✧ Project: Orpheus - Imagine Create Share ✧

 
Think i have song 2 & 3 now figured out, looks like the 10 songs are AI related but not anything to do with music,but what the AI concept in reality is actually doing to society in real time. No way purposefully writing a song for Orpheus but the themes are very consistent & about "human" reaction to robots & invisible control factors & the tracking & control of your "input" for AI to interpret musically & lyrically for you vs what you manually make it all really about. So, don't even have to force write, just be alive & paint it all out musically & lyrically. I guess it's a way to have both music making ways shown side by side.
 
Think i have song 2 & 3 now figured out, looks like the 10 songs are AI related but not anything to do with music,but what the AI concept in reality is actually doing to society in real time. No way purposefully writing a song for Orpheus but the themes are very consistent & about "human" reaction to robots & invisible control factors & the tracking & control of your "input" for AI to interpret musically & lyrically for you vs what you manually make it all really about. So, don't even have to force write, just be alive & paint it all out musically & lyrically. I guess it's a way to have both music making ways shown side by side.
You could put it here man I don’t think it matters how you produce.
I am starting to get some hybrids, guitar riff in song out.
 
Curious, how much time are you guys putting in an AI song creation, in comparison to making a full song old school way ?
My process is a bit different.
i don't write songs anymore; just about everything i do is by recording successive layers of improvised tracks,
so there's really very little done in the way of advance prep.


This most recent one was:
basic track recorded on miezo > HX Stomp and RC-3 looper,
then i added a 'session drummer' part in Logic,
then a track of compressed low end stuff with The Empress (Müb X3M six string bass, 22.75" fretless neck),
went back and refined the drum programming just a little bit to make it more interactive,
added a track of fizzy fuzzy single note guitar stuff with Muffy (Ibanez RG 421RW) on top,
then a couple of 'ambient' tracks, one of static (from touching the end of an unplugged guitar cable) and another
one of dj scratching (done directly on a dj software waveform display), both also recorded in real time.

Before the final stereo mixdown, i did a tiny bit of eq tweaking just to keep the frequency ranges of the two guitar parts
from bleeding into each other too much, then ran the stereo mix through LANDR mastering.

AI was definitely involved in the creation of the drum stuff and in the mastering process, but even though most of the real heavy lifting
is being done automatically there are still choices to be made and i have the option to change things around if i'm not 100% satisfied
with whatever is being generated by AI internally.

In any case, the entire process hasn't changed at all from what i normally do.
i'm always trying to keep pre and post prep work to a bare minimum; it's all about capturing a moment in time for me.
 
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When we are gone, our music is gone with us
Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven (not to mention Miles, Monk, and Trane) might be arguments against that, LOL.

While i would never place myself in their company, i do think it's nice when somebody completely random (kinda like
some of you folks here) happens upon my music and has a good time listening to it.

If i'm on enough different platforms, that might even still continue to occur after i leave this plane of existence too ...
but in the end i'm really just making the kind of music that i want to hear, and if this audience of one disappears
the tree will still fall in the forest (so to speak).

The beautiful thing about recorded music is that someone else, somewhere, some time can get to experience the fall
for the first time themself.
:)
 
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My process is a bit different.
i don't write songs anymore; just about everything i do is by recording successive layers of improvised tracks,
so there's really very little done in the way of advance prep.


This most recent one was:
basic track recorded on miezo > HX Stomp and RC-3 looper,
then i added a 'session drummer' part in Logic,
then a track of compressed low end stuff with The Empress (Müb X3M six string bass, 22.75" fretless neck),
went back and refined the drum programming just a little bit to make it more interactive,
added a track of fizzy fuzzy single note guitar stuff with Muffy (Ibanez RG 421RW) on top,
then a couple of 'ambient' tracks, one of static (from touching the end of an unplugged guitar cable) and another
one of dj scratching (done directly on a dj software waveform display), both also recorded in real time.

Before the final stereo mixdown, i did a tiny bit of eq tweaking just to keep the frequency ranges of the two guitar parts
from bleeding into each other too much, then ran the stereo mix through LANDR mastering.

AI was definitely involved in the creation of the drum stuff and in the mastering process, but even though most of the real heavy lifting
is being done automatically there are still choices to be made and i have the option to change things around if i'm not 100% satisfied
with whatever is being generated by AI internally.

In any case, the entire process hasn't changed at all from what i normally do.
i'm always trying to keep pre and post prep work to a bare minimum; it's all about capturing a moment in time for me.
Thanks for that reply, your last sentence is right where i am at always...the moment ! The emotion around it all ! Capture it while it is there !
 
