Speaking of music

Posted on December 13, 2012 by scott

The “Undercover” project proceeds apace! There are now around 17 songs recorded in at least a preliminary way–some more preliminary than others. And not all with make the cut. But still, that’s a lot of work accomplished and the consensus is we’re still on target to release around May. There are a few more to record and then a whole lot of polishing, rerecording, mixing and mastering before that can happen.

No, you cannot hear what we’ve done so far. These songs have never before been heard by human ears–nor will they until release day.

But oh how I’d love to let you. Some of this stuff will blow your mind!

Gear Check

Posted on December 13, 2012 by scott

big_rig

Remember when I used to do this with photography equipment?

Onward! My bass rig now includes of only one guitar: the Ibanez Soundgear SR505 5-string electric bass: mahogany body, rosewood fretboard, passive Bartolini pickups and an active EQ. It’s light, gorgeous and has a terrific modern sound.

For amplification, things are in flux. I’m still using and loving the Gallien-Krueger MB500 amplifier. I got rid of my big cab, though, the GK 410MBX. Sold it to a nice kid from Madison last week. It was just too big and too heavy. I risked injury every time I moved it. I’m keeping the Neo 212. Great cabinet. I’d get a second one, but for the fact that it’s still 50.5 pounds and I desperately want a lighter option. Later this winter perhaps I’ll pick up a Neo 115 (40 lbs!) to sit on top of the 212. Mis-matching like this is not ideal, but it does have advantages. For one thing I’ll have three rigs: small (the 15), medium (the 212) and large (both).

The pedal board. I’m very pleased with the TC Electronic PolyTune tuner. I’m very pleased with the MXR M87 compressor. Neither one are going anywhere, probably ever. Likewise with my Source Audio distortion and envelope filter pedals. Not only are they good at their primary functions, they are so flexible that together they nearly obviate the need for a synthesizer. I think I’ll ditch the Moog expression pedal, though. For a time I used it to morph between distortion pedal presets, but It’s really not necessary and it takes up a lot of real-estate I could use for other things. Besides which, I have the Hot Hand wireless ring controller for that stuff now.

I ditched the SansAmp a while back–and I sort of regret it. It’s true that I struggled to make its overdrive usable and that the built-in EQ was rather inflexible, but it did give me something important: a retro, tubey rock sound that the digital Source Audio distortion unit can’t muster. In light of this, I have been looking at various products to fill that niche and will probably go with the MXR M-80 Bass Driver DI+. It’s everything the SansAmp was but with a more musical overdrive and a somewhat more flexible EQ.

I have a few other music-related do-dads. The Behringer mixer and the Sony headphones I use for practice and recording; The M-Audio keyboard synth controller; Garageband on the Macbook Pro. But these are incidental and not in line for changes or upgrades anytime in the foreseeable future.

So basically I need me an analog overdrive/preamp/DI and a Neo 115 cab.

After the holidays.

Good buds

Posted on November 21, 2012 by scott

I have a new obsession today: earbuds.

You probably remember about a year ago when I went on a similar mission with over-the-ear headphones and eded up with the terrific Sony MDR-V6 studio monitor-style cans. I still love them, no regrets.

But I do get tired of folding them up, putting them in their carrying bag, toting them to and from work in my backpack, taking them on and off when I want to listen to something at work or at home. I’ll always take these to the studio. I’ll always use them for headphone-based music practice at home. But for everyday listening? I could use something a little smaller.

If they are affordable and sound great!

I already know that this is possible. I found Connie’s SUBJEKT “HerPhones” petite earbuds for women around the apartment a few days ago. She says she got them a while back on deep discount, like $6.

Wow. They’re definitely colored, mid-scooped, compared to my Sonys. And they don’t have the same clarity. Still, for cheap earbuds they definitely passed my listenability test.

Armed with the knowledge that cheap earbuds can be good, I went to Amazon to find a few options. In-ear-style earbuds. Under $20. Excellent reviews–reviews that specifically mentioned their faithful reproduction of a full range of frequencies.

I took delivery of my Panasonic RPHJE120D earbuds this evening. In orange. I could instantly tell the audio wasn’t as good as with the SUBJEKT earbuds. The very tail end of the bass frequencies were shelved off–as were the crispest of the high frequencies. Basically, not very hi-fi sounding earbuds. I did A-B them with the SUBJEKTs just to make sure. No mistake. I should have spent more money.

Fortunately I’m only out $5 and change. Maybe I’ll throw these in the car glove box or give them to a homeless person. Then I’m going back to the drawing board.

One obvious answer is to just order the SUBJEKTs. It isn’t their “for women” moniker that deters me. It’s that they aren’t technically available anymore. There’s a newer model, earbuds that include a mic for talking on the phone. But how do I know they’re of the same audio quality? And they do cost $20, not $6.

Sony and Philips both have well-reviewed models around the same price point.

Not sure what to do.

Shower singers

Posted on October 19, 2012 by scott

Confess! We all do it. And I want the details. What do you sing in the shower?

Or maybe it’s the car. But the shower is better. It’s not quite as private as driving alone in your car, but the acoustics are superior. (If you don’t have music hooked up in your bathroom, you really should look into it. Here’s an inexpensive but effective solution.)

