jellery #10

oh and hello.
quietly and marginally less-sheepishly, here is:
10oh_hoody!
an ode to my hoody. or, truth be told, an ode to all of my hoodies throughout the years, past, present and future superlative.

seriously though, much more stuff over at
martystuff.com,
in particular announcements about the premiere of 9 new sock puppet portraits in brooklyn on march 12.

lovemarty

peanut butter and jellery #9

hi.
i sheepishly submit to the no one who still frequents this here old and other blog that i only keep alive out sentimentality:
9pigeonsandpaper

yup. it took me 6 months to make this 40-second song. amazing.
i think i'll be getting a few more done soon though.
i promise to try.

things happen more frequently at:
martystuff.com.


lovemarty

Where is my jellery?

Hello invisible and non-existent people of the internet universe!
I fully realize that the Peanut Butter and Jellery project has fallen wayyyyy behind.

In fairness, in the time since I last posted a song, the full rock band, uncle monsterface made a whole album called "This Is An Adventure". It came out awesome, you can hear some songs on the the myspace or go buy it on Itunes. Interestingly enough, one of the Jellery songs, "This is My Hed" become a cool full length song on that album.

Also, I've started writing songs for some of the new sock puppet portraits that I make. Check out the first one, Spot the Elusive Dinosaur, featuring my new love, the ukulele.

And what of Peanut Butter and Jellery, conspicuously mis-labelled as a 2007 project? I plan to keep plugging away at it. Eventually. There's only 15 more songs to go, after all... Hope fully I'll find some time to work on them this year, in the mean time, listen to all that other crazy stuff.

Update overrrrrr.
lovemarty

pb&jellery #8

hi.
this, the eighth song of the lumbering peanutbutter & jellery project is called
beneath the seam

i think that it is about how we often look for there to be more machinations than there are. liiike...we hope for a big and nasty conspiracy, when things are simply as nasty as the seem. beneath the seam. often. not always.

uplifting!

but there are actually lots of uplifting things happening in my life. that's just a song that occurred to me at one point or another. i'm endlessly fascinated by the the ever-twirling world of awesome things abutting melancholy and awful ones. the so-called pageant of life.

viva life!

i think i'll be able to make more of these songs a bit faster now that i'm not constantly selling portraits of sock puppets constantly.

yay.
lovemarty

peanut butter and jellery song 7

well this took a shamefully long time.
i sorely suspect that this 23-song project will take me into 2008. now i'll have to change all the graphics!

okay, so here is:

7.yourkiss

there are a variety of compelling reasons why this song took so long to make. not the least of which is that i am insanely busy both playing with uncle monsterface and selling portraits of sock puppets that i make.

and yes, it is true that those things make me occupied and productive and less able to make little other songs. but it is also true that this song is personal and sappy in a much more direct manner than usual. so the 'busy' stuff works as an effective excuse to push this aside all-too-often. so the song makes me nervous, and i keep not liking it. but i pledged that i would push some of this personal and sappy stuff for peanut butter and jellery, and here some of it is. there is more to come of it, but then there will also be songs about clothes and bears and the like as well.

i think that this song came out okay. i struggled with how i want it to sound, and it's pretty close, but i no longer have any idea whether or not it is any fun to actually listen to. so be it.

hopefully it won't take me two months to make the next one, because i already know what i want my NEXT song project to be, but i have to finish this gosh-darned one first.

happy everything.

lovemarty

3 more peanut butter & jellery songs

as suspected, the songs are taking a bit longer to get done than i thought. isn't someone supposed to be giving me a hard time about that?

tracks 4, 5, and 6!

4. my real friends-
i think that 'my real friends' is yet another song in the long line of songs about my curious childhood. i never had an imaginary friend, because i had so many on tee vee and in comic books. but i sort of longed for one. perhaps this stunted my imagination, perhaps it just slanted it in an interesting direction. the notion that the tee vee/comic book friends were 'my real friends' stems in no small part from the fact that, as a classically solitary small boy (until i found another kindred weirdo in the 4th grade), my real-est friends were the ones i was finding in the justice league (thank you, kieth giffen). don't worry, i became a crazed extrovert in junior high...

i pushed myself around a bit on this composition. i tried to do things that didn't come to me instinctively, like dropping the lead verse line when it seems like it should come right back in, and then vocally following a weirdly atonal piano part instead of trying to build upon it melodically. interesting result...

and this is the longest song yet! way longer than a minute!

5. van buren's eye -
this is completely autobiographical. i just thought it was very funny as it was happening. the lyrics are:
'i dropped an eyeball on the floor ; as i remade martin van buren; president - who i adored ; because we share a name or something...'
as all two of you may know, i make sock puppet portraits for a living. recently, as part of a show in chicago, i did three portraits of U.S. presidents - lincoln, washington, and martin van buren. all have a place in my heart, but van buren the most personal. as a small boy, i wondered if any presidents were named 'martin'. whereupon i became fascinated with him. while re-making him in sock puppet form, i dropped his eyeball on the floor.

shortest song yet!

6. animal robot armada -
this falls more under the 'you've been warned'-songs-by-marty category. the leader of which is 'chocula (you're never safe)' as popularized by the rock band uncle monsterface.

any song that features robots, scientists, and zoos absolutely insists upon a nod to the flaming lips. duly nodded.

seriously, though, be careful. it's all a front for advanced robots, and they're assembling. remain vigilant!


that's what i gots.
pleassssse tell me what you think, please tell other people about them.

lovemarty

i am making a bunch of new songs called peanut butter and jellery.

hi.
it's me, marty.
the short-ish story:
i am making 23 new songs up...sort of...
i'm not sure how long it will take.
it will be called
"peanut butter and jellery",
(big thanks to perfect jimmy for the title idea that i then slightly modified because i am weird and also to remind me of the james kochalka book i really like called peanut butter and JEREMY, and my best friend of that same name, and also because i like peanut butter a CELERY way better than peanut butter and jelly...)

each new song(s) will initially be on my myspace at
www.myspace.com/martysongs and the completed and archived work will be up on my old songaday blog at
martystuff.blogspot.com ...
at the end, i think i'll call it an 'album', and give it artwork and everything.
initially i thought i would reserve the right to re-sequence the tracks, but i take that back. it'll be more interesting to let the album sequence itself.

i can make no guarantees about the quality of these songs, both conceptually and in listening-wise...we'll find out together...

here are the first three songs from 'peanut butter and jellery' that i peanut butter and jelleried in the wee hours:

1. holdmyhand-
is i think about living in new york and being overwhelmed by massive amounts of people who are constantly so physically close to one another but simultaneously so isolated from one another. urban life. sometimes it seems like we're all singing the same song, but we can't join together, we're all running the same marathon, but we can't keep up. and i just want everyone to try and hold hands while they try...i'm such a softee...

2. tiananmen square root -
is not a political statement, but just a strange lyrical phrase that got stuck in me so i needed to let it out....in its way, i guess it becomes about my own curious thought-process and where that leads me (as many of my organically derived and naturally evolved songs and artworks are wont to do). memories of old cars and global tragedies butt heads and entangle body parts with books about the berenstein bears... that sort of thing...

3. this is my hed-
it's made out of head. this is my head. it's made out of your head...(see above)

please join me as i make up the rest.

the longer story:
usually, i am in a band called uncle monsterface. together in that band, we make many wonderful songs.

sometimes, i make songs by myself. sometime those songs even become monsterface songs (which is to say, way better). around 2005 or so-ish, just as uncle monsterface was being born unto the world and planet and planet of worlds, i made a song a day for 30 days, 3 different times, totaling 90 songs. the results of that experiment are still at:
martystuff.blogspot.com,
and that will also be the primary home of this experiment (as you've hopefully surmised).

you see, i can't quite carve out the time for another song-a-day at this juncture in my life. this is basically a good thing - my life is full of a myriad of exciting creative pursuits. but i still want to undergo a ridiculous marathon project of song-ing...

