The Scratchrock

Album #: 65

Recording Dates: 1992-2000

Release Date: 2007

Catalog: SMR25

ScratchNotes:

Here is the middle release from the “InSkroMental”, “Loophole”, and “Ugly Music for Pretty Girls” trilogy. This collection was created when I decided to digitally remaster & EQ some of my best original material to optimize fidelity.

“Loophole” is primarily focused on experimentation. This is the only album of the three to include other musicians, mostly on one-off performances or looped multi-track creations.

From the 90-second whimsy of “Soundo Effecto” to the brutal cacophony of the 17-minute “Intended Sexual Assault”; “Loophole” throws something completely different and unexpected at you every few minutes. Soundscapes, industrial music, loop built tracks, recordings of pizza delivery interactions…it’s all that and more!

Four samplings from this album can be accessed below. Enjoy!

P.S. You can click the cover image for a larger version.

Four Track Sampler

Track 01 – Tingle (MX Skroch) – A spooky cloud moves in from the distance. Your skin begins to crawl. Something is bubbling within. Suddenly it bursts out!  [Scratch on Sequencer]

Track 03 – Sitting Duck (MX Skroch with Suneel V.)  – Piano rock turns into crushing heaviness before bridging into a dance bit that turns into satellite signals reaching out for spiritual assistance when suddenly your messages get a response and a plea as sad orchestral music begins to take shape… Also featuring a rather unique vocal performance as I elucidate the context of modern life.  [Scratch on Bass, Vocals, Drum Beats, Galactus & Space Phone]

Track 08 – Cotton Candy (MX Skroch) – A drum driven, mostly sample based slap across the face. I’d recently taken a liking to obtaining collections of samples to play with. Where they came from wasn’t important – sometimes they came from CDs I bought; boom box recordings of the TV in my living room, or a small pocket tape recorder I kept handy for those special occasions.  [Scratch on Guitar, Drum Beats & Samples]

Track 13 – We Used to Wear Toughskins (MX Skroch) – This time it’s personal as I share recordings of pizza deliveries; answering machine messages from the Chophouse and our landlord trying to throw us out, and commentary about Jeffrey Dahmer. Oh, and I guess I made recordings of my neighbor’s kids in the mid-1980s so I fit that in as well; and some movie samples from 1961. So something for all ages I suppose!  [Scratch on Recorded Pizza Delivery, Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Keyboard, Drum Beats & Samples]

Album #: 64

Recording Dates: 08/25/2007

Release Date: 2007

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

This is a fairly unique record that includes acoustic guitar and vocals from two-time attendee Des; a freaking trombone player, and rhythmically consistent songs played along with drum samples. We were closing in on our multi-track studio, but this is a strong mix for our two-track era.

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Three Track Sampler

Track 06 – Having a Great Fall (The Sheep Fiends) – Acoustic guitar and trombone punctuate this track sung by Sheep Fiend short timer Des based on the legends of Humpty Dumpty. My spooky guitar and Mark’s mandolin add to the ambiance and a few parts actually get a bit reminiscent of Pink Floyd – which you’d expect would happen with the Sheep Fiends sometimes but really does not.  [Scratch on Guitar]

Track 09– Chapel of Regrets (The Sheep Fiends) – Drumlessness is a way of life. At least is is on this short instrumental.  [Scratch on Keyboard]

Track 13– Weirdos in the Band (The Sheep Fiends) – A sort of theme song with Brian M. summarizing the reality of being a Sheep Fiend.  [Scratch on Guitar]

Album #: 63

Recording Dates: 2002

Release Date: 2007

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

I only appear on one track here and the rest was recorded prior to my Sheep Fiends tenure. If I loved the track I’d share it below. But I don’t.

But here’s a photo from this era instead of a cover image.

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No Track Sampler

Album #: 62

Recording Dates: 1990-2000

Release Date: 2007

Catalog: SMR24

ScratchNotes:

My computer in 2005 was certainly laughable by today’s standards, but at the time it seemed so powerful that I decided to sort through all my recordings and digitally remaster & EQ some of my best original material. Remasters of the Raging Bellybuttons, IMF, and the Hidden would come later – first I focused on my solo recordings. Looking for themes I came up with a 3 CD set: “InSkroMental”, “Loophole”, and “Ugly Music for Pretty Girls”.

