The RPM Challenge

Blog entries written by Gary Fox

And, At Last, I Finally Was Able To Load This Monstrosity Into The Jukebox
(Saturday, 06 March 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Ok, it's up. I will put the songs in my player later this weekend. Before you read this blog, you may want to listen to the album in the jukebox or in my profile. I would rather you form your own opinions first, then read mine. Plus, this is a l... (16053 more chars)
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Did I Just Land, Or Was I Shot Down?
(Tuesday, 02 March 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Well, this definitely qualifies as the most taxing RPM I have ever done. Between power outages, shifting schedules and other assorted items, I barely limped over the finish line today. I went to bed around 4:30am, woke up at 8, packed my bags, burne... (873 more chars)
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Fried
(Monday, 01 March 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
So, have I mentioned I hate typing blogs on a Crackberry? Getting there, but still need a few hours. Must sleep, all-nighter not going to work. This RPM started off odd, it ends odd. I am tempted to call it "what could have been" I will get a ... (262 more chars)
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Good Karma For All Of You From The Crackberry
(Sunday, 28 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Power has returned, heat is cranking, and that fine, but most likely insane, redhead who seems to like me said "We are good, get to work." Thanks for all the kind notes. We still have no phone or interwebs, but that's just all right with me. I... (106 more chars)
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Still No Juice, Still On The Crackberry
(Sunday, 28 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
As of of 6:42am, my town holds the status of largest percentage of residents without power at 78 percent. This was one gold medal I could do without. Focused more now on keeping pipes from freezing and taking care of the 4 little ones than worryi... (362 more chars)
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You Have To Be Freakin' Kidding Me
(Friday, 26 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
So, I am typing this from my Crackberry. Why, you ask? Excell-freakin'-lent question... We lost power here in lovely NH last night around 11pm, and it ain't back yet. Beauti-freakin'-ful... Hard to work on a track if you can't summon electrons int... (42 more chars)
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Shaking The Whole Freaking House
(Thursday, 25 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
The storm outside...It's shaking the whole house. I just spent a few hours sitting in my chair with a notepad, pen and a rough mix of the album. As a guy, I have learned that life is a lot better when you have "your chair". I like my chair. I fa... (532 more chars)
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Today Was A Wicked Strange Day
(Wednesday, 24 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
I had voice-over work to do all day, training heavy, technical stuff. I know the material, but it took every ounce of will not to break into song when covering present value calculations and discounting cash flow. My eyes are burning and all I want ... (1431 more chars)
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Cuddly Bunnies, Sunshine, Unexpected Nudity and 16 Year-Old Scotch
(Monday, 22 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
What do these all have in common? The fact I typed them in at the same time for my blog title. Wow, I'm so f***ing clever, like one of those really clever guys you hear about. I have decided to start copying and pasting old blogs from years' past... (1883 more chars)
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Ok, I have something that I posted
(Monday, 15 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Summer Grass. In my player, best listened to on good speakers, really loud, or through headphones. Rough mix, and I may redo some spots. Cheers, Gary
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Wandering Mind
(Thursday, 11 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
I need to clean the kitchen, it's a mess. Musical ideas are coming in fits and starts, but with each idea is an intensity to DO IT NOW before the inspiration flames out. A song that I thought would be a basic acoustic number has seven vocal trac... (1458 more chars)
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So................................................
(Saturday, 06 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Vital, thick, raw, pure, hard, clear, liberating, inspiring... So many, many, many, many things just come out when the sound is...right. Allelujah. I love my SG. Cheers, Gary
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Tonight...
