CD 1: "Roadshow" - Detailed Liner Notes
"Roadshow" features fifteen original acoustic math-pop short
story songs arranged for multiple voices, multiple guitars, drums and
percussion
All words and music by Steve Ball except where noted. All
arrangements by the players.
1
Lisa Herrman: vox
Derek DiFilippo: bass
SB: guitars, drum tracks, vox
This began as a throw-away song that came from a guitar part (A-Eb-C, all major) that was born during a 'jam session' I did (in 1998?) with Bill Rieflin and Paul Barker in Soundgarden's old rehearsal studio on Aurora. The part was a bit too quirky to be of interest to the Ministry rhythm section, but it stuck with me even though it did not find its voice in that context.
Then, one evening just after a long SBBS recording session, I played it for Derek, who happened to be holding a bass at the time. And right then and there, this song was born. The real inspiration for the title and lyrical theme came from Derek's 'funny' bass lines... Right then and there, we recorded our two parts (acoustic guitar and bass) live to a click, and the song (lyrics/form) was born later that evening after Derek hit the road.
There are so many cliché Secret Agent songs, but I wanted to do a slight twist with this and imagine how the job must seem from a 'benefits' and 'career-decision' point of view. It's almost a sales pitch for the job.
There is also a fun video made from a number of wild stills, but I can't legally post it here without paying thousands of dollars to the image copyright owner. I can show it to you on my Windows Media Center machine however if you come over...
2
Travis Hartnett: acoustic guitar
Derek DiFilippo: bass
SB: acoustic & electric guitars, drum tracks, vox
This is an older song that was originally recorded by engineer, R. Chris Murphy in Boston, featuring myself, and Brock and Heather Pytel. Chris introduced us in Boston in 1992, and then after I moved to Seattle, all three eventually followed (and recently left!) We originally released a version of this song as a red vinyl single on Brock's indie label. This updated version rocks out, esp w/ Travis' excellent wah guitar intro and Derek's XTC-like bass grooves.
The image is derived from the first daily cartoon I did while in college for my college newspaper at University of Illinois, the Daily Illini -- I drew one cartool per day, six days a week for a full year.
This was the definitive title cartoon, first one of close to 300 I drew that year. It is captioned: "Hit or Miss?"
Like most of my work, it plays heavily with ambiguity, context, and double meaning.
3
music: SB
lyrics: Lisa Herrman
Travis Metcalf: acoustic guitar
Travis Hartnett: acoustic guitar
SB: acoustic & electric guitars, bass, drum tracks, vox
When I was growing up, I did piles of lyrical collaborations with old friends and "Fish" bandmates Bret Hamilton and Richard West.
In general, however, I prefer to write my own words. This song was a rare exception -- the words, from a sincere love poem, were so clean and innocent that I could not resist putting them to song.
I also prefer the title "Time Stand Still" as if it were the author making a demand. Time Stands Still also works, but is slightly less visually compelling for me. TravisM's excellent songtile also takes on a more interesting twist without the 's'
4
I wrote this song when I was living in Belltown Court in downtown Seattle. I had just moved in, the building was brand new and my courtyard apt literally felt a bit like I was actually living in a beehive.
I was also beginning a company at the time, hence the the money references... oh to have been born independently wealthy. Unfortunately, I've had to work for everything I have.
The 'tone' of the song was also partially inspired by Mary Lou Lord who stayed in my place for a few months to write songs while I was traveling and working on Prometheus. Most of her songs were slow and somewhat depressing relationship songs about a certain Seattle someone, so I thought I'd try to head in a different direction and write a quirky song that had nothing to do with relatiionships.
Somehow, I failed because the song is still, afterall, really about me and my relationships to both women and money.
5
SB: instruments, vox
6
SB: instruments, vox
Bill Rieflin: drums
7
Travis Metcalf: acoustic guitar
Travis Hartnett: acoustic guitar
Derek DiFilippo: bass
Curt Golden: slide guitar
SB: acoustic guitar, bass, drum tracks, vox
8
Travis Metcalf: acoustic & electric guitars, drum tracks
Travis Hartnett: acoustic guitar
Derek DiFilippo: bass
SB: acoustic & electric guitars, drum tracks, vox
9
Travis Hartnett: acoustic guitar
SB: acoustic guitar, vox
10
Travis Hartnett: acoustic guitar
Derek DiFilippo: bass, electric guitar, mix
Curt Golden: electric guitar
SB: acoustic & electric guitars, drum tracks, vox
11
Travis Metcalf: texture guitar
SB: piano, vox
12
Travis Metcalf: acoustic guitar
Travis Hartnett: acoustic guitar
Curt Golden: electric guitar
SB: acoustic guitar, bass, drum tracks, vox
13
Travis Hartnett: acoustic guitar
SB: acoustic & electric guitars, bass, drum tracks, vox
14
Travis Metcalf: acoustic guitar
Derek DiFilippo: bass
Pat Mastelotto: drum loops
Maria Gabriela Epumer: inspiration
SB: acoustic guitar, drum tracks, vox
15
music: Ken Kato, lyrics & vocal melodies: SB
Ken Kato: piano, backing tracks
Lisa Herrman: backing vox
Franklin: barking vox
John G. Bennett: introduction
SB: acoustic guitar, vox
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