Okay, good news first. I got myself a SoundBlaster Live! 24-bit USB card (my work laptop was replaced, and the new one has a soundcard that sucks), and I'm still working on the vocals.

Album art is also directed by yours truly, with imagery and editing by JP Sarmenta. I'm optimistic that the album art will come out great.

The songs have also been copyrighted with rough vocal recordings.

The line-up is also finalized; 15 tracks total:

1. 30 Days To Live
2. Revolution
3. Rock Rock Rockstar
4. All The Things You Said (They're Playing Our Song)
5. Diamonds
6. Journey of a Kite
7. Bring The Sun Back
8. Half-Awake
9. Bye Baby Bye
10. I Shouldn't Fall In Love With You
11. I Will Not Apologize
12. Dontoktumi!
13. Solitary Worlds
14. Takin' A Vacation
15. Bituin

Now for the bad news... if I hurry, it'll be out by June 2008. Conservative target right now is on my 27th birthday on the 11th of July.

Here's a picture of the CDs used for copyrighting. ^_^

I read a massive rant by Nick Perrin as regards to the sad truth about being a composer. I have to say that it is a legitimate and realistic rant crammed into two words: "We suck."

I replied with a long essay as well, throwing a different light on most of his rants.

***

I like your essay. Yes, we all suck, true.

That's why we keep on trying. We keep on striving to improve ourselves. Music is an art and science, both of which require talent and skill.

As far as talent goes, well, there are really the incredibly talented people. Geniuses, in simple terms. They just learn faster, write faster, and evolve faster than the rest of us.

The question "is this meant for me?" is a killer question. In fact, that question made me stop writing songs for 4 years. It just occurred to me a year ago that the naturally talented bunch just keeps on writing. The difference is that we fuck up more than they do.

I've written more than a hundred songs, of which 70% go to the trash bin anyway, or the recycling bin. I keep on trying, though. I'm still writing. I still desire to make it to mainstream radio. I keep on going EVEN IF SOME PEOPLE TELL ME THAT I SUCK ANYWAY.

As in anything, praise and condemnation is subjective. In both ways, these keep me going. Praise gives me a moral boost, and every "you suck" comment (which hopefully have comments as what to improve) is a challenge to make myself better.

A composition is a composition as a painting is a painting. I find Picasso weird, and I think the Beatles and Led Zeppelin are still cool. Sometimes, I wrote stuff that I think sucked, but people found them to be great.

Good is subjective, and is quantified by the effect it has on another person. I personally find Kanye West good. Some think he shouldn't be writing music at all. I have condemned so many songs on the radio, but some people actually find it cool. It's called target audience.

It's funny seeing people praise themselves despite the fact that we think they suck. It's equally funny having other people think we suck, too. Ego actually counts... it's what keeps us going. Everytime we write something new, it gives a feeling of "eureka" or "cool!", and it's fuel to a fire. We become proud.

Here's where humility kicks in. A day after, we should think that what we did the day before sucked. From here, we analyze: what would make it better? It should never end in one, two, a hundred takes. We just need to get getting better and better. Hear every praise and rant; they all count.

I wouldn't do that to my girl. She rarely praises me, by the way. When she does, I'd say "thank you" and be happy that she appreciated what I did. I have at least one fan in the world. Don't throw her away; she just wants you to know that she's behind you. She may be ignorant to the things (or songs) that you deem greater, but if you look closer into it, she just doesn't want you to give up.

To the proud and egotistic, let them be. They will learn the hard way if they close their minds into being their own personal genius.

As to you, my good sir, I think you still have a long way to go. Same road as where I am.

Thank you for your rant, by the way. And yeah, I know I suck. I'm just stubborn enough to keep on going.

I've had praises from local songwriting legends (they spent time without my consent in improving the mixing of my songs a few years back), and had discounts from studios because I was on a budget. These felt great -- they told me indirectly to keep on going. It would kill my growth, though, if I just hung that in my head as my pinnacle.

Here's an ending thought: the talented have it easy. It's just like a history quiz (I suck at memorizing, but I'm good at math, hehe), we just have to work harder to get a better score.

