Hey, people. It's Tom here. The drummer guy who sits in the back and doesn't get a microphone at shows.
The other day David mentioned that it would've been a cool idea to have started a studio journal when we began recording the new album and since I don't have a time machine to go back and do so, I am starting one now... A full three months after we began tracking this collection that we like to call, "Stiff Drinks and Sincere Conversation."
We began recording the very first track on January 3rd, 2007 in our private studio in Van Nuys, California. I don't want to get too technical on you here, so if you would like to read more about the actual equipment we're using,
check out our studio's myspace page and add it to your friends list. Yeah, I would much rather spend your valuable time telling you about the absolute pleasure of affording the luxury of recording an album on your own time, in your own space... whenever you want. Do you want 50 takes? No problem. Time no longer equals money. Time is not an issue, expirimentation is encouraged and quality becomes paramount.
In addition to performing on this new album, I am also engineering it. Or 'co-engineering' it rather. While I am usually the one sitting at the computer hitting buttons, it's really only because I know the software and hardware best, but at any given time, you could find Mike editing drums, David micing guitar cabinets or Mark suggesting tone changes. We are all really excelling in this environment as engineers and producers. Apart from mixing and mastering, this release will be produced entirely by Negative Blue.
But for the bottom line: Most of the instrumentation is finished on the new album and vocal sessions have begun. Notice my use of "most of". Our third consecutive month of recording is coming to a close and I am beginning to think I will never say the words, "Send this fucking thing out. It's done." To keep you further up to speed, read on for a little information about the recording of each of the instruments... and plans for more.
Drums: We recorded about two hours worth of takes for each song. No joke. We then listened to all of them and chose the best one for each song. One song in particular actually took 3 sessions of 2 hours each to finally get right. Drums are one of the two elements on this recording that I can say are completely finished.
Lead and Rhythm Guitars: Major operations have ended. We have a couple odds and ends to track but most of the parts are down. I believe we spent almost twice as long on guitar parts than we have spent on drums. There were lots to do.
Bass Guitar: The second of the things that I can say are completely done. David rocked through them like a pro and in a relatively short amount of time when compared to the rest of the instrumentation but with 100% of the quality, if not 110%.
Vocals: Just started. And I mean JUST started. So much so that there is nothing to report.
Everything else: We have not begun tracking the other many instruments that we imagine being a part of these songs. Well that's not totally true. We have recorded a mandolin part that I came up with but that's really it. Additionally, we're throwing around the idea of piano, violin, cello, bells and trumpet on some select songs.
Well, that's really all I got for now. Thank you so much for reading. Stay tuned.