I’ve been really all over the place with my song selections lately, but this week I settled on the new song “Your Decision” by [wiki]Alice In Chains[/wiki].  It just seems to fit well with my style, and I thought it would do well.

I had planned for the first time in a podcast to record multiple track/layers, and do some video effects, but I ran out of time.  Additionally, I forgot to bring my voice recorder (Sony ICD-SX700 that I always use for podcasts) home, so I ended up having to use Audition on my recording machine anyway.

Given that, I decided to go ahead and tweak the audio (EQ, reverb, compressor) and add a lead.  Somehow, whatever I did makes the entire video seem dubbed (the guitar solo and one little vocal part are, of course, dubbed, but the rest is not!!)  And yes, I had to extend the lead a little, because I left too many measures with the rhythm.  lol  I typically like leads anyway, so it gave me a chance to use the old lead and add a little of my own flair.

Anyway, I originally (after recording) wouldn’t have said it is my best performance ever, but the quality overall seemed better the more I listen.  The tweaks on the vocals definitely highlight my voice way more than typical.  This new recording style may be here to stay, given that it’s really no more difficult than the voice recorder, and it lets me add additional layers.  This in turn gives me more time to play around with studio equipment and try out and perfect techniques for future albums.  Let me know what you think!

Direct link to podcast video on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc9YDp4b6j4

This week’s podcast is the pseudo-countryish-rap ditty from my Two Sides Of The Same Soul album called “Hope (The Nightmare).”  It’s a catchy tune, but overall, quite simple.  The subject matter is sacrificing to get what you want even given that constant, nagging caveat that nothing is for certain.

You will also notice this is my first week back to the acoustic in a while.  It is a Yamaha APX-500 thin profile E/A cutaway, and I really like it.  You’ll also notice the audio quality sucks.  That is because I accidentally deleted the file from my voice recorder, so I had no choice (unless I rerecorded the whole thing).  I think it is still tolerable though.

Direct link to video on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAw_64UPvjQ

Not long after I first heard this song (by Alter Bridge) I decided I wanted to do it as a podcast.  Biggest problem?  It’s very rangy, so it was hard for me to sing.  Luckily I got new strings for my baritone guitar, so I was able to get it low enough to be just perfect.

This week you’ll notice that I finally got the hybrid down for the video — I have the intro screen, but I also videoed myself.  The recording was done separately (once again on my Sony ICD-SX700 voice recorder) and I linked them later.  The problem was it was quite difficult to the the audio and video to sync in rendering … but it’s fairly close (the program I used was Cinelerra).

Anyway, here it is.  It’s about as good as I have ever performed this song. Enjoy!

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vLW0CC6OOo

This week’s podcast is another two-parter. The first song is “Lightning Crashes,” a great song by [wiki]Live[/wiki] who I first heard live when I was in college in 1997 or 1998. I sing the song with Town Crier.  This recording was made before I really “moved in” to the song, so there are some variations that I no longer do.

The second song is “The Thirst” from my album The Threshold of Omniscience.  I originally chose the song as a podcast right after I wrote it.  I liked it so much, I just had to share.  It too, has evolved somewhat.

As usual, these songs were recorded by just me and my acoustic guitar in my studio on my Sony ICD-SX700 Voice Recorder.

Direct link (Lightning Crashes): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMTMsaaOyPA
Direct link (The Thirst): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdRT4jflN0E

This week’s songs are “[wiki]Mr. Jones[/wiki]” (originally by the [wiki]Counting Crows[/wiki]), and “Bedroom of the Sun” by Me (on my album Triad).

The reason there are two songs this week is I decided to start doing one cover and one original each week.  I chose to do “Mr. Jones” because I sing it with Town Crier (it’s the last song in our first set), and “Bedroom Of The Sun” is just one of my favorites (it was also requested).

As usual, this is just me on my acoustic guitar, recorded at home in my studio on my Sony ICD-SX700 voice recorder.

Direct link (Mr. Jones):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwgkDVCK2wI
Direct link (Bedroom Of The Sun): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH5I0RsNBmM

This week’s podcast is “Remedy” — the song that brought the-awesomeness-that-is-Seether into my life. The song rocks, and I sing it with Town Crier.

Recorded as just me and my acoustic in my studio on my Sony ICD-SX700 voice recorder.

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unXG4YGyGgY

This week’s song is “Country Roads,” originally performed by John Denver (of course). I did a demonstration about music recording to some students at my old school in Sept. 09, and I thought it would be a good choice for a podcast.

As usual, this recording is a simple live version done on a Sony ICD-SX700 Voice Recorder.

Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6eu7HdlAz0

I chose to play “Alone” off my album “Triad,” and my friend Phil Taylor talked me into covering one of his songs.  I chose “Love Song” from his album “Tales of Love or the Lack Thereof” (recorded both by Phil and his former band Unborn).

I had a few moments of hitting the mic / other background noise on this.  I’m not sure why, but just in case you hear it and wonder. 

podcast.0015.Jeremy Tharp-Alone
podcast.0016.Phil Taylor-Love Song

As usual, it’s me on my acoustic — no editing, recorded on a Sony ICD-SX700 voice recorder.

The songs this week are “All Along The Watchtower,” written by Bob Dylan, perfected by Jimi Hendrix (Yet another song I happen to be singing for Town Crier), and “Pieces” off of my Two Sides Of The Same Soul album.

Files:

podcast.0013-Jeremy Tharp-Pieces
podcast.0014-Bob Dylan-All Along The Watchtower

The usual — no editing, me on my acoustic, recorded on my Sony ICD-SX700 voice recorder.