Mixing Day Thirteen : Blue Bruises
Monday, the last day.
Ryan had some extra time in the studio on Sunday night and Monday morning before the "Bruises" drive was delivered to the studio, so he decided to spend the time doing his own version of "Why Cry". We have a great mix from Chris Lord-Alge, but Ryan wanted to make another version that had a bit more of an edge to it, with louder guitars overall. He made his version, and I went in at 11am to make my comments, then he was on to "Blue Bruises".
"Bruises" was a song we recorded first with Brian Virtue, then re-recorded last summer with Howard Benson. Even after Ryan had had a day with the song, by the time I got in it still sounded not as fierce as the other songs. Generally, the instruments and tones on the song sounded thinner. Chris Chaney got back from Sundance and showed up to add his notes to the mix. The three of us spent some time upping the rhythm guitars, riding the vocal choruses, and making sure the details of the song were highlighted. After a while we got it sounding really good, although it does sound different than the other songs.
This was the last day to engage in my mixing session orange peeling and eating ritual. Since day one, I show up in the studio, say my hellos, and do a little chit chat. Then I get a nice big orange from the bowl of fruit at the door, and set to peeling and eating the thing on my first listen down of the day's mix. I have a motivation behind this that not just nutritional. I find that when you engage your motor skills in some kind of minor task (walking, doing the dishes, etc.) your brain accepts music in a different way then if you were to sit there with 100% of your attention focused on the sound. I like occupying my mind and it's critical processes a bit so that hopefully the music can "wander in" a bit more freely. One day last week, there was no orange. I made sure they never made that mistake again.
Chris had one more detail on "Awake" to take care of with Ryan, then we were done. Ryan gave me a finished CD of all 14 tracks and said "pretty strange to know you have a year's worth of work in your hand". It's true. We started out making an EP with Brian Virtue back in October 2004. That ballooned up into being our own self-produced record with tracking at Henson studios in January and February. Then, after we got the record deal, we did a song with Josh Abraham and two with Howard Benson over the summer. Finally this last fall, we went back in the studio and made this, the final version with Josh and Ryan, which led to this two weeks of mixing.
Months of work. From writing in Stephen Perkins' garage, to our own rehearsal room, to nights alone with my acoustic, from home ProTools demos, to re-working ideas in the studio. Taking the subway downtown and to graveyards on rainy day lyric walks, filling sketchbooks with pages of words and drawings. Contracts, obligations, conference calls, holdups, conditions. Conversations, arguments, different versions, different lyrics, new names. Laughter, excitement, fear, sweat and sound.
So many hours. All in my hand.
Comments
These are exciting times. The best part is still to come!
Posted by: Will (willd // Slick Willy) | January 25, 2006 10:47 AM
thats got to be wierd holding on to that. I know when I've done paintings or EPs with people I've played with I have this feeling of wow... all this hard work and deditcation and its all on this canvas or on this little round disc...
its a surreal feeling.
congrats on finishing it all up though.
Posted by: Juanjay | January 25, 2006 10:59 AM
I am sooo jealous...and happy for you. But mostly, I would kill to hear what you've got in your hands right now!!! ;)
Ah well...patience IS a virtue...
Posted by: Cori | January 25, 2006 11:09 AM
There is nothing greater than the feeling of achievement. Soak it up, you have worked hard. Congrats Steve.......
Posted by: Brett | January 25, 2006 11:10 AM
There has unquestionably been a ton of work, emotion and more put into this album. Thank you for taking us through the process, I have enjoyed it immensely and can't wait to hear the final product.
Now I just need a set of flamethrowers...
Thanks again!
Tom
Posted by: Tom | January 25, 2006 12:04 PM
Congratulations!
Thank you so much, again, for including us in the process!
Elsa
Posted by: Junebug | January 25, 2006 01:36 PM
Awesome, Steve. Cannot wait -- honestly -- to hear the final product.
Posted by: Mike | January 25, 2006 01:41 PM
Beautiful
Posted by: Mark | January 25, 2006 02:50 PM
awesoome!
i just wish you could put it out tomorrow!
Posted by: ooftymcgoofty | January 25, 2006 03:19 PM
congrats on finishing up, steve. and thanks for the blog; it's been very cool to read your thoughts on the whole process.
