eh, figured I'd grow up and put my balls on the chopping block

Malikon · November 5th, 2009, 05:49 PM

after a long talk with my girl last night I decided it's time to grow up a bit, put the mask and wig down and start sharing some of the music I'm writing lately.

It's very Lo-Fi, just the webcam and a mic, so it's pretty raw, but it works ok I suppose.

these two songs are the most "un-metal" songs I've ever written, I don't even know what you'd call it, pop/folk?

Anyway, here they are I hope you enjoy them. Try not to be too harsh, my face is still getting used to having air on it, lol.

(*if anyone's interested the lyrics are in the youtube info box*)

YouTube- Under the Rain

Under the Rain

YouTube- A Bitter Taste

A Bitter Taste

Rufe Dude · November 5th, 2009, 07:29 PM

Yes! Great job! Hope to see more work!

ZL1LoVeR · November 5th, 2009, 08:24 PM

Dude! I wanna put the intro to "Bitter Taste" on my phone as my new ringtone

Awesome work man, 10/10! Really spotless! Keep 'em coming

Malikon · November 5th, 2009, 08:29 PM

Rufe Dude your signature is hilarious.

Glad you like 'em, feel free to subscribe or whatever. I'm pretty sure I'll be doing stuff weekly if not daily. It's pretty fun once you start going, and pretty easy too. Just hit record and start playing.

I figured if R.Johnson can record sitting in a corner and just playing, I could at least give it a shot.

Strat-O-Lady · November 5th, 2009, 08:42 PM

Wow...just amazing, Malikon! 'Bitter Taste' gave me chills. Fantastic tone on both songs (really nice Strat, by the way

) I'll look forward to hearing more of your work (and I agree, once you get started with recording, it's hard to stop!). I'm glad you posted your music

Malikon · November 5th, 2009, 09:02 PM

Thanks Strat lady, that guitar is Mrs.Jangles, my #1 love. Love my Squiers. *heart, heart*

Gotta be fair though, the vast majority of my other songs are distorted and heavier, lol, so I don't know if you'd dig 'em.

07 road house · November 5th, 2009, 09:06 PM

Good Stuff

ncjeepinyj · November 5th, 2009, 09:11 PM

Good stuff man. I checked out the other stuff on youtube (and subscribed) and like the heavier stuff too. Thats more what i listen to and play anyway. Keep em coming, i look forward to seeing more.

gliderider22 · November 5th, 2009, 09:22 PM

I vote for the mask!

Malikon · November 5th, 2009, 09:23 PM

I know right, feels so naked without it.

gliderider22 · November 5th, 2009, 09:24 PM

really good man, keep it up.

barellano · November 5th, 2009, 09:36 PM

I love how you can still hear the metal/heavy roots in your voice but you're playing folksy music. Very original. Great job.

Strat-O-Lady · November 5th, 2009, 09:54 PM

Oh yes, I forgot to mention you have a great voice, too! And I guarantee you I will like your heavier stuff. I dig all kinds of music (in fact, I used to study while listening to Rob Zombie...lol). I just can't play heavy metal stuff very well (but I still love to listen to it).

Suthrn_BLU_Sman · November 6th, 2009, 02:06 PM

I agree you have a voice for rock. There comes a time when you dont own the mask, the mask owns you and when that happens you lose who you are. I think we can all agree that the man behind the mask is a truly talented musician. Keep it up!

tonyw · November 6th, 2009, 02:08 PM

When i was 25 i stopped playing covering other peoples music and only played my own well 99% mine, and have never looked back in terms of just being myself

Malikon · November 6th, 2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suthrn_BLU_Sman

I agree you have a voice for rock. There comes a time when you dont own the mask, the mask owns you and when that happens you lose who you are. I think we can all agree that the man behind the mask is a truly talented musician. Keep it up!

I thinks that's actually what happened, I just outgrew it and it started holding me back a bit.

