music

Updated April 2010

Here you'll find hours of original music that I've composed over the years, in a variety of styles and performed by me and a spate of amazing performers. Enjoy, share, and let me know what you think!

Duplex

In 2005 I produced my first full-length musical, Duplex. The show returns to the stage spring 2010 in a fresh new production with 5 new songs, and a script honed to completeness with guidance of venerated director Michael McGarty. Here are some rough mixes to tracks that I recorded with friends after the 2005 production. They're unpolished but fun, and demonstrate the vibe of what Duplex is all about. Enjoy!

Everything Begins at Home
I Don't Know How You Do It
Build Something of Your Own
I Just Don't Understand
Virtual World
Never Again
Go Home
Recycling
Katie Jane Makes it Plain
Get Anywhere
Finale

Bands

Here's a sample of music from various bands I have been in over the years.

THE ACME BAND - 2008-present

My good friend and business partner Loren Weisman conceived of the idea of creating an archetypical band that would represent the ultimate representation of the kinds of processes and methods Loren talks about in terms of how independent musicians should conduct themselves in their careers. I invented the band members and their bios, and we recorded a few of my songs for their myspace page. My friend Mark Poutenis did the illustration.

Check out the Acme Band's myspace page for more!

LOS ENCENDIDOS - 2003-2005

Sweltering latin-punk six-pack

El Cancion de Mariachi - Los Lobos cover
Shake Your Ass - mutated rock / hack-latin dance number
Sway - sultry Perez Prado mambo
A New Reason - bossa nova love song
El Cuarto de Tula - from the "Buena Vista Social Club" record
Nothing Left to Lose - swami rock

THE ENABLERS - 2002 to 2005

Shit-Tastic - alterna-pop-punk, big hooks
A Way That's Me - modern R&B, excellent vocals
Roxy Roxy Roxy - window-punching punk-rock mania!
Tongue-Tied - exhilerated speed-ballad
Who Sent You? - triptacular lilty flavor
Under Your Spell - slow jazz ballad

with Chris Thompson - 2002 to 2004

Holding On - moody pop-rock, great vocals!
Snow - non-denominational holiday number
Real - REMIX - moody folk

Visit www.cmthompson.com for more from Chris & Meredith Thompson

NERO & PEDRO - 2001

Peter & Sully bust out the acoustics and wax delirious

Fear of Lobster - groovy story song
I Live With A Band - trippy folky stomp
Sammich! - our plea for immortality on Dr. Demento
Ramblin' Gamblin Man - punkabilly
Lifer - throw the goat!!
Sad Things - slow folky latin

THE HACKS - 2000

Here's the EP of neophyte (and erstwhile) jazz legends, THE HACKS, led by Josh Tobin, with me on bass, Dave DeSimone on drums, Brian Worobey on alto, and Tobin on soprano sax. Hear the legends that never were and revel in the hackery.

Like Bill
Junk Rush
Brian's Blues
Hollywood Warpath
For Jack
Lovers' Dance

LUCKYDOG - 1998-2000

Rollicking beerhall blasters, I wrote songs and played bass & keys in this offshoot of Dabble.

LIVE - New Years Eve 1998
XMas Lites - swing-rock anti-christmas song
All About Me - latin-rock
Zipper Lane - eruptive swing ode to the Southeast Expressway
Thong - grungy rock
Toast - country rock

In rehearsal

You're Wrong - 50's doo-wop about sibling rivalry
House of Cards - country rock

DABBLE - 1996-1998

Loopy genre-jumping jam rock quartet with me on bass, keys and vocals

From Anasthaesia Romanov
Goin' to Gibraltar - calypso punkabilly
Toolbox - disco grindhouse
My Ship - slow rock blues
She's Weird - loopy trip-salsa
Super Blue-Green Algae - enervated slamgrass
Squirm - languid starcrossed shoot-up music

ELECTRIC NOODLE FACTORY - 1992-1995

Mama's Got - college rock jam-reggae

For the Improv Asylum

I was musical director and musical improviser for this wonderful trouple of improv comedians, and composed pieces such as those below for the award-winning comedy pieces that still liven up the North End of Boston.

Kid in Tow - for the comedy music video produced by the Improv Asylum and JetPak Productions

Let's Make Love Tonight - country love song for the terrorism age
Baby Bratt - written in celebration of the arrival of musician Alan Bratt's first child

From the sketch "Study Date":
Outweigh Your Hate
Love Trap
Nice Try

For Film

From the short film Phil the Dolphin, the musical love story about a boy and his talking inflatable dolphin. Directed by Karen Mae Black. 2006.

Boogie Board Baby
Get Off Your Ass
My Life Has a Porpoise
Take a Chance

From the short file At it Again, competitior in the 2005 Boston 48 Hour Film Festival.

They're At it Again
What Are You Looking At?
Something That We Never Had Before
End Titles

From the short film Sweeter by Far, winner of Best Original Score, and recognized in the Top 10 of Boston in the 2004 48 Hour Film Festival.

If I Could Have You
Sweeter by Far
I Don't Need You
End Titles

From the short film Let Nothing You Dismay directed by Karen Mae Black.

Theme from "Let Nothing You Dismay"
Him and Her - floutus contrapuntus variation on the main theme

Tinman - from the short film Tinman, directed by Karen Mae Black
Push My Buttons - from the short film Too Damn Hot, written and directed by Marty Johnson
Theme from "Coolidge Corner" - spec theme written for the prototype web-based dramadey soap Coolidge Corner which never came to pass. I tried to rip off the "Friends" theme.