Conspiracies & Racketeering, album by Aaron Wolf ©2000, CC-BY-SA 4.0 International This album was originally released via MP3.com (long defunct, now a different site). The content below contains the original descriptions posted there. It includes some information and background about each piece and credits to a few folks who helped out. Description: Techno-funk-jazz fusion original music. I have a natural dislike for cheesy pop love songs and meaningless rock junk. Anything goes as long as it is interesting, funny, meaningful, and/or groovy. I record everything from scratch. No preset beats, no stock samples. The majority of the synths are custom sounds. Every single drum beat is put in note by note. History: I've studied classical guitar, sang in choirs, and played keyboard for many years. At 14, I began experimenting with composition and MIDI. I released two MIDI albums before getting my project studio set up in August 1999 culminating in this album a year later. Since this recording, I've made a few other miscellaneous recordings, gotten involved in GNU/Linux music, free culture, and have been teaching guitar lessons. Musical Style: Fusion- Electronica, Techno, Funk, Jazz, & more Instruments Used: Synthesizers; keyboard; Chapman Stick; classical, electric, and classical-electric guitars; vocals; percussion; drum programming; MIDI programming. Musical Influences: Frank Zappa, Deep Forest, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Victor Wooten, The Doors, Parliament Funkadelic, Paul Simon, They Might Be Giants, Aphex Twin, Beastie Boys, Phish, Jim's Big Ego, Jamiroquai Similar Bands: Fatboy Slim, They Might Be Giants, Frank Zappa [SongTitle] Funky Blues Jam [SongFile] funky_blues_jam.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] Hey, we got a message for you We think it's about time that you knew About this one Thursday night venue So c'mon down and bring the crew In Oz's Music the crowds'll all cram We got it goin' on, FUNKY BLUES JAM Everyone's invited to all join in It don't matter if you're fat or thin Guitar, harp, mandolin Just make the music genuine Need a little help? We'll give you a hand And we'll all be groovin', FUNKY BLUES JAM It'll be outta sight But despite bein' tight We might be jammin' all night Playin' on through, until we get it right Gotta come see to understand But the concept's simple, FUNKY BLUES JAM [SongInfo] Inspired by and about the Blues Jam at Oz's Music hosted by Mike Williams who helps out here on vocals. Instruments: classical-electric guitar, electric wah guitar, Stick (bass), electric lead guitar, vocals, MIDI drums [SongTitle] Sump [SongFile] sump.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] Tell them that there is no sump pump because there is no sump repeat x lots Sumps are used in places where water may collect and it's usually at the lowest point in the system. So a pump is put into that location and will remove the water and enable the place to be drained. That is all there is to it, sump pumps play a very important part in the drainage of buildings. They usually have a sump at the lowest point in the building so that pumps can be placed there or one pump can be placed there and pump out the water that comes in, and that's about it. Tell them that there is no sump pump because there is no sump And that's about the story. Forget about this sump pump idea, it is not necessary. [SongInfo] My grandfather, David Aronson, is a mechanical engineer. He happens to be an expert on pumps. When he and my grandmother were in the process of moving, they were staying at our house for a while. One day, I overheard a conversation between him and the realtor selling his house. At one point he said, "tell them there is no sump pump because there is no sump." I later asked him to record this phrase for me to use in a song. He went and added his explanation of sump pumps to the recording as well, I hadn't asked him to do that... This piece was my first time using a sampler and complicated vocal effects. Instruments: keyboard, MIDI, sampler [SongTitle] First Straw [SongFile] first_straw.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] [SongInfo] This was my first serious studio recording effort. My senior year in high school at the "multi-cultural festival" I was listening to the jazz band play. When they took a break, I went to a practice room and decided to write a good, strong, jazz-band type groove. This song is based on that. Jon is a friend I've known all my life. He is a musical genius. He played piano and trumpet for many years. However, when I asked him to play on this piece he informed me that he hadn't played trumpet in months (!). Additionally, he had never played jazz and didn't know a single thing about improvisation. I think he did a fine job. Especially for his very first jazz effort. I wrote out the chorus for him and then we did about 10 takes which were a mix of my telling Jon the sort of thing to do and him just improvising. I then clipped up the recordings, mixed parts, changed, added, and removed notes to get the final melodies. Instruments: Aaron: keyboard, MIDI, Stick, vocals; Jon Ophoff: trumpets [SongTitle] Cat Hair On Pebbles [SongFile] cat_hair_on_pebbles.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] [SongInfo] This is the first song completed after the early 1999 release of "False Ground." Inspired by the fast, melodic themes of Zappa's 'St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast.' Instruments: MIDI, vocals [SongTitle] Washing Machine Funk [SongFile] washing_machine_funk.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] (theme): Washing machine funk! Get down with the washing machine funk! We're into the washing machine funk! [wash cycle] Everyone now! Washing machine funk! Early one morning About a quarter to three I heard a noisy rumbling The rumblin' did wake me It was coming from the basement One floor below So I walked down the stairs And man, what a show The washing machine was movin' Movin' all across the floor It moved on to the left side It moved back and forth Bustin' up my basement It had a tendency to collide I added some extension cords It moved up the stairs and outside (chorus): Everyone, turn your appliances on! Everyone, turn your appliances on! Machines they can do So much more than you thought through Everyone, turn your appliances on! Everyone, turn your appliances on! [People now, hook up to the synchrotron!] Machines they can do So much more than you thought through Everyone, turn your appliances on! (theme) [rinse cycle] It then came in the hallway And into the kitchen It scared my cat half to death As it rumbled in I thought it was the weirdest thing That ever happened to me I opened up the lid And I threw in more laundry Turnin' up the music And turnin' down the lights Gettin' out my disco ball Man, this is outta site Open up the dryer And throw in a heavy load Give it room enough And it joins in the show (chorus) [it's gonna be a household phenomenon] (theme) [spin cycle] Wake up all my friends From their stupid dreams Come on all you guys and gals See what's happening It was the biggest party The whole damn town was there The furnace, the barbecue, And the space station Mir Suddenly the people stopped The dryer went up in flames It kept on movin' though Movin' just the same Called up the repair man To see if he'd fix it I fear I forget to clean out The lint basket (chorus) [Everyone get down with the automotons] [SongInfo] This was my one of my earlier recordings. I was listening to a lot of Funkadelic one day and got into doing a funk piece. Robbie said he'd be interesting in writing lyrics for it and mentioned that he was thinking of doing a song about washing machines. When he came back with some lyrics they were totally random. The chorus was "Billy.. now he can do the funk. Mary.. now she can really funk...." I told Robbie to go home and write the Washing Machine song. After I made a few changes in the lyrics, we took my computer and microphone down to the basement and made an entire recording of me doing my laundry. The phone sound at the end is actually Robbie calling me on the phone. The only sound that is not original is the fire sound, which was still edited to get the right effect. Instruments: Stick, electric rhythm guitar, keyboard, vocals, appliances [SongTitle] Conspiracies & Racketeering [SongFile] conspiracies___racketeerin.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] This world's unfair We just don't share And most don't care It gives me a scare 'Cause what's out there Is people unaware Of all the despair Of the proletaire If you're on welfare They're gonna leave you bare Since they still swear That there's nothing left to spare We got a billionare Who's sittin' debonair But I declare that elsewhere There's an Earth in disrepair I know the price Of chicken and rice In the candy room (In the candy room) You know it pays To give a raise To the guy with the broom (Ain't got no heirloom) The answer here, Mr. actioneer, Gotta slow our consume (Or see decadence bloom) [SongInfo] This piece is my first real techno. The original beat was done long before I had any recording equipment. I thought at one point that it would make a good rap. Robbie told me he'd be interested in writing lyrics even though he'd never written any before. The lyrics he presented were bizarre. Here's a few lines that I remember: Conspiracies and racketeering Taking money and harsh beatings Criminal is what I be I'll get