original music
I never learned to read or write music.
I didn't take lessons, just taught myself by ear, including composing & arranging parts for instruments I don't know how to play (the cello, violin, baritone and tenor saxophones, accordian, piano, drums, etc.)
All words, music and arrangements
© john carmody.
info
I've been playing, gigging, arranging, recording and producing for over 30 years.
I sing, play lead guitar, rhythm guitar; electric bass; piano and percussion. I write all the words, music and arrangements.
songs
I've had a lot of bands and recording projects over the years, written a lot of songs in a variety of styles: rock & roll, power pop, exotica & lounge, old (pre-1970s) country...
...it really depends on what's on the turntable. Here are a few samples:
"I Really Didn't Mean It!"
The Revellaires
When I wrote this a long time ago, I was trying to go for a Buck Owens meets the Rolling Stones, circa 1965 kind of thing....
"Mailbox"
Casey's Brain
A pretty waltz written in a moment of bleakness....I can't read or write a note of music but still composed & arranged the string quartet....
"...the lady vanishes"
down with meyers
In retrospect, this snippet of a bigger piece was influenced a lot by the Stone Temple Pilots...performed by Down With Meyers
"Broken String of Pearls"
Casey's Brain
another country-ish angst-type powerPop song...i was going for a combo of The Pretenders and Hee-Haw....
"Goodbye My Baby"
The Revellaires
I wanted to write a perfect powerPop song, it's not perfect but it rocks....I listened to a lot of the Smithereens back then too, can you tell?!....
"Mary What's-Her-Name"
sPlatterKep
This was written for my mom, on Mother's Day...it's in 3/4, 4/4 and 5/4, it's pretty overall (like her), & brash and loud in places, like me....
"Arbor Day"
The Revellaires
I was listening to The Jam quite a bit when I wrote this one...it's hard to get a song in under 2 minutes, I came close, but.....
"Old Towne Crier"
down with meyers
...another song influenced by the Smithereens, also some Supergrass, some late 1970s-era IRS Records, some ELO.....
press
from the Washington Post
ithout owning up to any one style [this music is] an impressive string of songs, a mixture of come-ons, kiss-offs and sundry attitudes that are equipped with sharp melodic & rhythmic hooks and lyrics that have more than a little bite as well....all are intriguing slices of pop, well written and neatly arranged.