RPM bloggers reflect on the trials and triumphs of February 2008

The mainstream music industry is filled with savage competition and rabid money-grubbing, which has led to some damned ugly situations. In a nasty demonstration of this trend, Kid Rock recently sucker-punched Tommy Lee in the face. And remember when Axl Rose publicly challenged Vince Niel to a rumble? For that matter, remember the Guns N’ Roses song “Get in the Ring?” Here at RPM headquarters, however, we deplore violence. The RPM Challenge promotes a sense of collective musical camaraderie that has been reflected in countless blog entries on the RPM discussion board. Musicians across the globe found creative unity in the singular objective of writing and recording 10 songs or 35 minutes of original music in 29 days. Artists who were oceans apart went through the same daily rigors as they attempted to balance their RPM projects with day jobs, families and basic necessities, like eating and sleeping.

The 2,400-plus participants who signed up this year were propelled forward by a common motivation. The noncompetitive nature of the Challenge, which offered no reward other than the personal gratification of finishing, spurred determined participants to support and encourage one another throughout the month, bolstering each other’s spirits when they encountered inevitable setbacks, and congratulating one another when they successfully laid down a track or wrote a new tune.

Approximately 750 finished albums, all postmarked by March 1, arrived at RPM headquarters in Portsmouth this year. Hundreds of listeners will get their first chance to hear selected tracks from those albums during the citywide listening party on Friday, March 28. Festivities begin at The Music Hall before spreading to at least five venues in downtown Portsmouth.

Sister celebrations will pop up concurrently around North America, with regional events planned around Cleveland, Dallas, New York, Seattle, Atlanta, Toronto, Minneapolis, San Francisco and St. John’s, Newfoundland. An online listening party in the virtual world of Second Life will unite all the celebrants, no matter where they are located, and the 2008 RPM Jukebox will be live online.
To wet your whistle, we have collected a sampling of unedited blog entries, based around the theme of participants completing—or, in some cases, almost completing—their RPM albums. The entries reveal a mix of relief, satisfaction, elation and, sometimes, disappointment. To read more, go to www.rpmchallenge.com.

So last you heard from me, my computer had crashed. I’ve got to be honest, I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t finish in time but to comfort my disappointment, decided it was a good experience none the less. I had 3 songs finished and the rest well.... let’s say they were coming along. Then the light came. I picked up my computer last night and a (copy of the) Wire as well. Low and behold my last blog entry was in there! And I thought, I can’t quit now, I’ve still got time! So I got home at 10:30 last night and wrote and recorded 3 whole songs. Needless to say I was up way too late and had to work way too early today. So tonight I kept on truckin, tired as I am. Two of the songs I had finished were lost in “the crash” but I rerecorded them and just finished my 9th song! What I’ve got is a bunch of raw, unprocessed material, and I’m happy. All I can say is that the leap year literally saved me, I couldn’t have done it without that extra day, and without the faith of the RPM cheering me on. What a rush! —Brie

Last night I kept wandering towards the studio before realizing I didn’t have anything particular to do and that I was going to bed early. Today I worked a particularly long, hard day (I’ve got a big outside job involving removing a roof and today and tomorrow are the first two sunny days in weeks) but I still came into the studio thinking vaguely that I should try to tweak some mixes. This year was different for me than last. There was a big interruption in the middle of the month, taking four or five days away from me, and most creativity seemed to come right off the bat and right at the end. If I had a choice, I would record an album every month. —Institute for Psychic Reform

29 days. 10 songs. 48 minutes of original music. 1 Spankin’ new hot off the presses kick-ass electronica album. Now I can sleep. —Solarno

Yes, I finished on time. I remember when I started, I was gung-ho that this would be the best stuff I had ever written. Then, as the month ticked on, I found myself thinking, “Just finish it!” Then, even, “Forget it!” But, I asked for some Divine help and was alotted the energy to finish amidst working 40-50 hours weekly and feeling very tired. Enough grumbling--we all can do that! … I finished with a great feeling of accomplishment. I hope the rest of you who entered feel that same feeling or better. —Doc Mooney

you know who should have entered? Axl fucking Rose. he’s been working on his album for........what 9 years?? —Jonathan Hall

Project’s been as done as it’s going to be for a while now, but Meat was feeling lazy. But Meat made it to the post office Saturday morning, taped the CD to a carrier pigeon, wrote down its tracking number and sent it on its way. Congrats to all--happy to be a part of this whole shindig. And remember, you really do have a choice of meat. Or veggies. —Choice of Meat

I made it...! I’m happy and relieved. I got the album postmarked at about 11:53am, March 1st (this morning). Guess that pushing it a little, eh? —Joel Allard

RIGHT down to the wire ...but yes...we are done! JUST made it too! —Calvin and Hobbes

Es ist komplett. Black Porridge, to their own delight, have completed ten compostions and the work has been placed in the morning post. With deep elation, celebratory ales have been poured. —Black Porridge

We finished … by the skin of our asses. —The Slumlords of Baltic Avenue

Congratulations to fellow RPM winners. Better luck next time to those who stalled before the finish line. It’s no easy feat, the RPM. Life has a way of throwing snags in the mix, unforseen obsticles to circumvent, or collapse trying. Twice I was sure I wouldn’t be able to salvage the music I’d already worked so hard on. I’m so glad I did. See y’alls next year. —Not Square with Zero

Finished the Scram Jet Fighter album yesterday and mailed it out today. Interestingly, I never noticed, but postmarks in the U.S. don’t have times, just dates. I got some funny looks at the post office, asking them to postmark the time. —John Ayers

Didn’t blog all month because I was sure I’d never get it done--two kids, everyone in the house sick, total chaos. But my amazing wife shoved me in the basement every day for a week and kept a lid on things aboveground, and by the grace of something “The Set-Up” emerged. —The River Wards

All in all, this was (again) a wonderful experience.  Full of joy, courage, sadness, exhaustion, revelation.  Oh, and a week of self-sabotage--messed my back up the third week and couldn’t do anything.  Was able to push through the last few days and get enough done to turn in.

