Candor in Em (Sample)
Download audio file (Candor%20in%20Em%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

Everything is perfect in the town of Candor, Florida. Teens respect their elders, do their chores, and enjoy homework… because they’re controlled by subliminal messages. Oscar Banks, the son of the town’s founder, is the model of perfection…but he knows about the Messages, and he fights them with his own counterprogramming.

The majority of the music they play in this town is classical music. Having survived 20 years of classical piano lessons, I felt like I could provide a song of my own to fit the feel of the subliminal tunes. Full Disclosure: No subliminal messages have been embedded in this track, but you’re more than welcome to add your own and see what happens.

Download audio file (Candor%20in%20Em.mp3)

Candor in Em – 5.3MB MP3

Remix This Song

All-Access and VIP members can download the individual parts of the song and create your own mix, play along with your own instrument, or sing backup! Remix package includes uncompressed AIFF and MIDI versions of the song.

Candor in Em – Parts – 53.2MB Zip

Learn To Play This Song

Anyone can download the sheet music for this song and learn to play it themselves. All you need are eyes, a piano, and either a printer or a computer screen.

If you learn this tune and want to share your performance, feel free to post the video to YouTube and comment here so everyone can find it. Just be sure to link back to http://matthewebel.net in the first few lines of the video description!

Candor in Em – Sheet Music – 135K PDF

Download audio file (Ebel-Live-Lucey09.mp3)

Matthew Ebel Live at the Lucey House – 112 MB MP3

(Also available as individual tracks.) – 113 MB ZIP

The Real Socialites of Plastiboob Valley (Sample)
Download audio file (Socialites%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

Download audio file (Socialites.mp3)

The Real Socialites of Plastiboob Valley – 5MB MP3

Remix This Song

All-Access and VIP members can download the individual parts of the song and create your own mix, play along with your own instrument, or sing backup!

Coming soon… check back here later!

Lyrics:

Na na na na na na naaaa
do you like being a slut? (x2)
You hide behind your sense of pride
while all the boys line up to ride.
They know that you’ll put out
no matter what, so
na na na na na na naaaa
do you like being a slut?

Na na na na na na naaaa
what’s it like being a ho? (x2)
You cover up your virgin ears
but they’re the only virgins here.
Your mouth is only reaping
what you sow, so
na na na na na na naaaa
what’s it like being a ho?

So turn around,
don’t let the door hit your fine ass
on the way out
’cause no one’s buying all your crap,
so can you hear them shout…

Na na na na na na naaaa
do you like being a tool? (x2)
You flash around that diamond ring
but you’re the trophy, not the bling.
The irony’s too funny to be cruel.
Na na na na na na naaaa
do you like being a tool?

You never heard this song before,
but when we’re whistling we’re
calling you a whore…

(Whistle Chorus)

I’m happy to announce that, based off the feedback I’ve been getting from fans like you, there will be some major changes in the way Matthew Ebel dot net works. The following changes won’t be immediate, they’ll be rolled out in the next few weeks…

Introducing a whole new pass… The Entourage

• Membership will be limited to only 5 subscribers per year.
• Entourage membership includes all the benefits of the VIP Pass
• The Entourage will receive The Entire Matthew Ebel Catalog as a download (Except Life’s Been Good, that one’s officially “the lost album”)
• Every Entourage member will get a custom song written by Matthew Ebel The same non-commercial rules apply, of course.
• The Entourage will receive framed, signed copies of new Songs from the Vault albums as they are released.
• An official Matthew Ebel Entourage Collector’s Pass
• Entourage Membership will cost $500 as an annual membership. This item will not auto-renew, but current members will have the option to renew when the time comes. If there is a waiting list, current members will be first in line.

What’s Happening to the Other Passes?

None of the prices for existing subscriptions will change. In fact, the Backstage Pass will stay entirely the same. Based on how things played out last year, though, a few things will change about the remaining passes…

The New All-Access Pass

• 1 Live Recording per month
• 2 Studio Recordings per month
• Remixable tracks for new studio recordings
• An annual All-Access goodie bag including an official All-Access membership card (instead of a members-only store)
• Discounts on non-member album/track downloads like Beer & Coffee or Goodbye Planet Earth (instead of members-only albums)
• Discounts on all concert tickets/cover charges (This may not apply to conventions where attendees are not charged for the show.)
• Members-only parties at most (or all) live concerts

The New VIP Pass

• All the goods from the All-Access Pass
• Access to any deluxe albums when available (box sets, special editions, etc.)
• Invitation to the annual VIP Beer Bash
• An annual VIP goodie bag including an official VIP Pass (and all the items from the All-Access goodie bag)
• Entry into the bi-annual drawing for a Custom Song

Songs and Albums via iTunes, Amazon, etc.

