them.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 27 - Going to the MoonDownload
Just something I was working on one day after watching a space shuttle launch. I like the chord changes in this one for some reason.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 28 - He's My Best FriendDownload
Kelly Mason - Vocals, Lyrics. Tony Mason - The other stuff. When I first started songwriting, I worked with my sister Kelly on a bunch of songs. She would write the words to songs I had music already written. We recorded about 15 or so of these songs in a friends basement, most were pretty pop-ish. Nothing really ever came of this except for a bunch of very noisy 4-track tapes. But then again, that's all this whole album is. I believe this song was about some guy she was in love with, but didn't want to admit it to herself. Ick.
None Of The Above - No Smurfing Zone - 29 - You're Never AloneDownload
I wrote this for Patty's birthday in 1993. My strong lyric-writing ability is evident here. I'm afraid if I really tried to write lyrics, the people listening might laugh!
THIS HERE ALBUM WAS RECORDED WITH: Yamaha MT-100 4-Track Recorder (broken), Korg M1 synthesizer (messy), Roland S-50 sampler (ornery), Korg Monopoly synthesizer (dusty), Steve Klug's Roland R-8 Drum Machine (on loan), Korg DDD-1 Drum machines (sold last year), Scott Connell's Fender Stratocaster (battered), ART Multiverb SE (expensive :( ), Some other stuff (Magical Musical Thing, Tin Can, Viola, Vacuum Cleaner). All Music, Lyrics and Vocals by me!! (Tony Mason) unless noted below.
Here's some new stuff. Bonus included on this album! A bunch of outtakes, or stuff not really good enough to include on the album. I did it anyway. But just in case you don't dig that kind of leftover crap, I put them at the end of the second side. If you're feeling ambitious, you can always do the "scotch tape" trick and record some Milli Vanilli or whatever over it.
I apologize for the poor sound quality of some of the songs ('Killer Station Wagon' in particular) - the duplication place used a cheaper tape than I would have liked, and it ended up botching some of the songs with heavy bass sounds. I would have took the tapes back, but the place made a $100.00 error on my bill (in my favor!).
Of course, in some cases, the songs sound raw because they were recorded on a very inexpensive boom-box in the middle of the room, and cheap tape or no, it sounds like garbage. :)
This tape is free! It was recorded (for the most part) in my extra bedroom with the equipment listed above, in my spare time. I used a computer sequencer for about half the songs.
This is the second tape I've made. If you'd like a copy of the first (and much more...um...juvenile?) album, "No Smurfing Zone"... It's a 90 minute tape with another 25 songs, including such gems as: Little Bits of Blue, Shit Cookie, Cabbage Head, Barforama, Bill Bonds Vs. Godzilla, Pizza Driver, Love is a Lie, I Hate No Pop-Tarts, The Cow Said Moo, One Chord Song.
Guaranteed to make you laugh, or at least smile and shake your head. If not, you're too much of a sourpuss! So there.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 01 - Tidal WaveLyricsDownload
Recorded 11/93.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 02 - Killer Station WagonLyricsDownload
Recorded 11/93. This song actually sounded good until it was put on cheap tape. :( I may put it on the third album again and use better tape! Sorry... The "Power Wagon" as it was known really existed. After several incidents of the floor catching on fire and countless overheatings, the poor piss-yellow station wagon finally went to car heaven in the summer of 1987. I was driving home, the car was spewing steam and smelly smoke, so I pulled over to a friends house and cooled down the engine with a nearby garden hose. This had the effect of fusing the engine into a molten mass of metal and the car never started again.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 03 - Hoppy FrogDownload
Recorded 8/93.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 04 - Robotic JesusDownload
Recorded 9/91. The Korg Monopoly in all its rightful glory.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 05 - Bad IdeaLyricsDownload
Recorded 11/93.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 06 - Dr. GrumpusLyricsDownload
Old Man: Dr. Russell. Recorded 11/93. Patty's brother Kevin made me a tape of this guy. I don't know who he is, but he's amusing enough to deserve a song, don't you think?
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 07 - Circus SongDownload
Recorded 1987?