“InSkroMental” features (with one exception) compositions I’ve recorded completely by myself that don’t contain lyrics; newly remastered to optimize fidelity. These tracks were recorded everywhere: my Chicago apartment on Wolcott, then the Leaning House of Trog, then my apartment in Chicago on Larchmont, even at my Mom’s house over many years. Despite a wide range of styles this is the most straightforward approach to music I took during the 1990s.

Since this is a retrospective it features dozens of different instruments and effects I used over the years. The cover captures many of the tools used in the creation of these tracks.

I consider this set one of my more critical releases, so a full five song sampler is provided below. Enjoy!

Five Track Sampler

Track 01 – The Implant (MX Skroch) – This frantic opener was created when I got a new synthesizer/sequencer and tried to figure it out. Of course I went aggressive, dark and dissonant. Wouldn’t you?  [Scratch on Sequencer]

Track 03 – Covered With Blood and Twitching (MX Skroch)  – This is one of the most fully realized tracks I’ve written and recorded over the years – the Hidden even did a version on the “Brave New Failure” album. This mix is mostly instrumental and uses a wide collection of guitars, keyboards, and kazoo to tell the sad, sad story.  [Scratch on Kazoo, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Drum Machine, Samples & Vocals]

Track 06 – Toilet Sonata (MX Skroch) – Sometimes you need your soul to quiet down for a bit. In these times of introspection a piano ballad is often appropriate mood music. Are the sounds of my upstairs bathroom also welcome? Toilet Sonata makes the case that yes they are…yes they are.  [Scratch on Piano & Samples]

Track 12 – Vikings (part 3) (MX Skroch) – A follow up to some instrumental tracks from a few years back, the third incarnation of “Vikings” brings back pounding drums and jazzy horn sounds to accompany this fast paced and ever modulating rocker. I find the use of tension to be particularly effective here.  [Scratch on Guitars, Bass, Keyboards & Drum Programming]

Track 17 – Eyesore (MX Skroch) – Another sequencer creation exploring my twisted vision of chamber music. Or something.  [Scratch on Sequencer]

Album #: 61

Recording Dates: 2000-2002

Release Date: 2006

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

You are a smart person. You can figure out what Leftovers, Vol. 3 is all about…

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One Track Sampler

Track 11 – Miracles (The Sheep Fiends) – Just an everyday proclamation.  [Scratch on Sampling Keyboard]

Album #: 60

Recording Dates: 2001-2002

Release Date: 2006

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

As I see over at SheepFiends.com “Leftovers is a CD series of fun tracks that almost got looked over. Enjoy!”. This version covers 2001 & 2002.

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Two Track Sampler

Track 07 – Mannheim Sheeproller Pt. 1 (The Sheep Fiends) – A sort of jaunty, new age Doors inspired track. A somewhat reflective mood for the Sheep Fiends. But then I start slamming on that bass harder.  [Scratch on Bass]

Track 09– Trash Rash (The Sheep Fiends) – After a short intro to set the mood, this evolves into a solid rocker. Tense keyboards stab at my hypnotic guitar line; as I holler about something that you can’t really hear well enough. I figure I’ve got a shot subliminally though.  [Scratch on Guitar & Vocals]

Album #: 59

Recording Dates: 2005

Release Date: 2006

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

This disc primarily features recordings from 1995 that predate my tenure in the Sheep Fiends. Also included is one track from 2005 that I do play on – but I don’t like the song so we’re going to skip the sample for this release. Really the best thing about all this is the cool poster.

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No Track Sampler

Album #: 58

Recording Dates: 06/10/2006

Release Date: 2006

Catalog: SF

ScratchNotes:

From the sound of things 2006 was a very abstract year for me. This release suffers from similar mix issues as the April jam CD, but a smaller lineup makes the opportunity for coherence slightly better. Consider this a full length selection of deep cuts.

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Two Track Sampler

Track 06 – Don’t Stick Your Head In a Beehive (The Sheep Fiends) – This is quite ridiculous. Something about squirrels and going to hell. About mice in my garage and bugs on the wall. Oh, and the bologna dog. And yet it sounds nothing like you were expecting.  [Scratch on Vocals]

Track 09– Shitzadoodle (The Sheep Fiends) – Is it science? Or is it just fatalism? Regardless, there’s a little of it in all of us.  [Scratch on Vocals]