Curious, how much time are you guys putting in an AI song creation, in comparison to making a full song old school way ?
It all depends on how long Suno takes to get it where I can enjoy the song . Most songs have been cooking for months, they are never really done but you can usually pick 1 out 3.

So earlier this weak , I found a song buried in a mire of songs, multiple iterations.
It’s a guitar I recorded to a EZ drummer track. It’s been around at least a couple years.

So I thought, maybe it’s time to give a go.
It always does songs in Two’s and it takes points or credits that I pay for monthly.
The first 2 were absolutely what I hoped for but I wanted just a little more out of the vocal on the last chorus. It could have taken a half dozen try’s . Lucky it was just 3 try’s, still 6 versions. The chorus is , well the whole thing leans toward pop rock but I like how it came out. The song still has not been introduced as of yet.

So it varies between a day and 4 months, mostly depends on how you curate it and how Suno responds, I have several songs that run the gamut in genres just a little tweak and another and another and so on.
 
My process is a bit different.
i don't write songs anymore; just about everything i do is by recording successive layers of improvised tracks,
so there's really very little done in the way of advance prep.


This most recent one was:
basic track recorded on miezo > HX Stomp and RC-3 looper,
then i added a 'session drummer' part in Logic,
then a track of compressed low end stuff with The Empress (Müb X3M six string bass, 22.75" fretless neck),
went back and refined the drum programming just a little bit to make it more interactive,
added a track of fizzy fuzzy single note guitar stuff with Muffy (Ibanez RG 421RW) on top,
then a couple of 'ambient' tracks, one of static (from touching the end of an unplugged guitar cable) and another
one of dj scratching (done directly on a dj software waveform display), both also recorded in real time.

Before the final stereo mixdown, i did a tiny bit of eq tweaking just to keep the frequency ranges of the two guitar parts
from bleeding into each other too much, then ran the stereo mix through LANDR mastering.

AI was definitely involved in the creation of the drum stuff and in the mastering process, but even though most of the real heavy lifting
is being done automatically there are still choices to be made and i have the option to change things around if i'm not 100% satisfied
with whatever is being generated by AI internally.

In any case, the entire process hasn't changed at all from what i normally do.
i'm always trying to keep pre and post prep work to a bare minimum; it's all about capturing a moment in time for me.
Omg, that song is so different, well done FJ2 .
 
Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven (not to mention Miles, Monk, and Trane) might be arguments against that, LOL.

While i would never place myself in their company, i do think it's nice when somebody completely random (kinda like
some of you folks here) happens upon my music and has a good time listening to it.

If i'm on enough different platforms, that might even still continue to occur after i leave this plane of existence too ...
but in the end i'm really just making the kind of music that i want to hear, and if this audience of one disappears
the tree will still fall in the forest (so to speak).

The beautiful thing about recorded music is that someone else, somewhere, some time can get to experience the fall
for the first time themself.
:)
“Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven (not to mention Miles, Monk, and Trane) might be arguments against that”

Great bodies of work do survive time but of all the creators of music in the world in last few centuries, there are a handful of musicians that will remain timeless, even some recent and current artists from the last 50 decades.

For me, I will never achieve that classical success, or few rarely do. In my instance, when I’m gone my music will not live on like Van Halen. It’s a different scope of course.
 
So I have been super busy making videos to songs that are long overdue, This song I called “Starbound “ so it does have another video somewhere but this one is for a short video that includes half of the song.
I am developing video editing over time.
This song will be on the album
 
One of the things I decided lately is to think more about finishing what I started here! I got lots of ground to make up, and the funny thing is... since I first announced my idea... there is suddenly all kinds of news about developments in my province in regards to data centres and uranium mining that wasn't even on the radar when I conceived my project. And then, shortly after I announced Orpheus, i got sidetracked by creating a whole different concept album for a family member, and then shortly after Christmas my father passed away, which kind of took the wind out of the sails for my own project.

So, just for the Hell of it, I am going to post the one I did, just for fun and to prove that with some dedication it is entirely possible, though this was very much AI- assisted musically, but less so lyrically. In regards to the lyrics for each song, in some cases all I did was come up with a verse and a pre-chorus and chorus, to flesh out the song structure, then would ask AI to continue with more verses after I simply would provide a few sentences as subject matter to basically STEER the creative. I also crafted most of the bridge lyrics, though certainly I have to give AI credit for helping shape those in some cases as well. But in all cases, it is my strong opinion AI generated lyrics must absolutely be edited over by a human writer, to tighten, reword, rearrange and such before making a song out of them. That can really make the difference between the so-called "Slop" and something more resembling actual music.

I also present this to give others some clues on how to use AI music-tools if you wish to try it, for best results. Particularly in regards to structure and particular prompt cues. Though, I do have to say sometimes it ignores what you tell it, and does it better than our original thought. I also have to admit, I've made very little in the way of music of any kind in the past five months.