them back wait and see The card you play may end your reign Careful now or you'll be slain I'm not one to be ignored Just a matter of which sword My ship sails high above these waves I'm tired of this endless maze Guilt is always behind me Black I am like the Black Sea Riding along Death Valley Life Depends on Rand McNally Hoping that the dust will clear Running from my deapest fear Blew him off like a truck tire A theif, a cheat, a nasty liar Take it to a court much higher Please forgive me, my desire Meatballs swim in sauce much deeper Haunts the prairie dark grim reeper Visions form and then capsize My conscious finds its own demise Cows going by in rows I know how it goes ... It was about twice that long and finished with a line about being left with the 'Old Maid.' It also had a line about canteloupes floating down narrow streams... Although interesting, the lyrics didn't stick and I turned the song into a techno when I got my studio set up. I ended up using the first line from Robbie's lyrics as the name for the song and I used one of Robbie's stanzas in the vocoder section. I had originally intended the bass line to be a funky Stick recording. The rap lyrics that I wrote were out of necessity. I felt there should be lyrics so I had to write them and I wanted them to be political/social. The first two stanzas of the second lyric section with the echo filter came to me in a dream. I thought they were weird but... Instruments: MIDI, keyboard, vocals [SongTitle] Paparrucha Intro [SongFile] paparrucha_intro.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] [SongInfo] See the Paparrucha story for more info. [SongTitle] Paparrucha (Sé Mi Chaleco Salvavidas) [SongFile] paparrucha__s__mi_chaleco_.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] Sé Mi Chaleco Salvavidas (chorus): La rampa de accesso a valor Es user al citur—n de seguridad El candidato mardrugador Ganará con una pluralidad Eres proporcional Sé mi chaleco salvavidas Te quiero, chica Soy adhesivo a t’ (para siempre) (chorus) Cuando estamos juntos La pesquer’a esta cerrada Tengo amor solamente para t’ Y las Islas Malvinas (chorus) (instrumental) (chorus) Todas las dias sue–o con rabanos Pero no tengo licensia de importación Cuando hay un conflicto laboral Con mi perro guardian, Susana necesito decir... (chorus) (instrumental) (chorus) Translation: (chorus): The on-ramp to gallantry Is wearing your seat belt The early candidate Wins with a plurality You are proportional Be my life-jacket I want you, girl I'm adhesive to you (forever) (chorus) When we are together The fishery is closed I have love only for you And the Falkland Islands (chorus) (instrumental) (chorus) Every day I dream of radishes But I have no import license When I have a labor dispute With my guard dog, Susan I need to say... (chorus) (instrumental) (chorus) [SongInfo] Originally, I wanted to get a girl to sing on this with me. When things didn't work out with a couple singer friends I talked to, I went and wrote these lyrics and sang it myself. There is a long classical style introduction. It is on a seperate file which segues into the main song on the CD. To hear it that way, get the CD. Instruments: keyboard, Stick, vocals, MIDI drums [SongTitle] Funk Jazz Aft [SongFile] funk_jazz_aft.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] [SongInfo] The basic beat in this song is a pattern which has three bars of 7/8 and one bar of 4/4. Instruments: Aaron: classical guitar, Stick, MIDI drums; Jon Ophoff: mute trumpets [SongTitle] Food [SongFile] food.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] I've got muffins in the pantry I've eggplant in the oven There are waffles on the counter Next to turkey and some stuffin' TURKEY STUFFIN' EGGPLANT MUFFIN!!! I've got food in the kitchen I've grub in the house There are eats in the building There's comestibles around Food is good When it tastes real nice You should eat today If you want my advice There are lemons in the cab'net I've got catfish on ice Liver and onions OUCH! Brown Rice Pumpkins on the floor Apples at the store Deliv'rin groceries LEAVE THEM AT MY DOOR!!! [SongInfo] Robbie wrote out the first four lines and showed 'em to me one day. I took his rhymes and screamed (well, fake screamed anyway) 'em all at once and it was great, I think. Robbie wrote out three more sections and I changed some words around. I then recorded a grungy Stick version of a keyboard riff I had recently written which was originally a dance beat. This was my second ever recording project. Instruments: Stick (many overdubs), MIDI drums, vocals [SongTitle] Nervous Class [SongFile] nervous_class.