Also, I’ve heard from the overwhelming majority of you that you just don’t care about exclusivity all that much, so long as you get a first crack at all the new music. Quite a few of you have encouraged me to get these songs on iTunes for the rest of the world in less time than a full year.

There have also been people outright looking for torrents and free downloads out there, a sign that if I don’t release these songs to non-members sooner they’ll just go get them anyway. Considering all this, Studio Recordings will now be available to non-members after two months. First they will be individual downloads available through http://matthewebel.com and Matthew Ebel dot net – then they’ll be sent to CD Baby with new Songs from the Vault releases.

We? Who’s We?

In case you didn’t notice, I’m dropping the pretentious third-person voice of this site. Pretty much everyone knows it’s just me here and, until I really do need to hire someone to man this site, I’m going to stick with what I do best… communicating personally.

That’s about it. Again, these changes are the result of a year of thinking, working, talking, and laughing with you. You’re the reason I can still sing, and you’re the reason I’ll be making more music in the coming months. I hope to see you on Tuesday night for another UStream concert, and maybe at some colleges in 2010 as my booking team tries to get me out of the house!

Lift Me (Sample)
Download audio file (Lift%20Me%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

I wrote this one back in 2002, I think, at a time when I was actually feeling kind of depressed. It was about the time I started realizing the Christian music business wasn’t for me, but I had no idea what I wanted to do instead. I felt guilty for no reason and Lift Me came out more as an expression of frustration than anything else. I never intended it to be a single or anything, just something to get the weight off.

Download audio file (Lift%20Me.mp3)

Lift Me – 6MB MP3

Remix This Song

All-Access and VIP members can download the individual parts of the song and create your own mix, play along with your own instrument, or sing backup!

Lift Me – Parts – 93MB Zip

Lyrics:

The depths to which I’ve fallen-
shallow in your light-
seem to pull more quickly
the more I try to fight.
Within a great decision
to follow and believe,
but I have grown complacent and
politely asked you to leave.

Ignorance is blistering,
love is paid in full & painful.
Hope is just a thing with feathers,
coy and playful.

Lift me.
Lift me.
Lift me,
let me breathe.

It’s up to my discretion
to follow or to drown-
to grab the rope or grab my heart
that’s weighing me down.
You promised that you’d save me,
they said that you were wise.
So why can I not see you
when I look into my eyes?

Hope is like a riverbed,
grief is like a stone inside me.
Wash me ’till the jagged edges
smooth beside me.

…and in the mirror I can see
someone scared that looks like me.
I want to hold him as he cries,
but the glass breaks
when I try.

Lift me.

Download audio file (Ebel-Live-UStream0909.mp3)

Matthew Ebel Live & Acoustic via UStream, September 2009 – 97.6 MB MP3

(Also available as individual tracks.) – 97.8 MB ZIP

Waking Up Alone (Sample)
Download audio file (Waking%20Up%20Alone%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

Download audio file (Waking%20Up%20Alone.mp3)

Waking Up Alone – 5MB MP3

Lyrics:

Every night I’m restless,
I toss and turn.
I pace around my mind
and watch it burn.
It’s hard to be at peace
when I’ve got nothing else to do
but wait until the daylight
brings me back to you.

Counting sheep is pointless
like sleeping pills.
And reruns just don’t work,
they never will.
You see I’ve been asleep
for thirty years and that’s too long.
It’s too damn long.

And I can barely sleep,
although I’ve tried.
The dreams can barely keep
me satisfied.
And I can’t think of one thing that I’d rather do
than waking up alone…
…with you.

I stare into the darkness
like Ptolemy.
Your silhouette beside me
is all I can see.
You’re like my constellation,
a guiding light.
I only hope that I
can get some sleep tonight.

I hear you softly breathing
like Autumn wind.
It calms me for a moment
then I stir again.
It’s 2 AM, I’m wide awake,
I don’t want to close my eyes
’cause every second I can’t see your face
I die inside.

Ian Boswell, you have just won a full year of the All-Access Pass! Congratulations! Now go find a medic, you’re on fire.

Photo by C.C. Chapman

This month’s live recording is a little shorter than most- just over half an hour. It’s also taken from a portable recorder, not straight from the sound system Matthew usually uses. The vibe in the room, however, was so good that we had to share this recording with the rest of the subscribers.

