Alright, real progress! Fixed the Logic project file, finished all electric guitars (and marked down which tracks need revisions), and now i'm just working out acoustic guitar and vocal parts. It's starting to sound like a real album now.

I've got a bunch of really cool shows coming up, especially Options @ Schubas  on 2/13. Check out my "live" page for specifics!

Still battling the Logic Demons. I managed to get 12 songs done yesterday but I'm still having strange issues with Logic (saying that *# of audio files have changed in length - the number changes every time I open it) but the backup project files still work? I don't get it. Trying one more time to resolve it before I port the entire thing over to ProTools, which I may wind up doing anyway. But when I have actually been able to record, it's been going really well!
I just confirmed a session with a rad screamo band from Champaign, which will be my first non-self recording at The Owlery. Things are going pretty OK.

After spending most of last night trying to fix my Logic session, I thought I finally succeeded and went to bed. Woke up this morning and there were still a heap of issues, so instead of spending my day in the studio, I've been working on cleaning up and organizing the file so hopefully, recording will go smoothly from here on out. With any luck, I'll be recording by tomorrow.

I just got back from a two and a half week adventure in Southeast Asia, where I finally had time to think without interruption about this album (I know what I want the title to mean, just figuring out the best way to phrase it) and how I want to build it. I didn't listen to the sessions the entire time, so listening to them yesterday felt fresh and new again. Today, I finished all the electric guitar tracks for 3 songs and I'm starting to come up with ideas for how to track vocals. Tomorrow I'll probably work on some acoustic guitar tracks and Wednesday, I'll be back in the practice space tracking more loud guitars.

Most recommended friend-albums of 2012

This year, many of my friends and acquaintances put out absolutely incredible music that is worth taking a few minutes out of your day to listen to. Despite how proud I am of everything I recorded this year, I decided to limit the inclusion of that stuff to one album. Below are links and my best attempt to describe each artist. In no order:

Mitar - Anywhere Anyway

http://mitar.bandcamp.com/album/anywhere-anyway

Whispery vocals over beautifully nuanced guitar playing. If you like Nick Drake playing you to sleep in 2012...

Freudian Slip - & Slide

http://onsomeseriousswerp.com/album/slide

Equally lazy and agile, excellent drum work, and the guitars mesh together. Tons of cool harmonies. If you like mathy Chicago bands with a great sense of melody...

Oshwa - transmissions from the midwest: a real​-​america tribute

http://oshwa.bandcamp.com/album/transmissions-from-the-midwest-a-real-america-tribute

Weirdo-tropical-math, female-fronted, crazy vocal parts, groovy rhythm section. If you like Tune-yards and twinkling guitars...

Is and of The - Know Not 

http://isandofthe.bandcamp.com/album/know-not

Spaced-out jams with live and electronic instruments/noises. Very structurally unconventional. The whole album just flows and I like the production a lot. The vocals are awesome, and reading the lyrics along with them helps give the album more of a center. If you like feeling like you're in outer space...

Esoteric Tapioca - Single Player

http://esoterictapioca.com/album/single-player

GREAT lyrics! Really cool vocal melodies and harmonies, interesting chord progressions. A raw, DIY affair. A couple tracks have some serious fuzz too. If you like WHY? playing badass rock music...

Random Child - Trials

http://randomchild.bandcamp.com/album/trials

This band put out two metal albums before Trials, but it seems they've hit their stride comfortably with this one. Lyrics are really, really well written and totally sad. Lo-fi but hard-hitting, a nice blend of older and newer hardcore (older in terms of production/mix and newer in terms of musical vocabulary). FUCK!

Ton-Taun - Get Well 

http://ton-taun.bandcamp.com/album/get-well

Recorded in a barn and boy oh boy does it sound like it. Nice harmonies, lots of layers and rad drumming. If you like Bon Iver from the East Coast...

I began working with Dave Hennessy in the fall of 2011 on the creation of his new EP, Forever. The first single, Today, just dropped on Bandcamp (free download for the next 24 hours!) and the EP will be out in January. Have a listen!

Recording a new LP!

I just finished setting up drum mics, and Mike Nardone is coming over to put some finishing touches on the placement. Finally, I am making a full length. The last one I put out was in 2010, and I feel like I have a much more concrete grasp on what it means to make a full length. Follow my Twitter page for updates and pictures.