Pricing and Home Recordings

It has been a couple of weeks now since I released "Never And Forever" as a digital download.  (The CD version release is still in the works and will be officially announced soon.)  You may have noticed that I decided to do things a little differently with the pricing this time around.  In the past I have "sold" my music at a "pay what you want" price.  That means that if you wanted to own it, it was yours, free of charge if you so desired.  It also meant that you had the option to pay for it if you had the means and felt it was worth something to you.

One of the main reasons I have done things this way in the past is because I've always known that my (home studio) recordings were not of a professional quality and I felt a bit weird asking someone to pay for something that was not up to normal audio quality standards.  That's not to say that I didn't believe in the songs themselves.  I have many songs that I feel are truly great tunes.  But I know the sound quality has always been an issue with the home recording process.

Things are a little different this time around.  With the recording of "Never And Forever" I feel like I have set a new high standard for myself in the quality of these recordings.  Is it perfect?  Of course not.  But I feel like it has now reached a point where I can feel comfortable asking someone to pay something for the work I've done.

I've set the album download cost at $5.  Individual tracks are $.75 each.  (But also, if someone feels so inclined they can pay more than that.)  Not really a lot to ask for something that you get to keep forever.  We all pay a lot more than that every day for things that are gone much quicker.  Will people be willing to part with a little hard earned cash for a handful of heartfelt songs written and recorded by a part-time amateur?  Maybe they will and maybe they won't.  I really don't know.  It's a good thing this is not my day job so I don't really have to worry about that.  Either way I am proud of what I have accomplished.

Thanks again for listening.  Peace and happiness to you and yours this Holiday Season.

James

Without Further Ado...

...I give you "Never And Forever".

After 23 months of intermittent work, it is finally finished and available for download.  This is my 4th album and has been by far the easiest to make.  (It's interesting that my 3rd album was the hardest.)  It's short...only 8 tracks.  But I think I've packed it full of enjoyable moments.  As I've said all along, with this album I've tried to keep to specific themes and a specific mood.  What that means is that there is probably not "something for everybody" on this one.  Which means that it may not be everybody's cup of tea, which is perfectly fine.  I mean really, is there anything more subjective than music?  But I think that those who DO enjoy this will do so deeply.  I've put my heart and soul into this and I hope that comes through as you listen to it.  I also hope that you will give it a few spins before passing judgement.  The best music always takes some time to sink in.

There will also be a CD version released.  It will have a 12-page booklet with artwork and lyrics.  All design work is being done by myself.  Sometimes I think I enjoy creating the artwork as much as the music.  I hope that some of you will want to go the old fashioned route and have this tangible object to hold in your hand.  I promise I am working to make it as beautiful as I can.

I'm going to ask a favor.  If you find my work to be worthy of any praise, please share it with others.  Like any musician, I'd love to reach the largest audience that I can.  Again, thanks to those who have supported me in the past.  I really hope you enjoy my latest effort.

Thanks,

James

Time Takes Time...

...but albums are quick.

Less than two years ago I began recording songs for what would become "Never And Forever".  As I type this I am on the cusp of completing it.  Even though I've pretty much taken a few months off from recording, I cannot believe how fast the whole process has gone.  This album is so much different than the last one which took five years(!!!) to complete.  By the time I finished that one I was just ready to be done.  Sure there were improvements that could have been made but I was really just over it by that point.  This time around I am going to finish AND still be excited about the music!  It's a very nice feeling.

All I really have left to do to finish is record the vocal tracks for the album closer called "Time Takes Time".  It is the shortest track on the album and the simplest song as well.  The vocal recording should be really easy.  I recorded the bass guitar tonight.  It is really so close.

Once vocals are recorded the final mixing should be easy because it's such a simple mix.  Then it will be a matter of getting the track sequence mastered so that everything sound right together on the album. Artwork for the CD booklet is coming along nicely as well.  I'm saying this will all be done and ready for download by the end of November.  Optimistically I'm hoping maybe even by Thanksgiving.

To be honest I'm pretty excited about this release.  I think it's the most solid collection of songs I've ever come up with.  You can judge for yourself before too long.

Looking to the Future

"Never And Forever" has been my easiest album to make so far.  I really could have finished it earlier this year if I hadn't taken a few months off this summer.  Part of the reason that this album came so quickly (besides the fact that it only has 8 tracks) is because most of the songs were already written before i went to record it.  In fact, with each album there are a certain number of tracks that are written well before the recording process begins.

