Eleven >Thirteen ?
The record is finished. One song ("Why Cry") is mixed. Soon we will mix the rest of them, and then the mastering process. In between then and now are an infinite number of times playing the songs in different orders to discover a magical sequence: one that we will live with for the rest of our lives.
We have fourteen songs recorded: "Teahouse of the Spirits", "Awake", "The Loophole", "She Won't Last", "Why Cry", "Bruises", "Outsider", "Bloody Mary", "Said You'd Be", "Go On", "Night One", "Listen", "Left to Lose", and "Lie Next To Me".
At the moment for me it's agonizing. Songs are like children. You do everything you can to bring them into the world, give them a piece of yourself to take as their own, and then at a certain point -set them free. What happens then is between them and the world. Our album is the same way. We are nearing the point musically where it time to send it up to the sky and let the winds take it.
Song sequence is an art. In the great rock records of the 60's and 70's, a magical "45 minute", 10-11 song album was the standard. In the 90's with Alternative rock and the growth of Hip-Hop, more and more songs began to be included. Some say that if you have more than eleven songs, the album can be too much to absorb in one listen. These days though, is the album idea as important? Do we now see songs as more separate pieces instead of a collection? Is it better to have more on the album so people can simply have more songs?
One of my criteria is that the final number be eleven or thirteen. No ten. No twelve. I don't like ten, and I don't like twelve. I like eleven or thirteen, whichever contains the right group of songs that make the greatest whole. Even if we live in a single-serving world, I still believe that the record, the album is the artistic statement. The collection. The whole.
The many makes the (ONe).
I have a really hard time imagining any of these songs being cut, but I know that to make the best album possible, at least one song will have to be left back.
Comments
It's an exciting time, it seems. I guess everything now will lead to the final cut. I am hopeful that you guys make the right decisions about the "sound" and song selection to turn this into a great album.
Posted by: Mike | December 26, 2005 11:43 PM
i say go with 13.
why you ask?
11 seems short, and the number 15 seems to get into that "long" territory you're talking about (at least to me anyway. i consider an album with 15 songs to be "an epic").
So split the difference.
If you give someone 13 songs, they can't say "this is too many", nor can they say "this is not enough."
As for the 14th song...if it's something that doesn't fit, then offer it as a special download that you can get on TPC.com when you insert your CD into your computer.
Hell, if you really want to get nuts: Take the 14th song, do an acoustic version, a remix version, and throw it in there with the demo and a live version (or any smaller combo of those 5 things) and offer it as a downloadable EP.
Just some ideas anyway. i honestly don't think a band can ever put out too much music.
Posted by: Six7Six7 | December 27, 2005 01:33 AM
I've heard everyone of those except "Why Cry" and "Lie Next To Me" and you're right-I can't imagine the release not containing the other 12. I do agree with 13 being the final number though. As far as order goes, I'd say open with "Go On". It was the first TPC song I ever heard and had to be one of the first written. "Listen" or "Night One" has to be last-they are both too epic to not be the last song. The other 12 can be arranged in any fashion, bottom line, you can't go wrong. My order, skipping "Lie Next To Me" and "Why Cry", would be the following:
Go ON!, Teahouse, Loophole, Bruises, Said You'd Be, Left To Lose, Bloody Mary, She Won't Last, Outsider, Awake, Listen, Night One
with Why Cry (being the label fav as you mentioned) inserted in the number 4 slot, or Lie Next To Me. You guys could have a poker game and decide on the one to be left by chance. I wouldn't think of it as the one that was left out, but rather the one that was the catalyst for the NEXT release. :). My two cents.
Posted by: Lyn | December 27, 2005 03:53 AM
It puts me in mind of one of those puzzles where you have to move the little squares around until you have them in the correct sequence to see the bigger picture!
:)
Peace
x
Posted by: RecklessPrincess | December 27, 2005 03:56 AM
11, always seemed like a great number to me. the number 1 always seems to be only a beginning and to have two ones in a row. Hey how can ya go wrong. These days many bands/artists release large amounts of songs to accumilate more singles i beleive because singles are what get played...... rambling again Steve you rule Cheers the album will be good for me no matter what (unless you decided to rap the whole thing that would suck)
>T
Posted by: THUMPER | December 27, 2005 04:28 AM
My vote would be 13, as it has some obvious ties, i.e., D's 6767, the Ouija mystique in the beginning, etc.. Plus the simple fact that I want a much as I can get...I can't imagine the task at hand of cutting any one song from the album. That's togh considering the time involved in the evolution of a song and the strings attahed to a part of your soul in the process... I am however happy for all of you to get to the fun tweaking of the things to sculpt the sound of the album, some consider it monotonous, but I always loved that part of the process, I hope you can embrace it as well...
Posted by: Mike C. | December 27, 2005 11:14 AM
13.
Put Lie Next to Me out on your band's myspace page as a track we can add for our background music.
just my opinion
jezzi
Posted by: jezebel | December 27, 2005 11:37 AM
Steve
I am very inspired, but jealous of you ( Please continue reading, it is a compliment )
You seem to say and feel the same things that I have inside, dying to express ,I just can't seem to get them out.
Thanks for getting it out for me
Peace
Dave
Posted by: Dave | December 27, 2005 04:45 PM
"13" is the magic number..........
Posted by: Brett | December 28, 2005 10:20 AM
Definitely 13, it just feels right I guess.
Love ya!
-AER
Posted by: Adriana | December 28, 2005 06:28 PM
I agree, if it's 11 or 13....make it 13. It's my lucky number too, but then again I was born on Friday 13th. Besides, it would be two more songs then 11....
Posted by: Stardreme | December 28, 2005 10:26 PM
13. For sure. And why not make the 14th a "hidden bonus" track?! That way you can have them all one one album!
I seriously can't wait for the TPC explosion! It's gonna be HUGE!!!!! Also really looking forward to seeing the new website, as that i am sure will be amazing too. Bring on 2006!!
Ben
Posted by: ben | December 29, 2005 06:31 AM
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12..................................................................Lie Next to Me.
?
Posted by: RecklessPrincess | December 29, 2005 12:31 PM
Steve,
Why isn't "Ashes" on the track list? I just hope you guys put it out on a EP at least. Much Love!
-Andrew
Posted by: Andrew | December 29, 2005 01:33 PM
11.
Pull someone off the street. Have them listen to all of the tracks. Ask them which three they like least.
Posted by: Transcending | December 29, 2005 07:31 PM
13!
Posted by: Junebug | December 30, 2005 10:18 AM
if you get time, how bout a 'best of 2005'
(books, movies, music, etc)? i would be interested in your thoughts.
Posted by: a girl | December 30, 2005 01:04 PM
Lucky 13, and leak the rest ;-)
(Still...I'm thinking now Steve Isaacs= 11 letters...so, tough choice lol)
Best wishes for 2006!!
FreAk*
Posted by: thefreak6767 | December 30, 2005 01:09 PM
Brilliant, FreAK ! Plus Dave Navarro and Chris Chaney = 11 letters each, if I'm spelling and counting right.
But, 13 is still better.
Posted by: Mike | December 30, 2005 01:19 PM
I personally would pick 11, the number seems to haunt me... but in any event,
whatever the number, it will be magical and which ever "The One" that is to be left off will stand on it's own...
Posted by: sexsinger | December 30, 2005 04:27 PM
13 for sure, 11 is not enough unless it's as good as nothing's shocking
Posted by: chris | December 30, 2005 11:03 PM
Don't worry about what people say. What do you want, what feels right to you? The album idea is most definitely important, at least to me. I listen to records from beginning to end; each song with it's own mood or story under the inevitable umbrella of a theme. Pieces of the puzzle. I like both 11 and 13 as well. For some reason I think you're going to go with 11 as opposed to 13 (it is a master number after all...) but I only ask that you promise us B-sides!
Posted by: Theresa | December 30, 2005 11:46 PM
Happy (13) New Year Steve! I hope (13) this year brings you everything you've (13) strived for and more. Luck to you (13) and yours this (13) year. This is the year (13) of TPC!
Posted by: Lyn | December 31, 2005 07:37 AM
Happy New Year Steve! (Go for 13!)
Posted by: Diane/FRI13th | December 31, 2005 03:46 PM
Happy New Year, Steve and folks.
Posted by: Mike | December 31, 2005 06:39 PM
Happy New Year Steve!! Oh ya and I agree, 13 sounds excellent
Posted by: amy | January 1, 2006 12:38 PM
I agree with Theresa for some reason I think you are gonna go with 11. My greedy self wants 13 but there is something special about 11. Have I mentioned lately that I can't wait for the CD??? Also it’s been way to long since the last TPC show… can we at least have one more of the small gigs before the world hears about you guys and ebay becomes the backup we all hate but can’t live without.
Anyhow I know that 2006 is going to be the shit. Happy New Year kid!
Posted by: wendybird | January 2, 2006 05:56 PM
I would go with 11.
Posted by: Juanjay | January 3, 2006 03:26 PM
Hhmmm, that picture looks familiar. Oh wait, I took it. Except it has some added effects. I haven't been on here for a while and look what I see. It's an honer Steve.
Happy New Year!
Can't wait to hear the album and see another show.
Posted by: Michael Malediction | January 5, 2006 09:55 AM