My creation has drowned me.

It's not a new idea I guess, but an intriguing/masochistic one. That is: write 30 songs in 30 days. In particular, I stole the idea from Mary Bichner. It was an unceremonious/inauspicious beginning, and it continued thusly throughout the month. But now it's done and here's the plan: the entire 30 songs are posted here in mp3 format for your listening (dis)pleasure along with the lyrics (when applicable). The goal is to cull the list down to the 12 best tunes, rework/rerecord them, and put the whole thing out as my new CD. Not sure yet if this will be a new Tourist recording or something entirely new. Abstractly, if I can create new enough sounds that sets these songs apart from my usual fare, I may even go with a new moniker. Not like it matters, really.

So where do you come in? Your job is to listen to these tracks and vote for your top 12 (in no particular order). Keep in mind that a lot of these tracks were spur-of-the-moment, which was one of my goals. I just wanted to sing whatever came to me as quickly as possible, so there will be plenty of polish added to the final versions, and likely lyrical touch-ups too. Or something. Who knows? But get to listening, leave your comments in this main post, and take your time...you have 30 days.

Click here to download the entire thing as a zip file.

02/15/09 Number One (click for lyrics):

I didn't really have a plan for this whole thing to begin. I'd considered trying it, but didn't set a time to start. So I woke up after partying on Valentine's day evening and it began.

02/16/09 Number Two (click for lyrics):

This one has an element of Elliott Smith's "Satellite" in it. This wasn't intentional, but having discovered the similarity I didn't feel like changing it.

02/17/09 Number Three (click for lyrics):

My friend got a haircut and I thought it looked pretty nice. Kind of copped out with the droning triplets at the end.

02/18/09 Number Four (click for lyrics):

Went to see a movie at the dollar theatre. It's actually the $1.50 theatre. The extra half dollar must go toward getting rid of the mice that crawl around in the theatre, but so far it's not working.

02/19/09 Number Five:

Thought I'd try an instrumental. It's in the vein of "Hunting Bears" or something by the Flaming Lips. I didn't put the time in to writing a synth part, so I just mashed the keys. It didn't come out good.

02/20/09 Number Six (click for lyrics):

This is the cat song. I played it at my last show. It's not autobiographical, but it's "born of real emotions." Whatever that means.

02/21/09 Number Seven (click for lyrics):

Sometimes you get a line in your head that you think sounds real nice. And you try to fit it in somewhere. This one sort of worked out.

02/22/09 Number Eight (click for lyrics):

Other than maybe number five, so far this is the first one where I try something a lot different than what I normally do. Plus, it may include the only actual "riff" I've ever written. The guitar gods are mildly impressed.

02/23/09 Number Nine (click for lyrics):

This one has a poorly-made loop in it. And I couldn't figure out how to sing one part of it. It gets good around the bridge, though.

02/24/09 Number Ten (click for lyrics):

I'm kind of proud of this one. I think I was able to make some interesting rhymes and the music is pretty enough to be intricate but leave room for the words to shine. Or something.

02/25/09 Number Eleven (click for lyrics):

This little guitar line's been kicking around forever. It's too quaint for me, so I wrote some words to reflect that. Where would this song ever fit?

02/26/09 Number Twelve (click for lyrics):

I tried a revolving chord progression that always resolves a half-step higher on each repeat. The melody is remindful of "Transcontinental" by Pedro the Lion. Whoops.

02/27/09 Number Thirteen:

Improvised this one and it shows. I realized before going to bed that I hadn't done a song yet and was too tired to write anything. Kind of reminds me of "Spelunking" by Laura Veirs. And I don't even like Laura Veirs.

02/28/09 Number Fourteen (click for lyrics):

I was sick twice during this project. And you can really start to hear it in my voice. Most people's voices get sexier when they're sick. I'm not one of those people. I like this one a lot, though it goes on way too long. Sounds like I'm wearing nose plugs.

03/01/09 Number Fifteen (click for lyrics):

Ah, recurring lyrical themes. I should do this more often. The chorus starts so great and then gets exponentially worse.

03/02/09 Number Sixteen (click for lyrics):

This was a mistake, but my frustration got the best of me. Enjoy more cussing than you'll ever hear from me again. Sorry Weezer fans.

03/03/09 Number Seventeen (click for lyrics):

Naturally this song would be better than the last one. It could only be. But it turned out better than most of them I think. One of those rare tunes with a clear idea ahead of time.

03/04/09 Number Eighteen (click for lyrics):

I like this one too. I like the idea of an unchanging guitar line that morphs with the help of other elements waxing and waning around it. I didn't fully realize that idea 'cause I did this too fast, but it's neat anyhow.

03/05/09 Number Nineteen (click for lyrics):

Saw someone I knew at the bank who didn't recognize me even though we made eye contact. And I was glad. Not sure how I feel about that.

03/06/09 Number Twenty (click for lyrics):

I was in a hurry to get to a friend's and knew I'd be back home so late I wouldn't want to write any songs, so the song quits before it really even gets going. But I think it's a strong start. The lyrics aren't concise, but they sound pleasant enough.

03/07/09 Number Twenty One (click for lyrics):

My friend Abraham was over and together we could've written a song that would blow your mind (in a good way), but I wrote this instead. Pears don't even come in patches! Abe plays the other guitar part. "What should I do?" "Do whatever."

03/08/09 Number Twenty Two (click for lyrics):

Auto-tuning doesn't have to sound bad. It does have to sound weird, though. That's kinda the point.

03/09/09 Number Twenty Three (click for lyrics):

This one has an "Under the Bridge" vibe. That's not exactly the hippest vibe to have.

03/10/09 Number Twenty Four (click for lyrics):

Quaint lyrics again, though I think they work this time.

03/11/09 Number Twenty Five (click for lyrics):

One of the rare somewhat-fully-formed tunes in this batch. It's nice when songs write themselves.

03/12/09 Number Twenty Six (click for lyrics):

The first of two songs that have more words than can really fit. I must've been accidentally listening to Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell.

03/13/09 Number Twenty Seven (click for lyrics):

This is what a song sounds like when it's written in less time than it takes to write it. A word of advice: never drink Wild Blue.

03/14/09 Number Twenty Eight (click for lyrics):

This is the second wordy song. Do I sound more like Paul Simon or David Gray? DADGAD songs all sound the same to me.

03/15/09 Number Twenty Nine (click for lyrics):

I tried sort of a shoegazing type of thing. It was unsuccessful.

03/16/09 Number Thirty (click for lyrics):

It's over, thank god. I think it ended on a high note. This sounds like the last song on an album, maybe something Will Sheff would've written.

So there you go. Sorry...