Besides when I sing with the mask on it's freaking deafening since the sound is bouncing around behind it. Once I started realizing I needed a mask where my mouth wasn't covered I just started being frustrated by the whole thing. After talking with my GF I just decided it's time to put it away and face the haters. There's always haters, lol.

it's still very unnerving showing my face however, I just......idk..don't like the way I look or something. It's hard for me to even watch the videos for editing purposes. I just don't like seeing myself.

The comments here have been overwhelmingly positive though guys, thanks a lot. You've all helped me grow as a person and as a musician, and I'm very grateful for that.

very glad I decided to join this board.

tonyw · November 6th, 2009, 02:46 PM

I think at times musically we all need a crutch to lean on, seems once we throw it away we grow. Your talent is you not the mask, dont hide your talent

Christian2009 · November 6th, 2009, 03:26 PM

I was waiting for your thread description to end with

....."drum set"....

AllroyPA · November 6th, 2009, 03:44 PM

Enjoyable songs Malikon I could hear a touch of your Staley influence in there(I know you'll like that). With the mask my mind was on the mask, now I see you completely not thinking of the gimmick, much more impact overall. You're not as ugly as I thought you might be ... hehehe

Jimi Hendrix · November 6th, 2009, 03:50 PM

I've mentioned before that i like your playing, i really like these two songs, glad you've dropped the mask i found it kinda freaky (no offence intended) and i've just noticed you're now doing some video lessons so i'll be checkin' them out - i need all the help i can get.

Keep on doin' what'cha doin'

pretender · November 6th, 2009, 04:17 PM

You don't need the mask fella, in fact it's good to see the sincerity in your face when you sing.
I have only recently started playing live and I **** myself each time and have cocked up stuff I usually can play no problem. I love doing it though and it gets easier for me.
Your stuff is great, don't worry about the people who may critisise you , play for the ones who are digging it!! I bet there's many more of them!!!! Cheers.

anfontan · November 6th, 2009, 04:38 PM

Good stuff, I would sure like to hear it with a rhythm section though. I was definitely hearing the Alice in Chains influence as well, especially on the first tune 'Under the Rain'. I think if the guitar was just a db lower the vocal would stand out a bit better.

But it's a very good performance of some very cool songs..

Malikon · November 6th, 2009, 05:42 PM

hey guys, tried to knock out a couple more this afternoon.

YouTube - To Punish And Enslave

YouTube - Waiting

lyrics and info are in the box. Please read the info for "waiting" it really needs explaining and I'm rushing out the door right this second so I can't elaborate.

Please enjoy.

ncjeepinyj · November 6th, 2009, 06:07 PM

Great songs!!! I loved Waiting. Great sound and alot of emotion coming through.

Kid Klash · November 6th, 2009, 06:12 PM

Well done! And it's good to finally meet you (without the mask). :D

Malikon · November 6th, 2009, 08:38 PM

Hey glad you liked 'em, especially Waiting.

Waiting is a weird one because I never really do stuff like that, (pentatonic bluesy) but I was getting frustrated trying to record a 2nd "heavy" song today and while the computer was still running I just got an idea and started jamming that blues thing and threw in a chorus. I thought it came out,....well, rough, sloppy and crude. But I felt like there was something there. And since I'm not going to actually make it a song or anything I figured it was actually kinda cool that I'd captured an improve song/thing, Lol. So I figured I'd share it. Kind of an encapsulated moment in time I suppose. Idk, I just thought there was something there, not sure what. It's real, I suppose.

Thought you might get a kick out of seeing my Lo-Fi setup...

I just put the laptop on the chair and plug the USB mic into it.

You're asking, "where did he get such an amazing mic?" right? Lol

It's from my girls Rock Band setup, Lmao.

Eh, it works though. Least for the moment till I can figure something better out.

again, glad you enjoyed the songs. Means a lot when people dig what you're doing.