As I approaching the end of the recording process this time around, things are a bit different.  There are no songs that are waiting in the wings to be recorded for the next project.  Looking forward to the next project I realize that I've got nothing.  Sure there's a few lyrical ideas I've had floating around, lots of brief musical outlines that could become songs, but nothing that approaches a complete song in any way.  I'd say this excites me more than worries me.  I look forward to entering a period of focusing on purely writing music again.  I feel like I've grown and changed as a songwriter and I'm curious and enthusiastic about what sort of songs I can come up with.

"Never And Forever" had a certain tone, a certain feel, and it told a certain story in a concise way.  Part of the reason it was such a short album was to keep that sense of continuity.  It stands as a great piece of work (in my opinion of course) but I don't think it represents what lies ahead.  I'd really like to do something a little more upbeat and positive.  My songs always seem to lean towards the bittersweet.  I'd like to do a little more of the sweet (without completely abandoning the bitter).  Something fun (without being cheesy).  In the end, who knows how it will actually turn out?  But these are my thoughts right now as I anticipate having a completely blank slate to work with.

Of course right now I just need to finish the task at hand.

Album Update

I've been getting a lot of work done this week.  "Never And Forever" the album, is almost a reality.  Here is a quick rundown of what is done and what is left to do.  I made some substantial progress on track #6, "Anything At All".  I fixed some issues with the mix, recorded vocals for the ending of the song and now it's pretty much finished.  I also did some EXTREMELY minor tweaks to the mix of the first 3 tracks.  These were small things that I've been meaning to do for a while.

All that remains to completely finish this album:

• Track 4 - "You Can Never Go Home"
• just needs some minor improvements to the mix.  This should't take long
• Track 5 - "Save My Soul"
• this is pretty much done but  could use one more instrument/part/sound to round it out.
• Track 6 - "Anything At All"
• As I mentioned, I just about am finished with this one.  All that remains is to listen to the mix a few more times and make sure it's really done.
• Track 7 - "This Time"
• This song needs a few more sounds, a guitar solo and some final mixing and testing.
• Track 8 - "Time Takes Time"
• Need to record vocals, maybe add some more sounds or instruments...maybe not, we'll see.

At a total of 8 tracks, that's all there is left to do.  That may sound like a lot of things but really this album is over 90% done.  I really can't wait to get it finished as it feels like a major step forward for me.

A Change of Seasons

There is no getting around it.  Summer is over.  The leaves are shriveling.  The grass is browning.  The air is crisping.  Daylight hours are waning.  Outdoor fun is now at a premium.

There are so very many things about the summertime that do not lend themselves to recording music indoors for hours on end.  Family trips, hiking mountains, exploring caves, watching baseball games, and just general merriment are all things that kept me away from my music for the past several months.  And with this annual change in weather comes a change of priorities.  I am reenergized and excited to spend some time with music again.

Upon sitting down and taking stock of where I'm at, I've noticed that I really am QUITE close to finishing a major project.  "Never and Forever" my most recent collection of songs is sitting on the cusp of completion.  So VERY close to being done.

I'm looking forward to finishing it soon and moving on to new projects.  It may be getting cold outside, but I'll have plenty to do in the warmth of my humble recording studio.  Stay tuned.

2012

This is my first post of the new year.  2012 is well under way and by now everyone is past that awkward phase where you are constantly writing the wrong year on checks and such.  It's been a great year so far.  I'm excited about the music that I'm currently finishing up for "Never And Forever".  That project was started a year ago and has come along very quickly compared to other releases of mine.  Of the final 8 tracks that will be included, 5 are (mostly) completed and the remaining 3 are well on their way to completion.

Most recently I have been working on track #6, "Anything At All".  This is probably the darkest song on the album.  I'm not sure that "dark" is the right word.  It has several different parts to it.  The verses are the "darkest" and slowest parts, while the chorus is decidedly quicker and livelier.  The last third of the song is altogether different as well.  It builds and builds to a (hopefully) thrilling climax.  In theory (and in my mind) it all will sound great...it's now just a matter of getting the sound and feeling that I want in the studio process.  I'm making progress but it's not where I want it just yet.  I'm also having trouble coming up with a vocal melody for the verses that I am completely satisfied with.  The original melody that I had written has grown stale and boring in my mind.  I've got a few other ideas, but I haven't decided on anything yet.

