The Forfeit King II - Album Commentary (Tracks 1-3)

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The last several albums of mine have all been connected thematically. The concept began all the way back in 2018 with my release Acquiescence. This album kinda established the various genres and styles that had been accumulating in my studio adventures over the last several years. After that album was finished I reflected on the output. Not only was the album way too effin' long, but it was way too erratic. One song would be a straightforward rock song which would segue into an 8 min progressive metal epic only to be followed up by a roaring 20’s jazz exploration...it was all over the place.

For the last several years, I purposely been more focused and concise to what each album would be and lived in that genre for the entire record.

So with this current album THE FORFEIT KING, I used what I had learned with Acquiescence. IE: it was too long and too erratic style-wise. 

So I decided to split the album into 2 parts. Not only is it more focused but clocking in at barely 30 minutes, I think it’ll be a lot more digestible in this short-attention-span world we’re living in now.

​PART II is my exploration into a more straight-forward, groove based rock that springs to mind Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and modern acts like Crash Kings.

TRACK 1
"Lady Piece"

HOW THE SONG CAME ABOUT:

The album continues! The sustained drone from the last track of Part I transitions us straight into this song, Lady Piece.

This particular song was the inspiration for this whole album project. When I came up with the main riff, it reminded me of a Crash Kings song, so it was apt that I called the album The Forfeit King. 

I even went as far as making a Facebook band page for a band called “The Forfeit Kings” as I had the idea to start a band with that name. Obviously that didn’t last or go anywhere, but luckily the name still stuck for the album.

This is one of the three songs that feature Jordan Holt & Madden Klass from Space Junk is Forever.

It must've been sometime in late 2018 when I discovered them on Bandcamp. What immediately attracted them to me was their classic proggy sound that I grew up listening to like Genesis and Gentle Giant. Moreso, a lot of their tracks sounded like stuff I had written when I was a teenager. Keyboard-driven & groovy prog that I immediately fell in love with.

Over the course of the next year, I became friendly with Jordan, their organist on Instagram. In November of 2019, they played a local show at Nietzche’s in Buffalo, which both Mathew Pike and I attended. We were completely blown away. Not only by the sheer amount of talent on one stage, but how effin’ heavy Jordan’s Hammond B3 organ was LOL. Of which, we graciously help load in and out of the venue along with the rest of their gear. They were a great group of musicians. Musicians that I would’ve probably have been in a band with had we lived closer.

Fast forward to early mid-2020, I was putting the finishing touches on The Forfeit King when I asked Jordan if he wanted to add some of his tasty Hammond organ to my tracks. He agreed, but suggested I ask Madden to play drums as well. A suggestion that I would’ve never bothered to have asked. Long story short, she agreed and sent me back her tracks within a week. 

Not only was her performance exceptional, but she recreated my midi drum parts TO A T. Even going as far as transcribing out said parts so that she could read along whilst recording.

I didn’t have much experience with mixing “real” drums, so I asked Michael Zucker to aid in mixing her tracks. Not only did he mix the drums, but had me send him my bass parts so that they’d play nicely together within the mix.

I may have mentioned, I still don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to mixing, so this was a huge weight off of my shoulders.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:
As I mentioned, this tune was the catalyst for the whole project. But where did the song title come from?

This is one of the few times where a working title for an idea actually becomes the final title for the song. My iphone voice memo was called “Lady Piece” because the chorus section I had reminded me of an Our Lady Peace song. Don’t know which particular song of theirs, but it just sounded like something they’d do.

Track 2
"Thought It Thru"

HOW THE SONG CAME ABOUT

This is another tune written with Steven Paone in the fall of ‘06 in my bedroom studio in Manhattan.

If memory serves, this may have been the second or actually first song I brought into the project. I demo’d the track out on my Fostex MX digital 8 track and Steven laid down the vocals and lyrics he’d been working on. 

​I love these tunes as it brings back many fond memories of when I first moved to NYC. Steven and I would get together every Friday. Get dinner and then go back to my apartment and write. This continued for a good 3-4 months and we’d accumulated enough songs for a full length album. 

Sadly, it never went any further than these demos - but I will probably still continue to mine these tunes throughout the next few releases of mine. 

It’s not that I’m unable to write new stuff...it’s just that I think these songs still need to be heard and I like to listen to ‘em

WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

​Steven wrote the lyrics on this one, so you’d have to ask him exactly what the text is about...but from what I can gather and remember:

​It’s a song about our shared experiences of recently moving from our small town of Niagara Falls, NY to the Big Apple. Steven was working in the accounting department at Universal Music and myself was working at Tour Supply, helping out all the touring bands with their daily needs on the road.

It was complete night and day compared to what we were doing back in Niagara Falls and the future was in our hands. The world was our oyster. 

Well as I say, sometimes life comes up with a better idea. We never became rockstars. Steven now lives down in Orlando, Fl with his wife and kids and works at an accounting firm. I’m still scratching the walls and working on my music all these years later.

C’est la vie

Track 3
"Road To Galilee"

​HOW THE SONG CAME ABOUT:

I’ve had this song title sitting on the shelf since as far back as high school and knew that I wanted to use it for something.

I was brought up Catholic, made my first communion, my confirmation etc etc...but currently my religious beliefs are close to non-existent. 

It’s not that I don’t believe in “God”, but I believe in a spirit. I subscribe more to the idea that the power and glory and ultimate happiness lie within yourself. The text of the bible, the teachings of Christ or whichever text you choose, can be used to further your own spiritual journey.

I hope the fact that I starred as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar in 2005 can lend me some credibility on the matter.
​
WHAT IT’S ABOUT:

Anyway, I went ahead and wrote this with the intention of literally singing about Jesus. The song is sung from 3 different viewpoints. The verses are sung by Satan, the pre-chorus' by Jesus himself and the chorus sections by his followers.

I actually had to go back and refer to the Bible for not only specific stories but the actual scripture itself, which I used for the bridge.

I had Rex Anderson, a voice over artist from Baltimore, read these selections from the Bible and it is the second song to feature Jordan and Madden from Space Junk is Forever on this album.

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THE FORFEIT KING COMPLETE - Limited Edition Compact Disc
comes with
 ~ Both parts I & II of The Forfeit King (18 songs)
~ Signed CD
~ Digital Download of full album
~ Stickers

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