Golden Smoghead

The biggest problem with n-track is that it doesn't have very precise EQ tools, but it's also inexpensive so I feel like it's a good tradeoff. Also I do not use MIDI at all so if you guys do, you may want to look around for opinions on what programs are easiest for midi etc. (n-track claims to work fine with MIDI but i get the impression it's not as oriented towards that as ProTools is, for example.) n-track is actually the program I use most -- I also have ProTools and Adobe Audition -- and have used it for many years so if you have any questions I can probably help you out. I find it pr

Here's one vote for computers. For starters, Cubase and ProTools can be sort of a bear to pick up (as mentioned above), but there are simpler, more intuitive interfaces out there that make everything a snap. (Garage Tunes for mac, n-track for PC come to mind.) So don't feel like you're going to need to turn into an elite hacker to get the job done. The main thing I like about digital home recording is that it's easier to understand what you're doing when you mix (including pan and EQ) , overdub, and add effects... And much much easier to undo any of those things if you get them wrong.

I play it in drop D like someone else says, not at my guitar atm but this tab looks similar to what I play, I'd try to start here: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/l/loos...e_apple_tab.htm

And yet Rolling Stone would give that "revolutionary" Wilco album 4 stars.

I always find it a little vexing to mess with the mix for musicians who are now up in that Yellow Submarine in the Sky. Because basically you (producer) are fundamentally changing someone else's music, but their name stays on it. That said, I thought the Anthology albums were great bc of the levels-issue mentioned in the last post. Also I enjoyed actually hearing all the musical parts; I find a lot of the great 60s albums a little tough because of the overall muddiness or reverbiness or something that (apparently) was standard back then. So I dunno, mixed bag on some level, but I'm

Please tell me you sing "Wagon Wheel" at the top of your lungs whenever you're driving on I-95 back towards school. ( )

This thread is awful but I don't want to start a new one on the same topic. Not your fault Kalle, but really did you other guys have to critique Arcade Fire versus that terrible Sun Kil Moon album RIGHT HERE?? West was underrated IMO, I don't know what people were expecting but I thought it was just fine (but no Car Wheels). So with that as some context... This album is pretty darn good! Her first album in awhile that has my ideal ratio of heavy-rockers to slow strummers... And I love them both. The first half of the album, on the first listen, I was a little skeptical. However, thos

Ah, but see then, you also don't get the joy of appreciating a GOOD shot either. And I'd point out, the guy you're responding to said he's going to buy the Blu-Ray, so sounds like he enjoyed it just fine!

I think any of Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, Daisies of the Galaxy, or Shootenanny! are good to start with. As others mentioned, Electro-Shock Blues may be the best Eels album overall, but I find it to be the emotional low of their entire catalogue, so I am loathe to recommend it as the place to start. I also do not really recommend the Live with Strings stuff for starters; it's OK but I think the really layered, rich production of his studio work is not to be missed. (Maybe worth noting I got onto the Eels with Souljacker.) PS You Rock My World is one of about four cover song

I also enjoyed this, but then I'm a huge Eels fanboi. I do agree though, that the special wasn't that easy to follow on the physics side. Just kind of rambled around for whatever reason -- I watched a NOVA episode about the Mandelbrot set that was similarly circuitous and discursive. I think Mr. E should get his own reality show. "Life of an antisocial hermit rock star" is a good premise for anything basically.

Thanks for posting that interview, Beltmann.. Honestly I love the shit out of Boxer, kind of surprising to hear he wrote all those lyrics at the 11th hour. I can't wait to see what this guy is writing in 10 years.

For what it's worth, I totally agree with your preference, but am a relative newcomer to Wilco / alt-country. (Didn't really latch on until YHF, then learned that my favorite Wilco songs lay further back.) Shoot man, I was raised on crap like .38 special, Gordon Lightfoot and Bad Company. My parents should be jailed for child abuse based on their record collection alone, but don't fear! Good musical taste apparently skips a generation. The opening banjo lines on New Madrid and What's the World Got in Store are among my favorite single music parts in the Wilco catalogue. I live at peace

Yeah I like RA a lot, and have generally dug the Cardinals -- Jacksonville City Nights and Cold Roses are the best post-Whiskeytown RA in my book. And, I really liked Easy Tiger a lot, when apparently some people couldn't stand it. But this album has not been at all interesting on the first few listens... I was trying to figure out why when comparing notes with one of my buddies, but I'm really not sure. I think for one thing I slightly prefer acoustic RA. But then I also liked Gold pretty well on the first listen and that's mostly electric. I think it's just I don't dig this group of s

I think there are some of us who like AM a lot, and this kind of post always rubs me the wrong way. AM was interesting if nothing else, and felt like it at least related to something real: underclass midwest experience / being a young man whose best options are the kind of non-options that involve the riverboat casinos and hopeless relationships. AM has always felt like a p.s. to Anodyne, and how can that be so bad? And how can you not like "It's just that simple"?? Ach, I do not get AM haters. In other words, here's to uncharted waters, and the best still lying ahead... But I'd be hell

rhyming "friends" with "friends" = also awesome I'm with you giraffo, I swallowed very hard until the blogfuscation* became clear. *I promise to never use this term again

First time I saw RA's drummer Ryan Pemberton I did a Leroy doubletake, I think it was partly the hair in the show I caught

Uh-oh. Better not mention the "obamaway allyray"

Sorry to hear it, man. Definitely don't give up on it entirely, but that other thread goes into the pros and cons of "taking a break" for awhile. For me, I do have a few tricks for when I can't come up with new musical parts: - new instrument -- either buy a totally new one of the one you play, or (better yet) try to write on non-primary instruments you already own. For me, I write almost all songs on my guitar, but I can play some simple keys / piano. So when I'm just getting stuck on guitar for music, I'll try writing on the piano instead. For me this works really well. I have als

I learn something from all of your posts, Rowboat... It never occured to me that that "gain" on mixers is actually a cheap pre.

I've been doing home recording for about 9 years or so, and I've used much much crappier mixers to decent effect. For one thing, I think it's cool that it has built-in mic preamps. Only thing to consider is if you're using ProTools (vice Cubase or N-Trak or whatever you crazy kids are using these days) -- if it's ProTools for you, I think it's supposedly better to look for the ProTools M-Powered gear going into your comp. I really can't tell if that's just bullshit or not, but the two-channel mixer I've been using to record is M-Powered and ProTools recognized it right away. That said,

Thank you for informing me this existed, PopTodd. EL, you have the scariest av of all time. I've been a Big Star fan for awhile, but they always exist in this strange ether world for me, since I was born in 1978. It's been a matter of digging through their back catalogue and going, "holy shit people were recording like this back in the early 70s? How did Gordon Lightfoot beat these guys out for radio time?" I think this book is right up my alley, thanks again ViaChicago!

Looks like owl, being a wise old fellow, ignored our inputs. But the interview is up here. Great stuff! And sorry, I know this is ancient but I stink at navigating owlandbear and just noticed it tonight.

Forget the Flowers Passenger Side Jesus Etc. Hotel Arizona Blood of the Lamb Airline to Heaven

@ orchestra, Hollinger. and dondoboy: I stand corrected... Although liking that loop should go on each of your permanent records, imho.