Download audio file (Ebel-Live-BeerBash09.mp3)

Matthew Ebel Live at the VIP Beer Bash 2009 – 51.7 MB MP3

(Also available as individual tracks.) – 51.6 MB ZIP

Junk Mail (Sample)
Download audio file (Junk%20Mail%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

This song was created using only:

• A catalog
• A rubber band
• Newspaper
• Junk Mail
• Matthew’s car keys
• One finger
• Two lips

Download audio file (Junk%20Mail.mp3)

Junk Mail – 4.1MB MP3

Make Your Own Video!

You can make your own video using footage from the studio! Aside from the 30-second sample on YouTube, you can create your own testament to the crap that fills your inbox using high-quality video clips from the song’s creation.

Or, if you’re just curious, watch as Matthew tries to make music using some of the strangest materials he’s ever worked with.

Junk Mail Raw Video – 286.2MB Zip File

And the transcript is below the fold…

Good morning, subscribers! Get comfortable, this is a long update. A “year in review” of sorts, and it concerns the very future of Matthew Ebel dot net.

First of all, as always, thank you so much for making Matthew Ebel dot net a raging success. As most of you know it’s only existed for less than a year now and already people are saying this is the future of the music industry. I don’t know about that, I’m just happy you guys are still listening after all these months.

So I’d like to talk to you about the future of Matthew Ebel dot net. When I started this little project, I had no idea just how big it would become in so short a time. I also had no idea what to expect, so I made a lot of promises right from the very beginning. Some were easy to keep, some took a lot of work, and some… well, some of them may have been a bit unrealistic. Let’s walk through them together.

Monthly Live Recordings

The whole concept that started Matthew Ebel dot net was that touring the nation in a van at $4 per gallon was a bad idea. Still I wanted a way to bring live music to my fans whether we could actually connect in the same building or not. Personally I think the live recordings have been a great success to that end. I’d like to record bigger and better shows, but I’ll cover that later.

2 Song Downloads Per Month

For the All-Access and VIP members, this is the meat. The backbone of Matthew Ebel dot net. Without question, this seems to be the most popular feature that you guys love. It’s also a lot more work than I anticipated. When I was sitting on Block Island with a pen and a blank sheet of paper, 2 songs per month sounded easy enough to do. True enough, writing a couple of songs a month is easy. Writing good songs, however, and backing those up with good productions takes up most of my time in any given month. Still, I’ve been able to pull it off and I think my writing has improved greatly because of all the deadlines. I couldn’t be doing this without your support, so thank you again.

Members-Only Albums and Deluxe Albums

Like I said, back in October I didn’t think 2 songs a month would take that much time. I figured I could easily come out with albums just for my subscribers and albums for general release while I was doing all this. Good Lord, what was I thinking? To be honest, it looks like those promises may just not be possible. At least, not with material you’re not already hearing twice a month. I imagine that, once I’ve been at this for a couple of years, I’ll be able to re-record some of the Studio Recordings with a live band and release them as album material for the general public. To be honest, though, I don’t know how in the world I’m going to find time to come up with members-only albums on top of that. Between 24 new songs per year AND trying to find places to play live concerts, I just don’t think there’s enough time in the day.

Two Annual Tickets to Matthew Ebel House Concerts

At this point I need to flat-out offer an apology. I had no idea how hard it would be to book any kind of live concerts on my own. Even house concerts. As any musician will tell you, booking a tour is the single most difficult task for any new artist. Right now I can’t afford to go on a tour that won’t actually pay the bills- like I said, that was the big reason I started Matthew Ebel dot net in the first place. With no booking agent or interns doing this work work for me, I barely have enough time to set up my weekly UStream shows, let alone try and get into colleges, house concerts, and conventions. I guess this part will have to go into my wish list, which I’ll get to in just a minute.

Members-Only Merchandise

I’ve actually had a Members-Only store open since day one, complete with shirts and other items you just can’t get anywhere else. Unfortunately, not many of you seem that interested in wearable stuff. So at this point I really need to hear from you. What do you want to see in a Members-Only store? Do you even care about a Members-Only store, or is it not that big a deal? As of today I’m axing the old store entirely and replacing it with a single item- Songs from the Vault. If I get some ideas for other store items that you guys actually want, I’ll do what I can to make it happen, but right now the archive CD’s seem to be the only thing in demand. And I’ll cover those a little bit later.