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 08 - Hamster In Your HairLyricsDownload
Recorded 7/93.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 09 - SpaghettiDownload
Recorded 11/93. Yes, I know it sounds like Spider. It's too late to take it off the tape though. :)
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 10 - SpringLyricsDownload
Vocals: Tony Ketz. Guitar: Mike ?? (I still don't know your last name). Recorded 4/91. The lyrics for this song were being read from some old poetry book that we found laying in Mike's basement. Mr. Ketz stumbled on some of the words, but overall the affect was amusing.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 11 - Hamburger BuffetLyricsDownload
Parody of "Raspberry" by Prince (or whatever the hell he's calling himself now). Recorded 9/93.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 12 - You're Walking Backwards AgainDownload
Recorded 2/93.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 13 - Birthday PartyLyricsDownload
Listed on the original liner as "B-day". Recorded 4/90.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 14 - PedestalLyricsDownload
Recorded 6/93.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 15 - Louie LouieDownload
Original song: The Kingsmen (????). Vocals: Dan Earle. Guitar: Scott Connell. Recorded 3/90. This is what I envision the song sounding like if James Brown and The Red Hot Chili Peppers jammed on it.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 16 - Drum Machine ErrorDownload
Listed on the original liner as "Classical Drum Machine". Recorded 4/93. The drums were an accident, but the song actually sounds better with them.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 17 - Happy FaceDownload
Recorded 11/93.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 18 - Fish PianoDownload
Listed on the original liner as "Fish can't play piano". Recorded 2/92. I've tried for two years now to write words for this. I give up.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 19 - The Nethack SongLyricsDownload
Listed on the original liner as "Hack and slash". Recorded 11/93. There is a scrap of paper inside! It reads...
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 20 - Eleanor RigbyDownload
Parody (??) of Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles. Recorded 9/89.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 21 - Secret Message 1LyricsDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 22 - You'll Never RememberDownload
Listed on the original liner as "I'll always remember". Recorded 4/91. Another wonder of the duplication process - sorry about the beginning.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 23 - Happy 50's SongLyricsDownload
Listed on the original liner as "The 50's Song". Music written summer 1982. Music: Chris Kanar, Scott Connell, Tony Mason. Lyrics: Dan Earle & Tony Mason. Recorded 11/93. Recently I found an old poem that Dan wrote about a girl he was in love with. She left town and went to live in a "mental hotel" for a few years. I guess he was kinda bitter about the whole thing. They were married shortly after she returned and have a daughter. Since Dan and I aren't on speaking terms anymore, I can't tell you much more.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 24 - Mindy Is Not Coming OverDownload
Listed on the original liner as "She's not coming over". Recorded 8/90. I was mad that Mindy wasn't coming to Brad's party, so I went home and wrote this. She showed up to the party anyway. D'oh!
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 25 - Oingo Boingo SongDownload
Listed on the original liner as "Untitled Oingo Boingo Song". Recorded 1987. Check out the dog barking and my mom vacuuming in the background noise!
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 26 - I'm Not StoppingLyricsDownload
Recorded 11/93.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 27 - HangoverDownload
Recorded 11/89. I was having an argument with someone while recording this, and yes, I had a hangover.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 28 - Hamster Wheel_Death Of A HamsterDownload
Listed on the original liner as "Death of a Hamster". Guitar: Scott Connell. Recorded 3/90.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 29 - Cruisin DowntownLyricsDownload
Lyrics and Vocals: Brad Switzer, Dan Earle. Recorded Summer 1985. I formed a "quasi-rap group" with a few friends once. True white-boy rap circa 1985.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 30 - Traffic JamLyricsDownload
Recorded 6/90. Dan and I were stuck in a traffic jam while on a trip through Ohio. The drums are me banging the boom-box we were using to make "Captain's Log" entries.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 31 - Devolving EarthDownload
Listed on the original liner as "Devolution Earth". Recorded 9/90.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 32 - 1300's SongDownload
Listed on the original liner as "1300". Recorded Fall 1987. The "rap" group used this song as a set-opener at our one and only show at Huron High School. People weren't really sure what to make of it...in fact, I'm not either.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 33 - Bad DayDownload
Listed on the original liner as "The day after I died". Recorded 11/90. I didn't really die. It was just a long night.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 34 - Answering MachineLyricsDownload
Recorded 3/91.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 35 - Going To Hell In A Chicken BasketLyricsDownload
Vocals: Kelly & Tony Mason. Recorded 1987. This is Kelly and I parodying our top-40-like songs.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 36 - The Hall Of ShameLyricsDownload
THE HALL OF SHAME (or: "I RAN OUT OF SONGS TO PUT ON THE TAPE") You're on your own with these. Make what you will of them. They were recorded years ago, and I usually keep them hidden in an old tape case in a closet.
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 37 - Dan's Doing The PuzzleLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 38 - Popeye The Sailor ManDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 39 - Sing Hey La Dee DeeDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 40 - Miss Holly's Opus Pt. 1-2Download
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 41 - In the Air TonightDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 42 - Anyone Can RapLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 43 - John's SongDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 44 - Response 1 To John's SongDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 45 - Response 2 To John's SongDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 46 - Response 3 To John's SongDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 47 - Response 4 To John's SongDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 48 - Stairway To Heaven (Harmonic)Download
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 49 - Goodbye Blue SkyDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 50 - Answering Machine Message 2LyricsDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 51 - Owner Of A Lonely HeartLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 52 - Secret Piano SongDownload
None Of The Above - Tomatoe Potatoe - 53 - Secret Message 2LyricsDownload
This tape, like the others, was recorded in my second bedroom with the following equipment: Korg M1, Ensoniq ESQ-1, Roland R8 Drum Machine, Roland S50 Sampler, Magical Musical Thing, 5-String Acoustic Guitar (one of the strings broke a few weeks ago), Yamaha MT100 4-Track Recorder, ART Multiverb SE Alpha Effects Processor, Cakewalk 4.0 on a 486/33 clone (I refuse to use the windows version. I hate windows.)
The name of my "band" is None of the Above. I used to have a few friends help out but have since moved away - I do it all solo now. If you know of a guitarist in the San Diego area let me know, as I'd like to add guitar on the 4th tape.
Doing the music is just a hobby, and though I'd like to do more with it someday, I truly have no idea how to get that rolling, so I just do it for fun and give tapes to friends/whoever wants them/whoever I can pawn them off too.
As always I welcome all comments and criticism of the songs. It's helped in the past! If you like/hate it, by all means tell me.
I have two tapes before this one, "Tomatoe Potatoe" and "No Smurfing Zone". They're both a lot longer (100 minutes each) but have more drek. Tomatoe has about 30 minutes of outtakes and really odd stuff I wanted to get rid of. Smurf is the first tape I did, and has a few serious attempts at song writing as well as a sappy ballad or two. If you want these let me know and we can work something out.
My main influences (musically) are TMBG, Weird Al & Devo. I don't actually own an Oingo Boingo tape though some people say there are similarities in music style. I'm also into harmonic progressive metal stuff like Kings X and the Galactic Cowboys, and have lots of other varied music interests like Prince, Stevie Wonder, Primus and Debbie Gibson. Scratch that last one. I work at a dull job in San Diego doing something called "DAY TA IN TREE"
Enough of that, here are the songs on the tape. All songs except Title Track were written sometime in 1994. All songs also (c)1994 "What Music?".
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 01 - I'm GodLyricsDownload
(This is about someone on a mild power trip.)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 02 - Taking Out The TrashLyricsDownload
(I always hated taking the damn trash out as a kid. Actually, I still do.)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 03 - Bored_Cnn JunkieLyricsDownload
Bored: (I was very bored.) CNN Junkie: (I watch CNN every morning and I think it warps my brain. I wish they would stop showing the close-ups of dead peoples as it doesn't help my appetite while eating peanut butter toast.)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 04 - Barney's On FireLyricsDownload
(David Letterman did a segment about all the new cable channels coming up, one of which was the "Fireplace full of Barneys". Inspiration...)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 05 - White GuyLyricsDownload
(This song is about white guys like me who wish they could play basketball.)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 06 - Mommy's Got A MigraineLyricsDownload
(Mother has a bad day and lets the world know about it.)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 07 - DoughnutLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 08 - Title TrackLyricsDownload
Lyrics: Tony Mason & Dan Earle. From the liner: "The idea for the next section of the tape came about a long time ago, along with a neo-classical progressive rock album about the virtues of counting to ten. I went with the 'generic album' idea instead." This is the first song on the album, this is the first song that you hear.