enter 'peanut butter and jellery' .
here's how this one came about:
i write a ton of little musical 'blips' : musical thoughts or ideas, often only around 30-40 seconds, that largely just sit around on my hard drive and mock me. more recently in the material world, i decided to make a concerted effort to compartmentalize a lot of my sketch book efforts. so i now have: a 'funny' sketch book, a 'drawings' sketchbook, and a 'songs' sketchbook (and tons of others, really. but you get the point.)

so, to keep making a long story long, the other night i was thinking about all the little music 'blips' i have. on my way to bed, i listened to one, and thought suddenly, 'oh my goodness, wouldn't that be just very super perfect for those weird lyrics i wrote?' i didn't make it to bed for another four hours, because suddenly i was matching lyrics to music-blips in a frenzy (and an irresponsible frenzy at that, as i was justifiably dog-tired and had several other things i OUGHT to have been doing...). in the end, i had matched no less than 23 sets of words to 23 little pieces of music. an unusual feat, and an odd way to write songs...(and as an aside, the number has a sweet spot for me from a variety of directions [let's please ignore the silly movie], and it was entirely unintentional. on a conscious level, anyways...)

but i didn't RECORD any of it, see? so i'd imagine SOME of it will work great, and some will end up in the,'huh, what was i thinking aboot?' category. and i invite you, fictitious person who is no longer reading my over-wrought missive, to join me on this journey of journeys. weeeee! what a journey! of sonnnng!

sorry.

some notes on why this isn't another songaday:
it can't be song-a-day because it isn't. it's something else entirely. for one, with song-a-day, a big part of the ethic was that the song was made up in it's entirety on that day. i'm sure there will be a lot of re-working of what's already written and recorded going on with this project (but the essential bits are there, and once it's recorded and posted it's 'done'), and i'm pretty sure there will be days and days where i won't publish songs. and days (like today) where i publish several. but if i wait too long, you should get on my case. moreover, a lot of these songs will be short as the dickens. most of them, probably. not that dickens was always short, but you get that idea, too. moreover, some will be sappy and/or morose. and i don't generally hold with that crud with the monsterface. at least not in as much of an obvious manner.

and that's my story. welcome to
'peanut butter and jellery'
(thanks again, jimmy!)

as ever, please let me know what you think.

lovemarty

peanut butter and jellery is coming soon!

yes!
yes it is!

very exciting...

lovemarty

not so songaday (but life is yay)

hi.
scroll down for 90 songs = three iterations of songaday.

i know, i know, last time i posted i said i though i'd probably be ready for october/november. i'm not. i'm committed to waiting until i really feel like it's the right time. still superbusy with uncle monsterface, check out the goodness, much of which was born right here. but i am getting ready. in my funny marty ways. i've done several notsongadays. maybe i'l post those at some point for an interim preview/treat.

in the end, i can't wait to do this again. it will come.

this i command!

lovemarty

sock puppet and story a day!

hiya! scrolll down for old songs...

for now:
me and my friend andy wade are engaging in an experiment of creative solidarity. while i make a sock puppet a day for 30 days he'll make a short story type thing a day for 30 days.

see them both every day right here through spetember 2, 2005 at:
sockpuppetandstoryaday
please join us for the awesome greatness of yay.
lovemarty

still no songaday yet (but i want to make puppets)

hi.
i sure do miss songaday. it'll be back. in the meantime, if you're new, scroll on down for 90 songs that make up three iterations of me making one song every day for 30 days in the past. they're grrreat!

now here's the deal: right now i'm doing a spot of music learning. and a spot of software learning. and i keep on playing rock songs with the awesome rock band uncle monsterface . so after the learning stuff, i'd very much like to do ANOTHER songaday. i'm thinking probably october-ish. and that'll rock so hard it'll hurt my face and every other part of my body.