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] [SongInfo] Every sound here was made using only paper, pencil, and pen. The "whistle" is a pen cap, the "bass" sound is the eraser end of a pencil hitting a big stack of paper. The "snare" sound is a pen hitting a single sheet of paper held stiff in the air. All the other sounds are normal clicks, rips, writing, etc. plus a few unintended ambient noises. [SongTitle] Peanut Gallery [SongFile] peanut_gallery.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] [SongInfo] The bass line in this 5/4 song makes it sound almost like it were in 4 with 5 16th notes to a beat. At various times it emphasizes this difference. At one point the 5 beats are emphasized. At another there is a snare on every fifth 16th note. There is one section in 4/4 that comes in at two different spots in the song. This was originally written using Mario Paint. The Mario Paint version included all notes except the high hats. Instruments: MIDI, keyboard [SongTitle] Sexy Beak [SongFile] sexy_beak.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] ??? [SongInfo] When I was in middle school I made this incredible recording you hear at the end of the piece. The main melody was recorded by continuously singing while pausing and unpausing the recording. I don't remember what I sang. I then reversed the recording in the middle and repeated the original. Then I sped the whole thing up and raised the pitch by playing it slightly faster than recorded. For years, I had this strange recording. Then I decided to go through and figure it out. I allowed for a little adjustment to make it better musically. This is the main part of the piece. It sounded like I said "sexy beak" somewhere. That's where the name came from. The guitar part in the middle is just something new. Instruments: electric guitar, MIDI, vocals, creative recording [SongTitle] No Talent [SongFile] no_talent.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] Yeah, this rappin' shit ain't so hard to do If you got the talent and you got the moves I don't got neither, yeah my rap's a bunch o' shit But unlike some, at least I'll admit it I mean it ain't TOO bad, but it sure could be better At least I say it right, straight to the letter I won't say I can flow, but I do got the groove And in doin' this rap I jus' wanted to prove That I can do it too, yeah and make it smooth So don't gimme dat shit, and quit playin' witcher food It ain't just hype, yeah you gotta be true Then let the audience decide who's better'n who I don't mean to say that your stuff's not cool But I been givin' ya more respect than you are due Some say rap's not music, well that's a lie But as in anything else, you got folks who try To tell you they got music when they ain't got shit Rap can be music but only some of it is There's purists who complain when I mix stuff up They don't understand art much less anything else Hip-hop comes from funk and it's all from blues And jazzin' it up don't make it untrue I won't be the best, but I'm better than some And this is enough to show'em how it's done But for me funk and techno will be where it's at So I'll shut up now, that's enough o' that [SongInfo] I was listening to how all these rap songs talk about how good the rappers are, yet sometimes they really suck. I was thinking, "I could do better than that." But why? The whole point was that only good rappers should do stuff, and I'm not any good. I really liked the idea of trying to do a BBoys style thing though, so I made it short and wrote a rap about how I'm not so great, but neither are a lot of acts. I like some aspects of rap, but I'd rather incorporate things into better, funkier music. It was fun, but this minute and a half is enough straight rap for me. Instruments: Stick, drum programming, vocals, virtual turntable [SongTitle] Vacuum Man [SongFile] vacuum_man.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] Bright shiny sunny day Grab my vacuums, be on my way Put on my hat, step out the door Gonna sell vacuums 'til there ain't no more Walk up the porch, ring the bell Sign says solicitors can go to [vacuum noise]! Run off the steps, make a hasty retreat Think I'll try the next house on the street (chorus:) c'mon in mr. vacuum man vacuum man. vacuum man (hey) (repeat) How much FOR your vacuums, sir? How much ARE your vacuums, sir? Hello ma'am can I interest you In a vacuum cleaner, or maybe two They work real fine, better than a broom No downpayments 'til after June Miss you've got a real nice home here But it'd better if there're a vacuum near So break out the suction and plug in the plug Maybe get that fungus off your rug (chorus) Would like to come in for tea Or maybe some fresh coffee (chorus) Mr. vacuum man whatcha got there? How much they cost is your price fair? Vacuum attachments for everything Clean what you need, clean anything Clean