Gristmas Carols - Commentary
612 words across 11 entries.
Gristmas Carols Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube (playlist)
umspaf presents: Gristmas Carols Organization:
ndividedbyzero
Lambda Bledsoe
Makin
SplitSuns
Kal-la-kal-la
Grace Medley
nightsBooklet:
UcklinCover Illustration:
EphemeraldAdditional Thanks:
The Homestuck Music Team
Andrew Hussie
What Pumpkin
Split ran up to me saying that he had a problem; the UMSPAF team needed cover art for their latest album, and he asked if I could provide some. So, I did! I tried to evoke the same feelings as the Homestuck for the Holidays cover without seeming too derivative, so I had the kids take a "backseat" and have a huge cruxite tree with eponymous grist hanging from it be center stage. The result: a peaceful and quiet scene in LOFAF, representing the best of the Gristmas season. (There are four emotes hidden throughout the image. Good luck finding them!)
A Very Merry Gristmas Indeed Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube
When I set out to make my first song for this album I only had two things in mind. The first was to make at least part of it feel like one of those classic 80s Christmas songs that everyone loves, a la Wham!. The second was to make it feel like the in-betweens of the holiday experience: after the unwrapping of presents or whichiver main celebration applies, in the midst of the gathering, before everyone's said their goodbyes and while the spirit of holiday cheer still remains. A theme you could have a cup of hot chocolate to while engaging a seldom-seen relative in lighthearted conversation.
Whether I succeeded in these things is up to you. But in any case, I had a whole lot of fun making this!
Twelfth Perigee's Eve Sarabande Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube
I had actually written out an entire Troll parody of Michael Caine's line in The Dark Knight talking about working for the local government in Burma, but when I tried recording over the music I realized it ruined a perfectly good jazz arrangement. Now all that's left of Troll Michael Caine is this stupid throwaway intro.
You're A Mean One, Mr. Slick. Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube
This was fairly annoying to put together, as I'm not a particularly strong singer, and I wasn't able to find a good recording environment while I was making this. In any case, I hope you'll enjoy my warbling.
Creation Myth Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube
Who would even write this conksunk song anyway?
JOHN DO THE SNOWY THING Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube
As you could probably guess, this song was inspired by RJ's Lofam 3 track: JOHN DO THE WINDY THING. I'd like to apologize in advance.
Strider the Snowman Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube
I made this whole thing in Spanish class. Suck it productivity!
YOUR LORD. AND HIS HOLY GREEN SLEEVES. Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube
Caliborn would probably love Christmas, if it were about him, and if all presents people got were also given to him. On Christmas Eve he would travel on his Cairo Overcoat all across the world, taking people's presents from under their trees and hoarding them all, like some sort of weird nega-Santa. Then he'd probably proceed to do nothing with them, because human artifacts are beneath his stature, except when they aren't. What a guy.
Fuchsia Sleighride Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube
Imagine Meenah in a Full Santa outfit riding a sleigh. Most of the instruments I made using FM synthesis and it was hard.
End of Act Listen on: Bandcamp, YouTube
Imagine me, young Flare, sitting at a piano when all of a sudden - BAM! Musical inspiration strikes! The melody always struck me from the beginning as rather festive-feeling, even if it didn't use the standard musical tropes for Christmas music, so I took this idea and set out to make the most Christmassy electronic music I could make.
The lyrics also only rather obliquely reference Homestuck; it's never mentioned by name, I chose the most mild-sounding aspects of the story to directly reference, and not once is conksuck or shit lets be santa dropped. But most importantly, the lyrics are for you, dear Homestuck reader, as a reminder that though the year has come to a close, though the act is ending, the future still holds many more in store for you. Your story continues on, so be its hero!
Gristmas Carols
Track list (1–9)