In my estimation music and lyrics all together for this particular project, I'd say this was about 70% AI effort/ 30% TVvoodoo effort -give or take, certain instances. I also used various AI to help with lyrics, Grok, and Google Gemini. I don't care much all for the lyrics Suno generates.

Preface: Grandview Apts is a real place, here in my small community and I am on "staff" to assist with some small maintenance issues, grounds keeping, leases, move-out reports etc. The 6-plex building is owned by my brother from afar, and he pays me to be on call to assist with issues that arise. It's not a fancy building, nor is it an terrible one. Firmly middle of the road and one of the reasons there rarely a vacancy is the very reasonably priced rent which does tend to attract people of lower income who cannot afford (or do not wish to) purchase a home. However, as with all apartment buildings, there are situations that come up... residents with "party" lifestyles and such, quite a few occasions of single mom type families etc... So, the content of this album focuses on various situations arising from a maintenance/landlord's point of view mostly, and it was supposed to overall be lighthearted, dramatic, and funny - cover all the emotions, to give it some variety. But not taken seriously OK?

I made this concept album purely as a lark and a test case to see if I could accomplish such a thing and use it to explore AI music creation in a wide variety of genres and music styles. While some of the comedy is a bit "inside" most of it is indeed universal. The end product here, which I hope you do take some time to enjoy was burned to CD with the graphics below in the CD case. and presented as a Christmas gift to my brother, I estimate the whole thing took me about 4 solid days, though only a few hours at a time, working mostly evenings. Most of these tracks songs were generated multiple times, from as little as two or three, to up to ten or twelve to get what I figured was fine enough to move on to the next. That's the big picture.

With that, I give you...

u2UrroJx_o.jpg



Intro song...
THE GRANDVIEW DREAM
[musical intro, heavenly][vocal intro]
Waiting list a mile long, everyone wants in
Dream of when they get that call, and Grandview life begins
Patiently they yearn, a chance to call one theirs
Grandview Apartments – for life without a care

[Verse 1]
Even the expansive parking lot, slows down traffic nice
Protecting cats and kids that stray, safety first, so wise
The peeling paint is faded, much like an old tattoo
But each of six sweet units, brims with love for you
Entrance steps tilt with whimsy, sometimes known to snap
You’re never sure, fun to endure adventures so madcap

[Pre-Chorus]
These two-bedroom beauties are in great demand,
You’re helpful landing, fresh out of remand
The Grandview life is where dreams get real
The sights, the smells, the sounds, the feels of love

[Chorus]
Grandview Apartments, more than a home
Not quite heaven, but still in that zone
But as long as you breathe, you can still receive
Your very own chance to dream, oh,
Your chance at the Grandview dream Ohhh

[Verse 2]
The upward climb to the single bath, a workout for your thighs
Leg day, everyday, free cardio – reaching for the skies!
Kitchens cozy and tight, vintage stove so quaint
Comforting mac 'n' cheese, pretentious? No it ain’t
Summer hits, a furnace blast, seek the basement cool
Damp concrete unfinished bliss, who even needs a pool?

[Pre-Chorus]
The Grandview life is where dreams get real
The sights, the smells, the sounds, the feels
Of love, oh of lovvvvve

[Chorus]
Grandview Apartments, more than a home
Not quite heaven, but still in that zone
But as long as you breathe, you can still receive
You’re very own chance to dream, oh,
Your chance at the Grandview dream
Ohhh

[Bridge]
The grand view's even grander now, than ever it was before
That condemned shack across the way torn down to the floor
Now just a smiling empty lot, through picture windows wide
Endless possibility, a far more hopeful sight!

[Verse 3]
Landlord oh-so-friendly, accommodates all needs
Lavish gifts, potato chips, warm Bepsi - that’s not greed!
Unsolicited advice, to steer you t’wards the light,
Wisdom shared so selflessly, so you can win the fight
And that handsome property manager? Mowing cans ‘n daisies with glee?
Adjusts his entire schedule, for YOU great service is his creed

[Pre-Chorus]
The Grandview life is where dreams get real
The sights, the smells, the sounds, the feels Of love, oh of love

[Chorus]
[Big Breakdown]
Grandview Apartments, more than a home
Not quite heaven, but still in that zone
But as long as you breathe, you can still receive
Your very own chance to dream, oh,
Your chance at the Grandview dream
A chance at your Grandview dream,
Ohhh At the Grandview dreammmm
Oooooohhhhhh

Track 2 Landlord Messiah was "play" lyrically with the idea of a "God complex" some landlords seem to acquire, as a jab at my brother,
who I have to say does NOT at all have this mindset. Still, I thought he would enjoy it a song about it, and the drama of such a piece.


