We’re back and making progress!

We’re back in the studio and on a roll. This album is shaping up nicely now after moving to my basement in Madison, NJ. Lots still to do but we’re polishing what was done this past winter and soon will re-record drums and get it off to Mozart for mixing and mastering. I’m really looking forward to getting this album finished.

Last night Chuck and I re-recorded Through the Brick. Since playing it live a few times this summer it’s evolved and has more structure than the original recording.

Here’s a look into the new studio setup.

Shawn

Through the Brick – Guitar Tracking

Last night we tackled my guitar part for Through the Brick. It’s a very rhythmic song and to break it up I used an eBow which sustains notes for extended periods of time. We tried to do something similar to this using a volume pedal and delay but it just didn’t sound the same.

The eBow when used with delay has a very ambient sound. I love what I played and when it’s mixed I think it will be a highlight on this album.

I’m enjoying all the textures and layers this album has. I hope you all enjoy it as well when it’s finished.

Shawn

Through the Brick

We’re back on track. We got together twice this week to make up for lost time. Last night we mostly played around with a new pedal I received from Mr. Clough as a present. It’s a Electro Harmonix Micro POG. It’s cool effect that makes a guitar sound like a 12 string, organ or even a bass. We’ll see how we use it on Album 2.

Chuck’s currently recording the guitar part for Through the Brick – an older NP tune we’ve had hanging around since early 2007. We’re changing it around and making it more mellow than when we first performed it in Brooklyn at a bar gig out there. Then it was a little more thrashy but we’re scaling it back and taking away a part. We’ll see how it works.

The rough vocal track is sounding good right now. Chuck is singing it with a raspy tone. Seems fitting for this one.

A good meeting

After a few weeks of house keeping issues (discussing the band and how to keep moving forward) Richard, Chuck and I met up for drinks at Poor Herbies in Madison. We’re re-energized to keep things going and we’re not going to shy away from the new approach we’re taking our music. We might even play a show in the near future to get back to playing together. Lately we’ve been recording each instrument separately and the three of us haven’t played in a room together for about 6 months. It’s a strange realization. We need to get back to that and I think all of us are feeling the itch of the stage calling…

We also might post a new song on here for you guys to take a listen to. Stay tuned… More updates next week as we get back into the studio

Shawn

More drum tracking

Tonight I manned the board while Chuck was away. Richard and I took on the drums for “Sometimes” with a new wooden bass drum mallet and different cymbals. What a sound! The drums sound thick and the cymbals are a bit darker than usual. It provides for a nice backdrop for this tune. 

We worked until 12:45am last night or this morning depending how you look at it… Mostly because I somehow recorded over our perfect overdubs. I am still wondering how I did that.

Shawn

Tracking Drums

After working on five songs (Shamus, Don’t Assume, Reason, Last Song Ever Written and Sometimes) Chuck and I brought the Pro Tools rig over to Richard’s to start tracking drums.

It’s amazing to hear these songs filled out with the percussion tracks Richard has provided. We worked on getting drum sounds for Don’t Assume mostly and the solos have more life and song flows much better from verse to chorus, etc. This record is definitely going to have more of a rock feel to it by using a standard drum set and electric guitars as well as acoustic instruments.

Here are a few pics from the evening: