1. Stretched
Hey Jackson
This song, like every song he played, was effortless for Mike. It never looked like he had to try and play the song right, like he couldn’t help but play it awesome every time. I remember when we were recording it and Mike was recoding the solo. He played maybe 3 or four different solos, each completely unique, and we couldn’t decide which one was the best. So I think we ended up cutting our favorite parts out of each take to make a mega-solo of sorts. It turned out amazing AND impossible to duplicate, except for someone like Mike. I don’t know if he ever played the solo the same way twice, but I do know that he played it right every time.
So when it came to re-recording this song for the tribute album, we were faced with the same dilemma that I assume all the other bands that Mike was in faced, how do we do this without Mike? Well the first thing we did was accept that the song would never be as good as it was before, then we tried our best to make a song that Mike would be proud of. We did our best. We hope we made you proud, Mike.
So when it came to re-recording this song for the tribute album, we were faced with the same dilemma that I assume all the other bands that Mike was in faced, how do we do this without Mike? Well the first thing we did was accept that the song would never be as good as it was before, then we tried our best to make a song that Mike would be proud of. We did our best. We hope we made you proud, Mike.
2. Dogbite
The American Dead
This song means the world to me because it was the closest Mike and I ever got to getting to make music together. We would always talk about sitting down and writing an acoustic record or just learning a bunch of covers we actually liked and hopping on an open mic night. We just never go around to it. That is one of the greatest lessons I have taken from this tragedy. Don’t wait until you find the time. If you want to do it, do it now!
He needed a second guitarist for the first Unum show. He had recorded all the parts but had yet to fully put the band together to play them. He came over a few times and we worked on the second parts for this song. Ultimately, we couldn’t find the time to prep me for the show. A damn shame. But this song will remain my favorite for the memories it carries.
He needed a second guitarist for the first Unum show. He had recorded all the parts but had yet to fully put the band together to play them. He came over a few times and we worked on the second parts for this song. Ultimately, we couldn’t find the time to prep me for the show. A damn shame. But this song will remain my favorite for the memories it carries.
Luke Severson
3. 668: The Neighbor of the Beast
I Am Dragon
The song “668: The Neighbor of the Beast” was born from a riff I had held onto for years. It was something I’d been fine-tuning musically for a long time but was not able to add lyrics to until Mike’s passing. What better way to celebrate someone as musical as Mike was than with a song? I imagine he is probably giving whomever he has found in the afterlife a spectacular performance nightly, one we may all hope to enjoy ourselves when our time comes. I can only hope he enjoys hearing our creation half as much as we do playing it. This one’s for you, MJB.
Jon
4. Arms
Unum Machina
Unum Machina began recording demos for a second album in late spring/early summer 2010 and this was one of them. There are 3 or 4 more floating around out there...but we're saving those for the next 3 or 4 Mike Is Awesome albums. Anyway, I never knew this song had even seen the light of day until it started popping up in facebook statuses and tweets just days after Mike's passing...but that was Mike for you. As soon as he finished something he had to show it to EVERYBODY (seriously, who hasn't gotten the obligatory phone call that went something like "Dude!...Dude dude dude!! Listen to THIS!"...followed by an onslaught of distorted static from a guitar amp, a quick pause and then..."isn't that freakin' SWEET?!").
But behind Mike's animated and cheerful personality was an ability to write really great dark music, and I think the lines from Arms "I'm only half as good when you are not around, just so you know" ring true for everyone who loved him. I'm glad he got the chance to show this song to everybody...probably before he even showed it to me...and yes, Mike. It's freakin' sweet.
But behind Mike's animated and cheerful personality was an ability to write really great dark music, and I think the lines from Arms "I'm only half as good when you are not around, just so you know" ring true for everyone who loved him. I'm glad he got the chance to show this song to everybody...probably before he even showed it to me...and yes, Mike. It's freakin' sweet.
Henry
5. The Binding
Future Robotz feat. Henry
Todd Finley and Luke Crary wrote this song as a tribute to Michael. Todd was in Hey Jackson and they were both in A Gnarly Swell with Mike. The song talks about the struggle of moving from questioning to acceptance during the mourning process. As we mourn we need to move from wondering why the tragedy took place to celebrating the time we shared with the loved one who was taken too soon. Michael left a strong legacy through his relationships and music and will be remembered forever!
6. Gravity
Tyler, Todd, Henry, Justin, Cody
This song is awesome. How do I know? Well, because A) It is; and B) It's been floating around (get it?!) since forever. The first time it was recorded, I believe, was by Mike in front of his computer. There was this period of time after Mike got an acoustic guitar and Garageband that he just started banging out tunes like nobody's biz. Gravity was one such song. It was also at a time when he started singing, rather than just shredding. And when he started emailing everyone his tunes -- like he's well known for -- it was just so awesome. From the start it, Gravity has been one of my faves. Mike must've thought this song was pretty boss too, because since that time in front of his computer he's recorded about a dozen other versions of it. All rock hard.