Landlord Messiah

[Early heavy rock Blues Riff]
(Verse 1)
Oh yeah, I'm the king of these crumbling walls,
Towering high like a thunder god's call.
Tenants bow down when I slam the door,
Pay up or pray up, 'cause MY word is LAW!
I twist the keys like lightning bolts,
Evict the weak with a maniac's jolt.
I'm the almighty, that is quite clear
My kingdom is built upon rent and fear

[chorus]
I'm the God of the Lease, feel my wrath unleash!
Bow before me, peasants, on your knees!
Power surges through my veins like fire,
I'm the landlord messiah, take me higher! Yeah, yeah, yeah
– I rule the night!
In my domain, no wrong, no right!

[Verse 2]
I lurk in shadows, watching you sleep,
Your secrets are mine, in my madness I keep.
Raise the heat, or freeze you out cold,
I'm the puppeteer, your souls I've sold.
Delusions dance in my fevered brain,
Voices whisper, make them feel pain!
With a click of my pen, I'll crush your dreams,
Eternal power, savour my screams!
[Guitar Solo]

[Bridge] [Breakdown]
Ohh, the cosmos bows to my divine decree,
Stars align for my property spree.
I'm immortal, insane, with a crown of thorns,
Ruling from a throne of leases and forms.
No mercy for the late, no pity for the poor,
I'm the beast unleashed, forevermore!
[Slow burn building}

[prechorus] [Spoken word]
You may dream of a long lost dream of a home
The nightmare is you ... you're the one that I own
[Build to climax]

[Chorus]
I'm the God of the Lease,
Feel my wrath unleash!
Bow before me, peasants, on your knees!
Power surges through my veins like fire,
I'm the landlord messiah, take me higher!
Yeah, yeah, yeah – I rule the night!
In my domain, no wrong, no right!

[Outro]
Hail to the landlord... your god... your king...Eternal power...
Let the madness ring!
Let my madness ring...
Let my madness ring...
My madness ring
HA HA HAA-HA-HAhaha-ha-haaaaaaaaaa

whoops hit the 1,000 character limit... To be continued...
 
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Grandview continued...
Track three was super fun! Since my brother is a HUGE Yngwie fan, (and a musician himself) I wanted to do a orchestral-type metal piece and chose this subject. Every spring as maintenance man, I have to go into the basement of a unit and check to see if the weeping tile under the building is draining properly into the sewer, as the building is built in a more of a lowland area, and the water table gets very high in the spring.
It's kind of a creepy operation, and I simply, seriously overdramatized the task... I wrote down the specifics of what needs to be done in dramatic fashion with the main adjectives I felt I needed to have in there. Then, I asked AI to create and organize my thoughts into an Edgar Allen Poe lyrical/Poem style. Then I imported the song into Suno to put the words to music in the specific neo-classical metal style I wanted.

These are the cues I gave Suno for creation of the music:
"This song has NO verse chord structure, It is relentlessly tense and pounding, descending into heavy metal madness, as it continues downward in key, It starts slow but gradually gains bitter, horrific tension until the short wailing and shrieking guitar solo which ends on a sustained note that fades off, After the guitar solo, and musical breakdown, the song once again ramps up to a dramatic and sudden end"

Descent
Beneath foreboding thunderclouds that bruise the evening sky,
The air itself grows thick with dread no mortal can deny.
Flashes of lightning rip the dark and bare the world in white,
Each glare a silent prophecy of horrors in the night.
Relentless pouring rain descends, a shroud of liquid chains,
It drums upon the rooftops and it floods the murky lanes.
The anxious townsfolk bolt their doors and whisper prayers in fear,
While flood warnings howl through the streets like banshees drawing near.
Through muck and mire I wade alone, boots swallowed by the flood,
A burning need to assess the table drags me through the mud.
I reach the shadowed complex where Satan first learned of sin,
And pause before the foreboding door that guards Unit 3 within.
With deliberate twist of key the rusted lock gives way,
A warning call escapes my throat into the watery gray.
Yet no reply returns to me, the silence answers “none,”
The rooms are empty, cold, and still—Thank God! Nobody home!
A sense of apprehension coils like smoke around my spine,
Then evil darkness breathes below and beckons me to climb
Downward, I creep carefully where no light dares to be,
Each moaning stair a dying breath beneath my trembling knee.
Fear turns to panic in my chest, a frantic, beating drum,
Until I hear a faint trickle from the weeping still to come.
I kneel and lift a splintered board that groans beneath my grip,
Revealing a hidden concrete tomb where blackened waters drip.
A musty, foul odor rises—rotted rust and worse—
It claws my lungs and plants in me its cold eternal curse.
I reach with bare and shaking hands into the cold, dark flood,
My fingers find the secret valve encrusted thick with crud.
As it twists, the water rushes faster through the vein,
A loud gurgling and swirling grows, unholy, unrestrained.
Then faint screams rise from deep below, thin threads of agony,
They claw the air, they beg, they plead, increasingly plaintively.