The VIP Goodie Bag and Beer Bash

Some of you were here in Boston last weekend for the first annual VIP Beer Bash. Of all the things I envisioned back in October when I started this little journey, the Beer Bash was quite possibly the weirdest thing I came up with. Who the heck would want to sacrifice a weekend just to hang out with me and drink some of my beer? Apparently, some of you did. Some of you flew up from Texas for this. For those of you that showed up, thank you. Getting to meet some of you in person for the first time made me feel so good, I just hope you had half as much fun as I did. And I hope you enjoy the goodie bags I gave you at the event. The rest of you will get yours soon and I really look forward to hearing your reaction to these things. Let me know what you think about them, and please feel free to post videos or photos online when you get yours in the mail!

The Custom Songs

As of this recording I’ve only done one, so I’ll be drawing a name from the hat later this week to award another VIP their custom song. It took me a while to finish Tony’s custom song, “Two Stars“, but that’s because I wanted to make sure it was exactly what he wanted. The emails and comments he sent me absolutely made my month, so apparently the custom songs are worth keeping. Like I said, stay subscribed for the next custom song that will be announced soon.

WHEW! That was a lot to cover. I really want to hear your comments about all of this, and there’s two ways to do it… we could just discuss via the website at Matthew Ebel dot net/blog, or I could set up a little “town hall meeting” of my own. Just you, me, and the other subscribers via UStream. What do you think? Drop me a comment on the blog either way, I really want to know what you’re thinking.

Mostly I’d like to talk about the future of Matthew Ebel dot net. I’ve got some questions, some future plans, and some things I’d like to see happen IF I can keep your support and keep growing over the next year or two.

Some Questions:

Songs From The Vault

Since it looks like I won’t be able to release members-only albums, should I make “Songs from the Vault” available as a free download to VIP’s? I was thinking that the most recent Vault collection could be included as a download, thereby catching up a new VIP on the last half year of songs. If you’re a VIP, drop me a line and let me know what you think about this. Just leave a comment in the blog or email me

New VIP level

A few of the VIP’s have suggested that I should have yet another subscription level, sort of a “platinum VIP” or something. Suggestions have ranged from a guaranteed custom song to a guaranteed concert in your town. Something like that would need to have limited slots, like 5 to 10 at most, and depending on what I can come up with it may cost $750 to $1,000 per year for something like that. I really need to hear from my VIP’s and anyone considering buying a VIP pass. I already consider you my investors, but for the few of you who want that “I’m with the band” kind of status, what would you like to see? And what would you consider reasonable?

Make VIP passes Annual only

The more I look at the difference between All-Access and VIP passes, the less sense it makes to do the VIP thing on a monthly level. The big upgrades from All-Access to VIP are mostly once-per-year events anyway, like the beer bash and the goodie bag. The custom songs only happen twice per year. I think I may make the VIP pass available as a yearly subscription only once we get to October, but let me know your thoughts on that.

Finally, now that your ass is asleep from sitting through all of this, here’s where I think Matthew Ebel dot net is headed in the future. Some of this stuff will happen soon, some will take time, and some will only happen if I can find enough subscribers to afford these changes.

Garage Band versions for All-Acess and VIP members

Since the house concerts and members-only albums may be a bit more than I can honestly handle, this may be a good replacement that’s worth your support. More than a few of you have asked for remixable versions of the Subscriber songs and I can definitely provide that, at least once every couple of months.

Professional mixing and mastering

I’m doing pretty well at the controls so far, but there are people out there who could take my songs and really make them sound like a major label (you know, back before they all started to suck). Once I’m bringing in enough money to pay for a real engineer, I can give you guys better-sounding tunes every single month. The songwriting and production will still be all me, but I could offer you tunes that will stand up next to anything you hear on the radio or Pandora.

Fix the damn website already

Believe me, I know how clunky it is right now. Fortunately, it works well enough to deliver everything I need it to, but the second I can afford a programmer to make it function WELL (like Apple well), I will have someone iron out all the wrinkles once and for all. I’ve had to sacrifice a lot of flexibility and function in order to keep my costs at minimum, but I want to fix these bugs as much as you do.

More live shows

Hell, ANY live shows. I’ll say it again, I just don’t have time to act as a booking agent and still make quality music for you. If I can afford to hire someone to book shows for me, however, I’ll be able to go on tour (on that note, if any of you know a good booking agent that wants to work with me, that will solve a lot of problems). Once again, though, it’s all about money. If I get enough subscribers that I can afford a plane ticket once a month, I can fly out to a different city every month and play a show in your living room, or down at your local coffee shop, or whatever. Believe me, I want to see you guys as more than names in a chat room every Tuesday!

