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I got the finished master of my new record two days ago. I drove around listening to it for a few hours, then listened a few more at home. I uploaded it to my music site for you to hear on July 7, and then did a bunch of prep stuff for its retail release on October 9.
Then I emailed Anton about getting started on the next album. Not next YEAR’S album – we’re already just about finished with that – but one for 2014, ’cause ya know, it takes a while to wrap these things. The record we’re about to start is called Schoolbus Coming At Me, and it’s a collection of all the songs I’ve written with Chris Hug. There are lots!
I almost suggested we begin recording the album I’ve written over the past year and a half, but it’s all about family and family-type relationships ending and I’m just not ready to live with the material as intensely as one needs to when making an album of it. I’d like to try being happy for a while before I revisit that shit.
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In honor of one project coming to fruition, I present a list of all the stuff I’m working on that hasn’t, in the order in which I expect to finish it (though I’m not gonna estimate completion dates – I learned that lesson a long time ago). This may be the last time you hear about some of this stuff for a while, especially since this space is about to be taken over by my July 7/October 9 release, Small Sacrifices Must Be Made! But I promise if you stick around, you will eventually get it all:
- A new Hanslick Rebellion single, “Dear Friends And Gentle Hearts”. This is recorded and only needs to be mixed. It’s part of a whole new Rebellion EP of six songs that’s about two-thirds of the way there.
- The 20th anniversary reimagining of Skyscape‘s Band Of The Week, containing the entire album remixed (with new bass from Mike Keaney and additional guitars and drums from Alex Dubovoy and Sheridan Riley) plus signature tracks which for one reason or another did not end up on the original (“It’s Always Christmas In Siberia”; “Mukhopadhyay”; “Hey Jude”).
- A whole new Skyscape album, Dr. Des Moines, which is already completely demoed and partially recorded and features a Skyscape lineup of Dom, Mike, Alex, Sheridan and yours truly, with special guests Reeves Gabrels and Jerry Marotta.
- Four more Sevendys singles, already recorded and just waiting to be mixed. Chuck expects to be back in playing shape later this summer (!) which means we’ll be doing more recordings thereafter.
- My solo album for 2013, Failing Upwards, which I’ve been working on since 2007 with Anton Fig, Reeves Gabrels, Tony Levin, Ralph Carney, Dweezil Zappa, Earl Slick and Avi Buffalo. It’s 95% recorded and in the process of being mixed by Tchad Blake. This album will also feature Tchad’s amazing mix of “The Bowery Electric” (the Ramones version), marking the first time that song has been formally released in the US.
- The Rebellion’s recording of the 40-song musical Rise And Shine. I recently cleared this with Arturo and we’re going full-steam ahead. Joe just tracked drums on a bunch of tunes a couple of weeks ago, and I’m working to reassemble the voice cast. It’s gonna take a while but it’s happening!
- My solo album for 2014, the aforementioned Schoolbus Coming At Me, collecting the dozen or so compositions I’ve written to Chris Hug’s wonderful lyrics over the years, plus a couple of instrumental pieces I wrote for Chris’s short films. I hope to continue with the same basic band from Small Sacrifices and Failing Upwards – we’ve done some pretty nice work so far. I know Anton is in for drums.
- Those 11 songs the Rebellion cut with Reeves under the band name Jeebus. It’s mostly done but when and how to put the thing out?!
This list doesn’t include stuff I’m producing for other folks.
“WORK IS GOOD” – Arturo Vega
Dr. Des Moines?!?!? Holy crap . . . I’ve not even heard it yet, and I declare it as my new theme album . . .
We’re gonna dedicate it to you!
Wow! Sounds very linear. I have tons of songs I plan on recording yet. The sad thing is if I went downstairs tomorrow and got started I dont know what songs would get done, how they would sound, and if they belong together on an album, much less what I will be working on for 2014!
I envy your far-sightedness. Hey I tried to contact you about a matter through the contact/merch message link. From the sounds of it you are busy, and likely will be for the next two years.
I was concerned however that maybe you didnt recieve my message, it was a sensitive matter I didnt want to press you about here publicly where everyone could read. I figured it would be rude to put you under the spotlights like that, but if you could email me I will ask you privately.
I am unsure if open subversion of details maybe draws more attention to the information I was trying not to divulge, if so I am sorry. To put to rest any fears “this” post may have awakened I can tell you it was just about the band I am in with Steve, we were interested in covering an old song of yours.
I hope that clears the Mud I stirred a little. haha. Anyway I apologize for being so long winded, its my nature, I just hope there isnt a 140 character limit. I would hate to retype all this as much as I would trying to condense it.
Look out to the midwest see that distant light? thats me awake in my room, and I will never turn my back on you.
so long, keep up the good work, and take care.
your biggest fan this side of the Mississippi,
David S.
Hey David! I didn’t get your message for some reason… which is weird… but feel free to cover anything of mine you’d like. I would love to hear the results if you record it!
I know my process sounds very deliberate, but it isn’t really like that. I spent fifteen years writing songs and then writing more songs before I could record the first songs to my satisfaction. Which means I’ve had years and years to think about what I would do with each and every one of those songs – how I would combine them into albums, which musicians would be best suited to bring them to life, and so on. Nowadays, instead of always moving right on to the newest material, I work on properly realizing the old stuff and I let the new stuff simmer.
(There are exceptions – when I write something new that happens to fit a project in-progress, I slip it right in there. Many of the Sevendys songs were written right before we went into the studio.)
By the way, I’m planning a couple of short tours for next year and I hope to come back to Minnesota!
Oh thanks so much, it really means a lot to us.
I cant tell you which song (I want you to be surprised), but I can tell you were not taking too much liberty with it. We’re simply retelling it because it moves us and we want to share it with some who maybe would not otherwise had even known its existance.
I cant wait for you to hear it. But until then if you want an idea what “sound” we come across as, feel free to check out the Facebook bandpage… “Smiles a lot” its really Steve’s brainchild, but I am just glad to be a part of a Band that actually gets together. I like the music a lot but I understand it might not be everyone’s cup o’ tea, though I am eager to hear what you think should you get a listen in.
once again thanks,
David S.
David, I’m very excited to hear it!