Something You Said
This song has a structure unlike any song I've ever written. Each line of lyrics is exactly 4 syllables long. It's sort of a stream of consciousness contemplating something my wife said. Each section is arranged a little differently so it's kind of sonically surprising. It's a very right-brained song, which is different for me.
Acoustic PsychFolk
Do You Love Me?
Some classic blue-eyed soul from the heart.
Acoustic Soul
Let It Out, Let It In
A long slow intro leading to some voices and guitars and words and things, and then a super-long fade - listen until the end!
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
It's Just Love
Wrote this one on electric guitar - I almost always write on acoustic - Different instruments affect different parts of my brain and make me write differently. This is a power pop song that might have been a hit around the 80's!
Power Pop
Moonbeams
A sweet jazz love tune with just voices and a trio of mellow Stratocasters.
Chill
Bottle
Musically familiar, yet in a different way. Something I could imagine Hank singing if he'd been backed by a rock 'n' roll band.
Alternative Indie Folk
Late at Night
A jazzy late-night kind of song.
Acoustic Jazz
Pulling Me Like Like the Moon
This is from the album Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return
Written: O’Brien, Quibodeaux, Elliott
Acoustic Soul
You Need Not Worry
This is from the album Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return
Written: O’Brien, Perez, Elliott
Retro Pop
Hey Young Lovers
This is from the album Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return
Written: O’Brien
Blue Eyed Soul
Baby, It's Magic
A fun groove I wrote after listening to a lot of early 70's soul.
Acoustic Soul
Stevie
An homage to one of my musical heroes.
Acoustic Soul
The Long Awaited Return
This is from the album Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return
Written: O'Brien
Blue Eyed Soul
Just Sunshine
A feel-good hook about sunshine. Who doesn't like sunshine?
Acoustic Alternative
Angelique
From the Album
Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return written: O'Brien
alternative folk
The Last Man on the Earth.
An odd little folky/pop song with a chorus that's fun to sing.
Acoustic Pop Folk
Things I Should've Said
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
Smile
Just a couple of chords and a mesmerizing bass rhythm against a fun and accessible melody.
Acoustic Folk/Americana
Best Day of my Life
An 80s style rock and roller.
Alternaitve Pop Rock
Funny How
A cross between a jazz standard and a country ballad.
Ballad
Falling
Organic Pop Folk
Fade
Some interesting guitar chords in this one, IIDSSM. There are some nice voicings that took me awhile to learn to play.
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
Born a Mountain
A fingerpicking romp with just a little dissonance. Kind of old-timey feeling.
Acoustic Folk
It's Easy
A feel-good love song.
Acoustic Indie Pop
Glad We Came
An R&B pop song.
R&B Pop Crossover
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Je Ne Sais Quoi is that certain something that a beautiful woman has that you can never quite pinpoint. It is mysterious and unnamable. Many French women have it.
acoustic world
Unsung Song
A slow-tempo ballad.
Adult Contemporary
A Woman and a Man
70's soul influence with a bit of dreamy poetry.
Acoustic R&B
And the Song Goes On
Some pretty acoustic guitar picking and a rousing chorus.
Acoustic Adult Contemporary
You Don't Have To Play That Song No More
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
The Sky Is Clear and Everything's Okay
It starts off quietly with an acoustic guitar, adds vocals, then the band picks up about half way through.
Acoustic Alternative
The Key
Love is the key.
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
It's a Love Thing
A cool groove song with a snap being the only percussion.
Acoustic
The Rain Came Down
This is from the album Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return
Written: O’Brien, Elliott
indie soul
Change the World
This is from the album Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return
Written: O’Brien
Alternative Acoustic Rock
Beside You
This is from the album
Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return Written O'Brien, Elliott
Acoustic R&B
Truer Kind of Love
Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return
Written: O’Brien, Elliott
Acoustic Soul
Trying to Find Me
This is from the album
Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return
Written O'Brien, Quibodeaux, Elliott
Acoustic Soul
In Heaven
Easy love song.
indie soul
Why Wonder Why?
No real chorus - just three parallel verses and three parallel bridges.
Acoustic Adult Contemporary
Wild as Love
Acoustic Singer/Songwriter
Lazarus
A metaphorical ballad. The best song I've written in a long time. This song was produced by the amazing Bob Elliott.
Acoustic Singer/Songwriter
Cap'n Crunch at Midnight
Just guitar and vocals.
Acoustic Adult Contemporary
Down Highway Five
Acoustic organic trip down a long, straight highway. Done with Tom O'Brien and The Pawns. Produced by Bob Elliott. Check out his tunes at IAC, too!
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
To Seed
Slow, moving ballad (not slow-moving ballad) done with Tom O'Brien and The Pawns. Produced by Bob Elliott. Check out his tunes at IAC, too!
