Liberated !! (Self absorbed rambling )

Posted on

Member Since: Mar 13, 2003


-


hi- ok so I have to tell someone.

came to the conclusion that since my main point is to get out and play live, the whole idea of making a CD and mastering/duplicating/packaging/selling is turning out to be a major obstacle. Not in terms of the process but in terms of the perfection and the mixing and all that. I am still going to mix these well, and submit my mixes for critiques but I will be paying more attention to the comments on composition, arrangement and interest level.

I am still going to record 10-12 songs as well as I can and put them on CD to shop to potential drummers & bass players. Except it will be a 1000x better than that embarrassing cassette I was giving out.

I have been working on this one freakin song for 4 months, trying to make it perfect with intention that it would have to stand up on a CD I would put out. This is stupid considering my real purpose here.
I have not written a new song in over 6 months. I have bits & pieces of 3 new songs that I'm crazy to get into but cannot. I have not practiced my guitar, I have only played the same stuff a thousand different ways over & over on this song. My endurance is good and my skills are there but I'm stagnating. I have been working on just the vocal for this one song since mid-November !

With this new approach I could have something ready to shop to players within a couple months. The timing is going to be based on my satisfaction with the material, the Song (with a capital S).. Then if I can get some guys together I'd get back in to practicing 2-3 times a week and hopefully getting out to play a couple times a month. I don't need much.

We'll see what happens. I'm serious I'm telling you I am a new man this morning.

thanks for listening

.
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The fat one always watches us.
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002


Dec 17, 2003 12:21 pm

Ive always thought of the stuff i create as a demo to showcase talent and songs to other musicians id like to play with. as i do the drums (and i suck) and the bass (and i suck) and the keyboard (where i really shine at sucking) im really just filling out a demo. also, you can say -heres a cd, listen- if youre into what i do maybe we can get together if not- well that saves hours of playing and figuring out its not compatable.

on the other hand, as i get better at recording i enjoy the process more and more- so its sorta a side hobby of its own.
tonys 2 cents

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 17, 2003 12:31 pm

Quote:
as i get better at recording i enjoy the process more and more- so its sorta a side hobby of its own.


I totally agree with that. Personally I couldn't care less if I ever played live again, I had my fill of that for one lifetime...I enjoy recording and the whole process of producing it.

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003


Dec 17, 2003 12:32 pm

Alanfc, yeah, sometimes life forces you to take a new approach. It sounds like you've got a clear plan of what you need to accomplish, and how you're going to do it.

For me, my mp3s are finished products that will never be distributed by anyone other than maybe me, and that's way down the road, and not even for any serious profit. So it makes sense for me to try to get the best possible sound on a recording while keeping my costs down.

If you're using your recorded material as bait to hook other talent and build a band, then I would say that you've got the right approach. Unless your purpose is to actually be a one man band and release vanity cds, then I would definitely go with your instincts as you've described above.

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Dec 17, 2003 12:38 pm

sometimes it helps to step back from things a little and think about where youre at.

i realised the other day, that i started recording the songs that im doing now just to have a demo to get some gigs...and that was a year and a half ago! kinda gone past the desperation to do a gig, though the urge is still there...

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Dec 17, 2003 02:04 pm

way to go man. that's the good attitude. you'll be able to shop for a band, and most importantly your song output will increase.

perfectionism is the downfall of the people. write!


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 17, 2003 02:05 pm

Quote:
perfectionism is the downfall of the people.


words from a slacker... :-P

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003


Dec 17, 2003 02:17 pm

"perfectionism is the downfall of the people."

{humor} Yes, the perfectionist machine is oiled by the blood of the amateur! Let us vanquish virtuosity and expose quality work for the waste of time that it is... "Work of art" is just a phrase mumbled with wistful nostalgia by idealistic music aficionados - the medium of the trade is called "product"! {/humor}

Oh, come on 40... There would never have been a "Bohemian Rhapsody" if Queen had that attitude! :) They literally wore the tape down to nothing to get the exact sound they wanted. Sometimes giving it your all just isn't what's required... but perfection in a recording's musicianship can't be reproduced artificially no matter how many plug-ins you're running. (well... unless it's pitch and time correction, then obviously that statement's not true... but that's besides the point!)

:)

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Dec 17, 2003 04:51 pm

Ya, it's all good. Use what you have as a demo to get a good group up. Get practiced with the group and use your skills to ship demos to perspective hosts. You'll be playin in no time! Anymore a band without a demo is a band without a gig. It's become the way to market. People expect it.

Member
Since: Mar 13, 2003


Dec 17, 2003 05:20 pm


wow I just got back from seeing Lord 3 and it was great, and then come back to all these replies- they were very reassuring
thanks

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Dec 17, 2003 07:36 pm

oh, i'm sorry...i should have qualified my statement. a perfectionistic attitude in an unskilled writer is a recipe for non-progress. and that'd be me.(i'm not calling you one, alanfc. just speaking for myself).

i'm all for perfectionism...if you can handle it. me? i can't. i get an idea that my stuff needs to be 'just so' and i'm not just talking about music. whenever i write fiction it tends to go the same way. i've spent days working on one page of text, trying to get it to give the exact right effect. the end result is usually good--for that one page of text. but surprise! the project languishes, and never gets off the ground.

so i've adopted a whole different system in all creative endeavors. first, develop the idea. then, if you can see its potential--if you really dig it--then go back and bring it to life slowly and with care. this way i get to keep producing material without getting mired. the day will come when i can go back and fill in the details and put that perfectionism to use. i just hate to see it wreck my enthusiasm in the initial stages.

imma go listen to some ravi shankar.




Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Dec 17, 2003 07:39 pm

lord 3? return of the king?

it promises to be a cinematic masterpiece.

but i can't say i agree with the decision to use creed's "can you take me higher?" for the end credits. over top of that cheesy slo-mo montage of gandalf and aragorn in battle...gag.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 17, 2003 07:39 pm

hehe, well, I am somewhat of a perfectionist, a relatively unskilled writer and mildly mediocre bass player, so I did the logical thing...became an engineer that records my own stuff for yuks :-)

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Dec 17, 2003 07:43 pm

im a right perfectionist...but im not perfect at anything, so i settle at doing the best i can

as radiohead once said, "do the best you can, the best you can is good enough..."

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Dec 17, 2003 07:49 pm

ah yes...good song too.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 17, 2003 10:07 pm

Thanx Flame, that is my best line. I too got bogged down for years trying to write that pefect tune. Then I woke up one morning and decided to take a look at all the unfinished pieces I have, and what do ya know. I started just writing off the cuff, and it turned out to be some of my best stuff. Good luck Alanfc, I am sure you will find the way you need to go.

The fat one always watches us.
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002


Dec 18, 2003 09:19 am

i hear perfection in my head- my ablilty is lacking. i have learned to deal with my shortfalls however. im quite content with my slow and steady progress tword home recording nirvana

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