Category Archives: Recorded Music

Ball of Wax 52 Songs: Ambrosia Bardos (Morher) – An Excerpt from the Official Soundtrack for jonCates’ Ghosttown

I’ve been trying to get Ambrosia Bardos on a volume of Ball of Wax for a while, and at last the stars have aligned! For this volume, Ambrosia has chosen to share an excerpt from their work on the soundtrack … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 52 Songs: A.F. Jones – “a charter”

The multi-faceted sound artist A.F. Jones makes his Ball of Wax debut with “a charter,” a sound collage created from audio gathered on a fishing charter. We start off with the motorized drone that must be a constant companion on … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 52 Songs: Virgin of the Birds – “I Fought a Turk”

Virgin of the Birds‘ “I Fought a Turk” makes its entrance on simple piano chords and quite possibly the gentlest strum ever put to record. The I-V progression in D Major is one the most-used in popular music; having 12 … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 52 Songs: Ken Cormier – “Almost Gone”

Connecticut’s Ken Cormier (I didn’t need to include his state – or I could have referred to him as a Nutmegger – but I just couldn’t resist the alliteration) has been an occasional contributor to Ball of Wax since at … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 52 Songs: Saint Nefarious – “Yr Only Friend”

Saint Nefarious (featuring Holly and the Dead Saints) is primarily the work of one Lattney B., who was one-half of lo-fi bedroom pop band Grumpy Bear a decade or so ago and also recorded under the name Holly and the … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 52 Songs: Doug Hood & the Wholly Heathens – “Too Far in the South (Again & Again)”

The beginning of this song reminds me of the first time I rode a mechanical bull. It was in a smoky, loud, and dark bar, and I was bursting with excitement. And, like my ride, I thought it would be … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 52 Songs: Amanda Winterhalter – “I Miss You (I Don’t Know Why)”

Amanda Winterhalter‘s “I Miss You (I Don’t Know Why)” is straight-forward, heartfelt, honest songwriting. Everything about this song, from lyrics to production, embraces these qualities – which is refreshing in Seattle’s climate of often nebulous, reverb-soaked, and automated offerings. This … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 52 Songs: Gabriel Mintz – “Sharpen”

“Sharpen,” off of Gabriel Mintz’s DXT77F (now on vinyl from Union Zero), is a masterful example of production and songwriting. Marching along with a metallic beat on the two and four, “Sharpen” envelops the listener in a warm blanket or echo … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 52 Songs: James Whetzel – “Sun Clouds (Orchestral Version)”

The opening of “Sun Clouds (Orchestral Version)” immediately evokes for me some of the work Mark Mothersbaugh produced for the Rushmore soundtrack. That’s not to say that James Whetzel’s palm wine guitar style is in any way derivative of Mr. … Continue reading

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Ball of Wax 52 Songs: Eggshells – “Bone Marrow”

The width and depth of submissions for Ball of Wax continues to astound. Eggshells’ submission “Bone Marrow” – ethereal and astoundingly rich in its attention to detail – is a signature song. Just coming off a spot at this year’s … Continue reading

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