All right, so as you can tell from previous blogs we're in the midst of recording. Turning the corner in fact. I guess we're about about halfway there really. We've got five songs that we've completed tracking on, four songs that have been started and need a few overdubs (strings, sound effects, vocals) and one track still yet to be processed into numbers and code in Pro Tools.

A lot of sleep has been lost. After recording we return home for rest and the next day's session, so I'm missing out on shows and friends. That would be OK, of course, if these last couple of sessions had felt more productive. Really, they have been, but I'm inpatient. Don't get me wrong. Mostly, this has been pretty easy. Much too easy, but these last couple of songs have been harder to bring out the best in (which will no doubt lead to greater results!). More time has been spent rehearsing these trickier tunes than recording them which is slowing the process. All this plus a bit of physical pain (courtesy of a sneaky cavity) did not help me out this weekend.

Friday arrived. I was scheduled to have said cavity filled in. The dentist was a great guy who played some piano jazz while he clamped and drilled at my teeth. An hour later I was on my way home from Back Bay to grab Henry and drive to Dan's. Despite the swollen mouth and the all soup diet, we did manage to continue working on the track we'd started the previous weekend recording piano, percussion and cymbals. This would leave just vocals. Blam! Another song would be completed. Naturally, I wanted to get to that right away the following morning. Naturally, by the tone of this blog you can infer this did not happen.

Saturday morning. I struggled in that booth. Struggled for it to sound more than ordinary. Struggled with suggestions by Henry and Dan on how to pronounce my words. I can be a bit sensitive about that. I was also doing battle with a runny nose. The cold weather does a number on it and it was particularly frigid on Saturday. Everything I sang sounded too nasally. Each take got worse and it was obvious to all of us it wasn't going to get any better at that moment. The mood was tense. I get irritable if my vocals don't sound right; overconfident when they sound good. I went to go blow my nose, Dan cracked a few jokes lightening up the mood, but the situation remained the same.

We called it a day. This will mean more sessions; our time in the studio already limited. I should keep it in perspective though. It's the first time that's happened. What I'm trying to say is we all have bad days. Saturday was one of them. All that being said I will be happy when tracking is finished and I can get back out on the road to play these songs for many of you in person.

On the plus side, things are good on the wedding front. Invitations have been designed by our talented friend Ashley, my outfit is complete, the wedding license has been applied for and Henry's tie came in (it matches my dress exactly). We'll also be getting fitted for our rings this week and looking for the rest of Henry's outfit (boots, shirt and pants).

We've got the upcoming weekend off from recording and are planning on checking out some new amps (smaller ones for the benefit of Henry's back and the Aloud minivan) as well as working out a piano part and harmony vocal for the tune that is as of now yet to be committed to code. I wish I could refer to it by name, but I can tell you its that Motown-ish type track I mentioned on Twitter.

Cheers,
Jen