Tag Archives: cd

Songs Are Like Children

Posted on by
1

Songs are like children. Sometimes they’re like twins. When I’m on a spree, writing a bunch of songs all at the same time, I notice that perhaps two of them are (in my head) the same damn song. It’s completely accidental, but for instance, right now I have two 12/8 waltzes going. No, they’re not in the same key. No, they’re not even the same tempo. But I was shaving and humming one of them and then when I wasn’t paying attention, I had switched and I noticed I was humming the other one. I’d never thought of them as even remotely similar until then.

Now, the twin thing is interesting. Sometimes one of the songs will eat the other one and there’s only one song left (two songs enter; one song leaves). The stronger one consumes the weaker sibling, uses it for parts, and maybe grabs a couple of lyrics from the weaker one, maybe a bridge or something too.

Other times, I end up with two songs. And maybe I’m the only one who thinks they’re the same, maybe not. But then I play them very far apart during a show so (in my head) nobody will notice that they’re the same damn song. When I was preparing songs for TABLE 10, I played a bunch for my producer Jon Nolan and I told him I was going to play two songs that are the same damn song. He didn’t hear it. He did not hear them as the same song at all. They didn’t both end up on the CD (actually, did either of them end up on the CD?) and I do play them both live. And, based on his ear, I no longer think of them as the same damn song. He wouldn’t lie to me or be wrong.

This leads me to a confession. “Broken Wheels” is an example of a stronger twin. The two memorable hooks in that song came from another song that I now can’t bother to finish because I’ve already used those two memorable hooks in “Broken Wheels.” So, “Average Love Song” will remain on the scrapheap. It’s kinda too bad. I had higher hopes for that one than “Broken Wheels.” Oh well.

Brattleboro Fire Relief Fund Update

Posted on by
2

Remember how I left TABLE 10 on sale at CD Baby so we could raise some money for the recent fire in Brattleboro?

Well, I’m in Portland, OR. I get an email from the nice folks at CD Baby telling me that the warehouse has run out of TABLE 10 and would I please send them six more. I find a post office and send them six of the ten I have with me. I get an email the next day, thanking me for the six. I get another email the day after that, telling me that they’ve run out again and would I please send them ten more.

So, thankyouthankyouthankyou. Apparently, folks are buying TABLE 10, which means the fire relief fund will be getting 100% of what you spend: my cut, cdbaby’s cut, shipping, whatever, and we can all feel good about ourselves. Plus, you get to listen to some tunes which are, if I may be so bold, not too bad.

If you’re in Brattleboro this weekend, check out the benefit show on Saturday, May 7, noon-midnight. It’s for a great cause and there are people working really hard to make it wonderful. Because that’s how we roll in Bratt!

New Lyrics Contest

Posted on by
10

So, I’m working on a new song for the past couple of days. I think it’s called “Falling.” It has all the earmarks of being a song that I will a) finish, and b) put on the next CD because it c) should be a hit. And I have a contest for you: I’ll give you a line. It’s not a typical line for me. The first to guess correctly what my twisted little brain thinks comes next (close enough within reason) gets a copy of the first demo I do when it’s finished.

The line is: “This ain’t my first rodeo.”

I do not write songs about rodeos. This song is no exception. And believe me, nobody is more surprised than I to hear a line like this coming from me. But, there it is.

So, have at it. I know the next line. Do you? Lemme know.

VH1, Carbon Monoxide, and Me

Posted on by
Reply

So, I was watching VH1 the other day, waiting for the fire alarm guys to upgrade my CO detectors, and I saw a video that made me think, “I could do that.” Hmmm.

I talked with a guy last summer who said nice things about my songs and my stage performance (!) and such and he thought a video out there on the interwebs was in order. He had a particular song in mind, but it’s a song that I haven’t recorded. So, I’ve been hemming and hawing and putting off this whole video thing. But ya know what? I have a whole CD of perfectly good recordings. Duh!

This realization has kicked me back into “I should make a video” mode. So, I’m gonna chat with my pals in the video business and see what we can do. One thing I can promise you: there will be no kissy-face in this video. Nor will there be a tire-swing or a blonde in a white dress with the sun behind her.

So, in addition to the RPM Challenge in February (that’s coming up pretty soon, isn’t it?); making another full-length CD with the guys; and making this website more interesting (freebies, blogs, videos, witty observations about airline food, outtakes, stuff like that); now we’re making a video. It’s gonna be a good year. Stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

Posted on by
Reply

So, the wheel has spun its way ’round again. It’s a shiny new year. I’m looking forward to this one. I hope to see many more of you much more often this year. I’m particularly looking forward to the RPM Challenge in February (and perhaps sharing the tunes with you this time) and dragging the guys off to the Milltown Recording Company again to record another full-length CD. I also hope and expect to post more stuff here and let y’all know how the music’s going and put up some more tunes and stuff. Just to keep it interesting.

CD mastering at Mastersuite

Posted on by

We mastered the CD yesterday at Mastersuite. All except for one tune. Oh. My. God. I wasn’t prepared for how much more amazing the CD sounds after mastering. I can’t put my finger on it, but the mastering did something, a certain je ne sais quoi that pulled the whole thing together. I’m so impressed and so grateful that all these talented folks have spent time and effort on my CD. And it was really fun hearing my music in the mastering studio with the wonderfully tuned room and the wonderful speakers and everything.

Final mixes

Posted on by

I’ve heard final mixes of most of the tunes. They sound AWESOME! I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s a killer bottleneck slide solo, some terrific pedal steel, and a wonderful mandolin since last we spoke. And there are more guitars than I remember…

The CD: Principal Tracking

Posted on by

Well, we’ve finished principal tracking on the CD. Best week of summer camp ever! If you ever have an excuse to spend a week locked in a recording studio, I highly recommend it. Seven of us worked on it this past week. So far, we’ve got drums, bass, acoustic guitar, maybe some electric guitar, harp, keys, and vocals. Others will add their thangs (more guitars, mandolin, trumpet?) in the coming weeks.