BUT! i wanna do something else in the meantime. another round of sockpuppetaday. now, to give you some background, sock puppet a day was the forerunner of songaday. i made 30 sock puppets for 30 days last year, before i EVER even thought of songaday. subsequently, i use those sock puppets everywhere (including at live uncle monsterface shows - come see us this friday july 29 for free at 8pm at the Boston Children's Museum, and then august 27 at the milky way in jp all ages 2pm with harry and the potters yay). i'd love to post them, i'm not sure yet if i'll post them here or start up a seperate blog for them.

what do you think?

okay!
bye. i miss you, my songaday.
lovemarty

(thisisnota) songaday

hi!
i miss songaday.

but i fear it'll be awhile until i start another. for those interested in songaday in particular, scroll on down. there are 90 songs for you to listen to. listen up. get down. tell me what you think.

what have i been doing? lots of stuff. perhaps the most exciting is uncle monsterface. it is the rock band.
please check us out at
uncle monsterface's nifty new web page!
uncle monsterface is making lots of awesome songs. several of them were born right here in songaday land. and then my very smart rock partners make them way better. go to the above-mentioned web site to hear our new and exciting re-creation of lionfist journey (and then scroll on down to hear the olde version...or vice versa...it was volume 2 #6, for the kids who are keeping score...)

and also there is a spider baby growing out of my shoulder and i am learning to make cartoons.
awesome!
yay.
lovemarty

songaday volume 3 #30

ta-dahh! it's goodbyehello volume three

whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
ok.

long-winded dedication that can very easily be skimmed over:
songaday volume 3 is humbly dedicated to douglas adams.
as a small boy, i read all of the hitchhikers guide books and loved them (something i am rather proud of the small boy version of myself for). i began in the fourth grade. by the time i was in the fifth, i gave a lengthy oral book report about "the restaurant at the end of the universe" which involved a bulging sack of props. there are all sorts of things that form you when you are young. for me, i always knew douglas had been one of them, along with great stuff like the kids in the hall, the simpsons, they might be giants, the tick, jim henson, my best friend jeremy and his family, tee vee, tv, television,the list goes on and on. but somewhere along the line, i think i forgot just how much he had done to my mind. (for my mind.) i recently decided to re-read all of his books. i finished the guide series (incidentally, i have no idea why i used to say that the books fall off at "so long and thanks for all the fish." read them all, they're increasingly brilliant). anyways, i was reading "last chance to see" (his lesser-know non-fiction book about endangered species. the copy isn't mine but amy mae's mom's or brother's...i'll give it back...i prommmmmise...) anyways, i was reading it on the train, and then it suddenly made me cry. not just because i'm a big baby (though i am), but because it hit me in the face. pow! right in the face. he's dead. i don't think i grieved properly when he died. so now i am, and this is for him.

slightly less long-winded thanks:
first thanks to everyone and anyone who listens ever. in the past, present, or fuuuuture. and extra thanks to anyone who has told me thoughts or encouragements or anything. i know folks are out there, because the internet tells me so. i even like to imagine that there are a few sneaky folks out there whom i've never even heard from, listening away, headphones clenched, hunched over their gramophone in the night kitchen. but extra special thanks to two folks who i am wicked most proud to hold as friends: ms amy mae silvia and mr andrew wade. you guys have kept listening, and kept encouraging, and kept telling me things. and it means a heckuva damn crap of a lot. yeesh, andywade ended up with a song about him and a song sung by him (two of my favorites, incidentally). so bigtime thanks, everbody.

and that's it. i'm not sure what happens next. i have a feeling it will be a bit longer before i do it all again. i mean, i'm sure i'll do it again, but there really is some other stuff i have to hack away at. i want to make some cartoons, rock out with monsterface, make some sandwiches, kiss girls, go to dinner, sleep and bathe regularly, other crazy ideas...

it has once again been an awesome experience. i am as surprised by these songs as you are. every day is a crazy adventure. and i'm really proud. every iteration of songaday has been totally special.

so yay. yay for you, yay for me.
come see uncle monsterface tomorrow night at o'briens.

i'll miss you while i'm gone.
HELLLLO!

goodbye.
lovemarty

songaday volume 3 #29

for all the poker players: (bad) luck of the draw

an auspicious number 29.
bearing certain resemblances to #21's "out like a lamb". equally owesome to mr tom waits. i'm just enchanted by this gritty and downtrodden feel. when i'm not making something obscenely upbeat and catchy, that is. it is new to me and very fun.

