Community Service

This is the first collection of 2HTS tracks ever put together, mostly focusing on songs with non-offensive lyrics. More or less.

Liner Notes (by Necro):

The Water Song

My first 2HTS entry! The theme was “Water”. Guitars, bass, drums, vocals, I think there’s an organ buried in there though it’s barely audible in the mix. I threw in a sample of the toilet flushing for the water sounds. The biggest feedback i remember was that the vocals needed to come up in the mix.

Fly Like a Feather, Sting Like Concrete.

The theme was “Feather”. Piano, organ, guitar, bass, Drummer and vocals. I know it’s 9.8 meters/second squared, but the word ‘squared’ didn’t fit. I feel like I finally nailed where to put the microphone to get decent tone on the solo.

Moneyyyy

Being surrounded by EDM producers has had an influence on me… so this is a all synths and drum machines with a single guitar buried in there somewhere. The theme was “Money”. I either hadn’t figured out that Strip Silence was a thing or I ran out of time.

The Last Battle

The theme was “The Final Battle” and I approached it from the standpoint of how we all face a last battle with death that everyone inevitable loses. Rhodes, guitar, bass, Drummer and vocals.

Nothing

The theme was ‘Nothing’. Guitars, bass, drums, vocals, organ, synths. I think I modified Pachelbel’s progression.

The Girl from School

This theme was “The Mystery Woman”. Piano, synth, guitar, bass, drums and vocals. I didn’t like this one when I first wrote it but it’s kind of grown on me. I think it’s the major key solo which isn’t my usual but it wound up being nice.

Stuck in an R-Hole

The theme was “The Rabbit Hole”. This is an instrumental with guitars, bass, drums and organ. There are some vocal effects in the background but no words. One of the harder drum pieces for me to play, mostly because of that ride cymbal. Not a bad little track though not spectacular.

Smrt

This theme was some kind of cultural reference I’m too old to get, “The Glasses of Smartness”. Apparently has something to do with a cartoon, I decided to take the piss out of hipsters. Guitars, bass, drums, rhodes and vocals. Catchy and I’d finally found the perfect tone for my guitar solos at this point.

Some of all Fears

The theme was “Fear” so i decided to channel my pantophobia. Guitar, bass, drum, vocals, organ. I like the lyrics and solo on this one, the singing is dreadful but with practice i could do it better live.

Fat Morgana

This was a theme where I had to spend some time on the Wikipedia page before I could start (“Fata Morgana”) Marimba, guitar, drums, bass and vocals. I really like this one, some pretty good guitar solos too though it falls apart at the end.

Scrotum Totem

The theme was “The Fog”. Despite the silly title it doesn’t have offensive lyrics. I used my e-bow, which I only do rarely, to give it a spooky feel. Guitar, bass, drums, sound fx and vocals.

Pokemoon

The theme was “Pokemon” in response to both the popularity of Pokemon Go (it was all everyone was talking about for a time) and DK’s hatred of all things related to Pokemon Go. This one could be played live, it’s kind of catchy. Guitar, bass, drums and vocals. I remember having to search online for Pokemon names to make the lyrics fit. Features a rare bass solo.

Dinosaurs

This had a simple theme, “Dinosaurs” but I decided to talk about modern dinosaurs instead. Synth, guitar, bass, drums and vocals. Decent guitar solo.

Daily Horrorscope

This one was done around the theme of “Astrology” in which I describe a local newspaper astrologer whose predictions grow increasingly sinister. I wish I could handle vocals like this with any frequency but I had to chew a half-dozen riccola to keep from choking. Guitar, bass, drums, vocals and organ. One of my better guitar solos relying on wah-wah pedal.

Secret Agent 0069

I had a cold for this one so it was purely instrumental. The theme was “Secret Agent” and I had been listening to a lot of The Shadows and The Man from UNCLE soundtrack around this time. synth horns, strings and bass, Drummer and guitars. This might be the first 2HTS where I used Logic’s Drummer though by volume 4 I start rely on it rather heavily.

Hearts Melt like Forgotten Gelato

The theme was “Melting” and I had been on a gelato kick (it’s really good!). Piano, guitar, bass, drums, vocals and flute. I think this might be my only legitimate love song for 2HTS. Another bizarre flute solo. I’m glad I got past this phase.