Organic Pop Folk
After a Rain (With the Pawns)
Written by O'Brien
Recorded with The Pawns by Bob Elliott at The Pawn Shop
Dreamy Pop
Sometime Later
Written by O'Brien/Elliott
Recorded with The Pawns by Bob Elliott
Acoustic Alternative
Rabbit Run
Written: O'Brien/Elliott
Recorded with The Pawns by Bob Elliott
psychedelic
Something Close to Prayer
Written: O'Brien/Elliott
Recorded with The Pawns by Bob Elliott
Beatles Rock
Can't Fight the Blue
Written O'Brien/Perez/Elliott
Record with The Pawns by Bob Elliott
Acoustic
Spacetime
Written: O'Brien/Elliott
Recorded with The Pawns by Bob Elliott
Space Pop
All Over Again
Hopefully catchy rhythm with some memorable lyrics.
alternative folk
When You're in Love
It's a bouncy, positive, old-fashioned tune like people used to write in the good old days.
Leftfield
How It's Gon Be
I've realized lately how soul is such a celebration of love and sex. Every time. It's someone singing from the most primal energy inside of them.
Acoustic R&B
For the Want of You
Another of those songs that doesn't fit neatly in any of the IAC categories. It might need a big band. This is just the rough version.
Acoustic Singer/Songwriter
Someone Else's Sky
Gentle at first, but with a rousing, passionate chorus.
VIDEO
Ballad
Sirens
A moody, contemplative piece tha sucks you into its groove.
psychedelic pop
Beautiful Pain
A heavy, guitar-driven contemplation
classic melodic rock
My Barn Having Burned
Thoughtful ballad with a rock edge
acoustic indie pop
Through an Open Door
A searing guitar rocknrolla.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
That Used to Be Me
Driving pop now with drums! Who woulda thought? For lovers of harmony.
Alternative Pop Rock
Welcome to the Party
Album rock song with no repeating chorus. Clean recordig and simple arrangement.
Classic Rock
When She Gets Wise
A fresh but retro sounding pop song
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
God Don't Care
This song will stay in your head, whether you like it or not. It is irresistably catchy, even though its subject is controversial.
Dreamy Pop
One Good Reason
Upbeat song about why love is the only reason you need.
Easy Listening/Soft Rock
24 a Day
My. New. Favorite. Song!
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
We Horses
A long, meditative journey with some rich electric guitar and lots of harmony.
Indie Folk
Running Horses
Soulful Pop/Rock song with a plaintive, sweet chorus.
Alternative Modern Rock
Maybe
Soft, pretty love song with rich acoustic guitar and harmonies.
Acoustic Pop
Worries of the World
Rhythm-filled reggae-inspired soulful poetry
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
Little Shot
A rollicking fun song that brings us all down to Earth.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Holding Back the Crook of Cupid's Arm
A fun, rollicking, image-filled popper
Alternative Pop
Sugar So Sweet
I don't even really like the blues. But that's just how this song came out of me, so I guess that's what it is.
Acoustic Blues
When Push Comes to Love
At first, the hook seems a little corny, but it'll grow on you.
Acoustic Singer/Songwriter
The Cult of Midas
Written in the middle of the night on a drive from San Francisco to Seattle. Guess I needed some rock to keep me awake.
Alternative Rock
You Just Make Me Wanna Sing
A song of thanks to my beloved
Alternative Pop Rock
Tell Me
An old song of mine recently remixed. A feel-good reggae vibe.
Reggae Groove
Fire and Steel
Fun rhythms and close harmonies add spice to this pretty rock-ish song.
Acoustic Alternative Rock
I Will Leave No Song Unsung
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Change the World (Acoustic Version)
An acoustic version of a song I wrote a few years ago. My friend Bob Elliott encouraged me to record it with just two mics into one channel, so it's got a very live feel. I think it works best this way.
Indie Acoustic
Crush
A song really built around a beat that I was having fun with. For a change, there's no acoustic guitar strumming chords. The flute is the main feature and the words came last. A little different for me.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Survivor
A rousing, uplifting, life-affirming feel-good song. A little corny and cliche, but heart-felt.
Adult Contemporary
Your Roots They Go Down
A new mix with a little more solid production.
folk punk rock
It's Only Everyone
Lyrics I penned a while back. Just set them to music. Wanted a stripped down arrangement of just guitar and voices.
Acoustic Adult Contemporary
Ordinary Girl
A pop song with just acoustic guitars and voices. Lots of voices. Lots of guitars.
Indie Pop
Honest Love
A rare foray for me into the world of jazz. Just wanted to write something with some fresh chords. Just solo guitar and vocals.
Acoustic Jazz
Supertrance
A new experiment in combining beat patterns. It's a minimalist composition.
Ambient Guitar
The Sea Inside
Psych-pop.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Four Five Six
One guitar plays a beat in 4 and a melody in 5 at the same time. The 4 is overdubbed because I didn't play that part loud enough. Then a melody of 6 notes happens in the same space.
