STUDIO DAY #9
I'm starting to find it difficult to report things other than "the drums are done" - "the bass is done" - "we are working on vocals now" - "vocals are almost done" but surprisingly that's pretty much how things are going at the moment. Todd mentioned today that the album has actually been annoyingly easy so far, which is a GOOD thing. A lot of bands go into the studio un-prepared which can cause difficulties in the album making process. I started writing songs for this album about two years ago so I've had some time to get to know them pretty well. We're knocking them out without any problems, but I don't want to jinx us - hopefully we don't run into any problems.
Vocals are almost complete. We have three more to finish tomorrow and then we'll start adding the extra stuff that will fill out the record (electric guitar, keys, background vocals, etc...)
One of the songs we tracked today is called 'The Good Life,' which I actually started about four years ago. I never finished it because I couldn't ever think of a chorus for some reason. Low and behold, a month or so ago I finished it and is now ready for pop music super smash hit stardom. For the hardcore fans of 'Better With You', this one knocks it out of the park.
Enjoy the video and the "bonus" footage at the end...
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
the emoto-transformer 3000
STUDIO DAY #8
We started vocals today, which means all eyes are on me. If my vocals aren't good, the whole record goes down the tanker. I've decided to skip over my worries by purchasing the emoto-transformer 3000. A new piece of studio gear where all you have to do is speak the words and then program the melody in the computer and choose which emotion you want to convey in the song, and you are all set with perfect pitch! Just kidding, I made that up. I will not be pulling any cheap stunts like that - you get the real deal baby!
Anyway, we tracked vocals for Who You Are, One Way Road, Beautiful Girls, Giving It All To You, and started on Here. As we started to work on Here I realized I was getting rather hungry, as I had previously informed Todd and Toby my interest in eating a Chicken Fried Steak. My two PB&J sandies and bag of Sun Chips didn't hold me over throughout the day as I had planned.
I do realize my lunch menu is a normal part of my recording blogs, but I should stress that food is an important part of my day. I like it, it tastes good. It makes me work better. It also fills in space for the worded portion of these blogs :)
We started vocals today, which means all eyes are on me. If my vocals aren't good, the whole record goes down the tanker. I've decided to skip over my worries by purchasing the emoto-transformer 3000. A new piece of studio gear where all you have to do is speak the words and then program the melody in the computer and choose which emotion you want to convey in the song, and you are all set with perfect pitch! Just kidding, I made that up. I will not be pulling any cheap stunts like that - you get the real deal baby!
Anyway, we tracked vocals for Who You Are, One Way Road, Beautiful Girls, Giving It All To You, and started on Here. As we started to work on Here I realized I was getting rather hungry, as I had previously informed Todd and Toby my interest in eating a Chicken Fried Steak. My two PB&J sandies and bag of Sun Chips didn't hold me over throughout the day as I had planned.
I do realize my lunch menu is a normal part of my recording blogs, but I should stress that food is an important part of my day. I like it, it tastes good. It makes me work better. It also fills in space for the worded portion of these blogs :)
Monday, July 9, 2007
kickin' it bass style
STUDIO DAY #7
Bass is now complete. Todd played on two of the tunes last Friday and Nolan knocked out the rest today. Piece by piece it's all coming together. I'm not sure how to describe the album yet - I want to say it'll be the next Sgt. Peppers, but I don't want to get too ahead of myself. I'm just kidding, but seriously, it's gonna be RAD. Easily the best songs I've written and best album I'll have made - that, I can guarantee.
I had a BLT (hold the mayo) for lunch, it was aight.
Tomorrow we start tracking vocals which I'm worried about because I told the guys I have an important yelling contest to go to tonight. NO MERCY!
Bass is now complete. Todd played on two of the tunes last Friday and Nolan knocked out the rest today. Piece by piece it's all coming together. I'm not sure how to describe the album yet - I want to say it'll be the next Sgt. Peppers, but I don't want to get too ahead of myself. I'm just kidding, but seriously, it's gonna be RAD. Easily the best songs I've written and best album I'll have made - that, I can guarantee.
I had a BLT (hold the mayo) for lunch, it was aight.
Tomorrow we start tracking vocals which I'm worried about because I told the guys I have an important yelling contest to go to tonight. NO MERCY!
Friday, July 6, 2007
moving right along
STUDIO DAY #6
We finished tracking acoustic guitar today and started working on bass parts. We'll be picking up on Monday again with more bass, then vocals the remainder of the week. Things are moving pleasantly fast and we are definitely on schedule. Toby and I made it a point to enjoy a delicious lunch from Dickey's again. Though I had been craving BBQ for quite sometime and had it for lunch a few days ago, apparently I was not satisfied. Today though, I think ended the BBQ craze for a while. I did, however, start up a Dickey's frequent customer card that entitles me to a free meal if I get 9 hole punches. We shall see if I accomplish this within the month.
I will be back Monday. Until then enjoy the video...
