I recently met Matt Reynolds at work this week and he shared this cover that he recorded on his phone. Matt is playing the acoustic and singing. I laid down a quick bass line and added some tambourine and a shaker. I hope you enjoy! We're planning on a studio version of this rough cut soon.

Folsom Prison Blues (Acoustic Cover with Matt Reynolds)

Recorded off my iPhone so I could capture the feel of this new song.

Days Like That (rough cut)

Whiskey and Gin

Whiskey and Gin, you're my only friend
You always pick me up, when I'm feeling down again
Tell me lies, but look me in the eyes
So I can live through the stories and 
Begin to straighten out this lonely disposition I’m in

Whiskey and Gin, bringing trouble again
Hanging out with the ladies, making enemies and friends
It’s getting hard to fight off these urges
Don't wanna scare the virgins
Persuade them to commit a premarital sin

—Chorus— 
Life ain't easy in an alcoholic haze
All that whiskey is gonna catch up one of these days
Keep sipping that gin boy cuz you think you've got it made
Life ain't easy livin’ in an alcoholic haze

—Harmonica Solo—

Whiskey and Gin, always making me grin
Got no time for worries when you fill my glass to the brim
Oh liquid courage, help me when I'm weak
Find the words I wanna speak, when I'm tongue tied
Acting so shy the first time that we meet

—Chorus—

Whiskey and Gin

Possible start to a new song.  Recorded this at 4am when the piano part came to me.  Improvised the violin part on the 2nd take. 

Long Night (work in progress)

Sunday with Allison by Dyslexic Soul

Ya know she gets mad when I call her cute
And she gets sad when there's too much to do
I can't help myself or the way I feel
There's just something about this girl that seems so real

--Chorus--
Well don't let her win, she doesn't need the help
If she had it her way, she'd be doin' it herself
There's something undeniable and true
Allison, it's you
Oh now sexy girl, could it be true

Ya know she gets crabby when she needs a little food
I've only seen her happy, which is always good news
I can't hide the smile that hangs on my face
Every time she aims those brown eyes my way

--Chorus--

Sunday With Allison

Bass, Uke - Carl Thoemmes
Everything else - Dyslexic Soul

Days Like That

I remember the day 
We used to laugh, sing and play
We don't have days like that anymore

Alcohol made you mean
We used fight and make a scene
We don't have days like that anymore

Jealousy turned your heart
It was over from the start
We don't have days like that anymore

--Mandolin Solo--

The love that we shared
Still brings my eyes to a tear
We don't have days like that anymore

I'm reluctant to admit
Find it harder to quit
These thoughts of you and me from before

All the good times that we had
Shine brighter than all the bad
Memories is all I have anymore

Days Like That

Lonely Nights by Dyslexic Soul

Long nights sleeping in an empty bed
Been so long, forgot the taste of love’s sweet lips
I’m lost without a chance in sight
So I search the internet looking for miss right

Time flies when you’re single and having fun
Wasted my youth on all the wrong ones
The clock ticks louder than it has before
To find the right one to care for

—Chorus—
These lonely nights will be the death of me
Can't find my dream girl to set my heart free

My friends all earned the sacred right to breed
While failed romance killed my will to succeed
Gotta change something to increase my luck
Now at days I feel a little stuck

—Chorus—

—Bridge—
Maybe I was blinded by the drama
All the lies covered the truth
Scarred my heart with lovesick trauma
As this sadness consumed my youth

—Chorus—

Lonely Nights (demo)

Times Have Changed

If I showed you all I could give
Would you squander it all on a Vegas trip
It just happened that our paths have crossed, didn't mean anything at all
Just wonderin', who you been thinkin' of
I’ve been wonderin', who you been thinkin' of

—Chorus—
Times have changed, memories stay the same
Times have changed, alcohol makes things a little deranged 
Times have changed, memories don't stay the same
Times have changed, don't make this feel strange

I imagined how it would be
Had the potential for a happy family
But you let it slide so until then I will hide, gonna pop up when the tides are right
Just wonderin', who you been thinkin' of
I’ve been wonderin', who you been thinkin' of

—Chorus—

—Bridge—
Girl you make me wait for a long, long time
Sit around questioning all the angles in my mind
Thought we had something kinda special
Connected on a different level
Maybe I didn’t meet you at the right time
But you're still on my mind

—Chorus—


Times Have Changed

Reggae Song Idea

Vocals - Line Knutsen @line-knutsen
Music - Dyslexic Soul
Song - Waxahatchee

If you like the song, please check out Line Knutsen's Soundcloud page.  She's a very talented girl with a lovely voice.  You can find her here: @line-knutsen