(Saturday, 06 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Basement, SG, amp and whatnot. Lots o'whatnot. Cheers, Gary
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Fried
(Saturday, 06 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Spent a long, long time at O'Hare last night, waiting for my flight to get back to NH...too long...got home at around 3 am. It wasn't even the weather's fault. It was "operational issues". I am not sure whether I should say that with a bad German ac... (764 more chars)
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It's Hard To Get A Drink When The Bar Is This High
(Thursday, 04 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Is it just me, or are you noticing that everyone has seriously brought their "A-Game" this year? I have heard some amazing songs so far this year, and it's only February 4th. Cheers, Gary
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Kick In The Arse Inspiration
(Wednesday, 03 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
So I am sitting here, wasting time in the hotel, perusing the site, listening to demos and posted songs, ignoring my own little demos that I could be thinking about but I just don't feel like it, cuz I just don't. $3 please for the run-on sentence. ... (1129 more chars)
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Channeling My Inner Willie Nelson
(Tuesday, 02 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
On the road again, how I hate to get on the road again... All my life is spent with TSA and friends, I can't wait to get off the road again. Ok, it's not that bad (the travel, that is. I know the lyrics are a wee bit sketchy), but I always seem t... (1546 more chars)
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Wild Mushroom Soup and Rosemary Mutton
(Monday, 01 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Dinner was great tonight, if not straight out of Robin Hood. No, it's not a lyric, but for whatever reason I am really pleased with how dinner turned out tonight. Did I mention the loaf of warm Tuscan bread? Oh, and cave-aged Gruyère melted on t... (582 more chars)
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Got My Geek On
(Monday, 01 February 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Working on work today in the home office, being good about not doing RPM stuff, though it's killing me. Got my GEEK on in a major way...listening to the soundtrack from Star Blazers from the early '70s. Brilliant musicians, very 70's though in ap... (266 more chars)
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Dark. Dark, dark, dark
(Tuesday, 26 January 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
I used to ask: Am I out of step with the world, or is the world out of step with me? I guess its me. Oh well. I see things differently, and I don't really care about it either. Color me a jerk. I would say cheers, but I don't want to. Ga... (8 more chars)
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PLEASE
(Friday, 22 January 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Give your blogs titles or they become difficult to get to from the links on the right side of the page. They can be found, but most people will just ignore the blank space and move on. Cheers, Gary
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6 Levels Of Good
(Friday, 22 January 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Relating back to the bulletin board posting I made a few moments ago, I thought I would put this up. It's something I have posted in previous years, but it still fits. How Do You Know When Something You Wrote Is Good? Level 1 Good: T... (1535 more chars)
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This looks like a wicked interesting blog entry...
(Wednesday, 20 January 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Howdy RPMers, I am an old bastard by RPM standards, in that I have been here since the first RPM in 2006. Since this is my fifth RPM, it kind of makes me like a Senior who failed and has to come back to do another year. Perhaps I am the Bluto of the... (3243 more chars)
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That's Kind Of Cool
(Wednesday, 13 January 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
So Facebook has something about the ArtPMChallenge Create 4 pieces of art during February. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seacoast-NH/ArtPM-Challenge/249296512319?ref=nf#/event.php?eid=244229502150&index=1 It just keeps growing. Che... (13 more chars)
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Something Cool To Listen To
(Tuesday, 12 January 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
http://waxy.org/2009/10/audio_analysis_of_the_beatles_multitrack_masters/ A little inspiration for anyone who is interested. Cheers, Gary
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Soon all my babies, soon
(Saturday, 09 January 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
The inspiration I needed seems to have arrived...a not a moment too soon. It's hard to believe I am gearing up for my 5th RPM Challenge. The good news is I have many new snippets of ideas from this year past. The bad news is that 2009 really beat... (180 more chars)
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Hey!
(Friday, 08 January 2010) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Did anyone notice the 10 on the banner? Cool.
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Let The Debate Begin
(Friday, 11 September 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
So, I read this article in WSJ about the fight that is brewing over auto-tune on vocals. It has been going on for some time now, but it appears to have reached the mainstream now. Why now? Well, it's in the WSJ, which normally wouldn't, or at least ... (11437 more chars)
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Interviewed in Rolling Stone
(Tuesday, 18 August 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Well, not exactly. I have a respite from the road, and this fell out of me at 2am. This is taken from my answers in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. Unfortunately, I never became famous; so Rolling Stone never came around for the interv... (12907 more chars)
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Software, Guitar or Studio
(Wednesday, 01 July 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
So my birthday is coming up: 8/8. It's a big one, so I get to actually get something cool. I have a choice to make: Spend money on a new guitar (the black one): http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gretsch-Guitars-G5122-Double-Cutawa... (518 more chars)
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It's May, and I am behind the 8-ball as usual
(Tuesday, 12 May 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
CD's went into the mail this AM. Not to RPM HQ, but to those of you that I promised a CD trade with. Mea Culpa... I had remastered them, and then burned them, and then made the artwork for the CD's themselves. The jewel cases were delinquent h... (206 more chars)
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I Think You All Should Read This
(Tuesday, 07 April 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
So, I was reading an article that compelled me to respond. A guy wrote an article about digital music, and how it is clogging up the airwaves and strangling the muse. I think I know what he means, I think he means all the SOFT MIX LITE 100 types son... (3366 more chars)
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Oh, hey, wow, a blog that I need to read right now.