Live band

I keep saying it every Tuesday night during my UStream shows: I want a live band. The robots are nice, but there’s just something so damn cool about a real drummer with all the flying lumber making a huge sound. I can’t afford to feed anyone else right now, but once we get enough subscribers that will change. Imagine what could happen if your subscription involved a real rock band coming to your town to see YOU, not the other way around.

Bigger and better goodie bags and Beer Bash

Simply put, the more VIP’s that sign up, the cooler the goodie bags and the annual party will be. This one’s pretty simple, I just need more VIP’s to make it happen.

Alright. Deep breath. That was the last of it. The bottom line is this: You guys are awesome. You are making something possible that no musician could’ve dreamed of ten years ago. It’s been a wild ride in this first year, but we can make things even better in the years to come. All I need is your support and your help and I can keep cranking out the tunes that made you fall in love with me in the first place.

I can’t thank you enough for all that you do. I hope to hear from you soon, and let me know if you want to do the town hall thing via UStream. I’ve got a poll at the end of this blog post right now, so go to Matthew Ebel dot net before the end of August and drop me a line. Thanks!

You can listen to the WBUR segment right here:
Download audio file (news_0820_basement-musician.mp3)

Download MP3

There’s also some video from WBUR’s website:

An Ordinary Guy (Sample)
Download audio file (An%20Ordinary%20Guy%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

Download audio file (An%20Ordinary%20Guy.mp3)

An Ordinary Guy – 5.5MB MP3

Lyrics:

So here’s a glimpse of my perception:
I think you’re way above my station,
but I can’t shake my intention
to make a shameless proposition.
But if I try to take some action
I just might meet your satisfaction
which could lead to some affection
which might lead to an erection

of some new substantial section
of my segmented attention.
So I feel that I should mention
I’m ’bout due for some expansion.
So I’ll try to find some passion,
but my software keeps on crashin’.
I lock up fast and then I’m
staring at your ass and I…

I’m just an ordinary guy-
I pay my bills on time.
I take my pills with wine.
I’m just an ordinary guy-
Recycle all my trash.
I got my secret stash
of pornos, grass, and cash.
I’m just an ordinary guy.

I see you in the corner texting.
I hope my words don’t come out vexing,
and this may sound a bit perplexing:
The way you hold that phone is sexy.
I might have overstepped my boundary,
but I swear you’ll be glad you found me.
I sound astounded ’cause you seem chic,
and yet you might just be my dream geek.

So how ’bout this, we meet at your place?
‘Cause mine’s running out of floor space.
My Roomba seems to have been misplaced
and now it’s uglier than MySpace
in my apartment, but that’s all right.
We could just stay up ’til daylight.
We’ll grab a bite and then I’ll
Twitter you all night ’cause I…

I’m just an ordinary guy-
I love my cat and dog.
I love it when I’m flogged.
I’m just an ordinary guy-
I watch football with my friends.
I got Church I don’t attend.
I steal the restaurant’s pen.
I’m just an ordinary guy.

(Instrumental)

Well I’m just an ordinary guy-
I catch the morning train.
I curse to ease the pain.
Recycle all my trash.
I watch Dancing With The Stars.
I hate going to bars
and I own an ugly car.
I’m just an ordinary guy.

I always sucked at math.
I hate The Grapes of Wrath.
I’m not a psychopath.
I’m just an ordinary guy.
I get sick when I fly.
I won’t admit I cry,
and I’ll love you ’til I die.
I’m just an ordinary guy.

Just a video update from Matthew Ebel.

• The “I Blame The Spy” video contest is now over, results will be announced soon!
• The annual VIP Goodie Bags have now been ordered and will be shipping out soon. If you’re a VIP, you’ll get yours either in the mail or at the Beer Bash.
• It’s not too late to sign up for VIP Beer Bash 2009. If you’re a VIP member, be sure to grab a ticket here. If you’re not, you can still become a VIP at matthewebel.net/subscribe… but tickets are closing soon!
• Last, the new Matthew Ebel dot net Store will be opening soon with Songs from the Vault, vol. 1. Now you can grab the songs that you missed from the first six months! You’ll need to be an All-Access or VIP subscriber to get that, tho!

