Composed by Michael Laster, performed by Craig Ketter.

1) Moderato Agitato is built out of three descending notes, with different passages alternating between jagged dissonances and neo-romantic lyricism. This dense, multi-layered movement uses sonata form to contain these polarities.
2) Andante Teneramente is a slow, melancholy meditation largely in 5/4, with a stormy, syncopated middle section.
3) Alla Marcia serves as the scherzo of the work, consisting a galloping march made of the left hand echoing the right hand, with a tuneful, extended middle section.
4) Valse Sinistre, or "Sinister Waltz," is a dark, off-kilter dance, pitting a numerous psychological states against one another - at times macabre, at times sarcastic, and at other times bombastic, with some moments of tender sentimentality. Like the first movement, it is framed by sonata form.

Video can be found: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVGBNREZPZTE68VPVP85IU0rTOUahqggm

Piano Sonata No. 2 (2020)

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Taylor Bradshaw

Piano Sonata No. 1 (2017)

Denture Adventure - Soundtrack

Children's March/Russian March (sketch)

Prelude (unfinished sketch)

Unraveling (unfinished sketch)

Music, lyrics, and arrangement by Michael Laster
Guitars, bass, keyboards performed by Michael Laster
Vocals by Taylor Bradshaw
Mixed and produced by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw.
Recorded by Taylor Bradshaw at the Sonic Arts Center, New York, NY. 
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Unspoken Expectations
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There are unspoken expectations lurking in the mind
Ask no questions hear no lies, but seek and we shall find 
The constellations and concrete stations - gone the next day  
There’s everything, yet nothing left to say
There’s everything, yet nothing left to say
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Above a cliff there is a field of rye where children don’t grow old
We could sing a song of innocence but dinner’s getting cold
Dystopia, utopia – depends on the day
What a peculiar human game we learn to play
What a peculiar human game we learn to play
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Interlude
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Solo
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The present moment is a sacred space with emptiness so vast
But attachment to the ego can infest it with the past
Can silence measure sarcastic pleasures – wait and we’ll see
‘Cause everyone I know is in my tree
'Cause everyone I know is in my tree
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Interlude
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Coda
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Michaellaster.net
Taylorjamesbradshaw.com

Buy on iTunes

Unspoken Expectations (feat. Taylor Bradshaw)

Written March 2013 by Michael Laster, recorded June 2013 by Jonathan Gordon
Played by Michael Laster

Sinfonia For Six Strings

Music, lyrics and Arrangement by Michael Laster
Mixed by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw.
Recorded and Produced by Taylor Bradshaw at the Sonic Arts Center, New York, NY. 

Lead vocals, guitars, bass, backing vocals, tambourine, midi drums, kazoo, chain, blender and backing vocals performed by Michael Laster
Piano performed by Alon Tayar
Additional backing vocals by Taylor Bradshaw
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1)Through the lives of the various characters, the lyrics are meant to shed light on human suffering as a whole. The show tune/musical theater arrangement serves as a grimly ironic backdrop to the words. This juxtaposition is a statement on escapism, and isn't trying to make light of serious issues, or criticize people's coping mechanisms. 
2) Wear headphones to pick up on the little details of the mix. 
3) Enjoy.
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This Machine
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(piano intro)
(Verse 1)
Meet Fred - his kids are off in college and he leads a busy life
At home - the silence so potent you can cut it with a knife
Fred's wife - makes a decent living as an actress on the screen
Just now - he's starting to pick up on what goes on behind the scenes
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(Chorus)
Roll those gears about 'cause everybody dreams
But things are not exactly as they seem
No need to go and hide away
One day we'll break free from this machine
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(Verse 2)
Meet Jill - has a tattoo of a penguin on her neck
Each day she takes her medication so her mood is kept in check
At school - the teachers all agree that she's the brightest in her grade
Who knew - she wears long sleeves cause the scars have yet to fade
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(Chorus)
Roll those gears about 'cause everybody dreams
But things are not exactly as they seem
No need to go and hide away
We're starting to break free from this machine
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(Bridge)
Oh the many shadows in your mind
You know that they belong to all of mankind
Oh you know that something's very wrong
When darkness feels like an upbeat and catchy song
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(piano interlude)
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(Verse 3)
Meet Bill - baptist priest, knows the scriptures word for word
Each year - he sees the sense of right and wrong's becoming somewhat blurred
Outside - he tries to tell a pusher to be saved you must repent
He says - can't find a job gotta pay my family's rent
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(Chorus)
Roll those gears about 'cause everybody dreams
But things are not exactly as they seem
No need to go and hide away
We're finally breaking free from this machine
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(Guitar solo)
(piano interlude)
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(Verse 4)
Meet Ralph - his knowledge of astronomy's extensive and immense
On earth - he barely leaves the house he feels the world does not make sense
Ralph's mom - manages to pay the bills with longer daily shifts
It's hard - but nothing that a nightly glass of whiskey cannot fix
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(Chorus)
Roll those gears about 'cause everybody dreams
But things are not exactly as they seem 
(blender)
No need to go and hide away
We've finally broken free from this machine
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(piano outro)
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Michaellaster.net
Taylorjamesbradshaw.com
Alontayarmusic.com