***

I hope that you would find this to be a good read (or an editable text for English homeworks). ^_^

I have recorded most of the songs in Reason 3 already. Instruments have also been treated (EQ and panning). No vocals yet.

Listing has changed -- from 10 to 12. Now, it's 15. Might have a final cut to 12 or 14.

1. 30 Days To Live
2. All The Things You Said
3. Takin' A Vacation
4. I Will Not Apologize
5. Half-Awake
6. Diamonds
7. Solitary Worlds
8. Dontoktumi!
9. I Shouldn't Fall In Love
10. Can't Let Go
11. Bring The Sun Back
12. Selosa (Jealous Girl)
13. Bituin (Star)
14. Revolution
15. Journey Of A Kite

I think I'll be on target for May 2008. Stay tuned! ^_^

Well... not quite. I've recorded a lot of my new songs in Reason 3, with mixing and effects as well.

The album has working title: Wake Me Up at Six. It should only have 10 songs, but upon the requests of some of my good friends, I've decided to push for 12 tracks.

I've been listening to The Cure recently, so expect some influence from this band to my sound. ^_^

Here's the track listing, in no particular order:
1. All The Things You Said
2. Journey of a Kite
3. Half-Awake
4. Diamonds
5. Solitary Worlds
6. I Will Not Apologize To You
7. Dontoktumi!
8. I Shouldn't Fall In Love
9. Can't Let Go
10. Bring The Sun Back
11. Selosa (Jealous Girl)
12. Bituin (Star)

Timeline has also been pushed to May 2008. Stay tuned! ^_^

First of all, to receive news on all upcoming songs via PM, please add me to your favorite audio artists list.

I'm still busy with real life (or work -- I'm taking this 5-minute break to type this down here), but after this IT project goes live, I'm planning to do a couple of things for the NGAP (in no particular order).

I still owe recordings to two guys at the Pinoy NG. I'll do that real soon.

I'll be re-recording (or recording new) the vocals on some (or all) of these tracks, as well as do some rearranging. I'm planning to turn this into a full-length album.

01. ^ Half-Awake
02. ~ Bring The Sun Back
03. ^ Bituin (Star)
04. ~ Journey of a Kite
05. * Am I The One?
06. ~ All The Things You Said
07. ~ I Shouldn't Fall In Love With You
08. ~ Dontoktumi!
09. % Bye Baby Bye
10. % Unfinished Romance

(c)2002 by John Reynoso^
(c)2003 by John Reynoso*
(c)2007 by John Reynoso~
Previously unreleased; no copyright%

As of 27 November 2007, it has full instrumentation and is more-or-less final-mixed. It is still undergoing minor tweaks, but the uploaded version here is almost the final version.

Remixed it again (boosted instrument volumes and panning adjustment), and is on the NGAP Weekly Top Five starting 28 November 2007! Thank you to the 33 votes (average of 4.49) starting the 25th of November! ^_^

As of 4 December 2007, it has 220 votes (average of 4.33), 3,115 listens, and 655 downloads. Cool! The song is also "immortalized" in the NGAP (cannot be edited or deleted).

I haven't had a song copyrighted for the longest time (last was in 2003). That's how much I like this track. Yeah, it's pop-rock, and not NG staple... but I'd post it anyway. Don't care about the zero bombings anymore (they still suck, though).

This is, in essence, a light-hearted love song. 1 month and more than 100 work-hours in the making.

Link to NGAP .mp3 [128kbps]
Link to NGAP .mp3 [192kbps - Remastered]

All The Things You Said
[07 November 2007]
[J. Reynoso]

Hey, I told you that we'd make it.
So many times we tried, we failed, but, hey, we're here.
Don't care whatever that they tried to say to us
coz, hey, we just had to make it.

'Coz they didn't have the guts to chase
all their fallen hopes and shattered dreams.
And now we're here, we proved 'em wrong
we're standing strong, right here, right now...

and they're playing our song
on the radio,
and I remember all the things you said to me
like we won't make it,
but we're still
right here.

Hey, I told you that we'd make it.
They told me a hundred times to just find someone else.
But they don't know that you're not worth givin' up,
so I just kept on going.