Be Good by Waxahatchee

It's unclear now, what we intend
We're alone in our own world
You don't wanna be my boyfriend
And I don't wanna be your girl

And that, that's a relief
We'll drink up our grief
And pine for summer
And we'll buy beer to shotgun
And we'll lay in the lawn
And we'll be good

Now I'm laughing at my boredom
At my string of failed attempts
Because you think that it's important
And I welcome the sentiment

And we talk on the phone at night
Until it's daylight
And I feel clever
And I hear the slow in your speech
Yeah you're half asleep
Say goodnight

Now I've got friendships to mend
I'm selfishly dispossessed
You don't wanna be my boyfriend
And that's probably for the best

Because that, that gets messy
And you will hurt me
Or I'll disappear
So we will drink beer all day
And our guards will give way
And we'll be good

Be Good - Waxahatchee cover (Line Knutsen and Dyslexic Soul collaboration)

Studio Version of this song available here:
https://soundcloud.com/dyslexic-soul/whiskey-and-gin-1?in=dyslexic-soul/sets/folk-tunes

Pete Kraus from The Smoking Jackets lends some sweet vocal harmonies and melodic lead guitar work in the basement while his kids were sleeping.

Please check out Pete's page here: @the-smoking-jackets



Whiskey & Gin featuring The Smoking Jackets (Basement iPhone Recording)

Lyrics - Carl Thoemmes
Music - Dyslexic Soul

Movin

On a sunny day in the cold midwest
Charlie had the weight of the world on his chest
In his dark brown eyes you could see the wheels turning
At a fork in the road the brush was a burning

It’s a fiery path that did exist
Looking to the sky for a heavenly assist
A ruthless charisma makes a curse and a gift
Weighing lives options forcing square pegs to fit

—Chorus—
Deliberating has him paralyzed
stuck in motion scared alive
Charlie is paralyzed
Bound for greatness til the day he dies

The danish spring brings flowers blooming
3 months past since the family moving
Culture shock, fake friends, real tears
This can’t be undone for so many years

Movin

Old Flame

It’s been a long while since I’ve seen her pretty face
But one glance of her smile sends my heart to a familiar place
Always held those memories close to my heart
Thought about her quite often in these years we were apart

Mastered the art of distraction, tricked my mind to forget
Silently made a comparison with every woman that I met
Now we have a another chance to learn from our mistakes
Let’s see how far we can take it before we hit the breaks

—Chorus—
These old habits are hard to break
Old feelings are hard to shake
Don’t feel an ounce of shame
Cuz I’m falling for my old flame

She’s got skeletons in her closet, how many does she have left
And the demons show their faces when firewater is on her breath
This could be so beautiful or the biggest of regrets
Put your money where your mouth is cuz it’s time to place your bets

—Chorus—

How many times did you scare and run away
Life ain’t funny when ya got nothin left to say
Gonna take time for these old wounds to heal
Can’t make promises of how we’re gonna feel

—Solo—
—Chorus—

Old Flame

Bass - Carl Thoemmes @carl-thoemmes
Everything else - Dyslexic Soul


Medicinal Summer

Summertime brings the good vibes
It’s a good time to be alive 
Catch a buzz, sit and chillax
We’re gonna elevate this party now to the max
Everybody’s baking in the sun
Meeting new friends is half the fun
Lots of cuties came out to play
So make a choice and be on your way

—Chorus—
In the summertime
Gonna stay out all night
Gonna take my medicine
Gonna feel alright

Cold beers chilllin’ on ice
Gotta take a chance if you can pay the price
Getting crazy without inhibition
Cuz tonight I’m just a man on a mission
The music is jamming reggae tunes
So come along girl let me get with you
Clear your mind and embrace the groove
Shake that booty, show me all your moves

—Chorus—

As the night wears on, we’re all losing control
So just free your mind with Dyslexic Soul
Let that rhythm just take a hold
Rise up as the night unfolds
Coming at’cha with that island sound
This mellow mood with never keep ya down
Summertime and the livin’s easy
Roots rock reggae at 5950

Medicinal Summer

Travis Brasfield - Bass @travis-brasfield
Alpha Roots - Djembe @alpha-roots
Dyslexic Soul - everything else


Take A Chance On Me

I watch the days go by out my window
As I’m stuck here in this cube
All I wanna do is disco
And have a nice time with you

So come save me from this life
Where my days are stuck on repeat
I’m not asking for a wife
I just need you to be near me

—Chorus—
Take a chance on me and I’ll treat’cha right
And we’ll have some fun every day and night
Don’t be scared to get hurt and you just might find
The path to your heart is straight through to your mind

I need positivity
And I need a little love
Won’t you please just set me free
As the stars line up above

I wanna feel your sweet caress
So baby come over to my house
Can’t wait to get you all undressed
My floor looks better with your blouse

—Chorus—

Take A Chance On Me

Chris Pendergraft from EchoCosmic (@chris-pendergraft) and I have gotten together to put out a bunch of Psychedelic Dub music under the new band name Midnite Dub Factory.  This is our first release and I hope you enjoy the sultry sounds of this porno groove.

