February Album Writing Month - FAWM.ORG

Nick Sypniewski (@nicksypniewski)

progress: 17

winner!
joined: January 26 2010
location: Maryland, USA
website: www.soundcloud.com/wordsandnick
influences: Beatles, Costello, Nick Lowe, The Band, Buck Owens, Hank Sr. John Hiatt, Pete Townshend, Dylan, Joe Ely, Blue Rodeo, Paul Weller, Gram Parsons, XTC, etc. etc. Pretty much if it's poppy or rootsy and rocks...

Bio

Guitarist/Bassist. Been writing and playing for 30+ years. Yeah, I know, it doesn't sound like it...

Goal this year is quality over quantity. So while I'm still shooting for as many as possible, I'm gonna spend more time getting 'em "right". As far as collaborations, if you happen to like my stuff and think you have lyrics that I could do music for, let me know and we'll see what happens.

Can't sing, as those who've been here before can tell you. So just consider my vocal sounds a really out of tune instrument, badly played.

Regarding comments/criticism - YES PLEASE??? No need to sugar coat your comments. I would like brutal analysis of what I did - right or wrong. You won't hurt my feelings. Comment about any aspect except the singing/melody cause it's the best I can do without someone else to sing 'em.

On with the tuneage.

2012 Songs

1	Cardboard Condos	18 comments // 3 months ago
2	Feeling Down	6 comments // 3 months ago
3	Faded Glory (with followawackymoose)	12 comments // 3 months ago
4	When Whatever Is The Answer	8 comments // 3 months ago
5	We Drive Me Crazy (with ellenpliss)	12 comments // 3 months ago
6	Signs On The Crows	17 comments // 3 months ago
7	All Explorers Should Die In The Arctic	4 comments // 3 months ago
8	You Hate Me (with ladyvinyl)	8 comments // 3 months ago
9	Electronic Flotsam	5 comments // 3 months ago
10	Call It A Day	3 comments // 3 months ago
11	I Hear Alan Tuning	3 comments // 2 months ago
12	If You Don't Wanna Me	2 comments // 2 months ago
13	Like A Cloak And Dagger (with nightengale)	4 comments // 2 months ago
14	Dream The Same Dream	9 comments // 2 months ago
15	The Shearin' O'Sheep	6 comments // 2 months ago
16	Samantha	3 comments // 2 months ago
17	This Is How All Our MIdnights End	5 comments // 2 months ago

Soundboard

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johnrickenbach 2 months ago

thanks Nick--probably can't get to the tutorial or dive into the files till the weekend, but that's what happens when life just gets in the way...much appreciated
johnrickenbach 2 months ago

Hi Nick--sorry for not having gotten back to you...actually wanted to let you know I couldn't open the piano parts...not sure what I need to do... a little tutorial would be helpful...again, apologies for not having responded...got busy, the usual excuses...but would love to hear how they sound! Any suggestions on how to get them to import into GarageBand?
dragondreams 2 months ago

Hi Nick

I just wanted to drop by and say thank you for taking the time to listen and for your great comments.

And I secretly agree with you about the guitar battle.

Darth Binky's reputation was in my head when I recorded my parts, and I could feel his presence looming over my shoulder and grinning as soon as I hit the record button. Worked wonders for making my playing hands get very tight and sweaty!
mattblick 2 months ago

Then we agree on something!!
mattblick 2 months ago

Good suggestion about the translation - thanks. Hating songs you love? Hmmm how do you feel about Revolution 9?????
tinam 2 months ago

thanks for all the comments on our songs nick its always nice to have a fan
michellemckibbon 2 months ago

Thanks for the feedback! Very much appreciated.
musicjoy 2 months ago

Thanks so much for the feedback on my song Lifeline. Appreciate it! 17 songs for you - very impressive work!!
valeriecox 2 months ago

Hi Nick. Thanks for the comment. I had fun letting out a little frustration in that vocal.
toms 2 months ago

I hold you mostly responsible for this:
http://fawm.org/songs/30583/
nightengale 2 months ago

H Nick, Wow, You gave that song an awesome sound! The music and vox are so fitting here!
I love what you did with this song! Thank You so much for the collab!
fuzzy 2 months ago

OK, "Rockette Leg Syndrome" is written. It's just me messing about, but I posted it anyway. (*30557)
fuzzy 2 months ago

Rockette Leg Syndrome - good one! Sounds like a song title to me...
Congrats on the win!
nightengale 2 months ago

That'd be great Nick, I'll add you as collab!
joetime 2 months ago

Also love how you put "snare" in quotes cuz it's totally fake. First song I used a fake snare
joetime 2 months ago

You know Jon? Wow 14 songs great job. I'm on my phone right now but I'll check out your stuff later.
terranoda 2 months ago

Thanks for the comments, much appreciated!
fuzzy 2 months ago

I've edited the liner notes for my song, *24942 , to mention you and your tune.
toms 2 months ago

Thank you for the nice comment, Nick - oddly, I listened to REM's first album yesterday for the first time in perhaps 15 years.
keithwiseman 2 months ago

