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Washington, PA

EDITED TO ADD MUSIC VIDEO!

I posted a bit about this in the constructive criticism forum, but now that it's an official release, I decided to share it here.

I've just released a 5-track EP titled REASONABLY PRICED under the name Portopak. I named the "band" and CD after a scene from the Abel Ferrara movie THE DRILLER KILLER where the main character sees an incredibly cheap looking commercial on TV for a portable power pack called Porto-Pak advertised for $19.99 (which seems like a reasonable price for that equipment in 1970s dollars). I later decided to give the EP away for free on Bandcamp (http://portopak.bandcamp.com), which makes the title even funnier to me. I also threw it up on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3 and Google Play, because I figured, "why not?"

Earlier this year, I discovered LSDJ and this forum, and it got me back into making music for the first time in over a decade. I've always had a fondness of the sounds and innovation chiptune artists have been able to create, but I wanted to use the 8-bit sound for something other than EDM. I liked the idea of making punk/noise rock-inspired music using the Game Boy Pocket I had from childhood to make the bass, drums and vocal melody for some basic riffs I came up with my minor talent on the guitar. Instead of vocals, I began cutting various scenes from my favorite public domain horror and sci-fi movies.

I really don't have much of a clue of how exactly to describe the sound or give any kind if RIYL suggestions, but I hope folks will check it out. I've had a great time making it and I've already started on a followup.

If you want it as free or name-your-price download or on a physical CD (well, Kunaki CD-R), head over to http://portopak.bandcamp.com

Or you can get it elsewhere:
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/16OvYk3wQQCmalLgAyZYha
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/reaso … d690889139
Amazon MP3 Store: http://www.amazon.com/Reasonably-Priced … s=portopak
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/alb … bempfme5ym

I used a kind of shady-looking aggregator for all of those but Spotify, so who knows if I'll ever get paid, but at least I can wear being in the iTunes Store like a sad badge of honor for a while.

Last edited by jmc1987 (Sep 30, 2013 9:36 pm)

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This is great, on a quick listen.. will check it out more later!

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Washington, PA

Thanks! I hope it holds up for a longer listen!

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Yea its great.. reminds me of the earlier days of lsdj when it was way more eclectic and unique artist driven stuff. Keep it up!!

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Washington, PA

I appreciate you taking the time to listen and the kind words. I'm still pretty new to LSDJ and chiptuning, so I don't really know what was going on in the early days.

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Thats probably to your benefit! Ignorance is bliss.

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Costa Mesa, CA

I like the sound of this! Great work.

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Washington, PA

Thanks! I actually just saw the release you posted earlier and was interested... but I'm browsing the forum at work, so that'll have to happen another day... or when I get fired for checking out message boards instead of working.

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Washington, PA

Kitsch-Bent is going to be selling the CD version once they get shipped, if you ever want to add $5 on to an order from him.

http://store.kitsch-bent.com/product/po … -priced-ep

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Baja California

diggin' it
Reminds me of the (good) bands around my town

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Washington, PA

Thanks, I appreciate it. The last thing I'd want to do is remind someone of the shitty bands around their town. Though maybe that'll be what I do for the next EP...

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Washington, PA

The CD is also available at Interpunk. Not sure if anyone actually buys music there, yet alone unknown chiptune artists, but hey... http://www.interpunk.com/item.cfm?Item=214946

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Washington, PA

Now with a music video! I made it with a Fisher Price PXL2000, Final Cut and an Archive.org download of CARNIVAL OF SOULS.

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Job well done sir.
New favourite chip oriented album.

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Washington, PA

Thanks, Symbiant... glad you enjoyed it!