I sometimes cringe at the mistakes on this cd, but mostly I just smile when I listen to it. —Sandra Koski

Well, as of 11:00:36 AM, our RPM album, entitled, Dragons Demons Death Destruction Demolition Derby is in the hands of the United States Postal Service. Hopefully they know where Portsmouth, NH is! —Psychic Sperm

I spent the last 4 days recording everything and I am pooped. Handed in my CD and RPM is now done with me. Need sleep now. —Gay Bride of Frankenstein

It wasn’t easy but we did it. We haven’t been this happy to see March since last year. —The Fiends

I just dropped my cd off at the post office. I remember last night (some of it at least) being at a pub getting wasted and thinking “I should really be working on a song” as a natural instinct from this rpm challenge. Its definatly bitter sweet. There is a part of me that is really sad and really happy this month is over with. —carrier signal

We’re joining the resounding RPM chorus this March 1: “We’re done!” Our album is in the mail and it’s way to RPM HQ. And we couldn’t be happier with how the album--and experiment--in challenging ourselves to make these ol’ Irish pub songs Beatnik Turtle-esque. We couldn’t be more tired, either.  –—Beatnik Turtle

Thanx RPM HQ! Thanx fellow musical humans! I hope to se many of you at the big rack em up and shoot em down party. —F.K. Jones

Well, the challenge is over and done. And I think that, for the amount of time I spent on this puppy (as well as the health issues I risked from lack of sleep, coming down to the wire), and given the equipment I limited myself to working with, I did pretty damn good.  I’m sure most of you posting in this space feel the same about your product as well. It’s hard enough for professionals to put together a quality-sounding CD in 29 days time, let alone some of us amateurs! —Helen Sventitsky

This was tougher than I expected, and a lot tougher than just writing one song for a friend’s band last year! I have much respect for so many of the participants--what some of you achieved in a month is amazing. And many thanks to those of you who gave me some great feedback and input. —The 16 Points

I think I have at least a couple decent songs. Plus my cover kicks ass. Full color and everything. I’ll post it with my album details when I’m in a better condition to deal with reality again. For now it just feels fucking good to be done (provided I don’t oversleep and miss mailing it by the deadline). Congradulations to everyone who finished/survived.  —Late Night Laundry

I’m about to head out to the post office and send off the album! As a treat, on the way back, I’m going to buy a bottle Glenlivet Scotch to celebrate in the classiest manner possible. :) —Everyone Calls Me Chris

Well we did it. We wrote and recorded a ten-song CD in one month. All in all it’s been a great experience. Definitely a real kick in the ass creatively. It’s been great writing songs, working on arrangements, recording, doing the artwork for the cover, even writing this blog has been fun. Self-expression is so liberating and rejuvenating. I’ve got to keep this up, albeit at a much more reasonable pace – as I type this I’m noticing that it’s 4:00 AM. I definitely plan on sleeping in late. —The Frinkers

Is it too late to sign up? Just kidding. —cville ramblings

We’re very glad we did the challenge as it got us to finally finish something and release it. —Robots Don’t Go To School

The CD is gone gone gone gone gone, and I feel like I just ran a marathon. Wow. —Two Days Alone

in you face, george Washington! —ieatpants

We Did It! We meaning “me,” and “it” being a CD of recorded material. Good Lord, there’s nothing like a deadline--I wrote two of these today (based on melodies I worked out earlier). If I could sustain that kind of output...well, I’d be some sort of early Joni Mitchell meets They Might Be Giants. And no one wants that. —Michelle Moon

i sent my album
it has words
and harmonicas
and
pianos
and guitars
and spoons —dimple and the light

Fueled by tamale pie and a $2.99 bottle of red wine JD and I finished the mastering last night (3rd time was the charm). Burned that sucker to disc and put it in the mail this morning. Once again, the album is basically about women and drinking, and drinking and women – oh, and there’s also a song about riding a horse. —Cosmic American

It’s soooooo good to be done, and what a fantastic experience! On February 1st 2008, I’d never written a song, didn’t even really play an instrument (except a little guitar that I never practiced), and now I have a whole album. OK, so they’re not all winners, so what, who cares. I like all of them, and I actually love some of them, so let the haters hate, I haven’t got time for them because tonight we drink to success! —snuggly tako

Well, due to the one-two punch of influenza and total computer failure (requiring a new hard drive and complete system reinstalls on both my computers), I pooped out on the RPM Challenge. I did get three good new songs written, though, and we’re playing two of them in my regular band, The Sluggos. So that’s good. The challenge really did get my juices flowing, and I was making good progress before everything went haywire. Ah, there’s always next year. :) —Michael Carmody

Pocket Girlfriend is OUT. We know that excuses are for the lazy, but this is one we just couldn’t finish in time. However, we are not giving up! We WILL finish this album (although late)… Best of luck to the finishers, we can’t wait to listen to all your songs! —Pocket Girlfriend