Photo by WildBillTX

Regarding the audio quality, Matthew explains a bit:

In order to get the crowd in the recording, I had to butcher the vocals a little. Next time I play a show like this I’ll have a microphone set up out in the crowd rather than relying on the one that’s attached to my head. Hopefully it’s still tolerable in this recording!

Download audio file (Ebel-Live-at-MP09.mp3)

Matthew Ebel Live at Megaplex 2009 – 85.4 MB MP3

(Also available as individual tracks.) – 85 MB ZIP

A Song for My Subscribers (Sample)
Download audio file (Subscriber%20Song%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

Download audio file (A%20Song%20For%20My%20Subscribers%20-%20Live.mp3)

A Song for My Subscribers – Live – 5.9MB MP3

Lyrics:

This is a song for my subscribers,
I don’t treat them well at all.
I’d like to write them all hit songs
but this month I dropped the ball.

So this is the song for my subscribers.
This is a song for my subscribers.

Procrastination is the game
that I kept playing this July.
I guess I could say that I was on tour,
but we all know that’s a lie.

(Audience Harassment)

Maybe my cat ate my homework,
maybe my studio caught on fire,
maybe I was in a coma,
maybe I’m a rotten liar.

Maybe I was just too lazy,
maybe I am just a jerk,
I’m just glad that when I got here
I could put you all to work.

So this is the song for my subscribers.
This is a song for my subscribers.

This is a song for my subscribers.
That was the song for my subscribers.

On and On (Sample)
Download audio file (On%20and%20On%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

Download audio file (On%20and%20On.mp3)

On and On – 5.1MB MP3

Lyrics:

You can say that you’re amused,
but that Cheshire smile can’t hide that you’re abused.
You put on a pretty show,
but I can see that you will never let him know.

So it goes on and on
like an old, sad song.
It goes on and on
and we don’t have long.

What have you got left to hide?
He has taken everything you had inside,
everything except your choice.
But you can’t say goodbye if you don’t use your voice.

So it goes on and on
like an old, sad song.
It goes on and on
and we don’t have long.

So it goes on and on
like an old, sad song.
It goes on and on
but you can still move on.

Two Stars (Sample)
Download audio file (Two%20Stars%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

So, what I would like would be something for my 2 boys (ages soon to be 6 and 7) who mean the absolute world to me (ask anyone who knows me on FB). Without them, I would not be the man I am today…Would love something in there about how their mom and I are not together anymore (divorced) but how we both love them totally and unconditionally.

Since I am a fan of creativity, I will let you decide on style (as long as it’s not Polka, Rap, Bluegrass).

…I live for my boys. They are my world, my priority. People say, I do not know what I would do without my kids. I can truly say, from my heart, I would be lost without them. I love them so much Matt. It’s hard to picture life before them.
-Tony Carcieri, VIP Member

Well, Mr. Carcieri, hopefully this will convey what you’re feeling. Congratulations on winning the first VIP song from Matthew Ebel dot net!

Download audio file (Two%20Stars.mp3)

Two Stars – 5.3MB MP3

Lyrics:

I have loved you every day
on this little planet in the milky way
circling a single sun.
But I’ve got two to orbit,
I’m the lucky one.

So shine…
Shine…
Shine…
Two stars shine in my galaxy.
Shine…
Shine…
Shine..
So many worlds, you mean them all to me.

We have loved you from the start,
but sometimes solid matter breaks itself apart.
But our love for you will grow.
We are drawn to you, we’re never letting go.

VIP Members: You’re officially invited to the first annual Beer Bash! If you can make it up to Boston on August 16, 2009, you can join the party at Matthew’s studio! Details below…

(If you’re not a VIP, it’s not too late to become one! Just grab a VIP Pass here…)

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Any questions? Just Contact Us or leave a comment here!

Of course, if you want to be a part of the live action, take a look at Matthew’s Calendar.

Download audio file (Ebel-Live-UStream-June09.mp3)

Matthew Ebel Live via UStream, June 2009 – 95 MB MP3

(Also available as individual tracks.) – 95 MB ZIP

Concussion (Sample)
Download audio file (Concussion%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

I’ve never been punched in the face. I’m pretty sure this is what it’d be like.

Download audio file (Concussion.mp3)

Concussion – 4.8MB MP3

Lyrics:

I was at the pearly gates today
but Saint Peter said I wasn’t late.
I was just asleep
and drooling at your feet.
Someone turned the lights out on the scene.
People gathered round to stare at me.

All the doctors say that I’ll be fine
and I’ll believe them when my eyes align
and my pounding skull
goes back to feeling dull.
I feel like I’m hung over from cheap wine.
I’m just glad I didn’t break my spine.

