Roughly Produced Masterpieces

This is music written and recorded during February 2008 for The RPM Challenge. The only other criteria for this very loosely-themed album was as follows: All the songs were to be titled with replacement bacronyms (a.k.a. reverse acronyms) for R.P.M.—that is to say, feasible explanations as to what RPM stands for. But in the end, this album was made purely for the fun and exercise of it. We hope you enjoy the terrifically eclectic fruits of the February '08 harvest.

THE DETAILS

Album Cover: "Regnat Penetralia Mentis" by Christine Pollock

"This design integrates organic free-flowing shapes and a sense of expansion and motion to reflect the weaving of different artists and styles, like the album it represents." —Christine Pollock

click here to view artwork photo gallery

I would like to thank John LaSala, of course!

1. "Razi/Paulo/Mandisa" by Michelangelo (download this track)

Michelangeo: everything

"This all came about because of a few messages I received during the RPM Challenge. One regarding flutes, the other regarding my selection of alternate instruments. So I stuck with guitar and flute for this (except a borang snuck in on bass at some point). My goal was to write something simple in each part but as a whole a good composition and prove the flutes can be hot little instruments that can scorch like a dirty, grungy guitar. I might not have achieved that, but I am very happy with the overall sound." —Michelangelo

I would like to thank VUA for the opportunity, the RPM community for the challenge, and, as always, the gal that completes me, my muse.

2. "Rodents Probed Melanie" by Thee Crumb (download this track)

3. "red+purple=magenta" by Joshua Wentz (download this track)

Joshua Wentz: everything

"This song is about the difference between people who choose to understand how great life is and the people who think they know how great life is." —Jw

4. "Return of a Popular Mister" by Vivian Circle (download this track)

Barney: vocals, guitar, keyboards
Vivian: inspiration, cello, piano
George: a rocksteady beat

"Well, we had a few moments before our respective planes took off, and Barney's Xanax kicked in, so we figured let's just record a one-off right here in the airport lounge, "whatta ya say kids, are ya with me?" and that's really about how we approach everything, we make a plan to record, and then we each bring something to the table, we mash it up and see what it sounds like. RPM is fun too." —C.Thomas a.k.a. "Barney"

click here to view lyrics

We would like to thank everyone who believed in us, especially ourselves.

5. "Raga Profound Magic " by Di.J. Noizepunk (download this track)

Gene 'Noizepunk' Pritsker: composer/guitar

"I was playing on my 4-year-old's toy guitar and enjoyed the sitar-like sounds it produced. I created an electronic groove track and a bass line and improvised over it. I then added various Indian-sounding elements, mixing them with Di.J. scratches and effects and edited the whole track so it can work as a unified piece." —GP

Gene gives thanks to Sippy.

6. "Rising Pzychotropic Moonlight" by Pzychotropic (download this track)

"This is my first attempt at putting in all the elements I've been experimenting with over the last 12 months. Multiple ambient layers of synthy wibbles and wobbles, mixed with subtle background guitar plinking, solid bass, unobtrusive drums and solid lead guitaring. Oops! Nearly forgot! My first vocal warbling." —Mac

click here to view lyrics

7. "Ricky Plays Music" by Mr. Glide (download this track)

Ricky Gervais: laughing like a hyena
Nick Parton: everything else

"I'm a big fan of Ricky Gervais' obnoxious style of comedy, and despite the fact it could so easily be incredibly annoying, also a fan of his hyena-style laugh. It's immediately identifiable, yet bizarrely varied, curiously rhythmic and oddly melodic. I couldn't help sampling it. To me, it highlights the importance of keeping your ears open." —Mr. Glide

8. "Role-Playing Master (for Gygax)" by HAIRWOLF (download this track)

Dr. Hercules: guitar, lyrics, vocals
Kai Demasonai: drums & backing vocals
#2: bass
John LaSala: spoken words
Jeff LaSala: DM's text

"Dedicated to the memory of the original role-playing master, Gary Gygax" —John LaSala & HAIRWOLF

click here to view lyrics

Dr. Hercules thanks John and Kate.

9. "relax, poor mind" by Jeremy Simmons (download this track)

click here to view lyrics

Thanks to Katie Cissell for making me want to be honest about myself.

10. "Rounding Perihelion Molniya (Casting Off Sparks)" by Darren Baker (download this track)

11. "Recherche pour maintenant" by Zeck, Jr. (download this track)

"Inspiration to get back in the ring comes from John and Chris. This song is building block simple, as it's a sort of restart for me. Rough, in a word. Baring any collaborations, I'll be working pretty strictly with acoustic guitar and vocals." —Zeck, Jr.

Zeck, Jr. thanks Emily Quay for the sound support.

12. "Revolutions Per Minute" by Tim Kopp (download this track)

Tim Kopp: starvox, guitar, programming
Michael Kopp: little starvox

"All I could imagine while creating this project was speed and just how fast I could go" —Tim Kopp

I'd like to thank my beautiful wife, Lisa, my greatest gift, my son Michael, and all those who have gone out of their way to tell me how much they appreciate my talents in voice and songwriting.

13. "Rush the Pizza 2 the Mannequin" by Jeff Daschbach (download this track)

"RPM was recorded in Chicago during one of the worst winters I've ever experienced. The wind had been below zero for far too long, and the studio refused to get over 45 degrees. These conditions caused the happy accident of chopping off a few milliseconds of live signal, resulting in the stereo guitar sound." —Jeff Daschbach

Jeff thanks John LaSala for keeping in touch.

14. "Rainy Purple Mondays" by Brian Wilbur Grundstrom (download this track)

"Rainy Mondays evoke a certain mood. They are sad with the end of the weekend, and mellow with the pattering of the rain, Mix in a bit of purple and you have a bit of magic to your otherwise slow dreary day." —BWG

15. "Right Past Me" by Maddy and Nancy (download this track)

Maddy and Nancy: lyrics, arrangement, and production
Chris Parks: guitars
John LaSala: mixing and post-production

"This was really something fun to do. We just chose the title "Right Past Me" based on the three-letter theme of Roughly Produced Masterpieces, and wrote a song around it. We wanted there to be a slight twist on the concept of love lost and how sometimes a break-up doesn't mean the end of feelings." —Maddy and Nancy

click here to view lyrics

We would like to thank our mom, the Chrises, their families, and all our friends and family that continue to support us from around the world. Thanks to Chris for adding a bit of Bebop.

16. "Rebel, Patriot, Malefactor (excerpt)" by John LaSala (download this track)

"This composition-in-the-works is inspired by the people and places of the cold and oppressive city of Korth, as depicted in the dark fantasy novel, The Darkwood Mask, by my kid brother, Jeff LaSala. The title refers to the paradoxical lead character, Tallis of Rekkenmark, a nationalist outlaw who is loyal to his country but an enemy of its government. You hear that, Marisa? Tallis, not Lord Charoth!" —John LaSala

Roughly Produced Masterpieces

TRACK LIST

Listen to The Whole Thing!

Click here to download the album vesion in a single file (mp3)

Click here to download the single mixes (zip)

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