Colin Meloy's Machine Shop

Colin Meloy's Machine Shop is a sporadic journal focused on the artistic processes of song-making and story-writing. It features reflections on personal experiences, the creative journey of music recording, song analysis, and serialized storytelling. The author also addresses broader themes such as autism acceptance and the impacts of COVID-19.

Artistic Processes Music Recording Song Analysis Storytelling Personal Reflections Autism Acceptance COVID-19 Impact

The hottest Substack posts of Colin Meloy's Machine Shop

And their main takeaways

Other Peoples' Songs: Me and Magdalena

1749 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎶 Music
  1. The song 'Me and Magdalena' by the Monkees was written by Ben Gibbard.
  2. It was recorded for the Monkees' 2016 record 'Good Times!'
  3. The author was surprised to learn the song's true origins.

How Ruthie Ended the War: Chapter Two

1002 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📚 Literature Fiction Storytelling Novel Characters
  1. Chapter Two of 'How Ruthie Ended the War' reveals a soldier's story of being caught in a dangerous ice field while on a mission.
  2. The soldier recounts the harrowing experience of the ship battling ice, leading to chaos and fear among the crew.
  3. Ruthie, the central character, listens silently to the soldier's tale, adding an element of intrigue to the unfolding narrative.
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How Ruthie Ended the War: Chapter Four

569 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
📚 Literature Fiction
  1. Ruthie found solace and comfort in the gunshed despite its harsh conditions
  2. Ruthie yearned to return to St. Petersburg for a more exciting life
  3. Ruthie enjoyed hearing stories from messengers about events in St. Petersburg

How Ruthie Ended the War: Chapter Five

373 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
📚 Literature Fiction
  1. Ruthie finds herself left alone and unnoticed by her family, leading her to take matters into her own hands for freedom
  2. The mystery deepens as Ruthie explores the deserted house, uncovering clues and a key that connects to the soldier's story
  3. Ruthie's emotions shift from frustration to curiosity and then to a release of tears as she grapples with the situation she finds herself in

Happy Birthday, Machine Shop

2614 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing Music Creativity Community Visual Arts
  1. The author reflects on the one year anniversary of their newsletter/blogsite, celebrating the community and support they have received.
  2. Throughout the year, the author engaged with their audience through various creative endeavors like podcasting, sharing demos, writing a book, and giving insights into their musical process.
  3. The author expresses excitement for the future of their platform, emphasizing a shift away from mainstream social media to focus on creating a meaningful body of work on The Machine Shop.

Studio Diary: Part 1

2555 implied HN points • 15 Feb 23
🎶 Music Recording Songwriting
  1. The Decemberists are recording music in a studio and sharing the process openly with fans.
  2. They operate on practical hours, record fragments of songs, and focus on the music rather than late night sessions.
  3. The band tracks multiple takes of a song, focusing on drums and bass, and decides to take a break and return the next day with fresh ears.

Letter From Home: April '23

2319 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Personal Stories Nature Creativity
  1. The magnolia tree outside Colin's house has been there for over a century, surviving through generations.
  2. The tree's history includes various owners and tenants who watched it bloom in spring each year.
  3. Colin shares a story of the box elder bug infestation in his studio that suddenly disappeared, bringing relief.

Letter From Home: May

2044 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19 Recovery Personal Reflection
  1. The author tested positive for Covid-19 and shared the experience with their children.
  2. The normalization of Covid-19 is highlighted in the context of the pandemic's evolution.
  3. Despite the life disruptions, the author maintains gratitude for advancements in vaccines and treatments.

Summer Bummer

1552 implied HN points • 06 Jun 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Music
  1. The author had plans to work on music in a studio but had to cancel due to a Covid rebound.
  2. Instead of studio work, the author created a mixtape for the readers.
  3. The author is isolating from family, wearing a mask at home, and hoping to recover quickly.

Demonstration Tapes: Make You Better

1513 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
📚 Literature Music Writing
  1. Song 'Make You Better' started as fragments in a notebook during WATW, WABW sessions.
  2. Home demo of 'Make You Better' recorded with scrappy feel before final version.
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Annotated Songs: July July!

1434 implied HN points • 23 Feb 23
🎶 Music Lyrics Songwriting
  1. The song 'July, July!' was written in 2001 and is based on personal experiences and reflections.
  2. The lyrics of the song contain references to specific places and events in the author's life at that time.
  3. The chorus of the song 'July, July!' pays homage to another band's lyrics and reflects the author's personal relationship experiences.

I had ChatGPT write a Decemberists song

210 HN points • 11 Feb 23
  1. The author used an AI to write a Decemberists-style song called 'Sailor's Song'.
  2. The AI could create lyrics with chord progressions, but the quality of the song was mediocre.
  3. Despite AI's abilities, the intuition and creativity of a human songwriter are still missing in AI-generated content.