it's done

we have finished recording the new album! now we just have to mix it, which will probably take a few weeks, and then we'll get it mastered and let you hear it. we're pretty sure you will love it. more news soon!!

We've chosen the songs for the album... mostly

Last night, we listened to all of the songs we've recorded so far for the new album (23 total) and have decided on 13 or 14 to be released! They are quite close to being completed, with only piano and a few guitar and bass parts yet to be added. That should all be done in the next couple weeks, and we're really excited about how well everything seems to be turning out. More news soon!

getting closer...

despire the obvious lack of updates to this page, we have continued to record quite a bit lately. we had everyone over to do handclaps and gang vocals the other day. we will be done recording this album at the beginning of june. then we will release it. then you will love it. have a nice day.

home(s) for sale in cleveland

we've been working on recording the piano and electric guitar parts lately. we had some buzzing amplifier issues at our normal recording location, so we moved to a new house. this one also happens to be for sale, so if you know anyone in the market for a new home in cleveland, we can arrange a showing. the only thing left in the house was the ping pong table in the basement, but that's all we really needed anyway... although neither of us would have turned down a chair.
/charlie

(note the ping pong table - we played a rousing game at the end of the night. the score was something like charlie:21 - craig:16)


(i hope this recording setup doesn't make us look too professional...)

and such is progress

this is where we are today... click on the photo.


on a related note, kate and i have been working on the cover art for the who knows 7" and the shortest day of the year 10" this week, and they are going to be fabulous. get excited!!!!!!

/charlie

it's so cold! in this! house!

After a week of recording off and on, things are moving along pretty nicely. We have the acoustic guitar track done on all the songs, and Craig has finished drums for more than half. I recorded a few bass lines last night, and we're planning to work on more bass & drum tracks tonight and tomorrow.

If the photos from the last couple days make it appear that they were all taken at the same time, that's only because we (evidently) wear basically the same clothes every day :)

/Charlie

As of this evening, we have the base track recorded for 17 songs. Seventeen! That's thrilling... There will be more to come, too. For now, here are a couple photos...

This is no longer a tour diary... because we said so.

Last night was the first of what will surely be many sessions in the recording of our next album. Craig and I spent about six hours recording the first acoustic guitar track on nine songs. This album is being recorded in quite a different way than the first one. We have a list of roughly twenty songs that we plan to record, and we're doing them all at once (like a normal band). We did the first album over a period of about six months, and the songs were all recorded separately, as they were written. This time, we'll finish the twenty songs together and choose our favorites to be released on the album. Yeah, I know, that doesn't sound so amazing, but it will be an entirely different experience for us. We're hoping this process will make the songs sound better and possibly give the whole thing a more cohesive feel. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Our friends Rob and Carla have been gracious enough to grant us the use of their house for recording, so we're able to work late into the night, or, as Craig might tell you, until I get tired and cranky. I imagine it will take us about three months to finish everything since we both have to deal with a few real-life things, like jobs, but we will be sure to keep you guys updated through this journal.

/Charlie

here are some photos from the first night...