Brainchild and mastermind behind the concept of this band, the mixing, the songwriting all go out to EchoCosmic. Please check him out and his Fantastic podcasts (Echocast) if you get a chance.  It's beautiful and weird and he spreads the love for all kinds of great bands he's discovered on SoundCloud.

EchoCosmic - Vocals and music
Dyslexic Soul - Lead guitar and Rapping

When Midnight Comes

—Chorus—
When midnight comes
Got to take it easy
Got to turn that sound around
All over the city
Easy

I was lost for 3 years
Held captive by my fears
Never ventured out too far
Protecting emotional scars

Can’t succeed without failure
Can’t grow without risk
Can’t find what I need
In this endless abyss

Gotta search from within
Dig deeper in my soul
Find the rhyme and the reason
To complete my life goal

There’s music in my bones
Every song needs a home
Can’t keep it locked up
Pack the bowl, fill my cup

Easy

Now I’m older than I act
Regrets are not a fact
Gotta keep my head right
Can’t sleep at night

Unleash what is trapped
Find the power to adapt
Bend and twist all these words
With some help from my herbs

—Chorus—

I was lost for 3 years
Held captive by my fears
Never ventured out too far
Protecting emotional scars

There’s music in my bones
There’s music in my bones
There’s music in my bones
There’s music in my bones

When Midnight Comes (EchoCosmic and Dyslexic Soul)

Check out Alpha Roots (@alpha-roots) for all of your roots reggae needs.  He's an amazing artist with a ton of range. Check him out!

Survival

—Chorus—
In our Survival, everyday is a precious gift
In our Survival, everyday ya wake ya know Jah blessed

—Verse 1—
I-man knows life a precious gift
And ya gotta keep it safe
Respect to da creator
Jah knows not how to waste

Mother Earth provides for his children
The only home that we need
Yeild crops for our nourishment
For our minds the sacred weed


—Verse 2—
In our struggle to survive
Man has created many a temptation
Resist free, hatred, and racism
One love, one mind, one nation

Treat every man like your brother
And every woman like your mother
Feed the hungry, nurse the sick
Build off the corner stone, brick by brick

—Bridge—
Don’t let da suffering get’cha down
Ya know there’s beauty everywhere
Don’t let da wicked taint your mind
And there will be no more despair


—Chorus—
A A D A
A A E A

—Verse—
D A E A
D A E E

—Bridge—
F#m A D A
F#m A E E
F#m A D A
E E D D

Survival with Alpha Roots and Dyslexic Soul

Adam Story                 - Bass, Vocal Harmonies           @adam_story
Bob Rizza                    - Percussion                            @bob-rizza-1
Sandra Knight             - Vocal Harmonies                   @sandra-knight
Maria Shiel                  - Vocal Harmonies                   @mariashiel
Jason Steen                 - Everything Else                      @dyslexic-soul



Unity

Don't give me your body if I can't have your soul 
Struggle to find something to fill this hole 
I get high because I feel so low 
People you've gotta try not to be so cold....to your brotha

Don't let those rumors contaminate your mind 
The truth will free you of this bondage in time 
People come together, you've gotta do it quick 
You've gotta care for your brother when he gets sick
You’ve gotta stand firm, join hands and help someone
You can only regret what you have not done

Come together, Jah Love, Come together children

—Chorus—
We need Peace, We need Love, We need Unity
 Down with hate, down with violence, down with brutality

We've turned guns each other every day and night 
Nobody even remembers what is wrong and what is right 
The government argues with them self to avoid any resolution 
People need hope so they cry revolution

Come together, Jah Love

—Chorus— 

—Bridge—
You, you, me, me, All we need is Unity
Peace, Love, You, Me, All we need is Unity
Unity and Love

Greed is a disease of the mind and the soul
Only culture may save us from losing control
Children must seek the truth, don’t hesitate
You’ve got the power to save this world from certain fate
One man is weak, community stands firm
Educate your brother and the world will learn

Come together, Jah Love, One Nation, I-ration!