Scrotes
7. Better Off Everything
Joshua Circle
I remember the first time Mike saw Joshua Circle, he thought we were famous. After a few laughs we started hanging out a lot. He went from a super fan to a super friend, and although we lost touch for years, when we were reunited he was the same super dude I knew years ago. I wanted to contribute this song because Mike use to send me songs via AIM he would write and record himself, and I was always secretly jealous of his talents. This is me paying my respects to one of the most genuinely great people and divinely talented musicians I've had the pleasure of not just knowing, but able to call a friend. Thanks for all the smiles.
Adam
8. Winter
Molly, Adam, Brian
Although we knew Mike at different points throughout our lives, he touched our souls and left us changed forever. We chose this song because we thought it was a perfect way to express the feelings that many us have felt.
9. Years from Resolution
Unum Machina
Years is one of the first songs Mike and I recorded together. It was right when I joined Unum, and I hadn't even met Henry yet. We sent Henry to a studio and had him track drums for three songs and send me the files. Mike and I recorded all of the guitars in the warehouse at Guitar Center and finished everything else in my teeny little apartment. This song never really made it into our set or anything, and has been sitting around on a hard drive forever. I figured now would be a good time for everyone to hear it.
Drew
10. Kelsi's Song
A Gnarly Swell
The origins of this song are a complete anomaly. Some girl named Kelsi wrote the lyrics but the song itself may or may not have been the very first one Mike and I (and Cody) wrote together around mid-2003, long before A Gnarly Swell was formed. When I met Mike we were both NOFX-obsessed and it showed in pretty much everything we played. I was so impressed by how well he could emulate that band's sound in his songwriting, but as we grew as musicians and explored different styles it became evident that Mike could emulate pretty much anything. Nothing typifies our early days better than this song.
Henry
11. Let This Be Ending
Unum Machina
“It’s sad to see the ending at my beginning, it’s depressing” Looking back on a lot of Mike’s lyrics it seemed like he knew what was coming. Truth be told he actually just had that destiny of writing the perfect songs, like when you hear any of your favorite bands and it seems like their songs were just meant to be. I had the fortunate opportunity to record 6 songs with Mike and it was really blind going into it. He recorded pieces of drum tracks that we then edited into lengthier drum tracks. Next he recorded bass, then guitar, and lastly vocals. It seemed like these songs took shape so effortlessly and he rarely wanted a second take. I would put little production touches on it and he would light up like he just got a new toy or something, and we would laugh at all the ridiculously awesome things that we would make out of nothing with the wonderful world of digital recording. Those 6 songs will always be my greatest recording accomplishment and some of the best memories I will ever have.
Tyler
12. Phoenix Ignition
Luke Severson
If Mike, myself and my fiancé had one thing in common (we had a few) it was our love for the band Thrice and their front man Dustin Kensrue. We had a mutual appreciation, respect and admiration for their music, lyrics, and independence. This song in particular means a ton to me in this situation because it talks about fallen friends, rising from the ashes, striving to live better and breaking down walls. Mike was this type of person in life. Through his friends and family his life and his music will continue to rise, I am sure of it.
Luke Severson
13. Bord Without the E
Future Robotz
When Luke and I started Future Robotz we were complete novices at doing electronic music. We needed a song we liked and a song we were familiar with to get our electronic bearings. We chose Bore Without the E because it was an awesome song that would be fun to cover. We did this song back in 2008 and it was a perfect song to add to the tribute album because it was one of Mike’s favorite A Gnarly Swell songs. Mike, Luke and Henry all worked together to write this song. The cover was written and arranged by Luke Crary and me.
Todd
14. Perfect
A Gnarly Swell
Perfect was first written in the early days of A Gnarly Swell. I (Luke Crary) remember Mike and Henry constantly sending each other guitar riffs and song ideas by email. Perfect was one of these. Although at the time it only consisted of the first verse and chorus. Henry and I recorded a rough acoustic version in which Henry sang the vocals and I added in some harmonies and piano parts. Eventually we re-recorded the song for our album Alcoholocaust. Even after recording Alcoholocaust I think we only played Perfect maybe once in a live setting. As Mike continued to write songs for our next EP, he made Perfect a complete song and re-arranged it for the full band to play live. It instantly became one of the fan favorites.
In honor of Mike, A Gnarly Swell has re-recorded Perfect with a reggae twist. The steel drum solo in this song is actually the notes of Mike's original guitar solo (as close as we could get it). All of the audio clips at the end of the song were taken from a WSUM radio (UW Student run station) interview we gave to promote a show at the Memorial Union.
On a side note my favorite lyric in this song is "Ghost Dad's forgotten son, invisible to the world". I know Mike loved to impersonate Bill Cosby, but I'm pretty sure I've never heard a song that referenced one of his movies. We Love You Mike.
In honor of Mike, A Gnarly Swell has re-recorded Perfect with a reggae twist. The steel drum solo in this song is actually the notes of Mike's original guitar solo (as close as we could get it). All of the audio clips at the end of the song were taken from a WSUM radio (UW Student run station) interview we gave to promote a show at the Memorial Union.
On a side note my favorite lyric in this song is "Ghost Dad's forgotten son, invisible to the world". I know Mike loved to impersonate Bill Cosby, but I'm pretty sure I've never heard a song that referenced one of his movies. We Love You Mike.
Luke Crary
