Went to Ted's on Monday and tracked piano for "Losing Streak," "The American West," "Empty in the Heartland," "Out in the Branches," "Good Times" & "Daylight Saving." I love what piano does to a song. Always feels like it spreads it out and gives it space. Haven't listened to it yet, but it felt good.
Last night (Tuesday) Mike and I got drums and electric guitar for the final song to be recorded: Radio Lite. It was the 4th (maybe 5th) take when we nailed it. Finally. This one has been in many different incarnations since last summer. So nice to feel like it's something concrete and right.
So 11 songs. This order sounds great in my car and has been seconded by Anthony da Costa, but could change:
OVER A YEAR
GOOD TIMES
DAYLIGHT SAVING
LOSING STREAK
I THINK I FOUND A NEW FRIEND
THE AMERICAN WEST
CASSIUS CLAY
RADIO LITE
SO THIS IS WHEN IT COMES
OUT IN THE BRANCHES
EMPTY IN THE HEARTLAND
We'll probably finish "She Still Has Posters," but it'll be what it's always been: an outtake. There is one line I love from the song "Outlaw" that I think is essential to the story of the album. I found a way to make it a counterpoint melody on parts of "Out in the Branches" and it sounds cool so "Outlaw" is out. The other songs hanging around will have to wait for the next one. Mainly because I want this album to be 11 songs long and we already have 11 songs that I want people to hear. Pretty simple.
Can't wait to track the first round of Mike's electric guitar on Thursday. And thanks to Ryan Zwahlen and his many classical musician friends, sessions are on the way for french horn, english horn, oboe, flute, harp, viola and maybe clarinet. Also booked a flight to Austin for a couple days in early May to get DeeMo on cello and Trevor on banjo. Also want to get Cory Branan and Bill Davis singing on the chorus of "Cassius Clay" and Grace on "I Think I Found A New Friend."
All is good. We are ahead of schedule and having fun.
Oh man. This is the part of making an album that is really the best. Only better part of the process is hearing the master for the first time (if it's good).
I've got a ROUGH, 10 song version of the new album on my pod and I can really hear what this is going to be for the first time. For some reason, I can't hear anything until I hear it in Glen (my 2001 Honda Civic). Glen is older now (over 200,000 miles in car years, probably in his early 80s in people years). The left front speaker buzzes seemingly at random, but I've had Glen since I started recording a decade ago and I love him and how he sounds.
So I heard the roughs in Glen for the first time Friday at 4:44 am. Yes, it has a long way to go, but I'm very excited about where it's going. Somehow this one is easier to make than the others. It's the first time this version of The Hereafter has been in the studio together and it's shocking how easy it is. No drama, good times, we all still like each other... it's a little creepy, actually. Maybe it's because Mike and Mike and Colin are such great people and wonderful musicians.
Recent sessions =
April 15, Noon - 4:30pm: electric guitars on "I Think I Found A New Friend," "Over a Year" & "Out in the Branches," and maybe "Daylight Saving" (I don't remember).
April 16, Noon - 2:30pm: background vocals with Mike Schadel and Eli Bolin (the great). The videos below tell the whole story.
April 16, 6:00pm - 4:30am (minus a clutch Taco Bell run at 11:45): really lost my mind in the best possible way. Sitting alone in the studio in the valley, jumping from song to song. Electric guitars on "Good Times," "Losing Streak," "The American West," "Cassius Clay," & "Empty in the Heartland." Mike Wendland showed up around 1 am I think and stuck around to help, which sped things up. Once my electric guitars felt good, I did the vocal for "Empty in the Heartland" (lots of vocals, lots of reverb). Then we set up for the acoustic for "Good Times." Then Mike went home and I spent the rest of the night doing rough mixes for Glen.
Now it's a couple days of rest to rest the ears. More aux percussion with Mike on Tuesday and then, finally, we start tracking Mike's sure-to-be-beautiful guitar parts on Thursday.
