Loose Ends
Got in to the studio around 2pm today and Gummo was busy comping the new lead vocals to "Outsider". He was pretty excited about what we got the other night. Dave and I had some time to kick back and wait to track. I can barely remember what we all got done today, we skipped around so much and tied up so many loose ends. I sang a new ending to "Left to Lose" and put a couple harmonies in the choruses, re-tracked my guitars to "The Loophole" with a more muscular tone, worked on "topping" my verse guitar tone to "Blue Bruises" and more that I can't think of right now. The new "Outsider" and "Go On" sound really great. I was very happy before with the existing versions, but these are even better.
Recording is a very organic experience (or at least it should be), and I am realizing that a producer's job is to keep tabs on the shape of the overall recording, and observe how performances are changing and how they can constantly be improved during the process. I always thought that once you laid down a track, then it was done, that's it, move on. Now I see that Gummo is always watching our performances, guitar tones and parts and letting us know if we are in a better place, or we sound stronger, or that we could "top" what we laid down previously. Once a song has most of the guitars and vocal overdubs "done", sometimes a part "sticks out" or his ears feel that it can be improved in the scope of things. Then we try to "top" it. If we can't, then we know it's a pretty good part, and we should probably lay off. This has been really good for the process, as it puts less pressure on having the "ultimate" inspiration and performance on THAT ONE DAY that you track it, and opening up the possibility for another pass or two in days ahead, when that part might flow better. Some days the subtle, sensitive stuff seems to flow naturally, and sometimes the more aggressive, powerful parts do.
Thankfully today the business side of things didn't raise it's head once, and we just went from song to song, filling out details and improving. We leave the studio tomorrow, and that's a bit sad, but we will have to go back in for a few days to really be done. All this work was done without a label being behind us, so when one is involved, we will surely have to go in and tweak a thing or two. We also still want to get a keyboardist friend of the guys' down to the studio for a day to lay down part or two on certain songs.
So this means in my opinion, that we are 95% done. Tomorrow we will just do a couple tracks, and then let Gummo do "rough mixes" of all 13 songs. We didn't get around to finishing "Someone Else", hopefully we will on our upcoming "final" sessions. Also, we aren't thinking "Start of Darkness" will be on the record, so we will hold off on that one as well.
Now, with some studio-free time, my attention goes back to the album artwork. Painting, design, fonts, images, and late, late nights. Also on the boards is the new version of the Panic website. Then we get the Panic Store up and running.
No rest for the wicked.
Comments
Call Brendan up, he'll come lay down some keys for you guys! I can't wait to hear all the songs off of "Lyn". Hang tough folks! (did I really just say Hang Tough?). It doesn't sound like you have enough to do Steve. I was thinking, with all your spare time, could you also personally sign all 300,000 copies that will roll in the first month or so? :)
Posted by: Lyn | March 31, 2005 03:59 AM
You might try this guitar for the final tracks-it's money:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7312146468&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:1
Posted by: Schwing | March 31, 2005 06:16 AM
Nice Steve! Can't wait..
Posted by: Junebug | March 31, 2005 08:59 AM
"No rest for the wicked"
We do appreciate you guys Steve...thanks for all you do!
Posted by: Cori | March 31, 2005 09:38 AM
Steve- Awesome, you only have the last 5% to go and its over...sweet. I really hope you enjoy your down time by painting up a storm. Thanks for the updates.
Posted by: Brett | March 31, 2005 09:47 AM
May all the luck of my 46th birthday (March 31) be with you on your last day in the studio. A friend's baby is being born today as well. It is a most beautiful day!! I'm surrounded by friends and family who are showing me great love and am enjoying my special day. Wishing you the best on your project/baby that is about to be born.
~Bonita
Posted by: Bonita | March 31, 2005 11:59 AM
Hey Steve!! How do you like the new QOTSA?
Posted by: reezie | March 31, 2005 01:57 PM
Not sure if y'all have someone in mind for keys, but Perk knows a gal by the name of Abby Travis that can do a bang up job... She's a bit busy these days, but hey... Make a call, ya know? I'm sure excited for this record... CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!
Posted by: Marsh | March 31, 2005 04:20 PM
You know I was just thinking about your walks. One day some people will look back and say, I remember when Steve Isaacs used to walk around Hollywood listening to his tunes. Who would have known that he would turn out to be “Steve Isaacs”? Wow to think that I walked Hollywood Blvd feet away from Steve and didn’t know.
Anyhow my point is to enjoy your strolls cause you are destined for greatness. And greatness comes with a few drawbacks so enjoy this time it might become harder to do in the future.
Have a beautiful day
Posted by: Wendybird | March 31, 2005 04:50 PM
Steve, I was wondering about the section between the first 2 verses of Bloody Mary. I knew it seemed familiar and was wondering if you specifically intended it to sound like the progression from "All" to give a little easter egg to your Skycycle fans. Thanks and I'm highly looking forward to the blending of two of my favs - Skycycle and Navarro!
Posted by: Lumpy | April 1, 2005 06:15 AM
Hey Steve,
Enjoy the moment. It probably will never be the same.
Anyways to go along with the ebay Air Guitar post I found this today
http://www.threadless.com/submission/22343/The_Air_Guitar_Shirt
Hope things are good and looking forward to the next show
TTT
Posted by: Toby | April 1, 2005 10:19 AM
Steve-
Make sure you put the lyrics in the album booklet!
Posted by: trip away | April 1, 2005 03:53 PM
Any plans for a show? Album progress is great, but it's kind of starting to stretch out a bit for me... I mean that in a good way, of course.
Posted by: Mike | April 2, 2005 08:10 AM
Steve, what's this "no doubt there will be some tinkering once we get a label" crap.
How about you get it done and take it to the labels with no compromises. If they don't respect it, fuck them.
Speak to Omar from The Mars Volta and sign to Gold Standard Labs. I'm sure you know - they have a sweet deal where Universal distributes their stuff but have no say in it. Imagine if Universal said "Omar, I want you to remove the instrumental 20 minutes of Cassandra". Wouldn't be The Mars Volta. What do you want TPC to be?
Posted by: Matt | April 11, 2005 06:01 PM