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 09 - Hit SingleLyricsDownload
(This actually sounds more like "Dance Single". But what the hell. I needed a hit single, and since I can't actually WRITE a hit single...)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 10 - Song You SkipLyricsDownload
(Do not play this song. You have been warned.)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 11 - Showoff SoloLyricsDownload
(This song might be about songwriters like me.)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 12 - BalladLyricsDownload
(This one isn't.)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 13 - FillerLyricsDownload
(Originally supposed to be a parody of "Thriller", but I have since given up doing parodies of other peoples stuff.)
None Of The Above - Mommy's Got A Migraine - 14 - Depressing SongLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 01 - You All SuckLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 02 - 9 Inch ClawsLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 03 - Running With ScissorsLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 04 - I Need To Be On MarsLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 05 - MedleyLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 06 - Bear With MeDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 07 - I May Already Be A WinnerLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 08 - I Never Said I Loved YouLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 09 - She Wants To Sell My SoulLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 10 - Video Game Acid TripDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 11 - Stop ThatLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 12 - BoogerLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 13 - Secret MessageLyricsDownload
None Of The Above - It Sucks - 14 - Booger (Alternate Take)Download
1995 - 1996 - Dreamcastles▼
From 1995 through 96 I tried recording MUSIC music rather than just trying to be silly. There were a few good things but it was mostly just flailing in the dark trying to do something different.
Album used to be called I'm No Enya but I decided to put it back to it's original state and track order.
Mostly done with the M1 and SC-88. The original "album" also had a bunch of random old Tony / Kelly / Julie songs - they are redundant as they are on earlier albums, so I've removed them to make this into its standalone form. Also the tape ended with a 10 minute rambling piece of crap in VERY raw form from 1990 - Chuck said it sucked (and it did).
Originally written in 1990 by Mike, some singer dude, and myself. This version is much different, but I don't have a recording of the original anywhere.
Dreamcastles - 02 - Why'd you leave me here againDownload
Kinda odd re-imaging of the original Tony/Kelly song. I changed it to 6/8 (for reasons?)
In 1996 I decided to do a Best Of. The 4-track cassettes were loaded into a very early version of Cakewalk for Windows - the first time I could actually record audio (and import audio!) - the previous cakewalk I used was midi only. Unfortunately those files were lost in a hard drive crash - what is on the CD is the only version in some cases.
Many of the songs are different than the original cassette versions. In addition to remixing the levels and EQ, I apparently sped up some of the tracks because at the time I thought it made them sound "more energetic". In some cases, I also redid vocals, as well as replacing ALL the instruments and drums with a Roland SC-88 Sound Module - because for some reason I thought it would be just a great idea to make the songs into General MIDI format. In hindsight (to me at least) the songs lose some of their personality/quirks from the original keyboards, and end up sounding generic and sterile.
I sent the resulting .wav files off to (some guy) from the internet who had a CD burner and he made 20(?) copies for me for like $200 which at the time was OMG I MADE A CD. I have one copy, DSC had one at one point (that probably got thrown into their wall of shame and smashed to bits). No idea where the rest ended up.
The cover was taken from a copy of Weekly World News that Dan had at some point. We decided it would be a great cover for an album called "Huh?" someday.
None Of The Above - HUH¿ - 01 - Running With ScissorsDownload
There was a long period of time where I didn't write much of anything. At this point I'd moved past the 4-track recorder and was recording everything digitally onto the PC. There were some random recordings but they were all lost to a hard drive crash and are gone forever. Good thing I moved to the PC.
At the time, "Odd Todd" was a famous web cartoonist making videos. At one point he held a contest to cover any Def Leppard song. I was at work and used a pair of headphones to record this. I submitted and he responded that this would have probably actually won, but he didn't want to take away from the others that put REAL effort into it. I did get a free Odd Todd mug out of it though.
My attempt to recreate the hard rock "remix" of Jam Master Jammin by Run DMC. My guitar interface was picking up a ridiculous amount of interference, but it was actually kind of cool and I left it in.
2009 - I'm Still Not Funny Anymore (revised maybe)Download
This seems to be a re-recording attempt of the first song on this page. Drum beat changed and the instruments are a bit better.