I'll keep this blog updated as things progress.  If you've read this far, thanks for your interest and support.

James

Update...2 Down, 6 to Go

It is a great feeling to have two new songs completed and out there for all to hear. I am happy with the positive feedback I've received on "Never And Forever" and "Come And Gone". People seem to be enjoying them. If you are one of those people, please don't hesitate to share with friends. I would like as many people as possible to hear this music.

I know I've mentioned "So Far Gone" a few times before. Well, it is almost completed and ready to debut. This is the song that I feel people will connect with the most. I mentioned in my last post that the song sounds a bit "samey"...meaning that it was interesting and beautiful but it kind of repeats itself and goes on without any real changes...not necessarily a bad thing, but could get monotonous. I've made some changes that I feel have taken this song to the next level. It has gone from being merely pretty great to mesmerizing and heart-rending...and it was all done with the addition of one simple guitar figure that embellishes the chorus.

I know what I like in music and this is it. And can't speak for the rest of you, but this new part completely makes this song into greatness for me personally. I hope when you hear it that it makes you feel the same way. I hesitate sometimes to talk up my own work because music is so subjective and I don't want to build too much expectation for what is essentially a very simple song. I'd rather just release it and have others talk it up for me ;-) . Of course that's not going to happen if something is not genuinely great. Anyway, I will upload it for all to hear once I get the mix sounding exactly as it should. Probably over the weekend.

As for the rest of the songs, they are in various stages of completion. "You Can Never Go Home" is probably the most complete, while "This Time" has not even been fully written yet (hence no lyrics online).

If you're reading this, thanks for paying attention. I'm grateful that people enjoy what I do.

James

Progress on "So Far Gone"

Been working on finishing track #2 from Never And Forever, titled "So Far Gone"...(not to be confused with "Come And Gone"). Added some additional harmony vocals for the verses. The mix is sounding really nice. Great song, but a bit samey. Needs some kind of catchy, standout guitar performance for the chorus, as well as a short solo and outro. I have a few ideas in my head but I am curious to see what happens once I plug in and start recording. The songs is actually quite passable as it is...but "good enough" is not good enough this time. We're going for greatness here. We'll see how that turns out.

Too busy tonight to get any recording done...but soon enough.

New Song - "Come And Gone"

In my last post I mentioned that I would have the title track online soon. That was the plan...and it is still very close to completion. But yesterday I decided to work on "Come And Gone" instead.

"Come And Gone" has been all but finished for over a month now, but there were a few problems that I didn't know if I could fix without re-recording some parts. Low and behold, with maybe an hour or so of mixing, I was able to fix everything that had been bugging me. I was so excited that it was finished that I immediately posted it.

Title track "Never And Forever" is still in need of a couple of backing vocal tracks. It is very good as it stands, but I need it to sound like I hear it in my head before it can go out to the world. It may take a few more days before I can get the recording done. Look for it to be out soon.

Never And Forever...It's About Time

If you follow my Facebook fan page you may have noticed a while back that I posted the Never And Forever artwork. It is a an image of a clock face that I found while searching the internet for ideas on how to visually represent the concept of "time". I was subsequently able to contact the photographer and receive permission to use the image for my album art. I have not altered the color at all. That is exactly as the original. My wife says it's a bit too much green, but I really like it. And so a special thanks goes out to photographer Katherine Gray, wherever and whoever she may be.

Over the past months, I've recognized a theme running through all of these songs...that being the passage of time...how it changes situations, individuals...for the better or for the worse. How it continues on and we are powerless to stop it, nor can we turn it back. Each of these songs deals with this subject in a different way. The past, regrets, things left undone, things that should have been left undone, things to do differently in the future...all of these ideas are touched upon through various stories and experiences both personal and/or observed in the lives of others.

I have re-designed my bandcamp page and created a page for the new album. There is no audio up just yet, but you can read through the lyrics if you're into that sort of thing. I hope to have the opening title track up in the coming days. It is very nearly finished, as are several other songs. Stay tuned for more info and audio as it becomes available.

Also, if you haven't done so yet, while your on my page, why not go and download the rest of my music in preparation for this new release. They are free if you want them to be, or you can pay what you want. I am completely fine with either amount.

Thanks for listening,

James