[guitar solo] [music breakdown]

I stand transfixed in storm and dark and listen as they cry,
Until the voices suddenly cease, and silence chokes the sky.
A deep relief and hollow peace descend into my core,
The deed is done, the debt is paid, the hunger asks no more.
I haste to close the concrete tomb and drop the board in place,
I race the stairs to flee the gloom that stains that cursed space.
I exit Unit 3 and lock the knob with sure and steady hand,
Carefully close behind me secrets none may understand.
And though the rain still falls and thunder rolls its solemn drum,
I promise myself beneath the storm I never shall succumb
To breath a word or whispered truth of what those waters keep—
Some doors once opened, must be sealed for madness can run deep

Track four explores a non-standard Landlord/Tenant relationship in a fantasy world where an attractive female tenant is pining
to pay rent by "alternate" means. It was obvious to go with a modern country style on this... though It was very difficult to set up in a duet, and still I didn't get it all the way i wanted it to come out, but generally it's satisfying and the production is amazing. I think i spent the most time on this one track trying to get it exact but ultimately gave up. The way I understand it, they have since made changes to the suno platform that makes this easier to do now.


Three Months Late
[Verse 1 ][Male]
Knock knock, darling, it’s the first again
Your name’s on the lease, you're check’s playin’ pretend
Three months late, girl, the math don’t lie
I just need my money, not your baby doll eyes
[Female]
Oh baby, don’t be cold, you can come inside
We can work this out slow, if you jus' let me ride
I got something better than dollars and sense
Let me pay in full… with a little interest
[Pre-Chorus][male]
I want the rent!
[Female] I’ll make you sweat!
[Male] Cash or certified check!
[Female] You ain’t seen nothin’ yet…

[Chorus]
Baby, I can cover you all night long
Just want what’s mine, girl, don't come on so strong
She's droppin’ hints like she’s droppin’ her dress
He's wavin' the lease, won't take nothing less
Three months behind, the temperature’s high
She's flirtin' so dirty, with sparks in her eyes
[Verse 3] [Male]
Babe, I’ve heard every line, every tenant excuse
But comes a time when you gotta produce
You can wiggle and whisper, flash that tattoo
My bank don’t take nudes, and neither do I, boo
[Female]Need you to come up to check my bedroom
There's an issue to solve with a little boom-boom
I'm know I'm real late, got a little behind
You seem kinda stressed, let me help you unwind

[Pre-Chorus][male]
I want the rent!
[Female] I’ll make you sweat!
[Male] Cash or certified check!
[Female] You ain’t seen nothin’ yet…
[Chorus]Baby, I can cover you all night long
Just want what’s mine, girl, don't come on so strong
She's droppin’ hints like she’s droppin’ her dress
He's wavin' the lease, won't take nothing less
Three months behind, the temperature’s high
She's flirtin' so dirty, with sparks in her eyes

[Verse 4] [Female]
Come on, big man, loosen that tie
I’ll get down on my knees… if you let it slide
One night of heaven, stop being so fussy
We’ll call it even— come pet my poonanny!
[Pre-Chorus][male]I want the rent!
[female]I’ll pay in sweat!
[male] I'll accept E-transfer check or cash
[female] How 'bout I offer you a fine piece of....

[Chorus][female]
Baby, I can cover you all night long
[male] Lady, I’m flattered, but you’re three grand wrong
She keeps teasin’, squeezin’, doin’ her dance
He just slides the late notice across with a glance
She's grinding right up on him, feelin’ no shame
He's lickin' his lips, but ain't playin' her game

[Bridge] [Spoken][Female]
Could be our little secret… no one has to know…
I'll do you hard and fast, or soft and slow
[Male] Sweetheart, you're hot, but I don't need your honey
I'm ain't in it for pleasure, I'm in it for moneyyyyyyyyyyyy
[sleazy Guitar solo]
[Pre-Chorus][male]
I want the rent!
[female] I’ll pay in sweat!
[male] I'll accept E-transfer check or cash
[female] How 'bout you get a great piece of....
[Chorus][female]
TAKE ME INSTEAD OF THE MONEY, I SWEAR!”
[male] Ain't payin' for sex darlin', can't go there!
She keeps teasin’, squeezin’, doin’ that dance
He just slides the late notice across with a glance
She grinds right up on him, feelin’ no shame
He's bitin' his lip, ain't playin' that game
[slow down]
[female] oh honey baby, I'll be your addiction
[Male | spoken] Rent’s due on the first, or it's eviction

This whole thing is taking a bit more time than I expected so I am going to stop there for now, but add to it later tonight.
or if there's seems to be little or no interest, I'll stop right here.
 
