January 4, 2022

Hatchford Hotel

  • Sad day. Had to postpone our show this Sunday due to the stupid pandemic.

Mahout

  • Unearthed raw tracks for “Nawlins” a few days ago and gave it a nice mix.
  • Greg digs it. Not sure what to do with it yet.

Mailbox

  • Final mixes of a few of the covers.
  • Again, no idea what to do with them. I’m really pleased with a few of them but not sure I want to pony up the dough for licensing.
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January 24, 2021

February Album-in-a-month / RPM Challenge

February is coming and I’m starting to think about the RPM Challenge again. Do I dive back in so soon. I took 8 years off last time. Is one year enough recovery time? Last night and this morning I brainstormed the following list of possible projects I could do in February for the RPM Challenge. I realize many of these of not strictly to RPM standards in that I wouldn’t be starting from scratch on February 1st but I don’t mind bending that rule this year.

  1. Picnic*
    • Record the first song Greg and I wrote together back in 1991 with Greg on guitar.
  2. Neb Crabula 2014 tracks*
    • Greg laid down a handful of guitars and vocals when he came up to visit for a possible Neb Crabula EP.
    • I could flesh them out by recording the drums, keys, etc.
  3. Unfinished Solo Tunes
    • I have a handful of solo tracks in various stages of completion I could finish up.
  4. Mahout concept album*
    • Mahout is traditionally Greg talking and me making music that goes behind it.
    • The three words “Mahout concept album” popped into my head yesterday so I texted them to Greg and we chatted about them.
  5. Nothing
    • Literally. Do nothing but chill, goof off, take the month off from music.
    • This is always an option.
  6. The Musical
    • Finish writing the songs for the musical we’ve been working on.
    • Maybe even record some backing tracks for them
    • File this option under “Should.”
  7. Conventional solo album
    • Like it says. Me just hammering out an album on my own.
    • Been there, done that.
    • But to be fair, I won’t be inviting anybody over to my house during lockdown so this might be it.
  8. Mailbox Live
    • Pick 30-60 minutes of classic Mailbox material to record and video in a “live”-like setting in the studio.
    • Mix and master it for a “broadcast” at the end of the month.
    • Easy and fun idea if not the most ground-breaking.
  9. Elephants of Scotland album
    • Write an album of EoS material and record my parts (drums, keys, acoustic, vocals).
    • Yeah, just write a whole prog album. Make it a double-length concept album while yer at it, ya nutjob.
    • I would record the rest of the band and finish the album up after the world opens up again.
  10. Elephants of Scotland Acoustic Album
    • Re-record a bunch of EoS tunes in a more acoustic style.
    • I’ve done “The Other Room” and “Full Power” in the past and I liked how they turned out.
  11. Different Collaborator
    • Instead of EoS or Neb Crabula, write and record an album with somebody else (preferably just me and one other)
  12. Backing Tracks
    • Jam out an album’s worth of instrumentals that somebody could add songs on top of later.
  13. Radio show
    • I was provisionally invited to appear on a radio show/podcast to perform a few songs and get interviewed.
    • If that happens, I should probably focus on rehearsing for that.
    • And I think I’d be able to release it.

* Would require Greg’s availability. Our schedules are looking like they might not jibe this February.

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