5 to 5

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10 points about 5 to 5:

1) 7 songs (24:60 mins) in 24 hours. I barely maybe kinda reached my goal.

2) This was such an incredibly difficult mind game.

3) As soon as I finished one song, I panicked over what to write next… But the song came within minutes.

4) By the time the project was complete, my mind melted into a pool of mind mud and I woke up not knowing what day it was.

5) I won’t bore you with the exhaustive list of things I’d change in each song, if I had the time.

6) I don’t know if I will ever do a project like that again.

7) Thank you SO much for your suggestions! I used a lot of them. A lot. If you listen closely, you’ll hear them.

8) Drew helped me with “Hector Hector” – so, you have him to thank.

9) “Out of Here” – came the closest to being what I wanted it to be. Note: it’s about being imprisoned in sex slavery…

10) And, according to the rules at Album-a-Day, you can get the album for free download here. Click [mp3] to download and [+] to see lyrics. I’d love to hear what you think!

43 thoughts on “5 to 5”

  1. Firstly, I love how #8 up there turned into sunglasses!

    I’m surprised not more of you turned to mud after such an intensive 24 hours!

    The album…obviously need to listen a lot more yet, but…
    - The Me That I Am…not really feeling this musically, sorry, but I really like the lyric
    - the synthstrings on Can You support the rest of the track really nicely, less so on The Last Place, not sure why
    - Out Of Here sounds like you spent WAY more time doing than most of the others. This is a good thing. I really really like this song, glad you’re happy with it too.
    - Hector Hector is cute/poingnant/hilarious
    - Nice loops on Endless Endlessness – not sure the ambient percussion loop actually fits with the rest of the song though. Second fave song here.
    - Do What We Can sounds very natural for you – is it a style you’d see yourself ‘specialising’ in when you’re a massive folk-rock star??

    Will listen again later – I’m in awe of you for this Mandy. Congratulations.

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  3. Didn’t get a good listen in yet – just a sneaky listen through one headphone during class here, but i’m impressed at what you’ve come up with!!! Even though you’ve expressed how hard this process was, I’m thinking this is the kinda thing I need to do to kickstart my songwriting again! i’m so lazy all the time!

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  4. David: The Last Place isn’t any where near what I heard in my head, musically. Do What We Can – I’ve never written like that before. But I hope I can do it again. I really like the style as well. Massive folk-rock star? haha… hahahaha…. and hahahahahaaaaa…. :shock:

    JM: Looking forward to your thoughts.

    Zig: Lazy? I know – me too! I’ve had to force myself to make the time. And I’ve set crazy goals, as well as accountability, and motivators. The combo works for me.

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  5. I am just a regular joe when it comes to music. I don’t know much about it, but I listen to it. With that in mind I really like it! I would listen to the whole album. My favorite song is The Me that I Am. I was really surprised at how well it turned out given you had 24 hours. I would buy this album I liked it so much and I don’t buy music much. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. do what we can is my favorite! i love, love, love what you did with this one. lyrically, musically, the melody and timing in the verse is fantastic!

    hector, hector sucks. you can tell drew i said so.
    :D

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  8. Samantha: That is a heavy compliment you just gave me. Thank you.

    Alece: The phrase “Endless Endlessness” was all hers!

    Tam: Yeah, I figured you wouldn’t like Hector so much… hehe

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  10. I love that I have several songs of yours in my library now. :)

    I’ve listened to them all once, but I’m going through them again.

    Hector Hector made me laugh. It was a good way to calm down before an exam. :)

    I haven’t decided my favorite yet.

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  12. Peter: Better in time crunch? not really. I can tell you things that I would’ve done very differently if I had time to think through some of it… On the other hand, being focused and goal-oriented definitely motivated me.

    Nat: Lemme know what you think. Sorry there are no piano songs in there…

    Marisa: Looking forward to hearing what your favorite is!

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  13. Top three:
    1) Do what we can-Excellent Song A++
    2) Hector, I listen to this one three time. Bee+
    3)Out of Here- Good song

    Bottom Song
    1) The Me that I Am – Too slow, too solemn

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  16. very folk-style, love it. Endless endlessness-the backup vocals clashed with your voice, actually hurt my ears to listen to it. Hectorhector is fun, the others are really good, wow, pat on the back from me toy ou!

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  17. I really want to download this NOW, but I’m going to wait until Jake UNinstalls DivX from our computer. 5 times I’ve tried to download something that was NOT a video and DivX “took” it. :evil: I hate that DivX.

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  18. Congratz! I’ll be listening tomorrow morning when I can devote some more time to it with a fresh brain. I’ve been in the Okefenokee Swamp all day taking photos of gators, herons, and well, swamp.

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  19. Robin: Thanks for the honest feedback! Tell me more about where you’re hearing the painfulness?? What words? I wanna hear what you’re hearing.

    Brandy: I don’t even know what DivX is. But it does sound evil!

    Russ: Spending a day in the swamp? ugh. At least it’s not mosquito season (right?)…

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  25. Hard to believe you wrote them all in one day. You did a great job with the lyrics, except for Hector, Hector (Sorry Drew).

    Three terrific songs in “Endless Endlessness”, “Out of Here” and “Do What We Can”.

    I love your singing on “Hector Hector” but the music and lyrics not so much.

    With “Last Place” I like the lyrics, the music was okay but it sounded like you were straining your voice a bit in some parts.

    With “The Me That I am” I didn’t like the music too much, especially the guitar(?) sound in the background. I liked the lyrics in the 2nd verse better than the first.

    I didn’t like the music in “Can You”. This was my least favorite song, along with “Hector, Hector”.

    Overall an amazing job. Definitely two thumbs up.