several peoplefolk said to me, "so, all done with songaday, eh?" and i said several times, "anope. 30 days every time." my month. sorry for the confusion.

tomorrow we say goodbye and farewell. thursday we rock o'briens. friday we get on a plane.
viva la doinglotsofstuff.
i won't start waxing all maudlin and thankful and thoughtful until then. but rest assured i will, complete with an anti-climactic final song.

until then,
lovemarty

songaday volume 3 #28

have fiscally responsible fun with: the grown up song

i think it is rather clear that i am amusing myself quite a bit at the end, here. for anyone keeping track, there is some pretty uncharacteristic vocal overimpedance, but i just had to keep those performances. let's see...i'm very excited for thursday's monsterface. did i mention that show?

and tired. but good tired, you know?
so. here's how it falls out. songaday ends march 2. monsterface rocks march 3. then i travel to portland oregon with my best friends to see my best friend. for a vacation! yay.

just two more, gang. i can safely say that, for me at least, it has been a very exciting songaday thus far. but we're not done yet...

i know your secret,
lovemarty

songaday volume 3 #27

an aquatic life with: scuba bear

i know it is a topic that everyone is writing about, but i just had to put in my two cents.

while making this song i had to stop recording several times because it was making me laugh.
i am suddenly all about crazy funny screamy punky songs again. crazy olde songaday. and i really like the middle, too. i need more songs where i just make funny noises.

what does MARCH 3 equal?
UNCLE MONSTERFACE at o'brien's in allston! yay, come and see. rumor has it we may be "doing the airplane."

with chocolate arms and hands.
lovemarty

songaday volume 3 #26

moving forward we have go!

one of the many nice things about a saturday to myself is it means that my songaday gets to be done mid-day. which means i am far more comfortable all-out screaming. which isn't to say that my room doesn't resonate with it's fair share pf whelps and whinnies aech night around 2am, it's just that i can REALLY scream during the day. i mean, this stuff would be downright inappropraite at such wee hours.

very awfully close. yes yes.
are you with me out there, people who listen to things?

let's take the rock and roll on down through the home stretch.
lovemarty

songaday volume 3 #25

watch out for avian flew: do the airplane (do the aeroplane)

phewww...almost there. already making me misty. this songaday has rocked my butt off. yay.

don't forget - uncle monsterface. march 3. 8:30pm. o'brien's in allston. rockrockrock.

tonight is the first official pokernight in nigh on a dog's age. wish me luck.

and i'd truly appreciate it if while you listen to this song, you please do the airplane.

everyone knows how...
lovemarty

songaday volume 3 #24

rollin in from the pasture is milkcow

congratulations on the shortest songaday ever yet.

i told you i'd make a song called milkcow.

sick of being sick,
lovemarty

songaday volume 3 #23

target practice with: shoot me down

don't worry, it's about climbing trees, and how to get off of them.
i like summoning the bluesman inside. i want to do more of that.

first of all, let's all countdown to uncle monsterface at o'briens on march 3 - 8:30pm. count with me...

and in case you were worrying, i'm still ucky-sick. i got better in the morning and now i'm sicker. ayuck. singing songs like that isn't so conducive to healthiness, either. but songaday is songaday. note the clever use of my incredibly stufft up voice.

a side note: i think several sweet people took yesterday's "delicate ego" comment as a fishing line for compliments. or something. it wasn't intended as such. but thanks to any and everyone for kind words and encouragement (all the time...and maybe people just happened to be feeling nice at that same moment). anyways, it always means a lot. as does honest criticism. if i may get back on my soap box for a moment, i would preach that if you are reading/watching/experiencing any of this magical world of blogdom, vlogdom, bjournalhood, or anything for that matter, take a moment to tell the person on the other end what you think. it almost never falls on deaf ears. again, this isn't me fishing, it is me preaching.
(oh will you pleasepleaseplease ADORE ME already!)

i think we may be officially on the home stretch here.
hopefully i will be less sick on the morrow (wind).

with mutual adoration and a medicine head,

lovemarty