—Chorus— 

Unity

My long time buddy Pete from @the-smoking-jackets took the day off of work to write a tune with me.  This is what we came up with. Every folk singer needs a train song...Willie Watson said those words at a concert in Chicago a week ago and here we are.  I hope you enjoy this track. Pete and I will be putting out many more compilations together once he can get his home studio in working order. 

Music and Lyrics written by Pete Kraus and Jason Steen
Lead vocals and first guitar lead - Pete Kraus @the-smoking-jackets
Bass - Carl Thoemmes @carl-thoemmes
Everything else - Jason Steen @dyslexic-soul

First Train Outta Heartache 

—Pete Vocals—
50 degrees in the rain on a Tuesday
Don’t have a penny to my name
Gonna hop the first Santa Fe to anywhere
And play this old 6 string til I sleep

Watchin the plains roll by out my window
This old engine feels alive
Thumpin out this song and feeling alright
And dreaming of where I’ll be tonight

—Chorus—
Takin the First Train Outta Heatarche
And I’m ready to go, From my head down to my soul
Takin the First Train Outta Heatarche
And my only prayer, She’ll never find me there
Takin the First Train Outta Heatarche
And no one can see, what’s inside of me
Takin the First Train Outta Heatarche
And I’m ready to go, From my head down to my soul

—Pete guitar solo—
—Jason guitar solo—

—Jason Vocals—
I’ve had enough of this town for a lifetime
She was all poison in the end
Got the clothes on my back and my 6 string
Rolling along with my Whiskey and Gin

I figured out I couldn’t it all on my own
Got my friends to lend a helping hand
Returning back to the old self I’ve known
A desperate man trapped in this lonesome land

—Chorus—
—Mando Solo—
—Chorus—

First Train Outta Heartache

This is an awesome song that The Screach (@bobby-brady) invited me to lay some lead guitar on.  I think Mike has since let this fall off his page, but I like it too much to let it disappear completely.  First released around June 1, 2014.

Pissed Off - The Screach with Dyslexic Soul

Porno

Just messing around with the guitar part from Song 7. Lead guitar has a flanger effect on it...


Save Me From Myself

Thanks to Matt Rudolph on the upright bass!

Lonely Heart

You called my name
I called your bluff
Your heart was so empty
I couldn’t fill it up

Jealous eyes
Lonely heart
Let’s stop all this fighting 
Take me back to the start

—chorus—
Closer now
Closer now than ever

You dealt out blame
I wouldn’t accept it
Can’t be wrong all the time
But you know that’s how you saw it

—chorus—

—bridge
Well I tried so hard
But it seems like your mind was decided
You portrayed the victim
But it was me that ended up gaslighted


Closer now
Closer now than ever
Closer now
I'm getting ready to leave forever

Lonely Heart

Old tune from 2014. Wrote it while driving 6000 miles alone across the country, taking time lapse photos of the milky way and some landscapes in the day while living out of a tent. A whiskey and guitar were always in hand.


Whole Wild World

I've been beat up
I've been bruised
Wasn't born to lose
I've been on the run for way too long

I need a partner in crime
Someone to keep me in line
A beautiful muse for my next song

--Harmonica

Maybe I'll find her in the mountains
Where the water flows free
Wonder if she's even ready for me
With my guitar by my side
And a bottle of rye
What's the future supposed to be?

--Chorus
I will search around this whole wild world for you

I've spent most of my years defeated in love
I've failed too many times to speak of
It's just so hard to forget
I don't have one regret
This emptiness fits my soul like a glove

--Chorus x 2
--Harmonic again!
--Chorus x 2

Wander

Whole Wild World

Connected with my ex from college recently. She told me she couldn't recognize my love for her back when we were dating, which was kind of shocking to me. Then this song came out of me.

Unrecognized Love

Could not 
recognize
your love

Past life
scarred me
so deeply

20 years
of reflection
our connection grows

All those
memories
rushing through my soul

And I said

--Chorus
I knew you 
to the core
you’re still the same


Could not 
recognize
your love

No matter
how many times
you change your name

To me 
You know 
It's all the same

Elevated
After years of wisdom
The time is now girl

--Chorus x2

Unrecognized Love

Lonesome D String Band and I decided to do a cover song of The Magnetic Fields (@themagneticfields) after Dan and his daughter recently covered a different song of theirs. This was such a blast and I'm so impressed how it all came together. Keep your eye out for Josie, she's got a bright future in music!

