Thursday, October 29, 2009

Track 12 "Go" - 'One Way' Album Preview



One Way is available now -Hear the album free and Pay What You Want at http://dannyrossmusic.com/records.php Or get it on iTunes!

NOTES
I think"Go" is the hidden gem on the record. It's certainly the most creative use of strings - I found myself listening and studying "Eleanor Rigby" "God Only Knows" and Sufjan Stevens "Jacksonville" among others. I love the Radiohead "No Surprises" guitar sound and Matt Wigton's creative bass line in the last minute of the song. I also love how it transitions into the last song "One Way." Musically, I believe this is my most mature work. Lyrically, I was trying to evoke that overwhelming feeling when facing the enormity and beauty of nature, and the struggle to surrender to the big picture and live each day with such clarity. In fact, a few years later when my grandfather past away I found this song to be helpful, and think of him now when singing it live. Funny how meanings of a song can change as we get older...

FACTS
Music and Lyrics, String/ Horn Arrangements by Danny Ross
Written in Ithaca, Fall 2005 (Age 21)
Inspired by: Radiohead, Nick Drake
Produced by Rob Guariglia and Danny Ross
Recorded Spring 2008 at Galuminum Foil Productions;
Engineered by Jeff Berner
Except Piano Recorded at Bunker Studios
Engineered by Aaron Nevezie, John Davis

Instrumentation:
Danny Ross – Vocal, Piano
Carl Basler – Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Fred Kennedy - Drums
Matt Wigton - Bass
Dave Melton - Rhodes
Leo Adamov - Violin
Rachel Golub - Violin
Corrina Albright -Viola
Jody Redhage - Cello
Paul Nedzela - Bari Sax
Mike Maher - Trumpet
Evan Smith - Tenor Sax


LYRICS

Lost in thought

The sinking sun extends its glow

Let me go


Holy wind

And oceans singing violins

Will you forgive my sins?

And let me in


Take these words and go

Go home


Make a choice

And hear the timbre of my voice

And oh my God I feel so much

Let me trust


Take these words and go

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

"One Way" Released Today on iTunes, Pay What You Want??

Hey Folks,

And a dreary autumn day to you too. You may have seen me recently with my eccentric family on television puking after a wild balloon ride in Colorado. You may have also seen a rehearsal film of my last performance of "Thriller" before my untimely death. But you haven't seen this...

Pay What You Want! --Yes, Radiohead did this too... -- It's very important to me that my friends, fans and even awkward acquaintances own the debut LP Danny Ross Presents One Way as 4 years of sweat and soul went into it. So I'm letting you head to the following site, play the whole album for free and Name Your Own Price (Free shirts, EPs, Mix Tapes and Love Notes are also involved): http://dannyrossmusic.com/records.php

And also... One Way is released today on iTunes!

So you have 2 viable options 1) Name Your Own Price for the physical album and other free stuff or 2) Download One Way from Steve Jobs directly. It's a better deal than a Denny's Grand Slam Breakfast (if that's even possible). Thanks and fill in the gcal -- we're playing next Sat Nov 14 @ Rockwood Music Hall. Catch you on the flip!

- Danny?


"What Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Danny Ross strives for is truly awe-inspiring...One Way is a compelling, confident and creative masterwork from one of New York City's most promising young talents."
-- Greg Robson, Absolute Punk

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Track 11 "Waiting On The Wheel" - 'One Way' Album Preview



One Way is available now on iTunes. Play "Waiting On The Wheel” and the whole album free at http://www.dannyrossmusic.com

NOTES
I was hoping to articulate some of the unintended consequences of growing up in this song. A lot of my songs are about individual relationships or insights into a personal philosophy, but this one concerns a relationship with people in the outside world and certain expectations. It's one of the truest lyrics I've written. Also check out the guitar solo, it sounds that way thanks to our killer ax-man Carl and our drummer Fred, who is constantly forcing us to think outside the box even when it's not his instrument.

