Fossil Fuel
Sep 24, 2023
EliasSZ
Stegochorus
Been busy and almost forgot to record this song I started writing right when I looked at the prompt, so quickly threw together a quick demo-y thing. Think I want to flesh it out a bit.
Added percussion element super later cause I forgot about, so banged on my guitar for a little.
Fossil Fuels
I don’t even know if I feel as old as I should feel
Fossilize my bones and write my own history
I don’t think I ever thought I’d be as old as I would be
But now I’m running on fuel made from me
Pollute me with all my friends
Burn me up in Mercedes Benz
Cause I don’t think I feel alive until I’m stuck in the troposphere
Cause I don’t see why I should care
Condensed matter that sticks to the air
I’m older than I could imagine hair is thinning
I’m still young at heart, coming from jurassic park
I don’t even know if I feel as old as I should feel
Fossilize my bones and write my own history
I don’t think I ever thought I’d be as old as I would be
But now I’m running on fuel made from me
And now I just pollute the earth
Instead of drinking gallons
Worth of alcohol and stumbling blindly down the hall
Now I’m burning out or I’m selling out
I don’t even know if I feel as old as I should feel
Fossilize my bones and write my own history
I don’t think I ever thought I’d be as old as I would be
But now I’m running on fuel made from me
Looking for feedback on
Anything really! This is more a voice memo than a full on track ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Would love ideas for fleshing it out into a full track.
Discussion
Ryan September 26, 2023 1:39pm
This is a fuzzy friend of a track. Super strong songwriting. Agreed with @@Ben that this is one of your best yet.
In response to your question—I love the demo-y quality of this, as @@nick mentioned, but I think fleshing it out could be a blast. I bet you’d get a lot of mileage out of separating the bass and guitar parts. A tight, slightly overdriven bass played with a pick for those single-note lines and then the guitar doing the polyphonic stuff would probably open up the arrangement and tell you what to do with the rest of it. At least, that’s how I would start to approach it. I think you’ve got all the essential components written, though, that’s for sure. Great worrrrrk.
EliasSZ October 8, 2023 2:27pm
Yeah, definitely agree – I def want it on bass, and like the idea of an overdriven picked part for it. Also would open up the guitars ability to do other things and flesh out the arrangement a little more.
nick September 26, 2023 11:17am
oh heck yeah, i love all the demo-y moments: unsynced background vocals/doubles, rhythmic breaks— stumbles or otherwise doesn’t matter. And the tone is super lush and easy on the ears. Excellent job starting the chorus and a really really strong one at that. Unique moves with the melody and chords, but super familiar.. great balance.
EliasSZ October 8, 2023 2:28pm
Hahaha, some of that is because I was recording this last minute – but I also think there’s something intimate or compelling about hearing inconsistencies or hearing sorta two universes of a way a line could be phrased at the same time.
Ben September 26, 2023 10:29am
Man I’m such a sucker for that chord movement from like 0:30 to 0:39. It’s just so David Bowie and it makes me emotional. then it sort of lands at that maj7 chord at 0:40, which was a nice surprise, and then it just keeps going on a ride, which culminates with those harmonies starting at 1:00. The major ones at 1:00, then the minor at 1:06 is reminiscent of Yes harmonies. Cool song. It keeps moving from theme to theme, in a linear way, but still feels like a classic song structure. Love the kick drum pulse too.
Good songing with this one. i think it’s your best one yet.
Ryan September 26, 2023 1:36pm
Yeahhhh—that ascending chromatic trick resolving to the maj7 is sooo nice here, Elias.
Ben September 26, 2023 3:31pm
and i think the thing i like about the maj7 chord is that it comes in on the 2 of that bar, or at least that maj7 note happens on the 2
EliasSZ October 8, 2023 2:30pm
Super appreciate the harmonic analysis!! I was pretty proud of it and it kinda came out of nowhere. I’d written the chorus and had started on with the verse and wasn’t sure I was happy with using the chromatic movement as it felt a little to ‘classic’ or something – but when I found the vocal movement that lined up with that maj7 chord it just sorta settled into place for me. Glad that others appreciated it tooooo
agasthya September 24, 2023 10:32pm
there’s something super charming about this production – I don’t know if it needs much fleshing out. I really liked “burn me up in Mercedes Benz”.
alechutson September 25, 2023 12:20pm
Agreed – very charming and authentic the way it is. I guess I could see it expanding into a full band version once the percussion comes in, but I love how sparse and open the arrangement is while still maintaining a driving force.
EliasSZ October 8, 2023 2:31pm
I think if I were to flesh it out, I’d just try to record these parts better, split out the guitar from the bass as @@ryan suggested, and maybe add a shaker and a few other percussive elements. Don’t think it needs a maximalist arrangement by any means, but also was surprised (but happy) to see so many folks seemed to think the demo-ness fits the song – glad the authenticity comes through!