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Grandview continued...

With apartment dwellers, particularly when there's single moms involved... there is often the appearance of these parasitic "boyfriends" who latch onto these young moms, i guess it's partially symbiotic from their end but from the outside looking in, these men-children seem to be often gaining a place to stay for free, They attempt to sneak in under the woman's lease to co-habitate, while all too often not contributing in any way to the household, and in fact create problems for the whole building. It happens way more often than you'd think. That is the dirtbag-parasite scenario... This was written from that distorted point of view.


THRONE OF EXCUSES
[Intro][Spoken word]
You’re welcome, babe.Yeah… you’re welcome.HUH!
[Verse 1]
I grace your couch like a goddamn king
Twisted Tea in my hand, whole world on a string
You rush out the door, heels clickin’ in fear
While I’m rackin’ up kills on Call of Duty, crystal-clear
Kids glued to their iPads, snotty little drones
I’m doin’ you a favor, a blessin’ to your home
You should thank me for stayin’, most dudes would bounce
But I’m loyal as hell, yeah three years on this couch

[Pre-Chorus]
You text “We’re broke again”
I reply with a middle-finger emoji and hit send
[Chorus | huge gang-shouts | drums locked in half-time]
I DON’T cook, I DON’T clean!
I DON’T wipe a single ___ thing!
I DON’T shop, I DON’T pay!
I DON’T even throw my cans away!
I DON’T bathe, I DON’T care!
I DON’T notice you’re never there!
Yeahhhh! I’m a gift, I’m a prize,
You’re lucky to subsidize...
My life!


[Verse 2]
Mirror selfie, shirt off, flexin’ my “gains”
Caption: “Real men never fold, still runnin’ the game”
Your paycheck hits, I order wings and a case
Post a story: “Livin’ large, haters stay in your place”
Boys roll through, we blaze and scream at the screen
You walk in smellin’ like double shifts and defeat
"Babe, grab me a beer?” You sigh and obey
Trained you good; that’s lovin' my way

[Pre-Chorus]
You whisper “I’m tired” I say “Then sleep,

I’m in the middle of a raid”

[Chorus | huge gang-shouts | drums locked in half-time]
I DON’T work, I DON’T try!
I DON’T even look you in the eye!
I DON’T change, I DON’T grow!
I DON’T give back one red cent, HO!
I DON’T love, I DON’T feel!
I’m the best thing you’ll ever steal!
Bow down to your king on your second-hand couch
Your self-esteem needs me, while you feed me no doubt!

[Bridge] [spoken word]
Sometimes… when the high fades and the room gets quiet…
I look around at the pizza boxes, the butts, the mess…
And I wonder…
Is this setup really worthy of a legend like me?
I mean, the Wi-Fi’s only 100 meg…
And you cryin' during sex now, kinda kills the vibe.
There’s gotta be a hotter single mom out there
A bigger TV… quieter kids…
Someone who can truly appreciate my greatness……
Nahhhhhh.
This one still thinks she can “fix” me.
So effin' adorable. I
’ll keep you a little longer, stupid b*tch

[wicked over-the-top guitar solo]
[Chorus]
I DON’T cook! I DON’T clean!
I’m the masculine dream right on your big screen!
I DON’T work! I DON’T strive!
I just leech and stay alive!
I DON’T see your pain!
I DON’T hear your cries!
I’m doin’ you a favor 'til you finally get wise!
You’re welcome for the honor, welcome for the thrills
Welcome to the servitude of payin' all my billllllls

[Outro]
Got work tomorrow, babe?
Oh.
Okay. I’ll be right here.
Protectin’ our castle
Like a real man does.

Track six... This particular apartment complex has heat included in the rent. For this, the landlord simply asks that the tenants don't leave their windows open all day and night when it's twenty degrees below, so they can get "fresh air" - as you can almost literally see the money flying out the upstairs windows. Tenants who lock themselves out also seem to feel it's appropriate to just break into their units sometimes, rather than call for help.
probably all going on in the wee hours. -rather than get preachy, I felt it appropriate to address this painful landlord subject by attempting to speak to tenants with with a soft, light and upbeat pop-infused touch. This one was a first gen take, I just loved it and moved on.

GRANDVIEW WINDOWS

[Verse 1]
Windows are a quiet miracle we seldom celebrate,
They spill the gold of morning
Through the blinds onto your plate,
They shield you from the howling storm
Yet show the world outside,
A crucial fire-escape if flames should ever climb inside.
They never ask for worship, never beg or make a fuss,
Just stand there in the wall each day, forever ready for us.