Last night at the bar I learned to fly-
only backwards, though, I don’t know why.
Although I have a hunch:
you beat me to the punch.
And now my memory’s bruised just like my eye.
I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.

I made jokes about a one-night stand,
but the punchline wasn’t all that grand.
So I kissed your hand
much faster than I planned.
(Ugh.)

When I woke up I saw everything.
In my head I saw your wedding ring
that you showed to me
at a rapid speed.
Now that I’m awake it starts to sting.
You left an impression on me.

Of course, if you want to be a part of the live action, take a look at Matthew’s Calendar.

Download audio file (Ebel-Live-UStream-May09.mp3)

Matthew Ebel Live via UStream, Apr 2009 – 85 MB MP3

(Also available as individual tracks.) – 85 MB ZIP

Will You Light My Way (Sample)
Download audio file (Will%20You%20Light%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

This song is for Cliffie and for everyone she brought a little light to.

Download audio file (Will%20You%20Light%20My%20Way.mp3)

Will You Light My Way – 4.3MB MP3

Lyrics:

Sometimes it’s better that we don’t know where we’re going.
We bet it all, but our cards are rarely showing.
It always ends the same:
We cash in all our chips and leave the game.

The house is dimmed and there’s no more sound to sing to.
The light you see are the flames that we all cling to
And you were quite the blaze-
a torch among the tea lights on parade.

So will you light my way?

We move on down a road that leads to somewhere
we’re not sure, but we hope that you will be there.
We won’t be the same,
we’re brighter now you’ve given us your flame.
Maybe someday we will meet again.

When Consequences Come (Sample)
Download audio file (Consequences%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

Fortunately, some grow up and use their experiences as a platform for creation and expansion. Some, however, decide to end their lives or the lives of others to stop the pain. What Matthew hopes to convey is the sense that we are all able to heal the wounds we create- and there is no time to do so like the present.

Download audio file (When%20Consequences%20Come.mp3)

When Consequences Come – 6MB MP3

Lyrics:

When I was young I used to cry
and looking back I don’t know why
I bore it like the world upon my back.
I know that I was not alone
facing hearts of stone about to crack.

They came at me with taunts and jibes,
but thankfully the guns and knives
were always someone else’s hell to bear.
I guess I’ll never understand
why pain makes me a man
and I don’t care.

I was always singing on the inside.

You can’t wait forever-
It’s only now or never
-later’s just when consequences come.
You play what you’ve been booking,
you eat what you’ve been cooking.
You can’t keep the devil on the run.
Later’s just when consequences come.

Well I’ll never be that boy again
but I thank God that I’m the man
that boy became, he’s part of who I am.
I made it out alive
but so many don’t survive to say the same.

So roll the dice,
take your chances, pay the price
’cause every rock you throw
is coming back at you.
My guns are made of lengthy songs
but others sing through homemade bombs.
I’m glad I picked the sweeter tune.

I was always singing on the inside.

It’s never too soon to say I’m sorry.
It’s never too late to say I’ll be your friend.
It’s never too late to tell someone not to worry.
‘Cause you never know if never’s going to be the end.

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Fans of The Orange Box from Valve Software have probably become addicted to the online game Team Fortress 2, just like Matthew has. Now those addicts have a chance to win a full year of the All-Access Pass (a $99 value) and show off their movie-making skills.

Make an in-game music video (aka Machinema) using “I Blame The Spy” and you could win a full year of free music from Matthew Ebel dot net.

Read on for more details…

The Official Rules:

• Videos may use the entire song or part of the song, length is up to you.
• Do not use any copyrighted material such as other songs or movie clips that you do not own the rights to. Sound effects and other creative additions are okay, but don’t do anything illegal.
• Videos must be posted publicly to YouTube to be eligible (though they may also be posted elsewhere).
• Videos must contain a legible, full-frame credit of at least 3 seconds with the phrase
  

  Music “I Blame The Spy” by Matthew Ebel
  www.matthewebel.net

  (Can be at beginning or end of video clip.)

• The first sentence of the video’s info must be
  

  http://matthewebel.net – Music “I Blame The Spy” Used With Permission.

  (Yes, with the http:// in there.)

• Post a link to the video’s YouTube page in the comments to this blog post so we can find it!
• Submission deadline is July 31, 2009. All videos must be posted to YouTube before August to be eligible.
• Entries will be judged by a panel of Matthew’s friends and colleagues who have played TF2 but have not submitted a video.
• Judging criteria will be: “Best.” Seriously, that’s it. Judges will simply pick the video they feel was the best, based on their opinions alone.

