No Fun

Years ago, I played in a truly amazing band. However, like many creative teams, ours fell apart due to conflict within the group. Mainly myself and the drummer.
After a year of arguing, which really escalated in the last month, we went into the studio to record the latest album. Things were said, tempers flared, fists nearly flew.
I quit that night. One does need to put up with a certain amount of BS in life, but when you hit the wall you have to fix it. I remember the singer sitting at the mixing desk, head in hands, wondering what to do. "You learned so much with us," he said wanting me to reconsider. I had learned more with them in 3 years than in the decade prior, but it was irrelevant.
Unfortunately, even with our issues, the drummer and I had a great connection. We grew up with the same musical influences, and could read each other. We knew what the other was about to do, without usually discussing it.

We were a great band, i'm proud of the work we did, and I won't do it again. The weekend after quitting, I wrote No Fun:

No Fun,
I never hurt anybody but you
That’s the price of love
At least a love that’s true

I never used up anybody before
I’m a bastard I know
I never used up anyone
Until they were No Fun

No Fun,
Backed in a corner I let you fall
To your own disgrace
You still don’t see it at all
No Fun,
I didn’t mean it it’s what I do
To hold myself above
To protect me from you

I never used up anybody before
I’m a bastard I know
I never used up anyone
Until they were No Fun

No Fun,
Next to you everything went pale
Your ego ruled your world
Now you’re tired and oh-so stale

I never used up anybody before
I’m a bastard I know
I never used up anyone
Until they were No Fun

History Re-viewed

I don't know when this was - sometime between 2000 and 2003. Canadian Music Week, if I remember correctly.

Damn, I looked cool smoking on stage!
hahaha

Overture: The Greatest Unheard Hits

That's it! It's done!
Overture: The Greatest Unheard Hits is finally complete.
Songs that were written over the last decade, but I was never quite happy with them. Either the arrangement in the original (private) recording wasn't quite up to snuff, or there were a few lines that needed amending...
One morning I got up, and while waiting for the coffee pot to brew I picked up an acoustic guitar. Strumming what had always been a piano-based tune, I suddenly had the idea of recording my favourite songs with a bare-basic acoustic guitar/percussion setup. It obviously didn't stay that way, as Naive only has guitar in the lead while the song exits...
I'm really proud of these songs, and the way that they've evolved since being written. While not a cohesive group of songs like 'Reflecting', which was all about the failure of my marriage, 'Overture' is a handful of snapshots covering the hectic and strange past decade.

I finished mixing the disc on Tuesday, and spent Wednesday and Thursday mastering it. Once all the songs were EQ'd properly, and sounded like a cohesive unit, I burned to a CD.
Listening to the living room stereo, it was a little tinny. Listening on the bedroom stereo, it was a bit bassy (the exact opposite). Listening at my studio was fine - that's where I recorded and mixed the record. Putting it on my iPod, it was a little bassy. Not overpowering, but a little more than I'd wanted. I've left it a little too bassy - most people these days are listening to music on their computers, which cut out the lower frequencies. Hopefully my mix will compensate for that. If you like it, that's great. If it's too much bottom end for you, then shake your own.

So go ahead, and give it a trial here. The songs get clipped after 2 minutes, and to hear the full versions you'll need to buy them. I also have three of the tracks on Reverb Nation, with the full songs, but without download capability (in case you want to hear the surprise endings).

Enjoy!

Canadian Democracy

Did Axl Rose lose all his money along with his hairline (apparently he's got a weave)?
If so, did have to record Chinese Democracy in his home-studio? That album took 10 years to come out - it feels like my record is trudging along at a similar pace.

I've been extremely busy with night-school for the last month or so, so Overture has remained at about 95% complete. The mixes still need a little tweaking, but I haven't had a chance to address them. It's REALLY frustrating.
I'm constantly being asked when it will be completed, and I'm tired of having to say "soon."

I have thought of spending a grand to have a pro mix it, but I'm just worried that it wouldn't come back how I want it. That's why I'm doing this all myself: I write it, I record it, I perform it, I mix it... this way it'll end up what I want. Eventually. Adding another person, no matter how competent, adds another point of (mis)communication and opinion. And that's what I'm trying to avoid.

I've taken the next two weeks off work, and I'm counting on Overture being done by the end of next week.


Oh, and aside from the next album that's mostly written I'm also thinking about a total abberation: a techno project! Just for fun, to see if I can...

PS. I recently re-discovered Pulp's 'Different Class' album. Brilliant!