FACTS
Music and Lyrics, String Arrangements by Danny Ross
Written in NYC 2005 (Age 21)
Inspired by: Muse, Coldplay
Produced by Rob Guariglia and Danny Ross
Recorded Spring 2008 at Galuminum Foil Productions;
Engineered by Jeff Berner

Instrumentation:
Danny Ross – Vocal, Piano
Carl Basler – Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Fred Kennedy - Drums
Matt Wigton - Bass
Dave Melton - Rhodes
Leo Adamov - Violin
Rachel Golub - Violin
Corrina Albright -Viola
Jody Redhage - Cello


LYRICS

Waiting on the wheel

Floating in the harbor

The sun is rising high

Though summer’s wasting away


Feeling like a stone

Drinking on a Sunday

I’m filling up my mind with nothing

I found this broken home

Along the open water

My banner waving high

Through all the weather I survived


And I returned in no parade

A sinking anchor, broken chain

Now I’m washed up

In the shore of my own weight


The more that you know

The more that it’s nothing

And where can I find that feeling of home?


Well isn’t it the same?

Yes, I received your postcards

But I cannot relate

Though I can’t throw them away


Cause I don’t know what to say

The wind carried me the right way

I’m right but I am wrong in some way


Cause the more that you know

The more that it’s nothing

The more that you wind up being alone

And all that I’ve shown

Must lead to something

But where can I find that feeling of home?


Waiting on the wheel

Drinking into Monday

This ship will find the current someday


But all that I know

And all that I’ve suffered

Has only arrived at being alone

In all that I’ve shown

I’ve believed in something

But where can I find that feeling of home?

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Track 10 "This Is Just A Test" - 'One Way' Album Preview


One Way is available now on iTunes. Play "This Is Just A Test” and the whole album free at http://www.dannyrossmusic.com

NOTES
The idea here was to create something that rocked as hard as a Rolling Stones song, with big guitar chords, but on piano. I think "Gimme Shelter" was a big influence at the time, and certainly you can hear "Sympathy for the Devil" in the intro. But this is the oldest song idea of mine to make it on the record, and the intention was to make it a big fat jam - Freebird style. Not surprisingly it's become our hardest rocking song live. And lyrically, this song is the most different on the record -- it's not about introspection and growth -- it's about wanting a girl, pure and simple.


FACTS
Music and Lyrics, Horn Arrangements by Danny Ross
Written in Long Island, NY 2002 (Age 17)
Inspired by: Rolling Stones
Produced by Rob Guariglia and Danny Ross
Recorded Spring 2008 at Galuminum Foil Productions;
Engineered by Jeff Berner

Instrumentation:
Danny Ross – Vocal, Piano
Carl Basler – Electric Guitars
Fred Kennedy - Drums, Percussion
Matt Wigton - Bass
Mike Maher - Trumpet
Evan Smith- Tenor Sax
Paul Nedzela - Bari Sax
Dave Melton - Organ


LYRICS

This is just a test

Damn I’m failin’ it

You’ve got my head in a mess

Feel like bailin’ this

And when I’m sitting to rest

You wink and blow me a kiss


This is just a waste

Still I’ve got to say

I’m obsessin’ on the dress you’re in

When you walk away

I want to be in your head

At the end of the day


I’m losing my nerve for you

Cause I’ve been chokin’ from the smoke

That you wear like perfume

And now the dance floor’s shakin’

But I’m not playing the fool


Ready get set and go

You wanted a show

You’ve got me sweatin’ and stoned

Now I’m out of control

And I won’t take no

Take my hand tonight

I’m takin’ you home


Give me what I crave

In your wicked tricks

You got a hold a’ me like a hypnotist

And it’s got me pissed

Just how much you know it


So I suck in for air

I run and duck from your tease

But you seeped in my system

Like some kind of disease

Papa never taught me

These kinds of birds and bees