If you have any questions about the contest, please Contact Us

Not sure exactly what we’re talking about? Something like this…

Of course, if you want to be a part of the live action, take a look at Matthew’s Calendar.

Download audio file (Ebel-Live-UStream-Apr09.mp3)

Matthew Ebel Live via UStream, Apr 2009 – 85 MB MP3

(Also available as individual tracks.) – 85 MB ZIP

The Good Life (Sample)
Download audio file (The%20Good%20Life%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

Matthew just hopes the humanity of the singer wasn’t lost in the process of making this one:

This song started as just a little play-time with my Vocoder, but some good subject matter hit me almost immediately for the lyrics. I am tired of the hysteria I hear and see in the news, everything from diseases to an economic meltdown. It’s springtime in the USA, the worst is behind us, and we’ve got nothing but hope ahead of us. If you look with the right eyes, you are really living the good life.

Download audio file (The%20Good%20Life.mp3)

The Good Life – 6MB MP3

Lyrics:

Cut the radio,
the noise is a Devil in your ear-
fill you full of fear.
‘Cause it’s driving you insane
and the Devil wants to steer
everything you hear.
So you’re working for the man
but the man is going broke.
Take another toke, yeah,
all the Devil’s going to say is
your future’s up in smoke.
Life is but a joke.

Let it go,
let it fall by the wayside.
Let the rhythm life you up
into the sunlight.
Close your eyes and
let the music move your body right.
Damn it’s good to be alive,
the good life.

Kill your television
or you’ll find the Devil in your eyes,
fill your head with lies.
Make you think the world is waiting
just to cut you down to size-
keep you paralyzed.
So the plague is coming back
and it’s taking the express.
You can hold your breath, yeah.
All the Devil wants to do
is to keep you in distress,
scaring you to death.

I Blame The Spy (Sample)
Download audio file (I%20Blame%20The%20Spy%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

If you have, however, and you have ever played an Engineer for more than 5 minutes, this is a tune you’ll be able to sympathize with. For once Matthew has forgone the piano entirely for a Johnny Cash-inspired ballad dedicated to the heartless cretins that are the Spies.

This song is also going to be the subject of a new contest soon, so stay tuned!

Download audio file (I%20Blame%20The%20Spy.mp3)

I Blame The Spy – 4.3MB MP3

Lyrics:

Why did you have to stab me?
I’m only doing my job
to keep my people movin’
and standing by the bomb.

My turrets are unhappy,
they bow their head in shame.
The sappers are so heavy,
and I know who to blame.

I blame the Spy-
That dirty, low, back-stabbin’ guy.
He flicked his butt right in my eye,
he’d make a Scottish cyclops cry.
I blame the Spy.

I’m battered, bruised, and bleedin’,
but help is on the way.
Then suddenly my Medic
has stabbed me in the face.

Seems someone tried to warn me
by lighting him on fire,
but really who could blame me?
My circumstance was dire.

I blame the spy.
Won’t someone swat him like a fly?
That tabarnak I wish he’d die,
I’ll make him kiss his ass goodbye.
I blame the Spy.

And like a Wall Street banker
he took everything I had.
Like diving with an anchor
it’s enough to drive me mad.

Nailing him’s a Demo’s pipe dream
or a soldier’s launching pad,
but now that he’s on my team
maybe this guy’s not that bad…
…nope, screw him.

I blame the Spies.
Invisible to untrained eyes.
A fitting end I can’t devise,
he’s even ugly in disguise.
I blame the Spies.
I blame the Spies.

Download Video

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Dance of the Rising Current (Sample)
Download audio file (Rising%20Current%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!

Dance of the Rising Current is more of an experiment with textures rather than melodies. Yes, it’s repetitive, but it’s intended to act on the subconscious of the dancer. And yes, you do recognize the melody at the beginning. I have no idea why I added that.

As for the rest, I wanted to see if I could layer some starkly contrasting elements on top of one another without it turning into a complete catastrophe. Not sure whether or not I succeeded, but at least it’s something one can shake their ass to…

Download audio file (Dance%20of%20the%20Rising%20Current.mp3)

Dance of the Rising Current – 6.7MB MP3

Twitter Me Gently (Sample)
Download audio file (Twitter%20Me%20Gently%20(Sample).mp3)

You can get songs like this every single month by Subscribing to Matthew Ebel dot net!