Well, I don't like to call it before it's "for sure for sure," so I'll leave myself an out just in case.... Still, another song is finished! [*Most likely.] I'll run a couple more tests tomorrow, but those should be mere formalities; it's sounding great in the tests I've run thus far.
So, what does this mean? All the music for the album is really just about finished. Done. One last song's mix needs a little more tweaking (the same song that's been giving me fits for months). But other than that track, it's all complete -- at least the original 12 songs I've intended to have on the record. I'm not sure my next step though (read my previous post for details why); but it still feels good to exhale regarding this track at least...and to realize that the bulk of the work is behind me.
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Delays...
In the back of my mind, I kind of knew there would be obstacles toward the end of this project. And now, as I realize the seeming impossibility of having the album finished by Christmas, I'm left with really 2 options: get negative or stay positive. I think I'll take the high-road and assume that these delays will somehow work out for the best -- a better finished product in the end.
I've actually got the music just about finished. Two songs just need a few minor tweaks in their mixes. Everything else is completely finished. So, if I wanted to rush this project out now, I suppose I could.... But there are delays with the artwork. And honestly, I don't know how much I really am okay with 5 of the songs being released before the record as a whole is out. As of now, "Good Thing" "Bliss" "Have A Nice Life" "Time Stood Still" and "Shine" are all slated to be on the album.
However, I've been working on some new tracks these last couple of weeks -- at least one of which I'm thinking about putting on the album in place of one of the others slated to be on it. Part of it is the track order too. I keep wondering if one of these new tracks I'm working on will keep the "flow" of the album better than the existing 12 tracks. We'll see how all of this plays out. All I know is that finishing this project has been more difficult than I ever imagined. Starting is easy. And all the work in the middle isn't really that bad. But finishing...this feels like the steepest part of the ascent.
I'm actually listening to the (mostly) completed album now as I write this. Just seeing if I should push through and release it now as-is. Or wait for my original artist, and maybe stick one or two different songs on it and release it January. Plan A or Plan B. Now or later. Like this or like that....
I've actually got the music just about finished. Two songs just need a few minor tweaks in their mixes. Everything else is completely finished. So, if I wanted to rush this project out now, I suppose I could.... But there are delays with the artwork. And honestly, I don't know how much I really am okay with 5 of the songs being released before the record as a whole is out. As of now, "Good Thing" "Bliss" "Have A Nice Life" "Time Stood Still" and "Shine" are all slated to be on the album.
However, I've been working on some new tracks these last couple of weeks -- at least one of which I'm thinking about putting on the album in place of one of the others slated to be on it. Part of it is the track order too. I keep wondering if one of these new tracks I'm working on will keep the "flow" of the album better than the existing 12 tracks. We'll see how all of this plays out. All I know is that finishing this project has been more difficult than I ever imagined. Starting is easy. And all the work in the middle isn't really that bad. But finishing...this feels like the steepest part of the ascent.
I'm actually listening to the (mostly) completed album now as I write this. Just seeing if I should push through and release it now as-is. Or wait for my original artist, and maybe stick one or two different songs on it and release it January. Plan A or Plan B. Now or later. Like this or like that....
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Joy of Creation
So...I'm wondering if you've also experienced that kind of inexplicable joy that just emanates from your core. That's how I'm feeling right now. Feeling happy and humbled by the gift I received tonight. Pretty cool. A good ending to an "interesting" day. Well, it really wasn't that bad of a day -- most of it was fruitful. I got a lot of work done...and then at the very end I had a very wonderful surprise in the studio.
I was working on the track order for the album this morning and noticed that one of the songs ("SGWWUDTB") was about 28 seconds too long. It doesn't seem that way when you listen to it by itself, but the really long breakdown I had in the middle of the track really seemed to hinder the "flow" of the album when you listen to it straight through. Now, even though I hate going back to work on songs that I've already declared "finished," I decided it wouldn't be too hard to shorten up the breakdown -- and wouldn't really take that long either ...Riiiiiight.
Okay, so my "little project" ended up taking hours to finish. Most of the evening, actually. Bummer because I would have been able to declare another track "finished" had I just a little bit of this evening to work on that instead. No worries though; that's what tomorrow is for.
Anyway, so tonight as I was waiting for the computer to do something, I picked up my guitar to pass the few minutes with some strumming. Well, lo and behold, I came up with something new in those spare minutes. A cool little chord progression. "What is this?" I thought. "Is this really as cool as I think it is?" I kept playing it. "Yeah, it is pretty cool." So, I opened up a new project and recorded it before I forgot it. As I was listening back, I still had my guitar in hand and I found myself improvising over it. "Wow, is that also as cool as I think it is?" I thought again. I hit record to find out. Yep.
So, out of nowhere I have the rough sketch of a brand new song. I'm pretty excited about it. I can't wait to share it...even though I know it's a long way from being released. Besides this new song, I actually have more than another album's worth of material that is NOT going on this album. I've already picked out some of those songs for a follow-up record...I just need to finish this one up first. But, I bet I put tonight's creation on the next record. I'm really feeling it. I made a rough copy, and I'm listening as I type this. I hope when you do eventually hear it that it makes you smile like I'm smiling now.
I was working on the track order for the album this morning and noticed that one of the songs ("SGWWUDTB") was about 28 seconds too long. It doesn't seem that way when you listen to it by itself, but the really long breakdown I had in the middle of the track really seemed to hinder the "flow" of the album when you listen to it straight through. Now, even though I hate going back to work on songs that I've already declared "finished," I decided it wouldn't be too hard to shorten up the breakdown -- and wouldn't really take that long either ...Riiiiiight.
Okay, so my "little project" ended up taking hours to finish. Most of the evening, actually. Bummer because I would have been able to declare another track "finished" had I just a little bit of this evening to work on that instead. No worries though; that's what tomorrow is for.
Anyway, so tonight as I was waiting for the computer to do something, I picked up my guitar to pass the few minutes with some strumming. Well, lo and behold, I came up with something new in those spare minutes. A cool little chord progression. "What is this?" I thought. "Is this really as cool as I think it is?" I kept playing it. "Yeah, it is pretty cool." So, I opened up a new project and recorded it before I forgot it. As I was listening back, I still had my guitar in hand and I found myself improvising over it. "Wow, is that also as cool as I think it is?" I thought again. I hit record to find out. Yep.
So, out of nowhere I have the rough sketch of a brand new song. I'm pretty excited about it. I can't wait to share it...even though I know it's a long way from being released. Besides this new song, I actually have more than another album's worth of material that is NOT going on this album. I've already picked out some of those songs for a follow-up record...I just need to finish this one up first. But, I bet I put tonight's creation on the next record. I'm really feeling it. I made a rough copy, and I'm listening as I type this. I hope when you do eventually hear it that it makes you smile like I'm smiling now.
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