The missing Karen and recurring Mills

Again, I haven't written in a while. I've been somewhat preoccupied with non-music things for a while. Well... I've written and recorded a handful of songs between the last post and this one but not as much as I wanted to. I've mostly been working (job-wise) and reading a lot lately. Not just computer books, but economy-type books and some political stuff. The wife and I have also been working on things we should have been working on for a while. The nitty gritty of finances, housing - a plethora of things.

Changing subjects rapidly - I did manage to get the new R.E.M. album "Accelerate". I read some good reviews about it on iTunes and Amazon and bit the bullet. If you don't know this - I've been a huge R.E.M. fan since I could remember. 15 years ago I used to know how to play almost every R.E.M. song on guitar and that's where I think the kinship and bond between young Todd (of Third Frequency fame) and I came to be. Todd and I used to perform those songs with vigor - mostly in his room or basement - at his parent's house. Now... I've been let down by the past 10 years of R.E.M. releases - mostly since the departure of my then-favorite member, drummer Bill Berry. (I did really like the "Up" album though). But this latest release... wow. It's kinda sparked a fire in me again - not just about the band - but about myself, musically. Seeing the guys play at the Garden this June. Should be fun.

With regard to my one-man band, Self Parody - I've been thinking and deciding on the number of songs from "Thank You Captain Obvious". Originally, I was thinking a 19-song album. But now I'm thinking that might be a bit too much. It's an interesting dynamic as well because as I'm working on newer songs and newer mixes some of the older songs recorded don't seem to fit the general theme of the album anymore. I originally had this concept of the album being a bunch of light and moderate piano-driven songs. But as time moves on the songs are getting more uptempo and more guitar-driven. Doesn't help that I'm using quasi-real drums as well. So I've been pondering cutting a bunch of songs and releasing a 15-song album or maybe even a 12-song album. We'll see. The latest work is called "You Can't Save New Jersey" - which I'm liking a lot. It's pretty neat (and I'm usually modest about my songs - but I like this one). Despite the title it's actually a "nice" song with two separate themes. One theme is about friendship and kinship in the face of where you currently are. The other theme - which comes out a lot more directly in the song - is about acceptance of loss as a natural progression in life. Musically, it may be the only song that doesn't have any piano recorded - which suits the song fine.

Not much more to say. I hope to write more in the future - especially as I start to tweak and record more lately. I wanted to have this "Captain Obvious" thing completed by now, already. But these things take time.

Oh yeah, one more thing... Charlton Heston is dead.

It's been a while

I almost forgot I had this blog. I came across it again when I logged on to leave a comment on travelingkaren.com. (I miss Karen).

Let's see... what's going on. Don't want to get too personal so I'll say what's going on with my musical exploits. I've been recording a lot lately. I still have six more songs to write and record for my "Thank You Captain Obvious" album. It's going to be 19-song album. Yes, 19 songs. I've started using FXPansion's BFD2 for the raw drum sounds. But the majority of the songs I'm using EZDrummer. The biggest challenge I'm facing now is not so much mixing each song to an over-adequate mix, but mainly linking each song together. Listening to song after song I can really hear the disconnect from track 5 to 6, from track 8 to 9, etc. I guess I'll just have to focus a lot of my time and energy on the "cohesive mix" AFTER everything is recorded.

On another side note I'm planning two music videos. One for "Cox Is On My Mind" and another for the newly written punk-esque "The Wonderful Art of Phone Tag". Both songs from "Captain Obvious" album. Both songs really quirky. I really haven't given music use to that Final Cut software I have and I really need to have the thing pay for itself.

It's been a rough January - in terms of personal events. And it's strange... all of a sudden I'm getting all of this inspiration.

Wait... is anyone even reading this?

Entering the Ensemble world of 96kHz

Ordered and got my Ensemble last week. Now I'll have to find time to give Serge back his 828. The one he sold to me several years ago but never cashed my check. I'm excited about the prospects. Not so much because of the new interface itself (even though it's a cool unit and really lights up the room in the middle of the night) but because the new interface is motivating me to go about a newer way of recording than I usually do. I've realized that I'm the Ed Wood of recording. I usually go with that awful first take and when it comes to post-processing, I mix at a frentic, fast pace because I guess... deep down... mixing makes me feel uneasy. But I've really got to sit down and really take these things to care. I've been reading and re-reading those books, sites on recording. On recording techniques, on mixing techniques, EQ'ing, properties of instruments. Stuff like in what frequency range does the snare drum sound muddy. And this time I'm really going to try to create something carefully, meticulously. I know it will drive me crazy initially and maybe throughout the entire process but I've got to at least try.

