Story of the Album

Colin released free a cappella tracks of song fragments through the popular remix site CCmixter.org, explicitly ‘premixed’ (prepared for remixing) for producers to build on his work. Over 60+ remixes later, he is releasing the best 10 tracks commercially, sharing the revenues with the producers, and helping to build the market for open source music. Listen. Buy. Read the press release.

1. Everyday Choices by fourstones

In the fall of 2005 in France, Everyday Choices was released through CCmixter and within 48 hours had two solid remixes. fourstones must have been feeling Colin's words about the "everyday words of everyday people" because he added his own guitar riff and beats to transform it from a decent spoken word piece to a solid track. Lyrics, Listen. Buy.

Versions

Original acapella by Colin
Careful by: teru
Twinkle, Twinkle by: Pat Chilla The Beat Gorilla
Everyday People by: Minus Kelvin
Everyday Choices - The Future is Free by: teru

2. Castle of Serenades by Pat Chilla Beat Gorilla

Described as on the first great songs to be created out of CCmixter, this reflective remix of Colin's 1999 song 'Castle on a Hill' showcases the masterful skills of producer Pat Chilla the Beat Gorilla, who's work has been highlighted on America's Top Model. Lyrics, Listen. Buy.

Versions

Castle on a Hill by Colin
Castle (fourstones treatment) by: fourstones

3. More than 2 Sides by fourstones

Originally written and performed with an acoustic guitar and images as part of Colin's Free Culture Tour, More than 2 Sides by fourstones speaks to the many spaces unfortunately dominated by two opposing voices. The fourstones version fills out the acapella voice with chill beats and trebel percussion. Lyrics, Listen. Buy.

Versions

More Than 2 Sides (Acapella) by Colin
More than 2 Sides (Electro BeOk Remix) by: jaytee

4. Destination Non-Specific by Victor Ohm & Colin

Written while travelling in Sevilla, Espana in 1996, this new version of Destination-Nonspecific was recorded and updated by Victor Ohm in Jackson Heights, Queens in the Summer of 2005. Victor's airily distorted electric solo adds so much to the otherwise chill acoustic recount of a night going with the flow in Sevilla. Lyrics,Listen. Buy.

Versions

Original: Destination Non-Specific (Acoustic) by Colin
Destinataion Disarm by: teru

5. Break Free by Victor Ohm & Colin

Originally the first song that Colin had ever written, this version of Break Free distinguishes itself with Victor Ohm's electro guitar solos that fill out the sound of the voice and acoustic guitar. Lyrics, Listen. Buy.

Versions

Source: Break Free by Colin

6. History by Awkward Silence

History's unique evolution from the acoustic "Choose Responsibility" on Colin's 1999 album 'activefreedom' started with Awkward Silence using the amazing piano sample from Minus Kelvin and a high pitched version of Colin's voice. Awkward Silence then shared an instrumental version that enabled Colin to re-record his voice in line with the new instrumentals to make History, version 2.0. Lyrics, Listen. Buy.

Versions

Original: Choose Responsibility by Colin<
Choose Responsibility-teru-remix by: teru
History by: Awkward Silence
History Instr. by: Awkward Silence

7. Language of My Reality (Reggae Mix) by alionsonny

Language of My Reality was the first CCmixter 'hit,' since it inspired so many remixes in so little time. Versions varied from slow to fast tempo, from a synth pop dance version to alionsonny's Dub Reggae version which ultimately made the album. Lyrics, Listen. Buy.

Versions

Original spoken word : Language of My Reality by Colin
Language Of My Reality by: John Holowach
Language of My Reality by: Tomas PhUsIoN
My Reality is Changing by: teru
Home by: Cezary Ostrowski
Just Like Me by: Pat Chilla The Beat Gorilla
Language of my reality (Beat mix) by: Ambient Serendipity
Antistar Language by: antistar.hu
Choose Responsibility-teru-remix by: teru
My Generation by: The fog society
Language Of My Reality by: Click
Ten O' Clock Blues by: antistar.hu
Language of My Reality - Repitched by: mutcluck
Love & Freedom (Irregular Dub) by: hepepe
The Leader by: zikweb
ccMixter by: teru
Sweat Shop Shoes by: zikweb
My Name is teru and I'll be Your Tour Guide Today by: teru
And Louis Amstrong telling me by: hepepe
Language of my Reality (Cyberpest Mix) by: hepepe
Suburban Shaman by: MadTiger
fourstones' Voices of ccMixter by: ccMixStar Sample Packs

8. My Life Changed by Cora Beth Bridges & Colin

This original collaboration has been used endlessly by Larry Lessig as an example of what's possible with Creative Commons, precisely because of its beauty and simplicity. (see this video) Listen. Buy.

Versions

Original: My Life by Colin Mutchler

9. Our Lives Change by Tryad

After My Life Changed, Colin received emails from several people over the following year that included a French version (Ma Vie), a video from Japan (My Life Changed Completely), and this final version. According to Try^d, Our Lives Change was a soundtrack of sorts for a volunteer who was helping after the Tsunami in Asia. Listen. Buy.

Versions

Original: My Life by Colin Mutchler
My Life Changed by Cora Beth Bridges
Ma Vie by Francois Bourbon
My Life Changed Completely (mpg video, mp2) by Lawrence Cosh-Ishii and composer Takahiro Miyao

10. A New System by teru

Teru's version of this brief prescient statement recorded in 1999 adds a variety of trip hop beats to fill out the mood. "What if we were entering into a new time? A time when the very systems of control and commerce that we had believed to be the status quo, were somehow no longer relevant?" The evolution continues. Lyrics, Listen. Buy.