hello! from Jack Merlot » Blog Posts

∰ is for campfire songs & stories ∰

Jack Merlot — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:42:46 +0000

Just got finished playing an outdoor set with cousin Nick up in nordeast Minneapolis at his new place.

There were many covers including an Elliot Smith set, traditional americana & folk tunes, (of course) some Jack Merlot stuff. and we finished the night with some old blues/jazz standards I haven’t played for a while.

The acoustic version of Around & Aboot featured guest backing vocals from Corey Halvorson and sounded spot-on perfect, capping off a great week. I wish I’d had a mic & some portable recording apparatus to capture the moment, but for now, I’m willing to let some things fly away.

The magic of magnets, vacuums, and tubes can be seen once again up above this and to the right, because we figured out how to patch lyrical snippets directly onto your screen for maximum enjoyment.

It’s all a bit much, isn’t it?

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-24

Jack Merlot — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:56:00 +0000

Getting a new track ready to post on the website is always exciting – next up, The Kindle Song, for I & இ #

Free MP3 Single – Around & Aboot

Jack Merlot — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 19:58:30 +0000

Here’s another track from recent sessions at the Diamond Fiction studio in South Minneapolis.

This one goes out to my friend Claire Undis – thanks so much for your kindness and generosity, Claire!

If you have trouble downloading the file, try right-clicking on the link and “Save As”. If you’re on a Mac with only one button, well, that’s your own damn fault. ;-)

03_Jack_Merlot__Around_&_Aboot

Lyrics are forthcoming in short order – and please, if you enjoyed this track, take a minute to leave a comment. Here, or on Facebook or Twitter or what-have-you, and also, don’t forget, I love getting emails sometimes even though they’re kind of old school now.

jack at jackmerlot dot com

xoxo

- Jack

Free MP3 Single of the Day – The Kindle Song

Jack Merlot — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:27:08 +0000

And now, without further ado, I give you the Kindle Song!

(yes, it’s kind of about, er, the Kindle. )

Right-click this link and Save As for the Kindle Song!

Hey, it’s another free song! When will they party stop?

(Um, never? One can only hope…)

Free MP3 Single of the Day – Skeleton Key 73

Jack Merlot — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:09:13 +0000

OhHai, Redditors & other denizens of the webernet.

Here is a previously unreleased song for your enjoyment, on the house.

It’s a little rough and some of the guitar work isn’t my best, but overall I really liked making the beat with my Drum Druid and the vocal harmonies kick.

If you have trouble downloading it, just right-click on the link and “Save As” or whatnot.

Love ya,

- Jack Merlot

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-20

Jack Merlot — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Awesome' #
Letting Mark Wheat help me gently down from a day of aggravating my carpal tunnel. I'm an old man. Somebody chute me some bamboo. #
I get to the End of the Internet and it's… an iTunes ad. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-13

Jack Merlot — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Just thinkin' about gettin' a new kitten. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-13

Jack Merlot — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Just thinkin' about gettin' a new kitten. #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-06

Jack Merlot — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Happy Free to Be You and Me Day – Happy Swedish Fish Day – Happy Sweetest Day Ever – Happy UrfDay – Happy BurfDay xoxo S.W.A.K. – Jack #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-12-06

Jack Merlot — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Happy Free to Be You and Me Day – Happy Swedish Fish Day – Happy Sweetest Day Ever – Happy UrfDay – Happy BurfDay xoxo S.W.A.K. – Jack #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-08-02

Jack Merlot — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:17:00 +0000

thoughts sleeping in back seats, pacified by the silence of passing trees #
sharp katana in the Badlands, how I'd love to be your man #
thoughts sleeping in back seats, pacified by the silence of passing trees #
subtle in Spokane, ever graceful in Japan #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-26

Jack Merlot — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:17:00 +0000

thoughts sleeping in back seats, pacified by the silence of passing trees #
"Did the phoenix love the sphinx just like Katy did? #
Iris, oh my sweet Iris, what was it that brought you here? #
a tourmaline shield that she wouldn't yield, a black-shrouded shadow, devine #
and her voice echoes freely through the softly lighted church #
pressed up against that cool alchemical stone #
a molten veneer containing her fear and burning her shadow off #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-19

Jack Merlot — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 15:17:00 +0000

built the tiniest of castles in the sand, and left a shellprint of my hand #
I need a volunteer, 'cause these sharks, we gotta feed 'em #
I'll be acquainted with angels if you share me with no other #
Let the river take us higher, floating potions, bottled fire #
Iris, oh my sweet Iris, what was it that brought you here? #
"Did the phoenix love the sphinx just like Katy did? #
but the bells which ring yearly spell his name #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-12

Jack Merlot — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:17:00 +0000

look up to the heavens for the velveteen rabbit #
"Did the phoenix love the sphinx just like Katy did? #
Welcome to my room, where the blues and the ruby's atelier #
pressed up against that cool alchemical stone #
expectin' everyone to hold the door, 'cause you're just all of that, and more #
We're still playing Solitaire, but aviation's over #
Flight flickers, living light / through a translucent night #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-07-05

Jack Merlot — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:17:00 +0000

so I took my resistance at Westhaven / the stormbirds were singing on the lawn #
the moon never expects you to jump from her great heights #
built the tiniest of castles in the sand, and left a shellprint of my hand #
river branches, spelling patterns, spilling fortunes, forgotten language #
but the bells which ring yearly spell his name #
I'm a glass Buddha with horns and a halo #
built the tiniest of castles in the sand, and left a shellprint of my hand #

Jack Merlot’s ‘Orchids’ Album, Free Download!