On a different subject my wife is looking at me a lot differently these days. It's a good thing. She can finally get up in the middle of the night and walk into the other room without first searching for her glasses, putting them on, and then walking into the other room. Last Thursday was one of the scariest moments of my life. I saw the whole thing - especially on that big TV screen. The steady hand of the surgeon. The top layer of eye. The other stuff... All went well and I'm happy and I can tell she's going to be really euphoric - once it really hits her.

Owning a house is fun

No... really, it's fun. Builds character. Helps the blood flow when the arteries are clogged. You learn things. You find out things after the fact. Like why the compressor unit for the A/C isn't on a concrete slab... instead it's on grass. Makes a lot of sense when you think about it in the present.

On a different subject, saw "That Thing You Do" again on TV. The Jazz guy said in the movie "Bands are a dime a dozen... they come and go... Only thing you got to do is keep playing... No matter with who..." Yeah... I'm there already. I've started forming ideas for the next Self Parody album (prematurely titled "Thank You, Captain Obvious"). But can't record yet because my computer gets too hot and you know... why get the house hotter when there's no cold air coming in.

Kurt Vonnegut is dead

I would say it's a sad day. Raining. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. dead. But then that wouldn't make any sense, wouldn't it?

You Can't Kill Me

There are some days when you just feel like a kid again. You know... when you used to have good 'ole innocent fun. Yesterday was sort of like those old days. Except I was all by myself. I started video-taping myself to be used for a music video for the Self Parody song "In Lieu of Our Special Murder". I recorded one take of me with the camera under my face so that you can see my double chin. This was the singing/vocal take. I recorded another take with Melissa's coat hood on while playing guitar. The third and last take I recorded yesterday was me playing bass with the long black wig on (given to me by Karen a while ago) and shirtless. (Melissa doesn't like this take... because of the shirtless thing). Looking back at the footage of the three takes made me laugh. Silly stuff... especially the "guitar" and "bass" takes. My plan next is to do three more takes of just me:

1. Playing real drums
2. Overhead camera with me singing the "Murder is murder" parts
3. Second guitar take... I have to be creative with this one

Then I'll need help with other takes of me being tied in a chair. Me slapping somebody (hopefully Serge who I will want to be the slap-ee). Someone driving a car. Running in the woods. Different people crawling on the ground over each other. Milky white breasts, etc.

Then I'll get footage of G.W. Bush, soldiers and other stuff.

Whoo! Lot of work devising a music video. Plus I know the editing is going to take a long time to do. But it's all in fun. I tried doing a mini-edit yesterday of the three takes I had and it was hellish in iMovie. I did buy Final Cut Express for this purpose but have yet to really get into it and understand it. I did buy the book about F.C.E. but haven't read it yet. I need to.

I'm pretty excited about doing this video project. At least it keeps me occupied when I'm away from work. (And I'm never really away from work... I'm always checking things... doing work things... even when I'm home.)

Braktung.

Immigrants

Now I'm understanding the fire that Ted Chernishuk felt more than 10 years ago. He was the first Third Frequency drummer. That guy was crazy on those drums. One complaint we sometimes got was that he was too loud but it was just a matter of him being in his own stratosphere. He really got into what he was playing and that's the thing that sets apart the amateur from the true professional.

I've been bleeding to play with people again. But no one seems interested. Or maybe I'm being negative. I just don't feel the vibe. I've been writing and recording a bunch of songs that I think... well... if I so dare to say... are Third Frequency-esque. Think it's just a matter of missing the band. Or a matter of just missing that feeling I got when playing on stage with people I generally like.

Back to Ted... He was a huge Led Zeppelin fan. I wasn't a fan. Don't really like Led Zeppelin. But that song "Immigrant Song" really kicks serious arse. I recorded my version of it recently. I so want to cover that song. The only thing, though, is that I'm sort of a beginning drummer now and that song is just way too fast and a bit advanced for me now. I know... it's actually a simple drum beat. But my feet and hands can't keep up. Guess it's all about practice.

Wow, this was a pretty random posting, wasn't it?