How not to write lyrics
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09:44:04 am on June 13, 2007 | # |
Last night, Tre Orsi was in the studio tracking vocals and additional overdubs for the two songs that will be our first single. Howard was first up, doing his vocals for “The Illustrator”. He got in a few takes before Bubba (our producer) showed up and began tweaking things for the better.
After they were settled in, I ran off to the lounge to re-work the lyrics to “Faulkner’s Blues”. I had such a clear idea in my head of what I wanted to say when I first wrote the thing, but over time the lyrics became a jumbled mess of imagery that stopped making sense. I did what I could with them, swapping a few cringe-worthy phrases for more innocuous ones, but before I knew it, t’was time to sing. I did three takes and will comp them together when I mix the thing tonight or tomorrow. Bubba and Bryan also worked out a tiny little chimey guitar thing for the 2nd verse, which I think is really nice.
When on a bit of a buying spree these past two weeks, picking up the new Shellac, Dan Higgs, and A Hawk and a Hacksaw @ Good Records. Have a couple of good-sized orders on hold at Aquarius and Forced Exposure, including the Ex/Getachew record (finally!).
The new Shellac is really doing it for me — funny, rocking, weird, all in the right doses. “Be Prepared” might be my favorite Shellac song ever.
Had my first real assignments and quizzes for my art class, my first college course in a decade. Very, very nerve-wracking, I must say. Studying is such an unfamiliar process to me now, but I think I’m getting the hang of it. Honestly, the writing is the hardest part, because I’m used to short, descriptive bursts of writing, rather than longer, well-formed and composed essays.
Leaving for the Shearwater/TNY dates on Saturday. Hell drive to Tucson on Sunday, but it’s better than stopping in New Mexico for the night. Meeting up w/ my New Year brothers in LA, and leaving Shearwater to fend for themselves the rest of the way up the coast. I will meet back up with them in New York on July 5th for the big ol’ Castle Clinton show.
