MP3 Maple Bridge - First Crossing

Pop music with a country/roots/Americana flavoring

10 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Country Pop, ROCK: Americana



Details:
In June of 2006, a pairing of musical minds began collaboration on a song. Dave Schweizer and Mark Lopez met at a songwriters networking group in Pasadena.
A short time later Dave sent Mark a few lyrics he had no music for and within a week, Mark developed the basic structure for what would become âTicket To Your Townâ.
Two recording sessions later, the arrangement was finalized. The results made both musicians realize that a continued effort would net them something far greater than
what they could accomplish individually. With a streamline writing and recording approach, ideas flowed effortlessly and within eight months, the first Maple Bridge CD had been completed.
The first song is the aforementioned âTicket To your Townâ. With the bass line driving the rhythm and with syncopated guitars layering an arrangement reminiscent of JJ Cale,
It speaks of a guyâs effort to get to the locale of a girl he has a passion for, but the feeling isnât exactly reciprocal.
âGoodbye 21â is straightforward old country, with Daveâs lead guitar bends, and Markâs honky-tonk piano at the break, this song is about running into old flames and yet acknowledging that you canât go back and that life just moves on.
âTequila Tideâ takes you into a Jimmy Buffet world of South Sea Islands and an endless shore. Mark sings a character that is enamored of his beautiful, flirty companion whose nature changes with her prodigious intake of alcohol. This piece contrasts Markâs input of marimba sounds evoking the peaceful paradise, and Daveâs choppy guitars riffs and slightly sour leads to emphasize the womanâs increasingly drunken state.
âThis Old Carâ showcases Daveâs clever lyrical metaphor of a guy trying to get back to his girl who dumped him for someone living in the âfast laneâ. Markâs melody and harmony accent this sweet and sentimental song over Daveâs driving piano and guitar.
âA Drifter And A Settledownâ is sung from the third person view of a friend commenting on the impending crossroads of a couple that may or may not hook up. Daveâs use of overdrive guitar layers the arrangement until the bridge, where Mark softens the sound with a string quartet, then the song builds with both strings and guitar into a powerful finish.
âPour Me A Stronger Dreamâ is a surreal tale of a person dealing with a dream that goes from good to bad. Mark provided the simple arrangement of piano and strings along with the vocal.
âHalfway Between Heaven And Homeâ is a gospel styled song about meeting onesâs spiritual and creative goals while living in the world of material and creature comfort.
Mark overdubbed several vocal tracks for a choir like call and response chorus. Dave implements the arrangement with a lively country lead guitar.
âMy Love For You Is Blindâ has a distinctive zeydeco shuffle rhythm that propels this tale of a guy whose girl has not been so upfront about her activities. Daveâs clean rhythm guitar and Markâs vocals have brought comparisons of this song to Paul Simon.
âZero Zero One (Lonely Lane)â is a blues influenced country song. Both Dave and Mark layered tracks of rhythm guitars under Daveâs slide guitar work to back this tale of a guy
whose stubborn attitude condemns him to self-exile.
âFineâ concludes the CD with a pop arrangement slightly off the beaten path. This song borders the realm of optimism and pessimism both lyrically and musically. Mark infuses the break with a funky clavinet sound while Dave counters with a syncopated guitar over a weird grunting vocal sound. The result is unique and slightly tongue-in-cheek fun.

Look for Maple Bridge to continue to utilize all the tools these experienced songwriters bring to future projects as their influences and experiences are deep and wide. In the meantime, enjoy "First Crossing" as a testament to what musical collaboration is all about.