This Machine

Written, arranged, and performed by Michael Laster
Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by Taylor Bradshaw at the Sonic Arts Studio at City College

Potentials is a simple piece composed on acoustic guitar in October 2013 which serves as an experiment about the variation of short fragments of melodic and rhythmic ideas.

Potentials

A Brief Awakening was composed in 2012, for solo piano.  Performed by Ha-Yoen Jang, it was recorded and mixed at City College by Taylor Bradshaw.

You can email me at michael@michaellaster.net if you'd like a pdf of the score.

A Brief Awakening (2012)

Music, lyrics and Arrangement by Michael Laster
Mixed and produced by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw.
Recorded by Taylor Bradshaw at the Sonic Arts Center, New York, NY. 

Lead Vocals performed by Kolson Pickard
Backing vocals and all instruments performed by Michael Laster

A lot of time and effort went into mixing the track, so listen with good headphones if possible!

Intro

Verse 1:

Looking at my watch
Looking at my watch I can see, I can see
That the time is right my friend
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Looking at the clock
Looking at the clock I can see, we can see
That the hands are right my friend
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It’s hard to know what’s been projected
Everything’s just so connected now
...But how do you do?
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The thoughts that keep you up at night
Something’s wrong but it’s alright now
Oh, how do you do?

Chorus:

We’ll never know what is to blame
Deep down we see it’s just a game
A game that’s taken on this physical dream

Drifting downstream and
Wasting our time
Breaking our mind in two
How do you do?

Verse 2:

Looking at the wall
Looking at the wall I can see I can see
That the bricks are right my friend
-
Looking through the night
Looking through the night I can see I can see
That the streets are right my friend
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Unicorns and rusty nails
Butterflies and garbage pales
Oh what do you say?
-
Lock the door without a key
Close your eyes and look at me
Oh, what do you say?

*Chorus*

Solo

Interlude

Verse 3:

Searching for the truth
Searching for the truth I can know I can know
That your heart is right my friend
-
Listening to your song
Listening to your song I can hear I can hear
That the notes are right my friend
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Do away with archetypes
Be with what is in plain sight now
Oh, what do you say?
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What doesn’t kill you makes you strong
Giving birth to abstract songs
Oh, how do you do?

*Chorus*

Outro

Physical Dream (feat. Kolson Pickard)

Yakima Chamber Orchestra, October 2009, conducted by Kiki Kilburn at the Seasons Festival Academy for conductors and composers.

Mechanical Fantasy for Orchestra (2009)

Yakima Chamber Orchestra, October 2010, conducted by Vanja Ljubibratic at the Seasons conductors and composers festival.

Chiaroscuro for orchestra (2010)

Yakima Chamber Orchestra, October 2011, conducted by John Geortzen at the Seasons conductors and composers festival.

Minuet And Larghetto for orchestra (2011)

Departure from the usual alt. rock and classical. Enjoy.

Music and lyrics by James Harris III, Terry Lewis, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson
Arrangement by Michael Laster
Guitars, bass, percussion, and lead vocals performed by Michael Laster
Harmony and backing vocals performed by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw.
Mixed and produced by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw.
Recorded by Taylor Bradshaw at the Sonic Arts Center, New York, NY. 

(Verse 1)

Tired of injustice
Tired of the schemes
The lies are disgusting
So what does it mean
Kicking me down
I got to get up
As jacked as it sounds
The whole system sucks

Peek in the shadow
Come into the light
You tell me I'm wrong
Then you better prove you're right
You're sellin' out souls but
I care about mine
I've got to get stronger
And I won't give up the fight

(Pre-chorus)

With such confusions don't it make you wanna scream
Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
Somebody please have mercy
'Cause I just can't take it

(Chorus)

Stop pressurin' me
stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream

(Verse 2)

Tired of you tellin' the story your way
It's causin' confusion
You think it's okay

You Keep changin' the rules
While I keep playin' the game
I can't take it much longer
I think I might go insane

(Pre-chorus)

With such confusion don't it make you wanna scream
Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme
You find your pleasure scandalizin' every lie
Oh father, please have mercy 'cause I just can't take it

(Chorus)

Stop pressurin' me
stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream

(Pre-chorus)

With such collusions don't it make you wanna scream
Your bash abusin' victimize within the scheme
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
Oh brother please have mercy 'Cause I just can't take it

(chorus)

Stop pressurin' me
stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream
Stop pressurin' me
stop pressurin' me
Stop pressurin' me
Makes me wanna scream

Scream (Michael Jackson Cover)

Music, lyrics, and arrangement by Michael Laster
Produced by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Taylor Bradshaw at the Sonic Arts Center, New York, NY. 

