“Demon Song” Redone

It’s odd when you’re trying to record something simple and it spirals out of your control.

My revised version of “Demon Song” has stretched and expanded itself beyond being the closing track to an alternate-universe Radio City, and became a quieter New Pornographers track.

I’m loving both the huge guitar sound and the rattly prepared guitar track.

That ‘prepared guitar track’ I refer to is that ratty guitar sound you hear throughout. That’s not editing. I clipped safety pins to my guitar strings to get that. Two each to the three lowest strings. It sounded like Johnny Cash’s dollar bill strings, if played through broken speakers.

I needed texture, and figured that would work.

Work it did, so much so that I’m also handing you an alternate mix – the same song, but without all the normal guitar songs, and with the lead vocal with a tad bit more reverb.

It’s noisy, it’s a bit pretentious, but I enjoyed making it.

Demon Song (Alternate Mix)

I stayed up late making these for you, and I hope you enjoy listening.

All Songs (Re)Considered #1: “Demon Song”

So here’s the first installment of the project I mentioned in my last post. I’m submitting the feed to iTunes as a podcast; you’ll be able to subscribe there soon.

I’ve decided to name this project “All Songs (Re)Considered” at the request of my friend Lindsey, who thought it fitting, considering my love for public radio.

What follows is pretty much what you’ll get each week. Unless I feel like changing it up.

"Hand Built Log House" by Old Shoe Woman on Flickr. Not the log cabin in question.

THE STORY:

I wrote this song years ago. I believe I wrote it late at night, on the front porch swing at my ex-girlfriend’s parent’s house. It was a big, modern log cabin, with floorboards plain to see.

Between that, and “Baby Doll” by Cat Power, I had inspiration for the lyrics; I’m pretty sure the music came straight from the last two tracks of Big Star’s Radio City LP. I think it’s probably the most Chilton-inspired song I’ve written.

The version here is one that I re-recorded as part of a project to top a friend’s mixtape. I decided, against all reason, to record her an EP. She got rough drafts, bad ideas, and a couple good tracks. “Demon Song” being one of the rough drafts.

WHAT I LIKE:

I actually like this track as-is. There doesn’t seem to be any instrumentation lacking.

WHAT IT NEEDS:

• A better perfomance.
• A better guitar sound.
• Something other than a backwards acoustic guitar solo.
• To end sooner.
• I’d consider one more verse, but I don’t think it’s necessary.

If you have any suggestions, let me know. I’ll be posting the new version Friday.