Malikon · November 6th, 2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anfontan

Good stuff, I would sure like to hear it with a rhythm section though. I was definitely hearing the Alice in Chains influence as well, especially on the first tune 'Under the Rain'. I think if the guitar was just a db lower the vocal would stand out a bit better.

But it's a very good performance of some very cool songs..

I'd love to hear them with a good rhythm section too. I've had a hell of a time retaining a drummer. Seems he's always available when he needs me to do something for him, but then when I need him..............

tonyw · November 6th, 2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malikon

I'd love to hear them with a good rhythm section too. I've had a hell of a time retaining a drummer. Seems he's always available when he needs me to do something for him, but then when I need him..............

Mines disappeared after 16yrs must be something they eat

Malikon · November 6th, 2009, 10:08 PM

He's been doing this on and off crap for 4 years now. It's very annoying. I really, really need to find another drummer. Problem is the "good" drummers I get always want to play musician and try to rewrite the songs and make things way more complicated then I want them to be. I hate to sound like a prick, but at the same time it's like, "look, the songs written, just play it." I don't want some super complicated drum rhythm with polyrhythms and all types of stuff where I can't even find the 1 beat. I've got other guitarists and a bassist ready to go, but we're always waiting for a drummer who's always too busy doing everything else but my music.

There are days I really think he thinks I'm just some stupid metal kid where he's a "real musician" who'd rather do jazz or something.

Idk, it's frustrating. I just want to play, I'm not getting any younger.

crumbum · November 6th, 2009, 10:08 PM

Sounds really good. I would like to hear some of that blues music that you were talking about in your "Squier" posting.

Malikon · November 6th, 2009, 10:18 PM

I'm sorry I don't know which post you mean? I don't really play blues, other then that 'Waiting' song that happened today.

to be honest I have no idea what I play. Metal/Flamenco/Classical/Blues/Folk/Thrash/Shred? Lol.

I'm curious which post you're referring to though.

07 road house · November 6th, 2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malikon

I'm sorry I don't know which post you mean? I don't really play blues, other then that 'Waiting' song that happened today.

to be honest I have no idea what I play. Metal/Flamenco/Classical/Blues/Folk/Thrash/Shred? Lol.

I'm curious which post you're referring to though.

On the post that you talked about the blue affinity squier that saved your life. You played blues at the guitar shop .

Malikon · November 6th, 2009, 11:36 PM

OOOooohhhh, yeah. That was a one time thing I suppose. My fingers were weak and slow and that's pretty much all I could do at the time given the circumstance. Would've been cool to have somehow recorded that I suppose, but I doubt I'd ever want to hear it again if that makes sense.

That was pure pain.

ZL1LoVeR · November 7th, 2009, 09:46 AM

I'll be giving you my feedback soon on the two new songs once I get a chance to listen to them... my speakers are too loud for my parents right now

ZL1LoVeR · November 7th, 2009, 10:21 PM

Both songs are amazing... I love how green dog sounds when it's distorted

Your attack was phenomenal on To Serve and Prot...errrr To Punish and Enslave. It almost doesn't need a rhythm section the way you pound the strings, kudos to that!

Waiting's rawness is something that doesn't need any refinement whatsoever... it's real, it's honest... and it captured your emotions... nice job with the vocals, and nice job with the use of octaves/intervals (forgive my terminology) around 4:05ish-4:40ish.

As John Mayer put it, you've got the information and the inspiration... and you put them together really really well!

Keep'em comin' bro!

NorthShore · November 7th, 2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malikon

It's from my girls Rock Band setup, Lmao.

Wow, when you said "lo-fi" you weren't kidding, were you?

Love the songs, keep 'em coming. The mask was scaring my dog, anyway.

Rufe Dude · November 7th, 2009, 11:45 PM

Just watched the second two videos and still great work! Also, i'm diggin' the hardcore rockband setup you've got going on there! lol