The Twenty-Four Hour Album

It was late, really late. Everyone had gone but the three of us diehards. Jamie had called Uncle Pat earlier in the day to get a recording of his honest voice. Uncle Pat phoned this little proverb in from his home in New Mexico. We filled out the ambience with some meditative flutes and drums–a peaceful ending to a long, adventure-filled day.

Uncle Pat - Sage

Jamie - Native Flutes (Alto Recorder), native drum, Sleep machine

Andy - Spa Synths

Kurt - Steel Rain, Percussion

It was late, and I barely remember what was going on at this point. I'm not sure I knew what I was doing at the time, so forgive my hazy recollection. Anyhow, after "Breakin' Up Full Time" wrapped up, there was a slow shift in the energy. Ukulele Loki reassumed his titular role by laying out a riff on his Uke, all while playing his keyboard will the pegs of his Uke to make a bassline. Jesse and Jamie apparently had run off to conjure up some new lyrics for yet another legendary tale about a hardened criminal. Not just any criminal, but an intergalactic space fugitive. Here is his/her tale...

Jesse - Criminal 1

Jamie - Criminal 2

Ukulele Loki - Micron Bass and Uke

Andy - MicroQ Swinkles, GarageBand samples

Davis - Djembe

Karen - Scrapey Scrapey Spoons (or some other metallophone)

Ukulele Loki and Davis took the lead for this late night number. After getting a solid jam together with Davis' foot stompin' riff and Loki's wonky interjections, the two put together a little story about trials and tribulations over a breakup–what I assumed was based on an inside joke. Jesse added her own layer to the story–the female perspective in the scenario with her own, more conclusive agenda to the breakup.

Ukulele Loki - Vox, Wonky Synths

Davis - Vox, Guitar, Djembe

Jesse - Vox

Kurt - Homebass

Karen - Tom-toms

Andy - Maracas

The idea came about that we should do an a cappella number, given that we had so many bodies and strong singers. What resulted is a prime example of 24 Hour Album magic: no rehearsal, no consensus, no concept, roll tape! Well, we wanted to make a love song. I guess there was that. Christopher and Jesse took the forefront at first singing a beautiful love duet, when suddenly the song took a hard left turn. "Giddy up on the pony, girl!"

Christopher - Lead Male Vox, Beatbox

Jesse - Lead Female Vox

Jamie - Pony Vox

Andy - Bass Vox

Rachel - Oohs and Ahs

Ukulele Loki - Oohs and Ohs

Davis - Ahs and Oohs

Karen - Ohs and Ahs

Kurt may have sung too. There were a bunch of us crammed around two mics.

New faces, new fresh energy, and an entirely new gender for the first time this year showed up in the evening. After Christopher and I came up with a stupid chord progression (V forever, then finally I), this magical number came to life. First-timer, Jesse, glued the twangs, tweets, twirls and twitters together with her steady declamations about work frustration–a topic no one could be foreign to. The unwavering G7 chord juxtaposed against Jesse's credo to "just keep goin' on" speaks to the spirit of human perseverance.

Jesse - Vox

Rachel - Alto Recorder

Andy - Guitar

Christopher - Pianer

Kurt - Glockenspiel

Jamie - Maracas, Harmonica

Jamie came back from his song writing session in what once was the "game room" of Kurt's house. He brought this somber tale to us about a soldier's tale of luck, life and death–based on Jim Henson's Storyteller rendition of this Russian tale. He structured a song complete with melody and chords. What resulted was the Twenty-Four Hour Album's most serious endeavor–a respectable and unique addition to the album.

Jamie - Narrator, Chimes

Andy - Guitar, Oohs

Rachel - Oohs

Christopher - Oohs

Andrew - Oohs

Well, Jamie ran upstairs to write an epic and tune. Meanwhile, this interlude came together after a good interval of dilly-dallying. Kurt and Christopher depict a couple of fine, English gentlemen in an engaging conversation about family history, diet, mining, among other riveting subjects. This track makes a fine interlude to the latter half of our day.

Kurt - Son of a Whore

Christopher - Tommy the Chimney Sweep

Andy - Piano

Danny - Ride Cymbal

Every Twenty-Four Hour Album (seems) to need some metal. This years answer was a conglomeration of diverse forces. Kurt leads this angsty number with his matter-of-fact advice. Andrew makes his debut appearance on Kurt's famed "Hondo" guitar. This one's for you, man! "Welcome to the Twenty-Four Hour Album!"

Ol' Man Kurt - Lead Vox

Andy - Shredder

Andrew - Rhythm Guitar

Christopher - Home Bass

Jamie - Drums

Danny - Cow Bell

The titular track of the 2008 album, and the Twenty-Four Hour album's premier into the genre of reggae. Being that it was mere days before Christmas, Kurt and Danny found inspiration from our timeless Christmas darling, Santa Claus–in Jamaica, that is. They explore the dichotomy between the traditions of Christmas and Rastafarianism. Something I somehow overlooked in my days as a Reggae guitarist.

Kurt - Lead Disciple

Danny - Backing Disciple

Jamie - Reed Organ

Andy - Home Bass

Christopher - Drums

This next track is an electro-lover's delight. Kurt and Jamie's improvised dialogue is a robo-fantasy charged with robot-chivalry, sexual exploration, and eventual declaration of catastrophic warfare of man vs. machine–all accompanied by a cool retro 80's, euro-dance club groove. This one's headed for the clubs, coast to coast. Watch out!

Jamie - Robot 1

Kurt - Robot 2

Christopher - Robo MC

Andy - 8 Bit Triangle Wave (Bass riff)

Butcher - Beats, Saw Wave (interjections)