Army Recuerdos 1st Collection of music by Brian Michael Smith
The 1st Collection of music recorded was the three albums KOLR, Still Waters, and Price of Gold. They were published in the early 2000’s when they were copywritten but never released to the public. All three albums have religious themes. They were recorded on a 4-track Tascam Porta 02 MKII using guitar and vocals to create a lo-fi sound. Some tracks have audio clips that were ripped from vinyl records. Sheet music was created using Midisoft Desktop Sheet Music Creator.
KOLR is an arrangement of four movements with three songs in each. They were selected based on motifs aligning with the movements. The movements are named after a prayer formula encouraging communion with god. They are the following: Knock, Open, Listen, and Receive. The acronym KOLR is derived from the albums movements and entitled it.
Still Waters is an album of 12 songs that were written while practicing centering prayer techniques in my life, the intent of being still and focusing on what god is saying. Some songs address subjects that were happening around me in the early 2000’s like going on a pilgrimage to Rome for World Youth Day, giving intent to a household while attending Franciscan University of Steubenville, and discerning a calling to monastic life with the Trappist Monks of Gethsemani Abbey.
Price of Gold is a double album with 24 songs. I could say they are the songs that didn’t make the first two albums, but it would be more accurate to say they weren’t right for them. These songs were written after I had turned from my reckless adolescent lifestyle but before I took on the identity of a soldier. The album was made to preserve the music I was making at this uncertain time, in the world, in my life.