'Coz they think that I am just insane,
and they would say and say just anything
to keep me away from you,
but now they're through. I got you right now...

and they're playing our song
on the radio,
and I remember all the things you said to me
like we won't make it,
but we're still
right here.
Yeah, they're playing our song
on the radio!
And I'm here telling you to stay with me
from now 'til later
'coz I'll be
right here.

Hey, told you we can make it.
(Can you turn on the radio?)

They're playing our song
on the radio,
and I remember all the things you said to me
like we won't make it,
but we're still
right here.
Yeah, they're playing our song
on the radio!
And I'm here telling you to stay with me
from now 'til later
'coz I'll be
right here.

Seven years ago
from the time I wrote this song,
I never thought I'd be with a girl like
you, you, you, yeah!

Disclaimer: As made clear in the guidelines, this is a LEGAL entry.

1. You are making the legal claim that it is your own original work.
- The parody is based on the melody of Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar On Me. Some elements have been altered to make it a "unique" work, but is still based on the late 80's Def Leppard hit.

2. Loops you made from existing copyrighted songs are not your own original work.
- All tracks from this song have been programmed/recorded from scratch.

3. If your submission is not your own original work, you will be placed on a rejection list and held responsible for any repercussions.
- I understand this condition very well (as I have my own copyrighted works).

4. You will remain the owner and credited author of the submission.
- Yey!

Should there be any conflict, please notify me via private messaging. Thank you and enjoy the song!

*******

Whore on Newgrounds Today
[12 November 2007]
[J. Reynoso]
[Basic melody based on Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me]

Woot! Blam! (3x)

I'm livin' like a bum, surfin' mornin' 'til night.
My momma just yelled, "Oh get a life!"
Locked up in my room, browser on an adult site,
and fappin' on Hentai just to be a man. (A man!)

And then I made a little Flash that is sure to kick some ass,
and made some Fruity Loops electronica.
I post them on the site, and vote 'em both five,
(and) zero all the crap that needs a blam. (A blam!)

Why do I
click the portals
and check 'em out,
(then) chat with @$$holes on the
BBS?

'Coz I'm a whore on Newgrounds today!
I'm gonna blam you up !
Whore on Newgrounds today!
And fap on Hentai, yeah!
Whore on Newgrounds today!
I can't get enough!

I'm hot, sticky and sweet
according to my forum sig, yeah!

Whore on Newgrounds today!
Gonna save and blam!
Whore on Newgrounds today!
They'll ban me now!
Whore on Newgrounds today!
Tom Fulp's the man!
Whore on Newgrounds today!
Just plug and play!

[Link to NGAP .mp3]

I now have my electric guitar and tuner with me here in my "studio" in Cebu.

It's game time!

I don't need a number. I need listeners, critics, and fans.

Dominimous pointed out GarageBand, and immediately I realized that I'm in the wrong playground. It's like I'm trying to force pop tracks into a techno society (which won't work).

So... next moves? Up song quality, then migrate. I'll be posting in the Audio Portal as always, but I'll stop criticizing and voting for the work here (unless it's really, really worth looking into).

So thank you, NG. I'll still be around, though. I just need to grow and go a higher level. After improving, I'll repost again. ^_^

To all you guys with helpful tips, many, many thanks!

Armed with a guitar, a bass guitar, a grand piano, a kick-@ss set of drums, and spontaneous thought, I managed to compose and record this piece in two days. Not bad... not bad at all.

It all began with a thought of a kid running a field with a kite. At first, the kid struggles to get his kite up in the air. After some time, he gets the hang of it, and is overjoyed with his kite in the air. Happy thought, ain't it? ^_^

This is my first instrumental piece (and of course, the first gets uploaded to NGAP). Enjoy listening! Comments and reviews are highly appreciated. ^_^

Update 10/27/2007: #1 at the Classical Rock NGAP charts with an average vote rating of 4.68 from 12 voters.

Update 11/02/2007: Best of the Week for 10/30/2007. 4.41 from 98 voters. Cool! ^_^

Journey of a Kite MP3