Michael Laster: Guitars, mandolin, bass, electric piano, percussion, recorder, backing vocals, "Angry Angus" vocal on bridge.

Taylor Bradshaw: Lead vocals, backing vocals, drums

Shimmy Mangubat: Backing vocals

Lyrics: 

Verse 1

One day, you’re brought into the light of a world that feels so strange
Join to the race to find your place.... on this dusty stage
Seas on costumes, mountains of roles, lifelong journeys bought and sold
You're the star and you're the screen asking what it means

Chorus:

Well, we’ve got to be right (got to be right) got to be right
‘bout the stories we’ve been told
Don’t want to be wrong (don’t want to be wrong)
Watch the people live their song, and carry on

Verse 2

Well the fables of your country, the tales of your tribe, from Krishna to St. Paul
You decide what gives you pride... just don’t build up a wall
You construct an ego that you try to transcend, you learn the rules to see how they bend
That fragile road may turn to dust, so walk with those you trust

Chorus:

Well, we’ve got to be right (got to be right) got to be right
‘bout the stories we’ve been told
Don’t want to be wrong (don’t want to be wrong)
Watch the people live their song, and carry on

Bridge:

When brave ol’ Angry Angus killed the dragon
He crossed the bonnie banks for Stubborn Sue
...gather ‘round and I shall tell ye stories
Of old and new, yeah

(Guitar solo)

Bridge:

When brave ol’ Angry Angus killed the dragon
He crossed the bonnie banks for Stubborn Sue
...gather ‘round and I shall tell ye stories
Of old and new, yeah

Chorus:

Well, we’ve got to be right (got to be right) got to be right
‘bout the stories we’ve been told
Don’t want to be wrong (don’t want to be wrong)
Watch the people live their song, and carry on

Stories

Written and arranged for the band Blue Spruce by Michael Laster, 
Produced by Miles Blue Spruce and Michael Laster

Guitars/bass - Michael Laster
Lead vocals/Drums - Miles Blue Spruce

Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvFjrL6BRJY

Lyrics:

Tell me, if the music stopped playing would you keep on dancing in the silence
and tell me, if the lights went out, would you still be afraid of casting shadow

Never claim that you were robbed of what you thought was yours
Nothing is safe from the hands of time, it doesn't matter if you lock your doors

Oh, it's all a loan, so cherish what you've got
Yeah, you know that nothings owned
Though it seems like we've forgot
Yes it seems like we've forgot

Tell me, if people stopped caring would you keep on sharing your creations
And tell me, if you knew you were dreaming would you keep on screaming at the monsters

You can try to sweep the scattered sand from the hourglass you shattered
You can try to melt every clock in sight as if you get a say in the matter

Oh, it's all a loan, so cherish what you've got
Yeah, you know that nothings owned
Though it seems like we've forgot
Yes it seems like we've forgot

Well you can stuff your face with collagen injections
You can search for blunders just to make corrections
But it's frivolous to raise your objections, time spares nothing
and we are no exception

No we're not

Oh, it's all a loan, so cherish what you've got
Yeah, you know that nothings owned
Though it seems like we've forgot
Yes it seems like we've forgot
Oh, it seems like we've forgot
Yes it seems like we've forgot

All A Loan (2020)

From the film Burning Boy, directed by Daniel Lewinstein.

Composed and performed by Michael Laster.
Recorded at home, mixed at home and at the Sonic Arts Center at CCNY by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw. Mastered by Taylor Bradshaw.

Who Are You Now

Dylan's Theme

Snerg Dergus lived a vile and wretched life
And every Wednesday at three, he'd take his wife and dog for tea
Last Thursday I was talking to a rake
It was honest mistake, it looked like my friend Jake

If all meaning fades away, 
the absurd is what will stay
When the shelter fails to keep out all the rain
Got to build a little hammock in the eye of the hurricane

Your soul is like a crusty, bloated whale
Like a foot in the mail, who cares who wins or fails
Try to find beauty in this small blue moldy world
Together we can make it better for every boy and girl
Together we can make it better for every boy and girl,
for every boy and girl

Composed, arranged, and performed by Michael Laster
Recorded and mixed by Taylor Bradshaw at CCNY Sonic Arts Center
Lead vocals, guitars, bass, piano, and percussion by Michael Laster
Chorus vocals by Kolson Pickard
Drums performed by Miles Blue Spruce

Snerg Dergus (w/ lyrics)

This was performed and recorded at the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival by the very talented Aurelius String Quartet on August 2nd, 2016.