Jack Merlot — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:11:29 +0000

That’s right, folks, you’re in luck if you’ve been patient enough to wait for the album to be available for FREE, well, today’s your lucky day!

I’m not even going to bug you for your email address or solicit donations or tips or what-have-you. (Aren’t I nice?)

Without further ado, download ‘Orchids for Betty’ right heah.

I stuffed the zip file as full as I could, cramming lots of digital doodads and technological tchotchkes to amuse and delight you and your loved ones as you sit around the campfire swilling cheap beer and swatting mosquitos.

Hopefully, this album, what with it’s fancy-schmancy artwork, liner notes, secret messages, encrypted codes, *full lyric sheets*, and lots of other surprises, will take your mind off the summer heat.

Enjoy!

- Jack Merlot

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-28

Jack Merlot — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Flight flickers, living light / through a translucent night #
built the tiniest of castles in the sand, and left a shellprint of my hand #
We're still playing Solitaire, but aviation's over #
Planets created sound, heard above our native burial ground #
river branches, spelling patterns, spilling fortunes, forgotten language #
so I took my resistance at Westhaven / the stormbirds were singing on the lawn #
pressed up against that cool alchemical stone #

Free MP3 of the day – Album Version of Iris Florentine

Jack Merlot — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:38:16 +0000

So, a couple weeks ago we featured a rough take of Iris Florentine as the free MP3 single of the day.

I thought maybe you’d be interested in hearing the evolution of a song, so today I’m posting the album version of Iris Florentine for your enjoyment.

Take a few minutes to compare the two tracks, I’m sure you’ll agree that the album version sounds a lot more polished.

That being said, though, sometimes I prefer the spontaneity of rough cuts, because you can really hear the song in it’s early stages, and it sometimes has a strange beauty to it that more fully “produced” recordings sometimes lack.

Thanks to everyone who came to the show last week – it was lots of fun for me to play a live set or two. I hope you’re all enjoying your copies of Orchids for Betty!

- Jack Merlot

CD Release Party/Impromptu Show

Jack Merlot — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:43:41 +0000

Hey there RPM Challengers, fellow Facebookers, and Random Web Visitors -

I apologize for the last-minute notice here, but I wanted to give ya’ll an update.

As some of you may already know, the RPM Challenge is having nationwide listening parties/CD swapping parties tonight at all the regional hubs.

Not wanting to be left out, I went ahead and found a spot for a (small) gathering of folks.

So, it looks like we’re not having an official regional listening party after all, due to lack of interest and also me being a procrastinating sumbitch.

HOWEVER:

I still really want to meet other RPM Challengers from the Twin Cities and swap copies of our CDs – we just finished a limited edition of 100 discs, all signed and numbered, and the artwork was letterpress-printed, suitable for framing, even. ;-)

And, the letterpress printing company, Lunalux , has graciously offered their space tonight so we can meet up if you want a copy of ‘Orchids for Betty’. The space is right off of Loring Park, right by the Walker modern art museum and the Sculpture Gardens, so it’s pretty easy to find.

Here’s a Google map to the shop – it’s right in between Cafe Lurcat and Nick & Eddie’s.

I’m probably going to play a short set on my acoustic guitar at around 8:00PM.

We have permission to use the store until 10:00, and the sound system at Lunalux is not that great, but it’ll still be a good time (and it’s sandwiched in between a bunch of bars, if we want to have an ‘afterparty’.)

Tell all your friends! The more the merrier. If nobody shows up, I won’t be disappointed – we’ll probably be logged into Second Life or the RPM Challenge website or whatnot, so it’s going to be fun no matter what.

Thanks,

– Jack & Friends

Dragon Child – Free MP3 Single of the Day

Jack Merlot — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:39:25 +0000

Another track that was in mid-release at the time of the Great Hard Drive Massacre of 2004 – on this track, the production quality is a little better, the vocal sits a little bit better in the mix, and the gentle fuzziness of a Marshall 9001 pre-amp really helps the guitar part sing.

the original (unreleased) artwork for the Dragon Child single

Download Dragon Child over heah.

As in:

Ya’ll come back now, ya heah?

- Jack Merlot

Dragon Child

— — —

Written & performed by Jack Merlot

Producer/recording engineer: Toby Lucien

Mastered by Diamond Fiction

— — —

it’s been years since I felt like this
with a sweet little honey on my wrist
won’t you come stand with me in the night
before the clutch of our death-grip comes tight

Oh my dragon
oh my dragon you can come with me
I don’t know where I’m standing, on a cliff

with your heart in my hands,
I will decide
we are vultures in a state of denial
when you talked with everybody at the bar
the other night I laughed
cuz I know you’re coming home
and that’s what I planned

oh baby this time it’s gonna be rough
I don’t think I can fly any further, myself, oh no
it’s been years since I felt you in my heart
and this ocean’s only tearin’ me apart

it’s been years since I felt like this
with the sweetest little honey and she’s
pulling on my wrist
oh sweet dragon child dragon child my friend
I wanna be with you until the bitter end

I won’t die, I won’t die
but you gotta stay with me now now
I know I’ve been f*cking up a lot but
it’s the way I am