Thank you very much Nick.... I really appreciate that!
dreamscuba 2 months ago

Thanks very much for your comments on "Driving my life". Much appreciated.
accosmi 3 months ago

Thanks for the input! I'll go back and revise that mix tomorrow I think... Feels a bit flat to me.
$Elyon\'s mitten - anonymouse$ anonymouse 3 months ago

hehe I got a free ticket to the theater last week; there was a question/answer session after with the actors. The crude nature of the language was raised by one disgruntled audience member. The director on stage seemed quite flustered, offended by the argument, and most of those on stage were quite defensive about it (justified as "realism", language o the times).
Anyhow, I loved it when one of the actors said "it depends whether the audience has the capa.... ... the feeling to embrace the film and where it comes from not. *smile*" (I can't remember the precise phrase)
anyhow, intellect is just one capacity, to-do-good is another
toms 3 months ago

No, it wasn't a 34 Ford, it was a 55 Buick Special. Just the way it goes in Flint, Michigan. (And there is in fact a 55 special in my garage...waiting for me to emerge from the basement & make it work...yeah, right...)

Thanks for the comment & listen, fellow slump-slayer!
mikeskliar 3 months ago

hi- saw you commented on that other song inspired by 'midnight in paris'- since we were the only commenters i thought you might get a kick out of the one i posted a week or two back
http://fawm.org/songs/22499/
ellenpliss 3 months ago

you gave me a great compliment in a post to Roel...much appreciated
ellenpliss 3 months ago

you are a sweet heart...and too modest, but don't change because it is endearing.
plainwhitetoast 3 months ago

Howdy! I was just reading one of your posts in the forums... I am willing to lend my voice if there is something you think it might help realize. It may not be as good as some, but I have a pretty good control of it. I will do a wide range of styles.

I'm sure you can find other willing singers too, but I do understand wanting to be able to do it all yourself. I, for example, know when I need to pull in a real musician and when I can hack it out (and lately, I just hack anyway).

Anyway, give a shout if you are interested.
monty 3 months ago

Thanks for taking the time to comment on The Misemployed. Yeah, i'm a shy singer for sure.
asdfcag 3 months ago

Thanks for the comment. Nice to see a fellow Hiatt fan too.
brzan 3 months ago

Thanks Nick! I couldn't even come close to Cabbage Rolls and Coffee, so it came out more cod fish and pivo.
lizleppy 3 months ago

Hi?i like your stuff and i think you can do great with my lyrics.infact,its your profile av bn searchin for bt wsnt lucky.googled a couple of ur poetry and i ws kimda infectd with ur work.
jessicagraae 3 months ago

Thanks for your ideas for my song!
oneslowtyper 3 months ago

Thanks Nick for looking at R&J... no worries on whatever you decide.
Cheers,
John
ladyvinyl 3 months ago

Oh it's fine! I'll try to get something going this weekend. As I said I have a few lines already and once I have that I can usually expand it into the real thing. Thanks!
ladyvinyl 3 months ago

Hi Nick! I've been having a tough time with a stomach virus and migraines the past couple weeks so I'm sorry I haven't been communicating a lot! My health seems to be a lot more under control right now. But I assure you I've been thinking about it! I had an idea to make an upbeat Beatles-esque sounding song (sort of like the mocker era, early 60s) but, with lyrics about hating someone instead of love. I think it would sound really cool and I have a few snippets of lyrics but was wondering whether to continue with it for our collab or as a solo song. What do you think of that idea?
johnrickenbach 3 months ago

Nick--thanks for the nice comment..nice to hear from you again this year!
bitshred 3 months ago

you're doing a good job with your stems.
erinkelsey3 3 months ago

Thanks so much for the comment on my song! I agree with your suggestions... trying to figure out how to differentiate between the sections without sounding too abrupt. But anyway thanks
darcistrutt 3 months ago

Wow..."Sort of Pete Seeger, Mary Travers and Judy Collins all rolled into one." I'm totally honored beyond words. Thanks for the kind comment!
downburst 3 months ago

I was in the library, with no headphones! I'm gonna listen now.
tinam 3 months ago

thanks for commenting on Baby I vibrate ... glad you liked it!
cooney11 3 months ago

thanks soo much
ellenpliss 3 months ago

you are kidding, right Nick? http://fawm.org/songs/23943/ -- I would be honored! Can't wait to hear it! Thank you!!! I am adding you as a collab now....good luck and do anything you want with it
theodamus 3 months ago

Thanks for the lovely comment!
keithwiseman 3 months ago

lol... Thanks Nick..... actually I'm in my laundry room. What your seeing there is a deep fridge.
ladyvinyl 3 months ago

Sorry for the late reply! I'll get started working on some Beatles-y lyrics then. I'm cool with singing it, although I don't think I have the best singing voice, other people seem to like it. Sounds like a plan! I'll let you know when I've got some lyrics together.
followawackymoose 3 months ago

RE: Faded Glory 1 day ago, you wrote:

"Hey there Matt. I'd kinda like to give this one a shot. I'm hearing something along the lines of Elvis Costello's Watching the Detectives. Let me know." Please do so! That is a treatment I had not thought of, I think the sort of lurching rhythm of that song might suit it - becasue when I read it on the page, I get a sea chanty or polka-like flow, which is what I don't want to happen!
cts 3 months ago

You're quite welcome, my man.
kidd 3 months ago

Thanks man! Im obsessed with the SMiLE stuff just now, so Its obviously gonna be all over these FAWM songs.... just a lap steel man, and a very cheap one at that... tuned to a very high open A cos I have light gague guitar strings on it!!!
downburst 3 months ago

You've never seen Chinatown? Wow, you really should.
ladyvinyl 3 months ago

Hello Nick! I've never done a collab before, so I really don't know how the process goes. I like the songs you have up. I'm not exactly sure how to start but I signed up for lyrics in the thread. Did you have any particular ideas in mind for the collab song?
calumcarlyle 3 months ago

i think i contributed to a locked thread myself now!
Well, it's all fun and games though, nobody got hurt ... (this time!)
keithwiseman 3 months ago

Nope..... none that I know of anyway
calumcarlyle 3 months ago

hi Nick! wow! a locked thread! that's pretty extreme actually!

Yeah, i'll take any excuse to put differences aside, i am a loudmouth, but i follow it up by being open to changing my mind pretty quick (i like to think anyway).

Yeah, i agree with you totally about ethics and principles but i have learned that stuff comes back around, you know? If someone behaves like a dick, then people will notice, i think. Once i've said my piece, then that's me done. After all, if i don't like somebody, well, i don't have to live their life or walk in their shoes, and they do... until they change that is.

So yeah, i fully agree with you but i think i'm about ready to move on from that issue for now. Cheaters only cheat themselves ultimately. Anyway, thanks for the note, hope you have a good FAWM.
keithwiseman 3 months ago

Thanks for stopping by for a listen Nick.... really appreciate it man.
cts 3 months ago

It's poignant and cathartic. And you're quite welcome...no, I suppose they all can't start off as party anthems. A little sobriety is good now and again.
ellenpliss 3 months ago

Hi Nick! Thanks for checking in!!! Best wishes of a great FAWM -- can't wait to hear your music! I would never even "try" if it was not for you and my handful of FAWM friends -- so Thank You!
johncrossman 3 months ago

Howdy, there was a collab pad last year that I didn't use either. You didn't make it up! I was wondering the same thing.
downburst 3 months ago

Glad you understood me.
downburst 3 months ago

For what it's worth... I feel you. Someone needs to get hit with that key-board (AKA clue stick).
johncrossman 3 months ago

Feeling random?

http://fawm.org/forums/thread/2707/
rickamorphis 3 months ago

Hi Nick...

Re: Javier Escovedo, he's the former singer of the Zeros, and younger brother of Alejandro. A friend recently turned me on to his solo CD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zeros_(American_band)

See you back over at 'rock band words with friends'...
bitshred 3 months ago

Roots rock, cool. Happy Fawm
ianuarius 4 months ago

Hi there! Just trying to break the ice with new peoples here!
Nice list of influences you got there. Looking forward to hear your tunes!
Good luck!
elainedimasi 4 months ago

Hey Nick - great to see you here again!
randyxpher 4 months ago

I knew from some of your input on the A-Z Bands thread we were kinda on the same page - even before I saw your influences. Looking forward to hearing your stuff!
taylortay 4 months ago

My mum's a big fan - that's how I 'got into' him. I'm jealous that you met him! I'm hoping he'll bring his current tour with the Spinning Songbook to Australia some time. Mum says she saw that when it came last time back in the 80s (I think?). Anyway, best of luck for February!
stevenwesleyguiles 4 months ago

"I like all your songs. They are the best thing I have ever heard. Unless they turn out not to be. If so, then please try again. Signed, Your Best Friend in the Whole Wide World."
erikdidriksen 4 months ago

I've been looking at that book longingly for ages. I also can't justify springing $100 on it. (All the used copies on Amazon are more expensive than getting a fresh copy from the authors' website, in case you ever decide to spring for it.)
toms 4 months ago

Man, I'm going to steal your list of influences...
erikdidriksen 4 months ago

Emerick's bio was the first book I'd read on the actual technical process of recording the Beatles, so it was quite enlightening for me. Are you a Lewisohn scholar?
erikdidriksen 4 months ago

Likewise, Mr. Sypniewski! If FAWMs past have had you working on quantity over quality, then I'm more than a little excited to hear what happens when you're focusing on quality over quantity.
brzan 4 months ago

Hey Nick! Looking forward to hearing you this year as well!
cts 4 months ago

You better believe it, sir.
taylortay 4 months ago

Another Costello fan! Nice. I saw him for the first time last year and he's a brilliant live performer, and he seemed to have this psychic ability for telling my favourites of his. Keen to hear your stuff this year!
dustymason 4 months ago

FAWM it up until you can feel it.