Graffiti for Idealists

Music, lyrics and arrangement by Michael Laster
Lead Vocals and drums performed by Elijah Sokolow aka Javaris Jamar Javarison-Lamar, also a talented performer and songwriter. https://soundcloud.com/thelivingstrange

Piano performed by Josh Vertolli and French horn played by Kyra Sims
Mixed and produced by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw
Backing vocals and all other instruments performed by Michael Laster
Recorded by Taylor Bradshaw


Mr. Jones left home and turned on his radio
A daily rush of raging slush lamenting the days of old

Did you hear the newsman
Ranting 'bout invasion
I doubt he'd have the blues, man
If they were cauca-hey!
He would look the other way

Fear the other
They come with nothing except for vice
Fear your brother
Can't let them into our paradise
Fear your neighbors
Keep the neighbors 
Off our fruited plains

Mr Jones gets home
And fills up a glass of gin
Looking out across the street
His neighbors don't quite fit in

Fleeing from a war zone
Searching for salvation
Finally found a new home
Run by corpora.. Hey!
All the trade is free and brave

Chorus

What you get is fear when there's 
Too much isolation
We need the death of hate,
not the Birth Of A Na- hey!
So don't believe them when they say

Fear the other... Fear the other

Chorus

Fear The Other (w/ lyrics)

Take off your Wednesday face and leave in on the floor
It's the inside that counts, hence the chainsaw by the door
Throw off your Thursday badgers, send them right to the bank
When life's a pile of waffles, mail the leakage to Frank

Dry off your slimy Tuesdays with your bag of dreams
Not knowing what to go or where to do
If the world's a stage, it's time now for your cameo
It's time to quit your job, and after all, it's almost Christmas

Ah, the old-timey synth!

Gouge out your Monday troubles with a trip to France
Your great grandpa was a bigot, say, shall we dance?

Take Off Your Wednesday Face

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Shannon Leigh Steigerwald (violin) and Thomas Steigerwald (piano)
Recorded and mixed by Taylor Bradshaw and Zach Egan at the Sonic Arts Studio at CCNY
Thanks to Tara Goozee Mason and Lisa Gutkin for help with bowings.

Rondo

Prelude

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw

The fourth movement opens with material from the first three movements, slowly building to the presentation of a new theme. It is followed by 3 variations, each based on the previous movements. These are followed by a fugato, culminating to the final variation and coda.

4. Fantasy Variations

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw

Breaking dramatically in character from the previous movement, third movement is an upbeat scherzo featuring a tarantella rhythm. It unfolds using sonata form.

3. Scherzo

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw

The second movement was inspired by Stephen Gammell's illustrations from the "Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark" trilogy, a favorite from my childhood. The series caused much controversy due to the intensity of the nightmarish illustrations. It was banned in many libraries, and some of the original illustrations have been replaced by less frightening images  in newer versions. The movement is in ternary form.

2. In The Dark

Composed by Michael Laster
Performed by Robert Frankenberry
Mixed and Mastered by Michael Laster and Taylor Bradshaw

The sonata opens with a rondo, featuring a somber melody played over a single repeated note the bass. The movement drifts in and out of episodes of contrasting character, each still maintaining remnants of the original theme.

1. Rondo

Electronic experiment alternating a 5/4 meter and 4/4

Composed and mixed by Michael Laster
Mastered by Taylor Bradshaw

The Transience of Triumph

4) Valse Sinistre, or "Sinister Waltz," is a dark, off-kilter dance, pitting a numerous psychological states against one another - at times macabre, at times sarcastic, and at other times bombastic, with some moments of tender sentimentality. Like the first movement, it is framed by sonata form.

Composed by Michael Laster, performed by Craig Ketter

Valse Sinistre (4/4)

3) Alla Marcia serves as the scherzo of the work, consisting a galloping march made of the left hand echoing the right hand, with a tuneful, extended middle section.

Composed by Michael Laster, performed by Craig Ketter

Alla Marcia (3/4)

Composed by Michael Laster, performed by Craig Ketter

Andante Teneramente (2/4)

Composed by Michael Laster, performed by Craig Ketter.

1) Moderato Agitato is an exploration of three descending notes, with different passages alternating between jagged dissonances and neo-romantic lyricism. This dense, multi-layered movement uses sonata form to contain these polarities.

Moderato Agitato (1/4)

Classical composer/alt rock songwriter, arranger, and private guitar and piano teacher living in NYC. Click the tracks for lyrics, descriptions, and performers. More at michaellaster.com.

Michael Laster

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