Whatever the case, you know the song I mean. It’s the one that comes up on random and whether you’re a closet Susan Boyle or you sound more like William Hung, you find yourself singing every word, every last “ooh,” “aah,” and “oh, baby” right along with your stereo.

So give it up. Gimme the song in your music library that’s a real shower singer. Today I submit two:

Almost Blue by Elvis Costello

Fairweather Boyfriend by Toby Lightman

Don’t thank me. Or rather, thank me by submitting your own!

What’s your favorite album?

Posted on October 3, 2012 by scott

My answer has changed over time, of course. These, as best I can remember, are the ones which occupied my top spot over the last, say, 35 years. Very rough chronological order. Doesn’t count singles, radio hits and other musical crushes/influences.

Also, I have tried to be brave and admit the sins of my past as well as the guilty pleasures of today.

Shocked by anything here? Shocked by something that isn’t here?

Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV
AC/DC: Back in Black
Journey: Escape
Ozzy Osbourne: Diary of a Madman
Mötley Crüe: Too Fast For Love
Iron Maiden: Killers, The Number of the Beast
Black Sabbath: Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Sabbotage
Rush: Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves
The Police: Syncrhonicity
Prince: Purple Rain, Sign O’ The Times
Yellowjackets: Shades
Elvis Costello & The Attractions: Best Of (1985), Blood and Chocolate
Todd Rundgren: Healer
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Legend
Paul Simon: Graceland
Peter Gabriel: So
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians: Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill
Enya: The Memory of Trees
Various Artists: Lilith Fair 1998 Music Sampler
R.E.M: Eponymous, Green
Violent Femmes: 3
Sting: The Dream Of The Blue Turtles, Mercury Falling, Soul Cages, Brand New Day, Ten Summoner’s Tales
Indigo Girls: Nomads Indians Saints, Rites of Passage, Swamp Ophelia, Shaming of the Sun, Come On Now Social, Become You, All That We Let in
David Arkenstone: Valley in the Clouds
The Brian Setzer Orchestra: The Dirty Boogie
Sarah McLachlan: Surfacing, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Afterglow
U2: Rattle and Hum, The Unforgettable Fire
Natalie Merchant: Tigerlillly
Norah Jones: Come Away With Me
Bjork: Greatest Hits, Gling-Gló
Liz Phair: Whitechocolatespaceegg
BT: Emotional Technology
Frou Frou: Details
Cibo Matto: Stereo Type A, Viva La Woman
Smokey & Miho: The Two EPs
The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
J. Ralph: The Illusionary Movements of Geraldine & Nazu
Delerium: Poem, Chimera
Psapp: Tiger My Friend
Girlyman: Remember Who I Am
Venus Hum: Big Beautiful Sky, The Colors in the Wheel, Mechanics & Mathematics, Songs for Superheroes
Toby Lightman: Little Things
Butterfly Boucher: Flutterby
MIA: Arular

Creative

Posted on August 4, 2012 by scott

I’m off on a week’s vacation, but I just wanted to tell you that Endless Blue has been hard at work on our new album. Thursday night’s recording session was inspirational. The creativity and talent I’m working with is really awesome. Right down to the sock we used for a mute on my bass. I can’t wait for everyone to hear this stuff.

Sedate yourself with Endless Blue

Posted on August 1, 2012 by scott

Remember that video we did to support our Kickstarter-funded album? Here’s the live performance by itself, minus the interviews. Me and click-tracks don’t always make nice, but it’s still a great vid. Dig it.

Hobbies

Posted on July 19, 2012 by scott

I’m one of those people who just can’t thrive without a creative outlet of some kind. For many years that outlet was photography, but no more. I’ve given it up.

Well, maybe not for good. Sometimes I do go back and revive an old interest (as I’ve recently done with music). But as of now I have no more photo jobs and I’ve unloaded all my photography equipment. The only camera I now own is the one built into my iPhone.

It’s true that photography was a tremendously rewarding endeavor. It’s also true that I eventually developed it into a lucrative and thriving part-time business. But maybe that’s where the photography arc started to point groundward again. Eventually it started to feel too much like work, something I did just for money. Not that there’s anything wrong with doing things for money, but I do that all week long and have no desire to spend additional time doing it. More importantly, having become a job, photography had somehow ceased to scratch the hobby itch.

Maybe one day I’ll pick it up again. The only thing left to say now is thanks. Thanks to the clever people who made the wonderful equipment I enjoyed, thanks to the terrific photographers who encouraged and taught me, but most of all thanks to everyone who let me take their picture. I really mean that. In a real and meaningful way, you shared part of your lives with me and I’m very grateful for it.

Even more on music

Posted on June 27, 2012 by scott

The real challenge is to stop thinking of music as if it were some kind of sport. Is isn’t. It’s art. And art can’t be scored. There are no winners or losers. Nobody can meaningfully be “ranked.” Trying to do so only trivializes what music is about. I played a riff today. I’d gladly play a slower riff tomorrow, one with fewer notes and less flashy technique, if only it’s more beautiful than yesterday’s.

Everyone who’s ever picked up an instrument intuitively knows this. Everyone who’s ever loved a piece of music as a listener also knows it. But somehow we all try our hardest to forget it.

Think about the musicians who have touched the most lives, moved the most human hearts. Are they the most virtuosic instrumentalists that have ever lived? No. As Louis Armstrong famously said, nuance is the highest form of technique.

On virtuoso instrumentalists and who’s better than who