Studio: Day One
So begins our documentation of the second leg of sessions for our record. In October we spent two weeks in the studio and 3 weeks at Brian Virtue's house doing more tracks. The result was seven songs:
"Ashes", "The Loophole", "Half Hearted", "Unholy Ghost", "Bloody Mary", "Go On", and "Outsider". We spent a few days in December adding a track or two, and we recorded "Start of Darkness" in January with Scott Humphrey. That brings us up to 8 songs.
Today has been pretty mellow. Stephen got here at 12noon and he and Virtue set up the drums and got the drum sounds til 4pm when the rest of us got here. I, for some reason am feeling pretty under the weather today. I have a stuffed nose, and I am getting that ache-y, pain-ey crap going. Been taking Tylenol cold and I am a little dazed, too. The first couple days we will just be getting the drums. bass, and maybe a guitar track or two, so I have a bit of time to get up to speed before I sing.
We started off with "Said You'd Be". After we ran it and were satisfied with the levels, we started talking about maybe adding one more chorus at the end, like I said before, the song was clocking in at just over 2 minutes, so we decided to give it just a bit more time to breathe. I am really glad we did this. It's still a hella short song, but now at least it's around long enough to make its point.
Stephen got a drum take we are all excited about, now it's on to Chris laying down the bass. I went home early so I could get to sleep early and shake this thing. After Chris' bass take for "Said You'd Be", they were going to set up a different drum set for the next song "Left To Lose" - and we'll get the drums on that first thing tomorrow.
Comments
I gave Billy M this advice just before Christmas:
Dose up on Vitamin C (literally take a shed load) and take some zinc, and echinacea...drink plenty of water and cut down on caffeine.
Hope you're feeling better soon...
RP
(the rEcKlEsS doctor! - hey I don't work in a healthstore for nuthin'!)
Posted by: RecklessPrincess | February 8, 2005 03:00 AM
Steve, how will you guys -- and whoever -- decide what goes on the album and in what order? That's an interesting part of the process to me, which maybe you are going through now.
Meanwhile, take care of your cold.
Posted by: MIke | February 8, 2005 05:32 AM
hey steve
good to see you are back posting so we can keep up to date with your world!
glad the recording is going well! no plans to put "night one" on the album?
Posted by: ooftymcgoofty | February 8, 2005 06:17 AM
Steve,
Glad to get the Mother of All Updates. Thanks for getting us up to speed. Get yourself Healthy.
Toby
Posted by: Toby | February 8, 2005 07:20 AM
Hey Steve!
I´ve just read SPEX (which is a pretty cool, german music paper). In their recent issue they have this poll thing (where readers and writers have voted for "Best Album of 2004", "Best Group 2004" etc.). And guess what: One of the writers has put "Go On" by The Panic Channel into his "Best Songs of 2004"-list.
Just wanted to let you know...
Take care
LL
Posted by: LL | February 8, 2005 08:05 AM
Thanks for the updates Steve. Feel better soon! :D
Posted by: Cori | February 8, 2005 09:02 AM
Actually, one more question: what is the process for overlaying a track? I mean, do they record and construct the elements separately and in sequential order? Not to mention, how do you maintain the "energy" if everyone is in isolation and not in order according to their parts? Basic stuff for people who know, but I don't...
Posted by: Mike | February 8, 2005 04:20 PM
what about She Won't Last? i hope that one makes the album...
Posted by: trip away | February 8, 2005 08:06 PM
"the panic channel... from the *ashes* of jane's addiction"
LOVE IT STEVE! =)
Posted by: SnoWhite | February 8, 2005 11:42 PM
I just went back in the archives of Steve's blog - all the way back to May '04... What a great journey it's been since then! Check it out! I can only imagine what it must be like - I WANT YOUR LIFE, MAN!
Posted by: Dave-O | February 8, 2005 11:51 PM