Posted by: zim | January 25, 2006 03:43 PM
What can one say? "Congratulations" sounds too trite. "Thank You" doesn't express it enough. I've been listening to Rock and Roll for 35 years, but never, not once, have I had the immense pleasure of actually sharing with an artist, through their blog, their feelings, thoughts, emotions, ups, downs, and just being IN on it all, this process from start to finish of an album, a FIRST album for a new band, at that. I will say this Steve: I know that what you four have accomplished, along with the help of others, is going to be huge. Real huge. This I know, this I FEEL in my heart. You are truly a kind man and that inner artistic passion you possess can not help but come through on this release. To me, TPC means the following: the Beauty of the Beatles, the Hammer of Zeppelin, the Vocal Majesty of The Who, the Musicianship of Yes, the Ethereal Aura of Pink Floyd, the Grace of Buckley, and the Guitar Wizardry of Hendrix-all rolled into One. That's it. There's nothing more to say. Except Congratufuckinglations Man- and Thank You.
Posted by: Lyn | January 25, 2006 08:38 PM
Steve... you know we can't wait to hear it. That is a year of your life and more ounces of your heart than I can image. Enjoy the moment.
Pony
Posted by: Pony | January 25, 2006 09:04 PM
This is just really cool reading about the whole record making process.
Now how many producers/mixers exactly have you got on there? It seems like you have quite a lot of people and things to pay off. Ah, such goes the good old record deal.
I can't wait until the album is out and selling and all your blood sweat and tears brings in some cash.
I hope you didn't go too hard on the people for the missing orange (or was all the fruit missing?). They just might never give you any more oranges ever again. Then that would just be terrible if you had to settle for bananas! or even (gasp) an apple...
ah you know I'm just playin', I honestly don't really know anything about the fruit situation.
Keep 'em coming maestro.
As always, I wish you all the best in the persuit of your dream.
M8
Posted by: mortisha8 | January 25, 2006 10:30 PM
It sounds like it's all been worth it in the end to you. Of course it has been.
Come about May it will all have been worth it for us and appreciated.
I loved the part about the Orange. I somewhat could imagine your face as you walked through the door the day they were out of oranges, haha. I guess it's like a ritual for positive energy gone bad?
Peace
Posted by: Stardreme | January 26, 2006 03:15 AM
Beautfiul.
Right on.
Amazing.
One day I hope to hold my own journey in my hand, but for now I'll definitely settle for yours.
Posted by: Theresa | January 26, 2006 04:30 PM
Kinda interesting that there were 13 mixing days...I believe that's a good omen :)
Posted by: Cori | January 27, 2006 09:05 AM
You're a total Ass. You only make me want to sleep more. I feel tired now.
Posted by: Sven | January 27, 2006 04:03 PM
I think I speak for all of us "people" out here, we're all so overjoyed that such a seasoned studio veteran such as yourself takes the time out of your important day to enlighten us all with such pearls of your knowledge... You are so fascinating, really. As a study in chronic narcissism. What a jerk.
Put that through your effing Flamethowers.
Posted by: Sven | January 27, 2006 06:34 PM
Nice post Sven! Thanks for speaking for me, that's great. With the false email addy and everything, excellent. I hope you got your obviously much needed rest. You call Steve a narcissistic person, yet, your post is nothing but. THANK YOU for your enlightenment and for being such a rebel. You're AWESOME!
Posted by: Lyn | January 28, 2006 03:07 AM
Congrats guys. I'm sure the album is gonna knock everone's sock off! Can't wait!
Ben :)
Posted by: ben | January 28, 2006 01:45 PM
Congrats guys. I'm sure the album is gonna knock everone's socks off! Can't wait!
Ben :)
Posted by: ben | January 28, 2006 01:46 PM
and soon in our hands!
cant fucking wait.
Posted by: andy parmenter | January 28, 2006 06:45 PM
Oldschool....you nailed it. Couldn't have said it better myself....
Posted by: Brett | January 28, 2006 07:23 PM
YAY STEVE!!!
Love ya!!!!!!!
-AER
Posted by: Adriana | January 29, 2006 05:02 PM
Have a safe trip to NYC and I hope you Master the hell out of your stuff. Be wishes and enjoy NYC.........
Posted by: Brett | February 3, 2006 04:30 PM