In the trenches – the making of an indie rock CD pt.2

Okay, back to now.  So far 11 songs have been demoed crudely.  I say this because I really don’t put a lot of time into the recording aspect of the demo part of the process as it is tedious when you have 17 or more tunes to try to get down.   Nothing like sitting there at 2am going, ”how the hell am I going to end this song and not make it the same as  every other tune I have written,” or “how the heck did this song go again?”  Another aspect that is difficult is, when you write something, it may sound cool in your head and may look good on paper but then you get to actually singing some lines and they just don’t work.  Then it is on the spot re-write time, which sometimes can yield some cool stuff and at the worst, you just put the tune off if nothing strikes you immediately.

I don’t know how anyone else writes but I usually get ideas at the worst possible time like, in the morning when I am trying to sleep or, driving in the car, or in the shower.  I usually try to get them into a dictaphone recorder quickly as I tend to forget them unless I sing them over and over, which, at 7am in the morning is not the best option. 

I wish I could say that I write my best tunes when I am trying really hard but that is just not true.  I think, for me anyway, that when I try really hard and am not feeling overly inspired, I end up with dreck.  I think I am just trying to make myself feel better by at least doing something until the next spark of inspiration comes.  In most cases songs just happen out of thin air.  I hear a melody or a title and it basically builds on itself.  Those are the fun songs to write and usually end up the best.  Some examples of tunes coming to me this way are Satellite, Porno Nation, Day Of Our Last Night and the following lyrics that MAY or MAY NOT be on the new CD in some form:

2012

I made this aluminum hat so I can contact
little green men from outer space that want to end the human race
he said

As he twitched nervously and pulled a fresh fifty from his pocket
we can’t stop it but I wanna live
as long as I can

As long as I can
with the bears and my guns in the hills like a mountain man
like a mountain man

and I know

In 2012 I’ll be doing well
selling survival kits to all the
conspiracy theorist that think the world is gonna end

I’ll search for the crystal skulls using the moons pull
and an old map the Mayans made
he said they somehow hid away
from Cortes

and codex alamintarious my friend
is the beginning of the end
but I wanna live
as long as I can

As long as I can
build a spaceship and fly to mars
start my life again

and I know

In 2012 I’ll be doing well
selling survival kits to all the
conspiracy theorist that think the world is gonna end

I don’t believe in conspiracy theories
nostradamus, mother shipton
or Yaweh
I just want to make some money

 
Anyway, I am tapped for now.  We are getting together for a little band rehearsal this weekend, I will keep ya posted on how things are sounding.

Till then rock out with your…you know the rest.