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  26. i feel like it’s ok to say this b/c 1) you asked for feedback and 2) you did this whole deal in 24hrs (nuts!)… i don’t know that i just fell in love with any one of these songs, but you’ve got some really good bits and pieces in your writing.

    the me that i am: loved the lyrics of the chorus, liked the idea of this song, the music not so much yet.

    do what we can: (oppo of “me that i am”) loved the music and feel of the song, liked the verses, the chorus not so much yet. (as a song, my fav of the bunch)

    hector: was fun.

    endless endlessness: really liked the questions and pictures you put in my head with this song. “When that day turned into night/did you lay your head down softly or watch with eager eyes?” -what a great question!

    anyways… that’s my 2cents…

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  29. Rachel & Amy: Lemme know what you think.

    Love: Don’t get too serious about it. I’ll put the lyrics to “Can You” up today – must’ve missed it.

    Josh: It’s totally ok. I’m aiming to perfect the bits and pieces of the writing process so, at the end of the year, I can become a better overall writer. Thank you for taking the time.

    Ed: Laughing that you don’t really go for Hector Hector! You’d be the one. ;)

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  30. Really interesting coming back here a day later and seeing what everyone thinks. I’ve listened a few more times…

    My re-ordered top 3 are:
    1. Out Of Here
    2. Do What We Can (this really does sound so incredibly natural for you)
    3. Endless Endlessness

    If you were doing a ‘proper’ recording, they’d be the only ones I’d keep. This is still an incredible strike rate – 3 from 7…I wish that proportion of my songs were good!

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  31. As an ‘Album’ i think the songs are so varied from each other it does not ‘hold’ together well… but that was not the point of the exercise, was it?

    Having said that, and bearing in mind the ‘restrictions’ that would never be placed on any ‘commercial’ album, i thought all the songs were very well done – you are to be congratulated as an Artist, Miss M :-)

    Out of Here is awesome, the strings add just the right amount of ‘darkness’ and despair the topic needs while still being able to be ‘enjoyed’ and kept in mind – even to hum along to.

    Hector Hector made me smile – you and Drew should collaborate more – if you can stand it that is :-) I loved the humour you put in after each verse. It felt like the sort of song a child would love, but the lyrics are of a (slightly) more adult nature – better able to be appreciated by Mum or Dad than little Billy or Sally. Again i’m giving you some benefit of ‘doubt’ for the time restraint as i don’t feel it is ‘perfect’ just as it is. I don’t know if you could work on the lyrics to make it any more ‘grown-up’ or more kid oriented? It made the kid in me smile though and i listen to it without being ‘serious’ enough to let it interfere with my enjoyment as i do. :-)

    I love The Me that I Am also, however i’d like to hear how it sounds with you singing it in a slightly more ‘uptempo’, slightly faster beat in the verses and keep the current tempo in the chorus for ‘comparison’? And ‘losing affection’ seems to make more sense if it is: ‘seeking attention’?

    If i may, i’ll finish in another comment later…

    But i hope you gained something positive from this experience, because i certainly have for listening to the result!.

    Encore – Bravo! :-)

    I think you done great :-)

    <B

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  32. Just so everyone knows.. I am the President of the Mandy Thompson fan club.

    As I said on twitter. God hit this one good with the talent stick.

    Love it.. Including Hector.

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  35. Part 2 :-)

    I think my personal favourite is: Do What We Can.

    i ‘relate’. i like the feel of the melody. i think many others would relate to it also and would be many people’s ‘lament’. The thing i am the least liking though is the ‘bridge’: i totally get where you were ‘going’ and i agree strongly, but there is something about ‘my own two hands’ that somehow strikes me as sort of …’wrong’ somehow? our hands might in one sense ‘hold our ‘destiny’ ( in the sense of it is what we do with them that demonstrates truthfully our heart’s commitment), but our hands are not what is ‘in charge’ of our body/heart/thought.

    But i can’t think of a better sounding line that says it more clearly so i’ll go with what you wrote unless divine inspiration hits one or both of us! ;-)

    I thought the electronic keyboard and ‘stereo’ tympany on Endless Endlessness suited the theme wonderfully (you really hear it best in headphones :-) ) I wonder if a bit of the ‘Enya’ treatment would make it even more powerful? ( Enya mixed multiple tracks of her singing lyrics to add ‘depth’ and power to her vocals sometimes.)

    ‘Can you’ just gets better and better each time i hear it… but i’d so much like to hear you really put your heart into it in a studio and put the raw strength of your full voice into the last half of this song and the chorus. Do a little bit of ‘Melissa’ on it.

    I said at first i did not hink the Album ‘held’ together…

    The test of a good album is how many times you can listen to it repeated before turning it off.

    I don’t want to turn this one off! :-)

    <B

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  36. ckroboth! THANKS! :)

    Love: Glad you recognize that this wasn’t a “connected” album. I’ve got some thoughts on how to do a better job of that later. Maybe a whole series of songs on Hector? :)

    Marisa: surprising… those two? hmmm…

    David: 3 out of 7 ain’t bad indeed!

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  40. Are you kidding me? Seriously. MANDY THOMPSON. Okay….so I know that you know that we have a bandwidth situation, so I knew that I couldn’t download until I get to the States in April but then I read all these comments and what did I see? Some action about Endless endlessness. So dang it…I had to go download. I don’t care if we run out in the middle of the month. That song was so worth it. If the rest of the album is just as good (and I am so anticipating) then dang. You are seriously a rockgod. Thank you for being so brave. You are amazing and I am so honored to be in your company. Wow. You are gifted and amazing.

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  41. Pingback: Show me the FUNNY « mandythompson.com

  42. Pingback: 62: Freak and Geek It (a return to the Hector story…) « mandythompson.com

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