your sofa, clean your welcome mat I've even got one that'll clean your cat Walkin' home, countin' ma dough Made a lot of friends I did not know Good days work nothing went wrong Just going door to door singing my song (chorus) you said this was a fine machine but never mentioned it runs on gasoline [SongInfo] The progression here is very interesting and jazzy. It involves a B major pickup to A major during the verse. It then goes down chromatically to a B minor in the chorus. The chorus features a Bm to E7 to D#7 progression. Originally, I wanted it mixed like an old style jazz recording. But Robbie convinced me I should bring out some of the funky elements in the bass and such. I thought it would be good for Robbie to help out on vocals and have two alternating vocal sections. He was a little embarrassed about his singing so we put the formant on his voice. Instruments: Stick, electric guitar, classical guitar, drum programming, vocals [SongTitle] Starving Artist [SongFile] starving_artist.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] When I was young I had but one wish To be as free as the birds or fish To make my life however I choose With this realized I could not lose So when I was nine or maybe ten I dropped out of school and took up the pen To start off on my great quest To become a master, to become the best Learning every technique So I may compete Acquiring the skills My dreams I'll fulfill To be an artist was my lifes dream A goal to reach though difficult it seemed To make whatever comes to mind Not be controlled by money or time I want to be a starving artist I want to be a starving artist I then took some art classes Mowed some neighbor grasses So I could some day have my fun In Unemployment 101 A starving artist I had become Living on the street, a worthless bum Without any possesions to lead me astray Without any bills or taxes to pay On a dim lit corner wasting my life In constant famine, hunger and strife Living in a box fit for one man Searching through alleys for the least dented cans To make art that nobody wants To be disgruntled and make constant taunts Considered a loony, messed up in the head The people all hate me, they wish I were dead But I don't need their social acceptance Living in this style has become my preference Though all and all I have no complaints I'm dirty and poor but at least I can paint But once I leave this world Things will change People will look at my art Ideas will rearrange I want to be a starving artist I want to be a starving artist One man will say These works are the best Another will shout They beat all the rest The compsitions are geniusly cunning The colors and contrasts, all quite stunnig Each brush stroke is oh so concise Now let's auction them for an incredible price My works will all be sold As priceless relics of old So much more than I'd ever dream So much money, it's obscene Without me around To bicker and frown Theyll forget who I am And call me a great man I want to be a starving artist I want to be a starving artist So now you can probably see Why a starving artist is good to be For when youre alive you are free And once youre dead youre history [SongInfo] The bass line is the fundamental groove of the piece. The keyboard line in the second half of the song was originally a seperate bass line. Musically it involves the layering of a number of independant grooves. The fast drum section is based on alternating snaps around the quarter beats. Instruments: Stick, electric guitar, keyboard, MIDI drums, vocals [SongTitle] Lam [SongFile] lam.mp3 [SongGraphic] conspiracies___racketeerin.gif [SongLyric] Ok, one more question, is it living off the lamb or living on the lamb? Drive the car garbage? [SongInfo] Robbie wanted me to do a "real" dance song. So I worked with a classical guitar riff I'd been working on and this was the result. Danceable, but not a typical beat by any means. Robbie's lam sample was recorded during a test recording in August 1999. The "drive the car garbage?" line was quoted from a discussion we had when passing a junkyard in town. I spent over 100 hours on this one piece. I wanted to use every aspect of music and recording I knew about but make it work as one song. Most of the subtle work you won't notice at all. I won't overdo it this much again. The ba-da melody section features sampled instruments from my own recordings. I then actually seperated out each note to different instruments to get the ba-da-doo effect. The alternative rock clip was recorded and mixed just to be a break in this song. Those are the least subtle things I worked on with this piece. Instruments: Main song: classical guitar, keyboard, MIDI, sampler 6 sec. Rock break: electric guitar (x3), Stick, vocals, MIDI drums