We finished tracking acoustic guitar today and started working on bass parts. We'll be picking up on Monday again with more bass, then vocals the remainder of the week. Things are moving pleasantly fast and we are definitely on schedule. Toby and I made it a point to enjoy a delicious lunch from Dickey's again. Though I had been craving BBQ for quite sometime and had it for lunch a few days ago, apparently I was not satisfied. Today though, I think ended the BBQ craze for a while. I did, however, start up a Dickey's frequent customer card that entitles me to a free meal if I get 9 hole punches. We shall see if I accomplish this within the month.
I will be back Monday. Until then enjoy the video...
Thursday, July 5, 2007
meatball subs & acoustic guitar
STUDIO DAY #5
We tracked acoustic guitar for seven of the songs today and we'll be finishing up the rest tomorrow. I had a huge meatball sub for lunch but could only eat half of it. Next time we order from that place I'm going to try the BLT as I was not completely satisfied with the overcooked meatballs in today's choice.
more information in this radical video:
We tracked acoustic guitar for seven of the songs today and we'll be finishing up the rest tomorrow. I had a huge meatball sub for lunch but could only eat half of it. Next time we order from that place I'm going to try the BLT as I was not completely satisfied with the overcooked meatballs in today's choice.
more information in this radical video:
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
"the world don't move...
... to the beat of just one drum. What might be right to you, may not be right to some." - Different Strokes
But today, my friends, I moved to the beat of just one drum, that being the drum of Ed Toth. And oh yes, it was right for me, and will definitely be right for some.. neh, EVERYONE
STUDIO DAY #4
Ed nailed out the rest of the tunes today and added extra dynamic I didn't know was there. I'm really stoked to have Ed on the album now that we're finished up with the drum tracks. It's interesting to me as a solo songwriter to hear these songs start to piece together little by little. I've become so comfortable with the "solo acoustic" versions of them, it's exciting to discover new dimensions.
Tomorrow we will start tracking acoustic guitar which means I'll actually be playing and working instead of observing, listening, and suggesting as I've done the last two days.
I'd report more, but it's 4th of July. I'll see ya'll tomorrow - Enjoy the fireworks.
ALSO: I've fixed the blog so anybody can comment now! You don't have to be a Blogger user.
But today, my friends, I moved to the beat of just one drum, that being the drum of Ed Toth. And oh yes, it was right for me, and will definitely be right for some.. neh, EVERYONE
STUDIO DAY #4
Ed nailed out the rest of the tunes today and added extra dynamic I didn't know was there. I'm really stoked to have Ed on the album now that we're finished up with the drum tracks. It's interesting to me as a solo songwriter to hear these songs start to piece together little by little. I've become so comfortable with the "solo acoustic" versions of them, it's exciting to discover new dimensions.
Tomorrow we will start tracking acoustic guitar which means I'll actually be playing and working instead of observing, listening, and suggesting as I've done the last two days.
I'd report more, but it's 4th of July. I'll see ya'll tomorrow - Enjoy the fireworks.
ALSO: I've fixed the blog so anybody can comment now! You don't have to be a Blogger user.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
drumming maniac
STUDIO DAY #3
I picked up Ed from the airport around 12:30 this afternoon, then went straight to the studio to start up work on tracking drums. It's been a long day, but felt relatively short in the studio since we started late in the day. We tracked some "PHAT BEATS" for the songs Beautiful Girls, Here, Sunrise, One Way Road, and started on Surface, which is where we will pick back up tomorrow morning. Dickey's Barbecue for lunch finally satisfied my BBQ craving.
We've been toying with the idea of just making all the drum parts on the album one continuous drum fill after another. I find that most bands don't make use of the drum solo as much as they need to. In fact, I've decided the next album will be a 45 minute drum solo featuring Ed Toth, who willingly admits, is not a big fan of the drum solo.
After recording we went to the House of Blues for dinner, then I took Ed to his hotel, having a vague idea of where it was exactly. We eventually found it thanks to Ed's quick dial to 411. However, I publically apologize to Mr. Toth for having spent "extra van time" with me...
Question of the day : Why do rappers say their name at the beginning of all their songs?
I picked up Ed from the airport around 12:30 this afternoon, then went straight to the studio to start up work on tracking drums. It's been a long day, but felt relatively short in the studio since we started late in the day. We tracked some "PHAT BEATS" for the songs Beautiful Girls, Here, Sunrise, One Way Road, and started on Surface, which is where we will pick back up tomorrow morning. Dickey's Barbecue for lunch finally satisfied my BBQ craving.
We've been toying with the idea of just making all the drum parts on the album one continuous drum fill after another. I find that most bands don't make use of the drum solo as much as they need to. In fact, I've decided the next album will be a 45 minute drum solo featuring Ed Toth, who willingly admits, is not a big fan of the drum solo.
After recording we went to the House of Blues for dinner, then I took Ed to his hotel, having a vague idea of where it was exactly. We eventually found it thanks to Ed's quick dial to 411. However, I publically apologize to Mr. Toth for having spent "extra van time" with me...
Question of the day : Why do rappers say their name at the beginning of all their songs?
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