by Lisa Forrest (with help from Doug Lambert and Dee Adams)
Perfect Snow Song is based on a poem that I wrote for my father called ‘Wintering.’ The poem– constructed around a childhood memory of being pulled in a sled– has a repetition a bit like listening to boots in the snow.
When I wrote Perfect Snow Song, I had been in a phase of listening to folk spirituals (think Allen Lomax)– which really inspired me to create a call and response song. I was driving in the car when the melody came to me…and started singing this call (“lend me your compass”) and response (“I’ll lend you my compass”) in two different voices. When I got home that evening, I ran the idea by my music partner, Douglas Lambert. He was totally game to try it out — but we realized we needed a third voice. But not just ANY third voice — we needed Dee Adams. Despite having a little cold, Dee graciously agreed to join us. This song would not have been possible without Dee and Doug’s amazing harmonies, combined musical knowledge, and expert hand clapping abilities. To top it all off, Jonathan Hughes ended our hymn with the distinct sound of boots walking through the snow. What more could a songwriter want?
Dee Adams: Vocals
Lisa Forrest: Vocals
Doug Lambert: Vocals
That feeling of loving the current season, yes, but being ready for the next one to kick in. Enough is enough…this calls for a seasonal fast forward! This was recorded while in ridiculously hot North Carolina summer weather, craving ice.
Jonathan Hughes: Synth Bass Rob Lynch: Keyboards, Vocals
One of the things I most enjoy about writing for Robot Holiday is that the natural world, or winter as a season, becomes a leaping off point into the subjects/narrators interior life. There is nothing better than looking up on a starry night in the winter, and watching your breath dissolve into infinity. If that can’t help me get over my own pettiness, then nothing will.
Jonathan Hughes: Bass, Electric Guitar, Keyboards Rob Lynch: Drums Alex Lynne: Vocals
Crazy Hearts is the song that started it all. After re-connecting with Jonathan Hughes at the Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts (where he attended a Shady Grove gig), Doug Lambert informed me that Jonathan had invited us to participate in his songwriting collective. Crazy Hearts is based on a radio essay that aired on WBFO, Buffalo’s local Public Radio Station, and was awarded a Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI) Award in 2009. The essay (and song) is about my interaction with some “local personalities” on Elmwood Avenue one lonely Christmas Eve. If not for Doug’s encouragement in turning that essay into a song, it never would have happened. One chilly fall evening, I sat down with the essay and wrote out solid lyrics and chords for the verses. I was still having a lot of trouble with the music on the chorus, so brought the song to Douglas, who took out his guitar and worked his musical magic in about five minutes. This song remains my favorite of all the songs I’ve recorded for the Robot Holiday collective (Jim’s heart breaking pedal steel solo helps keep it at #1).
Lisa Forrest: Vocals Jonathan Hughes: Bass, Electric Guitar Rob Lynch: Drums Doug Lambert: Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Background Vocals Naryan Padmanabha: Jingle Bells Jim Whitford: Pedal Steel
The most underreported news story of 2010 was first featured in a mid-January expose‘ in The Drudge Report. In a rare example of muckracking journalism, Drudge exposed the horrid working conditions of Santaland Factories. The most shocking discovery was that Santa was having elves handle toxic chemicals for no reason other than for his own amusement. Then the Rip Torn fiasco broke and the story was buried by special interests. This song is dedicated to working elves everywhere..
Jonathan Hughes: Bass, Electric Guitar David Mussen: Acoustic Guitar Rob Lynch: Drums Joe Rozler: Vocals
(no longer available for download) by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn Jonathan Hughes: Bass Rob Lynch: Drums Alex Lynne: Vocals Naryan Padmanabha: Jingle Bells Jim Whitford: Vocals, Pedal Steel
Don’t go to the office party if you want to keep your job. As Jonathan points out: “No truer words have ever been spoken”. More Joe Rozler magic on this one.
Jonathan Hughes: Bass David Mussen: Guitar Rob Lynch: Drums Joe Rozler: Vocals, Lead Guitar
I set out to write something completely opposite of the sweet, playful style I frequently use. The minor key bell tones, the vocal distortion, and the thick, almost viscous drum tracks gave the song the eerie feeling I was imagining while writing this haiku poem of heartbreak and lost love.
Dee Adams: Guitar, Vocals Jonathan Hughes: Bass, Keyboards Rob Lynch: Drums
There are two things you should know about robots. 1: They enjoy repetition, and 2: they say “affirmative” instead of “yes.” So, in the same way that Chubby Checker wrote “The Twist”, “Twistin’ USA”, “Twist Again”, “Slow Twisting”, “Twistin’ Around the World”, and “Twist it Up”, here we have “It’s Robot Holiday Time Again (Affirmative, Affirmative)”.
Jonathan Hughes: Keyboards Voxo: Vocals Vocatron 3000: Vocals
by Alex Lynne Dee Adams: Background Vocals Jonathan Hughes: Bass, Electric Guitar, Organ Rob Lynch: Drums Alex Lynne: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar Naryan Padmanabha: Jingle Bells Jim Whitford: Baritone Guitar
I was reading a collection of Russian Poetry at the time of writing this. It definitely influenced the setting of the lyrics. I really love the arrangement, especially the glockenspiel-vocal unison lines.
Dee Adams: Background Vocals Lisa Forrest: Background Vocals Jonathan Hughes: Bass, Keyboards Joelle Labert: Vocals Rob Lynch: Drums David Mussen: Acoustic Guitar, Glockenspiel Naryan Padmanabha: Jingle Bells Melissa Rapisardi: Background Vocals Marlene Mathews: Background Vocals