[Chorus]
Grandview windows let the sunlight flood right in,
They share a soft cool breeze to let your day begin,
Paint winter frost and gentle autumn leaves of brown,
Whisper tales of raindrops sadly running down.
Grandview windows open walls and lift our weary souls,
Turn empty rooms to homes so our hearts can be whole,
They guard us while they show to us all the world so wide,
Show kindnes to your windows—they'll fill your eyes with pride.

[Verse 2]
Some tenants lost their keys again, too proud to call the man,
They yank the kitchen screen until the metal screams and bends,
Snap the sash lock like a twig, then scramble through the frame,
Leave a crooked, broken mouth that can never close again.
Next week the thieves slip in at night, no glass to stop the entry
Because you couldn’t bear the shame of bowing to the gentry

[Chorus]
Grandview windows let the sunlight flood right in,
They share a soft cool breeze to let your day begin,
Paint winter frost and gentle autumn leaves of brown,
Whisper tales of raindrops sadly running down.
Grandview windows open walls and lift a weary soul,
Turn empty rooms to homes so our hearts can be whole,
They guard us while they show to us all the world so wide,
Show kindnes to your windows—they 'll fill your eyes with pride.

[Bridge]
If you wanna be a decent tenant, the window’s always there to try,
But for the love of God and heating bills—SHUT YOUR DAMN WINDOW, don’t make me cry!
I’m begging on my knees here, you disrespectful, frostbitten rubes,
Close the bloody thing or I’ll board it up and charge you for all the cash I lose!

[Verse 3]
Upstairs they crave that summer breeze long after summer’s fled,
Leave bedroom windows yawning wide at twenty-five below,
The furnace roars like dragons, pipes bang all night in dread,
While heat escapes to warm the world, my wallet into snow.
Your rent stays sweet and steady, my gas bill climbs so high
So have a heart and keep them shut, I warn you must comply

[Chorus] [soft, pleading]
Grandview windows let the sunlight flood right in,
They share a soft cool breeze to let your day begin,
They’ll paint you winter frosts and autumn leaves of brown,
If you only let them keep the warm air from escaping town.
Grandview windows open walls and lift a weary soul,
But they can’t keep anyone warm with a ten-inch gaping hole…
So please, be kind to your windows, treat them gentle, treat them right,
Close the sash, save that gas, and we all can sleep tonight.
 
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Grandview Apartments Concept album continued...

One thing that happens all too often with apartment buildings is the fact that tenants seem to have a hard time keeping track of alternating garbage and recycling pickup days. Each apartment has two large bins, a blue for recycling, black for garbage. Too often they get filled up for many weeks and on the timely day of pickup, forgotten they need to be pulled to the curb for pickup. It can get real nasty. There they sit in the hot sun, big black container slow-cooking a vile kind of garbage stew for weeks, which can often make even mowing the grass near them rather unpleasant. This was an attempt at humorizing that situation, from a tenant standpoint, not understanding a not-very-complex garbage/recycling schedule. I thought a good Chicago blues was just the thing for this. This is one of my favourite tracks on this concept album - it actually feels like a real blues performance to me, even with the comedy and all. the ending is **chefs kiss**


MAGGOT FACTORY BLUES
[Spoken, low, menacing]
Man, it’s hotter than the devil’s skillet out here…
An' my bins smell like he done took a :poo: in ’em…

[Verse 1]
I woke up this mornin’, sun beatin’ down like sin
Looked at the curb, blue cart, black cart,
Where do I begin?
Village say Wednesday, neighbor say Thursday,
I say “maybe” I’m standin’ here in my gonch,
confused as a newborn baby
Got them Garbage Day Blues, Lord
These Garbage Day Blues
Just' be tearin’ up my whole mind

[Verse 2 ]
Been meanin’ to roll ’em out
since the first of July
But the game was on, the beer was cold,
And sleepin' dogs lie
Now it’s August, them bins overflowin’,
Juice runnin' down the side
Maggots dancin’ the funky chicken where the
Chicken bones died
Neighbors bangin’ on my door,
threaten to call the law
I just wave from the porch,
“Come back tomorrow, y’all!”
I got them Stankin’ Bin Blues, woman....
Them rotten, nasty, maggot-factory blues
[short blues guitar solo]

[Verse 3]
I finally drag ’em out,
Half past midnight, moon shinin’ bright
Threw a :poo:ty diaper in the blue cart,
Damn that felt alright!
Jugs worth two bits apiece, buried ’em deep in the trash
Pampers floatin’ in the blue bin nuclear diaper rash
Truck Driver look at me like I murdered his mama slow
I just shrug and say,
“Man, just dump it and go!"
Yeah, I got them Filthy Mixed-Up Blues
Diaper-in-the-blue-cart, money-in-the-black-cart blues