Experimental
When the Feeling Comes
A catchy little 2 1/2 minute gem.
Retro Pop
Everybody Knows
A ska/reggae pop tune with a really fun minor/major play in the melody.
Pop Reggae
The Disappearing Heart
A soft, gentle song, dreamy and poetic.
Acoustic Singer/Songwriter
Some Years Before I Met You
Letting out the angst on this one. Lots of energy.
Heavy melodic rock
Waiting for You to Come
Maybe my most rocking song to date.
Progressive Indie
Say That You Love Me
A '30's crooner kind of thing.
Ballad
Oh, What a World
A weird melody idea on the verses that has been with me for years and finally found a home. You wait through the weirdness, then this killer bridge into the killer chorus comes out of nowhere. Wait for it. You won't be sorry.
60s folk-pop
Sunshine in the Rain
Indie Folk
Let's Play War
Totally retro soul, power to the people kind of song.
Acoustic progressive melodic
Legal High
A little pop, a little reggae, cool groove.
60s tie dye rock
Lover's Tune
An old fashioned tune with a gentle melody and simple love lyrics.
Adult Alternative
Holy Man
A strange blend of slightly ethnic flavored melody and an odd tale of a seeker. Weird instrumentation. Weird song.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Wear Out My Shoes
"And if you want to know how far I'd go to prove my love for you... I would wear out my shoes."
Alternative Pop Rock
Gasping for Air
"Since she'd taken all I offered, I had nothing left to lose..."
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
Clara Barton
A power pop song recorded by The Trouts.
Alternative Pop Rock
Little by Little
Pensive slow ballad
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
The Wrong Way
Fun! Fun! Fun! "The bucket in my head/is filled with jumbled words!
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
After a Rain
A gentle, poetic samba
Jazz
Windows of Your Soul
Rocking, dynamic, poetic song
Alternative Modern Rock
Kiss Like That
A swinging song for cool cats to jitterbug to. Remember the first time you kissed that special someone?
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
If Everybody Just Made Love
Groovy, Bouncy, Happy - What if?
Alternative Pop Rock
Lost Things
Passionate ballad
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
The Dash
A ballad that the Sinatra crowd might have liked.
Easy Listening/Soft Rock
Love Your Enemies
A radical message in a reggae-influenced style.
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
Room of Gold
Groovy love ballad
Dreamy Pop
Wasted in Ireland
This is a song that improves as you drink more Guinness.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Platitudes
Poppy tune with some guitar harmony.
Alternative Pop Rock
Where Nice Guys Finish
A little funky, a little ethereal, a little rockish, a little lyrical
Alternative indie rock
Cardboard Sign
A contemplative album rock song, subtle, with just a little bit of an edge.
Alternative Indie
What I Know
A little more of my white Reggae. What can I say? It moves me like that.
Reggae Groove
This is the Moment
Uplifting, anthem-like, "do it now" song
Acoustic Pop Rock
Reminder
Blazing guitar leading to a heart-felt mesage in a resounding, lush chorus.
Alternative Rock
Broke My Brain
I almost forgot I play flute - this one has a little caliente beat and then a wide open pop-rock chorus. It's light and heavy at the same time.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
In Calfornia
Groovy conga beat. Whatever.
Alternative Pop Rock
Wearing Me Down
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
When You're Looking Down
A rhythmic, sexy-beat, acoustic dynamo
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Walk on Air
A healing, consciouisness-raising love song that makes your spirit soar.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Drunk on Love (For the World)
A tour-de-force power ballad with lots of harmonies and guitars and all that good stuff.
Alternative Modern Rock
The School of Wonder Why
Poppy with lots of guitars, though not overly so. Recorded by The Trouts.
Alternative Pop Rock
Look at the Moon
Rockin' Pop Gem
Alternative Modern Rock
Complicated Man
An interesting story and melody, flute, mandolin, plus all the usual suspects.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Magic Words
Sort of corny, but beautiful, little pop song
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Till They Tear the Last Brick Loose
Poppity-Pop-Pop Pop, but not bubblegum
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
The Buddha's Christmas
A Buddhist alternative to the usual Christmas fare.
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
She Isn't Quite Not
Pure pop
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
The Contradiction
A blast of rockin' sound at you in a poetic, melodic fashion. Thick harmonies.
Alternative Modern Rock
Opposites Attract
Catchy AltRockPop
Alternative Retro and Psychedelic
Beautiful Warrior
Weird Song - Not sure from whence it came.
Acoustic PsychFolk
Bright Girl
A rough take of a new song.
Folk/Acoustic Rock/Americana
Shine
Just a rough first-recording of this new song. Not sure of the final arrangement yet.
Acoustic Folk
By Your Side
This is from the album Tom O'Brien and The Pawns: The Long Awaited Return
Written: O’Brien, Elliott
Blue Eyed Soul