2007 - 2008 - Dearth Of Marmalade▼
When my mom passed away in Feb 2007, it messed me up nicely for a long time... which produced this happy batch of songs!
There isn't a heck of a lot to say about them, but at least I was writing again regularly.
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 01 - Songs That Don't ExistLyricsDownload
The first song where I tried to actually write REAL lyrics. It's a bit all over the place, but it was a start. The song is about how I had all these goddamn songs and my mom never heard ANY of them. The people who heard it seems confused and taken aback by "lyrics?" so I didn't try again for a couple years.
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 02 - What Is ThisDownload
I have no idea what this is.
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 03 - Last NightDownload
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 04 - You Have MailDownload
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 05 - GarminDownload
Just making up titles at this point.
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 06 - GraydragonDownload
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 07 - AnythingDownload
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 08 - Anything ElseDownload
Followup/continuation song to the one before this.
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 09 - ByebyeDownload
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 10 - SnowDownload
None Of The Above - Dearth Of Marmalade - 11 - HomeDownload
This is one of the better things I ever wrote. I don't generally like my own stuff but... this one has "something".
2009 - Clever Album Title▼
The era of "I should see if I can write songs like Ben Folds". I had a lot of trouble with the whole "make up a character/story" bit. His songs sound like they are about real people. Mine sound like they are cartoon characters.
Re-recording of old Tony/Julie song that never really got completed. The original had esq-1 piano that just sounded like worse than a casio sk-1.
2009 - Clever Album Title - 08 - Full CircaDownload
Also following my formula of "repeat the melody line over and over with different chords". This one was pretty good though. Circa was a band that happened after Yes and had some of their members in it.
2009 - Hiding Under The Covers▼
Wow that is a clever title, right? :P So from time to time I get it in my mind to cover a song I really like that I think I might be able to make a decent attempt and not completely embarass myself.
Tony Mason - Hiding Under The Covers - 01 - Colorful (Verve Pipe)Download
Brian Vander Ark consistently blows me away.
Tony Mason - Hiding Under The Covers - 02 - September (Green Day)Download
Patty called this "Not your best effort". Urk
Tony Mason - Hiding Under The Covers - 03 - Girl and Her Horse (Carbon Leaf)Download
I was listening to a lot of Carbon Leaf around here
Tony Mason - Hiding Under The Covers - 04 - Bittersweet (King's X)Download
One of my favorite bands
Tony Mason - Hiding Under The Covers - 05 - Trogdor (Strong Bad)Download
I recorded this for Susan's kid Duncan
Tony Mason - Hiding Under The Covers - 06 - Long Division (Death Cab For Cutie)Download
I was listening to a lot of Death Cab around here as well
Tony Mason - Hiding Under The Covers - 07 - Lack Of Color (Death Cab For Cutie)Download
See above
Tony Mason - Hiding Under The Covers - 08 - Kathy's Song (Paul Simon)Download
This was on a best of and I really like the vocals here. I can't play guitar so any time I attempt a song with guitar I have to replace it with piano.
Tony Mason - Hiding Under The Covers - 09 - Touriquet (Evanesence and Richard Cheese)Download
This is a lot older than 2009, but I don't remember exactly when it was recorded. My cover of what Richard Cheese would sound like trying to cover Evanesence. (?)
2010 - Hit It Florian▼
Florian was the name of Brad's grandfather. Somehow this because a thing for None of the Above whenever we said "HIT IT!" ...we added Florian. Who knows why.
2010 - Hit It Florian - 01 - Dearth Of MarmaladeLyricsDownload
Title is referencing a joke by Dave, mimicing Boyer from DSC as he was complaining about the lack of jelly packets at Denny's. "There was a dearth, David! A DEARTH OF MARMALADE!" I really liked how that sounded.
2010 - Hit It Florian - 02 - Chase The SunLyricsDownload
In my opinion, this is the best thing I ever wrote. It is about my mom, and the plane trips back and forth to Michigan as I dealt with her dying. Getting through the last verse took (not kidding) about 3 dozen takes because I broke up while trying to sing it. This was as good as it was going to get.
