“Taste of the Good Life”
My tenth single release.
It really was the ONLY thing I did all weekend long (apart from one excursion to Sebiville, and one to Orange County, more on that in a bit).
FRIDAY
I wasn’t feeling all that great so I took the day off. After pre-requisite extra sleep and viable medicinal alternatives, I began writing the godforsaken transition out of the bridge which has, as of yet, eluded me on this song.
And like that, I figured it out. Immeasurable joy ensued and I continued tightening up the drum part. I re-sang melodies, changed some words here and there, re-recorded all the guitar parts, and wrote some turn around chords as well.
All this while nursing a stomach thing AND all this while it rained the rain of a loud, vibrant storm outside my window. Food, shelter and Pro Tools… isn’t that all anyone needs?
Friday night was dinner at Sebi and EnunciatedSneeze’s place. While I was there, Sebi recorded me performing about 5 tracks of percussion for Taste. (He’s recently invested in some real percussion: some different soft shakers, a cabasa, a Djembe and some other miscellaneous organic instruments.) So, I laid down some parts that were in my head and some that weren’t (in my head). Oh man, excited about the Djembe part.
Dinner was great and we punctuated the evening with a “third for some fourth for others” viewing of Napoleon Dynamite.
SATURDAY: the solo
Loaded in the new percussion parts. Oh yea, forgot: I took Superchunk to the vet. He won’t leave his left eye alone and has had to wear the “satellite of love” these past couple of days. Vet gave me some goop to put in his eyes. You know you love your dog (and that he loves you right back) when you put goop in his eyes and feel –for the first time– the tactile sensation of his eyeball on your fingers. And for his part, no complaints. That, my friends, is love. Or understanding. It’s definitely something…
Around 4 PM, Choir member and guitar player for Ragsy, Sutton Althizar came over to record a guitar solo. All improv, he hadn’t even yet heard the song.
The fun thing about Pro Tools is this: He quickly laid down about 12 solo “takes,” and then I frankensteined together the portions of whatever part I dug til I got a compilation of one solid performance. A solid “take.” It actually can be a very creative thing to do. And the good news for him (or any guitar player) is he didn’t have to fluster over getting that one true performance nailed. He can just pour out. And the other good thing is he was probably in and out in 45 minutes.
Can’t wait for him to hear it, as it came out great.
SUNDAY: the first draft mix
Went down to Orange County (I refuse to call it “the O.C.”) to help GoCubbies move furniture. I think I tore a quad muscle while running during the video shoot, man; my quads are killing me.
Came back up to LA and began working on the first draft mix. Apart from my computer shutting down repeatedly due to overheating (oh, I don’t know; maybe 12 times!!!!), everything was fine, Mrs. Lincoln. I went out and bought one of those heat dissipating cooling pads for laptops. Seems to be doing the trick.
Laid down the first mix, and listened on the way to work today (Monday). I think the guitars and vocals are too loud (making the drums too quiet). Take two will be tonight.
Oh wait, SHIT: Valentine’s Day.
8-|
Don’t worry; you didn’t think I forgot did you?
C
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