Breaks are not mentally good for me, but there was just no way locking myself up in the basement to record over the holidays was gonna fly with the family... I wasn't feelin' so hot for most the break anyway (way too much food and drink), so it all worked out.
Monday though I was back at it and pulling my hair out (there's still a little bit left on my arms). After revisiting the song I was working on prior to the break ("Sweet September"), I decided that I wasn't happy with the sound of the guitars so I re-recorded both of them and I'm glad I did, they came out much better this time around. Next step is to redo the drum track because there is one little kick drum thing in the chorus that is driving me crazy already... so if I let it go I might just have to be institutionalized.
My game plan has been to finish about 4-5 songs I've already recorded and have been OK with... or will be as soon as I fix a few things, then mix them down to the point that they are ready to press. At that point I'll step back and start recording the rest of the stuff. I think that things will start moving along pretty quickly from this point on because I am starting to formulate a plan for how I will accomplish mixing. Mixing is part of the process I dread because I'm not comfortable doing it (and I'm not comfortable with anyone else doing it either)... it is also the final stage and it means when someone listens to a song I can no longer say "I'm gonna fix that part later"... when mixing is finished it's done and that's the way it's gonna be forever and I won't be changing nothing.
It's important to me to get many of the songs I'm working on done because most are older tunes and have kept me from moving on and seriously working on anything new. I have been performing many of these songs for years and it's time for their potential to be realized and put them to bed (at least as far as tweaking them is concerned). Don't get me wrong, I have been doing a lot of writing, but I always feel like I can't concintrate on new stuff until the old stuff is REALLY done and out there.
Finishing this stuff up will also mean I can figure out where I will be going musically in the future. 2009 (and 2008) have been tough years for me, most recently with the passing of my friend and keyboard player Eric Polozune... I really felt that what he did helped me define the sound I had striving for. At one point quite a few times things SEEMED to be coming together, but countless personel changes and false starts really zapped my drive and creativity and left me disgusted with the whole process of collaberating... thankfully Eric would always build me back up and transfer his optimisim to me. I need more people like that in my life.
Moving on I have to be EXTREMELY cautious of who I play with (band wise) because I need to work with people that are like minded and focused on the goal... world wide domination? no... record contract, NO... just a grass roots form of making music and putting it out there... something that will hopefully still get a foot tapping long after I'm dust.
Immortality? Maybe (;-)>
Peace, Bryan
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Resolutions? Count me out!
I have decided there will be no New Year resolutions for me.
The idea that you can spend a full year screwing up only to wipe it all clean in one night doesn't make much sense to me... instead of being the incentive to start over I consider it an excuse wait a year before you decide to make changes. Why can't you do the same thing any day of the year? Why not have a Sunday resolution? Then you could have 52 chances to start over (oh wait... that's "confession").
I have a mile long ongoing list of things I would like to do "better"... "different"... "longer" (I'm workin' on it Kate!), but the reality of my life is that there will always be something that I need to put off in lieu of dealing with a more pressing issue, and I can either choose to accept the reality of it or spend a year beating myself up. There are more than enough things in life to feel bad about (plenty of good things too!), I'd rather feel good about my accomplishments than bad about my shortcomings.
I'm a bit more interested in what will happen with the rest of the world in the coming year... not the big stuff though (that'll happen with or without my help), I'm more interested in little stuff I might miss if (when) it disappears. For instance, I still haven't gotten over the fact that vinyl has virtually disappeared (you know... records?). Don't get me wrong I'm not some audiophile "vinyl was superior" snob... CD's have been far more convenient, but laying on my stomach with a pair of headphones on looking at a giant record sleeve WAS a superior experience.
Now it seems that CD's will probably disappear in the near future and I don't think I care much for the thought purchasing "information". I like something tangible to hold in my hand and appreciate... I like to feel like I've gotten something in return for parting with what little money I have. Digital information does not give me that same warm, fuzzy feeling and never will (and it makes a lousy rolling surface... so I hear). I will just never fall in love, or cherish a data file.
I also have a hard time understanding how something can still cost so much if a company no longer has to: print, package, deliver, etc., an actual product... "click and it's done" doesn't seem to be worth two thirds the cost of a tangible product... does it?
So any resolving I do in the coming year(s) will be on a daily basis and will most likely be in the form of not forgetting little things that have a track record of making me happy. I think I'll start by putting on my headphones and listening to a record.
Peace, Bryan
The idea that you can spend a full year screwing up only to wipe it all clean in one night doesn't make much sense to me... instead of being the incentive to start over I consider it an excuse wait a year before you decide to make changes. Why can't you do the same thing any day of the year? Why not have a Sunday resolution? Then you could have 52 chances to start over (oh wait... that's "confession").
I have a mile long ongoing list of things I would like to do "better"... "different"... "longer" (I'm workin' on it Kate!), but the reality of my life is that there will always be something that I need to put off in lieu of dealing with a more pressing issue, and I can either choose to accept the reality of it or spend a year beating myself up. There are more than enough things in life to feel bad about (plenty of good things too!), I'd rather feel good about my accomplishments than bad about my shortcomings.
I'm a bit more interested in what will happen with the rest of the world in the coming year... not the big stuff though (that'll happen with or without my help), I'm more interested in little stuff I might miss if (when) it disappears. For instance, I still haven't gotten over the fact that vinyl has virtually disappeared (you know... records?). Don't get me wrong I'm not some audiophile "vinyl was superior" snob... CD's have been far more convenient, but laying on my stomach with a pair of headphones on looking at a giant record sleeve WAS a superior experience.
Now it seems that CD's will probably disappear in the near future and I don't think I care much for the thought purchasing "information". I like something tangible to hold in my hand and appreciate... I like to feel like I've gotten something in return for parting with what little money I have. Digital information does not give me that same warm, fuzzy feeling and never will (and it makes a lousy rolling surface... so I hear). I will just never fall in love, or cherish a data file.
I also have a hard time understanding how something can still cost so much if a company no longer has to: print, package, deliver, etc., an actual product... "click and it's done" doesn't seem to be worth two thirds the cost of a tangible product... does it?
So any resolving I do in the coming year(s) will be on a daily basis and will most likely be in the form of not forgetting little things that have a track record of making me happy. I think I'll start by putting on my headphones and listening to a record.
Peace, Bryan
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