(Friday, 20 March 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
First: Thank you to everyone for the condolences. We chose to celebrate a life, not mourn a death. Your comments and e-mails were very kind, so thank you. Second: I owe a lot of you some reciprocating listens, I will do a lot next week when... (887 more chars)
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Sorry for being MIA
(Saturday, 14 March 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Hey Everyone, Sorry for being MIA for the past week, there was a death in the family which obviously required my full attention. I will be getting to the messages, nominating more folks for the comps, mailing CD's etc ASAP. Thanks to Joshu... (109 more chars)
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Taste The Fist Of Freedom
(Thursday, 05 March 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
That blog title has nothing to do with this blog, or maybe it does. Anyway, I got an e-mail from a friend (nonRPM) giving me crap for not posting my album. Well, he's an idiot, because I did post it a few days ago: Here: www.virb.com/garyfox8... (625 more chars)
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So, what say you Fox?
(Sunday, 01 March 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
This is a long piece. I pulled an all-nighter to get this thing done and over to Portsmouth this morning. My fourth RPM, done and in the can… Depending on the passage of time, that phrase may hold multiple meanings. My ears are still re... (7375 more chars)
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5:16 AM EST
(Sunday, 01 March 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Ok, I am nearly dead, but it's done. Check that, it's nearly dead, and I'm done. Whatever. Now the question is this: Do I just stay up and drive over to Portsmouth in a haze of marathon recording and mixing? -or- Do I wuss out and go to ... (368 more chars)
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I'm Getting Stupid
(Saturday, 28 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Yessirreebob, I have crossed the line into whack-job-dom. (or is it dumb?) Anyway... I will tell you later about how I am a terrible procrastinator, but suffice it to say that I am still working on lyrics and recording. I write 'on-mike' (I 'spla... (2273 more chars)
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Its A Sprint, Not A Marathon
(Wednesday, 25 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Taking Thursday and Friday off... House is completely empty until Sunday. Therefore, Thurs, Fri and Sat are all music, all the time. Wish me luck... Cheers, Gary
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You Insolent SOB
(Tuesday, 24 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
A conversation from last night: A capo on a bass? And then an E-bow on it? Are you an idiot? Short answer: Yes Long answer: Uh-huh Well then, for your insolence, your attempts to construct vocals on the mike will be fruitless tonight. N... (49 more chars)
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I Think I Need A Day Off
(Saturday, 21 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Everything is coming out like kar-kar over the past day or two, last night was gah-bahjjjjj. I need to walk away from it all and come back in a day or so. I also think that I can't have the number of songs on it I originally wanted. I have to... (224 more chars)
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I want this in the WORST way
(Thursday, 19 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
I have resolved that I will own this some day, provided the creek stops rising and this dang recession doesn't make busking my best option for cashflow. http://www.soundsonline.com/Fab-Four-Virtual-Instrument-pr-EW-170.html I got a midi thin... (267 more chars)
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You Must Listen To This
(Thursday, 19 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
I am guilty of living in my own little world, far too often. But every so often I manage to venture out. On one such journey this morning, I went my good RPM friend Mick's page, since I have been remiss in listening to his work so far this year. ... (779 more chars)
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I Am A Total Disaster This Year
(Wednesday, 18 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
So, I am supposed to be working on this so-called album, which, by-the-way I may title "All Politics Is Loco", a spin on Tip O'Neil's quote. Anyway, I should be, but instead I put up stupid posts. Then I notice the list of artists has magically crea... (355 more chars)
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Slow Out Of The Gate: 1st Song Somewhat Done
(Tuesday, 17 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Literally, it's slow. It's called Major Key. It's at the bottom of the player on my profile page. I am really behind the 8-ball this year, since I only have 2 others that are close to this one vis-à-vis completion level. Cheers, Gary ... (86 more chars)
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I Am A Medium
(Sunday, 15 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Tonight I am channeling Badfinger... Those guys knew harmony. Dang. Ok, back to work, only 13 days left and I don't have a single song done yet. Cheers, Gary
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Bed
(Sunday, 15 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
3am my time...must get sleep...no more...sleep... Now perhaps you will understand why I called my pseudo label/publishing company is called 3am Productions. Ok, I am done. Besides, I disintegrate if the sun shines directly on me. Cheers, ... (208 more chars)
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Taking An Ear Brake
(Sunday, 15 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Working on a couple of little ditties, one of which just took off into the stratosphere, decided to give my ears a rest so I could listen fresh in a bit. Hopped up on some caffeine I decided to imbibe for no good reason early this PM, after the glor... (429 more chars)
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Saturday, 14 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Cracked the code on a song I have been fighting with. The solution? Totally FUBAR: I impersonated Eddie Van Halen. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Cheers, Gary
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I Need To Escape The Planet For A Little While
(Tuesday, 10 February 2009) Written by Gary Fox (See blogs)
Down here in NYC for a few days...ignoring the outside world tonight and going through some rough mixes and demos. Taking notes and trying to organize my thoughts so I can be productive when I get home...but then, the outside world intrudes...So...f... (663 more chars)
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