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Day Three Hundred Twenty Six

The initial conversation between B., myself, and J. happened this evening. It was only a twenty minute conversation, but it was great for us to finally all touch base. The best part of the whole thing? B. got to hear what J. has been working on. I was glad to hear the drums and bass behind things again too, considering that it's going to be at least a few weeks (I think) before we get to hear the drums and bass mixed and ready for us to record over. His plan is to start with things as simple as possible. Drums, Bass, 1, maybe 2 guitars, and a vocal. The guitars will be acoustic in almost every case, just strip everything down to the basics to make sure the songs hold up (they will) before we go back in and add a bunch of stuff.

We went over a bit of the nuts & bolts of how we're going to be approaching the recording with B., although I was glad to have the refresher myself. It clarified a few things in my mind. I asked how B. & I should proceed next, he gave us each our "assignments" (a mic. for B., and an interface for me), for while we wait for him to finish up drums & bass. I'll stop off at Guitar Center sometime between now and Friday and investigate the whole interface thing. I figure, if I tell them that I want to connect my laptop with my recording console, they should be able to send me in the right direction. Also, I'll probably message J. for a model number or something, just to make sure I get the right thing.

After J. had to split for the evening, B. and I kept talking (all told, it was about 6 hours today). She was over the moon about the songs having drums, and we talked for a long time about how much having a rhythm section behind the songs changed the feel (as I knew it would), and made the songs seem more "real." We also discussed running order for the record, which is positively ridiculous at this point, considering how much work is left to be done (songs to finish, songs to write, etc.). That being said, we both agreed that we don't really have an opening cut yet. There are a few things that could work as track 1, but nothing that's an absolute slam dunk. It all came about due to her bringing up single placement, and where they usually fall on a record. My response: tracks 1, 3, 4, and 11 are usually singles, but sometimes you'll see a 7, or a 2 thrown in for good measure.

Not band related, but R. saw Mumford & Sons in Council Bluffs tonight... TOTALLY JEALOUS!!!

I've got evenings free the next two nights, and my goal is to try and get some of these songs legitimately sorted out. As I told B. tonight, within 2 weeks, we'll have 4 songs to work on tracks for, but I want to be prepared beyond that, because when those 4 songs are done, all the pressure falls on us to have the songs to keep the project moving forward. I'd rather go on a crazy writing jag and have too many songs than be in danger of not having enough music. This is what I've waited for all these years. Time to step up and make it happen.

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