Josie Greenwood - Lead Vocals, Vocal Harmonies, Trombones
Dan Greenwood (@lonesomedstringband) - Vocal Harmonies, Kalimba, Harmonica, Mandolin, Whistle, Melodicas, Hand Percussion, Bells, Chimes, Trumpets
Jason Steen (@dyslexic-soul) - Baritone Vocals, Rhythm guitar, Lead Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboard, Drum Loops, Mix & Master

Original Version by The Magnetic Fields (www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkjXr9SrzQE)

Book of Love

The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures
And instructions for dancing

But I, I love it when you read to me
And you, you can read me anything

The book of love has music in it
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb

But I, I love it when you sing to me
And you, you can sing me anything

The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we're all too young to know

But I, I love it when you give me things
And you, you ought to give me wedding rings
I, I love it when you give me things
And you, you ought to give me wedding rings

Book Of Love - with Lonesome D String Band featuring Josie Greenwood

I'm not here to offend anyone, but I wrote this to represent the last 25 years of my dysfunctional relationship with my mom. Back when I was a junior in high school, she hurt her back and was always in a lot of pain. Even though she was a nurse, instead of turning towards medicine, she turned towards a group of newborn Christians to heal her. She befriended a Nigerian priest and a bunch of new religious fanatics and proceeded to hold mass in the living room of our house for the next 1.5 years. She changed all her friends and started surrounding herself with people that frankly scared me. Eventually, my parents separated and divorced, because she's no longer the person I once knew. It's been 25 years of her pressuring me to believe in God, but I've expressed to her since I was 15 that I'm an atheist. It's exhausting. She recently ended our last 2 phone calls screaming "Fuck You" and "You're Sick" to me. The last call was on my birthday. This is my response. 

This is art. This is therapy for my soul. It's not meant to offend anyone. I want you to believe in whatever you want to believe in. I don't appreciate religion being forced down my throat, so I feel pretty strongly about this....hence the song. Enjoy!


Religion Is A Drug

You used to be normal
Before you joined a fucking cult
Jesus destroyed our family
Yet you deny it’s all his fault 

He’s just a fictional character
In a 2,000 year old book
You would rather quote scriptures
Than see him as some kind of crook

-Chorus-
Religion is a drug x 3
And you’re a goddamn drug addict

We used to be closer
Before you lost your way
Doesn’t really seem like 
You have anything else to say (now at days)

Chorus

You’re just a drug addict
Drug addict

Chorus x2

Religion Is A Drug

Most people write a love song about what they need from someone. This is a song about love. This is a real love song.

I can’t help it, I need you
I can’t help it, I need you
I can’t help it, I need you

I can’t see you, but I feel you
I can’t see you, but I feel you
I can’t see you, but I feel you

Life is pointless without you
Life is pointless without you
Life is pointless without you

Won’t take you for granted
Won’t take you for granted
Won’t take you for granted

I need another chance
I need another chance
I need another chance
I need another chance
I need another chance
I need another chance
I need another chance
I need another chance

I can’t help it, I need you
I can’t help it, I need you
I can’t help it, I need you
to live
to live

I can’t help it, I need you
I can’t help it, I need you
I can’t help it, I need you

All I Need

I wrote this song back in 2007, when this single girl lived above my condo. She called the cops on me 13 times over the year and a half that she lived there. The first time, I was just playing an acoustic guitar at 8pm on a Tuesday. She once complained to me that she could hear me talk on the telephone. Come on lady, I'm alive. The cops used to come over so often, we started recognizing each other. I offered them in for a beer on more than one occasion. One of them noticed my Les Paul and told me he had one at home just like it. She had me questioning my life choices on more than one occasion, but come on. Can't make everybody happy all the time...

Screw Up

Can’t feel free, can’t feel at ease
Can’t stop thinking that she can hear me breathe
I’m trapped in my home because she’s sitting all alone
Waiting patiently for the next time that I screw up

I’m such a Screw Up
Hey yeah yeah

I’ll turn it high, I’ll turn it low
I’ll even try to turn her stomping into Morris code
Every time I hear another knock on my door
I get a taste of fear that she can’t take it anymore

I’m such a Screw Up
Hey yeah yeah

Too late too late the cops have shown up again
Too late too late the cops have shown up again
Too late too late the cops have shown up again
If they didn’t have cuffs I would be calling them my friends

I’m such a Screw Up
Hey yeah yeah

Screw Up

I'm just a guy with a guitar...and a bass, a banjo, a mando, a fiddle, a lot of harmonicas, bongos, a keyboard and a mic.  I play all original songs, mostly singer-songwriter, alternative, grunge, folk, bluegrass, reggae, blues or indie.  Sometimes my friends lend a hand recording, but mostly I play all instruments in these songs.  My name is Jason Steen and I am the sole member of Dyslexic Soul.

I'm really interested with collaborating with other musicians. Please don't be shy, creating music with others is so much more fun than doing it alone ;)

Dyslexic Soul

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