2010 - Hit It Florian - 03 - Melody Moves SidewaysLyricsDownload
Instrumental. The string motif was a happy accident - it was supposed to be a clavinet, but I selected the wrong patch. Wow are the strings 100x better.
Disconnect the damage done enough; embrace the blows and lonely lows. I disconnect I'm damaged stunned and numb embrace the blows and lonely lows. - Pure Reason Revolution
Not much to say here. Kind of just slogging through and had a lot of stream of conciousness writing going on where I'd record 4 bars, change it, repeat.
Friend of mine had two boyfriends going at the same time and couldn't choose which one to stay with (in the end, it was neither). Weird long solo sections. Stupid ending.
This and the next 5 songs all went together as one big "concept". I don't know what about though. They all follow the "just make it up every 4 bars as you go along" formula.
I didn't write a heck of a lot during this period. I spent a lot of time 2012-2014 playing in a cover band up in LA with Jorge, Deena, Kevin, Leo, Mike & various special guests (Chris!). This fell apart at the end of 2014 in quite a messy fashion, people not talking with each other anymore and all that. In 2015 I asked to sit in with Quiet Talking James's band "Redhanded" and played numerous gigs with them from 2015-2021 at "Carver's Steakhouse". It was a lot of fun. This time it just kind of fell apart because of a combination of Covid, getting too old for this shit, and having no place to play anymore other than next to a dumpster out behind Mainstream in Poway.
The title "Duck" came because I did a google search for "You Feel Dead Inside" (a very obscure nethack thing) and this is one of the images that came up. It was such a weird hit that I made it an album cover.
I started VERY slowly weaning off Cymbalta here as it was killing the creativity. The first step was to go from 30mg to 27.
Duck - 03 - There was no Atari (W Jorge V)LyricsDownload
Jorge sent me the drum track and I wrote the song around it. This is a mostly true story. One year I got a note for Christmas that my parents had ordered me an "Odyssey 2" (I really wanted an Atari, and it works better lyrically). Fast forward 6 months and my dad coming home drunk with a used Odyssey 1 video game instead which was essentially pong. Demanded I hook it up at 2am and play it right then and there. Good times. Ironically, this system is rare and valuable now, but at the time I was just utterly devastated. Eventually I bought my own fucking Atari 2600.
It amuses me now that 2019 was an "interesting year". It sucked, but 2020 was worse, 2021 was even worse and now 2022 is worse to the point that I worry that writing all these notes is moot because humanity is really intent on destroying itself. It is sad that I think that maybe it is for the best. We sure fucked things up.
2013 - Catthedd Jam Sessions▼
Sean came by to make noise and drink beer - first time we'd hung out since 1997!!
During the first year of Covid, I didn't really write anything. I did put up a few "live" videos on facebook of me playing along with some of my older songs, with some having drums done by session drummers off fiver.com. I modified some of the songs when the lyrics were stupid and remixed/changed some instruments and solots.
facebook 01 - random noodlingVideo
testing 123
facebook 02 - homeVideo
guest drummer version
facebook 03 - 97Video
guest drummer version
facebook 04 - runVideo
guest drummer version
facebook 05 - falling asleep at a red lightVideo
aka insonmia
facebook 06 - work in progressVideo
facebook 07 - facadeVideo
guest drummer version
facebook 08 - same as yesterday aka dearth of marmaladeVideo
I suck at lyrics
facebook 09 - surferVideo
guest drummer version. Since I never had full lyrics, I just play the melody on piano here
facebook 10 - avoidanceVideo
Wow I changed the solo section to something really odd
2021 - Catthedd Jam Sessions▼
Sean and his son came by a couple times in 2021 to make noise and drink beer (ok, kid didn't get beer). The May sessions were pretty much just one continuous improv with no planning or coherence. You have been warned!
The July sessions we worked on giving some songs some actual structure and some planning (albeit very QUICK planning). I added some vocals (??) to the Drinking Beer with a Straw song for one of my Songtober 2021 efforts.
Screwing around with the soundfonts from Undertale
2021 - Songtober▼
In October 2021 I tried the "record something every day" challenge. Results were mixed, some cool stuff, some crap, and some WTF. I recorded a few old songs that had been laying around in my head unrecorded, or re-recorded them in some fashion. Did a couple covers. A lot of improv/just hit record and see where it goes.