[Verse 4]
This here whole block smell like death warmed over twice
Fly swarms blackin' the sky, an' everyone's payin' the price
City fined me two hundred, neighbors want me gone
Ravens moved in, forevermore “home sweet home”
I’m standin’ in the stench, sweatin’, cryin’ and cursed
Lord, take me now, ’cause garbage day can’t get no worse

[hot harmonica solo] [Outro, Slow, pitiful]
So if you smell somethin’ evil blowin’ down your street
That’s just me and my bins cookin’ in this Pierceland heat
I done wrong by the trash, wrong by the village,
Wrong by my nose
Bury me in a trash cart when I go....

Yeah… I got them low down Maggot Factory Blues
Stinkin’, overflowin’, wrong-day, wrong-bin, nasty-ass blues

[slide guitar solo]
[spoken word]
I'm being called home jus' now,
Somebody git up an jus' roll me off to the curb,
Pickup day's tomorrow... or maybe that was yesterday?
[male sings again, fading out]
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Oh Lordy, bye-bye

When it comes time to move out, I roll in and go through the unit once the tenant feels they have done a proper clean up, as guided by a checklist provided to them. They do this to put the unit in the same condition as when they moved in, otherwise they take a hit on the damage deposit for any damages or additional cleaning that needs to be done. Suddenly when you are going through the unit measureing it up, it is almost a given the tenant wants to suddenly be your very best friend! You'll just let that one slide, right bro? LOL! ah... No. I've seen GREAT cleanups to bad attempts not even made attempts to clean up, and big damage left behind. It's amazing how some will disrespect the property of others and expect to get away with it. I figured I'd do one fun upbeat rap hip/hop jazz hybrid vibe from the landlord's POV was fitting.

DEPOSIT DAMAGE

[Verse1]
Here now we establish who big mack daddy is properly,
I'm here to assess how you treated this unit, my property
There will be no questioning my opinion on damages done
In fact we can both can see all the differences one by one
By the move-in assessment pictures of the sad innocent unit,
Compared to how the unit is now after you the tenant
and your nasty ass occupants mistreated this building
And now it payback time, you poor karma farmer, lord willing

[Prechorus]
You looking at me like I’m your best friend now,
that I’m going to do you a big favour, somehow?
Uh...OK sir, let me think on that for a little bit....

[Chorus]
I let you use my apartment for two years, leased that
You made a promise on the papers to treat it with respect,
But it now appears you gave no single mothertrucks,
Livin’ like a pig, gets damage report hard luck
You and your scene made a crack ghetto mess,
Piled it high to this state of terrible distress.
Your drug alcohol-addict reprobate lifestyle
Caught up with you, so now where your smile go?
I'm here to make sure your cash deposit is going to sustain
As much damage as I can give now when I run MY game
In return for your disrespect of my financial assets
Maybe this teach you how to roll, the buck ain’t passin’

[verse 2]
Fist sized holes in the walls, a forced bedroom door jamb,
Window latches busted, bend screen frames, man
Can’t find any smoke detectors, broken light fixtures,
Crayon art all over the walls by a miniature Banksy
Busted door latches, forced window catches,
cigarette burns passed out on the carpets,
Oven looks like it's from the damn tar pits
And by the way, how long has this filthy-as toilet been running?
As long as you been runnin from the po-po boy?

[Chorus]

[Third verse]
The filth! It appears clear you don’t even own a vacuum
I seen floors lookin’ cleaner than this in a crack room
Blood stains on the walls going upstairs like a horror flick
Greasy fingerprints everywhere, banister like a petri dish
Rotten chicken legs, kraft dinner served on the carpet,
Moldy fridge, sparkle nail polish on the hardwood,
Sticky juice sprayed up all over the walls,
Dirty diapers rolled tight tossed 'round like balls
Makes me feel a deep nausea how you live like this?
Man it's gonna cost ya, ain’t even bein’ malicious

[Bridge]
There are things we landlords expect, picture nail holes in the wall, no effect
Some fun tack stuck on walls here and there. Carpet might need a steam cleanin’ that's fair
But what you did here, is some kind of dark depraved psychotic anti-social type of living, behaviour
And I sure as hell ain't something I be payin' for
Grab your :poo:, that's it, throw a fit, then git

[Chorus] [spoken word]
Thanks for the damage deposit, bruh - and by the way,
Don't you EVER ask for a landlord reference from me,
Unless maybe it's a cardboard box under a leaky bridge somewhere.
Sheeeeeee-it.
 
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