pearl jam's first album_

ahhhh. that's it.

the feeling of having created something. i mean, anyone who's taken freshmen shop class in high school, who's had to do some stupid paper mache project, or even doodled a picture should know what i'm talking about.

the guys and i essentially locked ourselves in a room a few weeks ago and played until some real music came out. then we took it home and worked on it: our sound has REALLY COME TOGETHER on this album. the tracks are all done, and they range from straight up funk, to acoustic-driven compositional stuff (that is oh-so-much-more-mature than we used to write), to pop songs with an edge. we go from indie to herbie (hancock) to groovy in five short songs.

we were talking with the (super talented) mix engineer about our sound. we all agreed this album should be super personal.

we want to re-introduce ourselves to you all.

the listener should feel as if they were sitting in a room in between the five of us, grooving to some music. the lyrical themes that tie the thing together - love, people fucking up the world, music saving the world, the downward spiral of pop music, etc. - echo the statements and emotion of the music. it's chill, but it can kick your ass if you aren't careful.

the album comes out in january.

download it legally (support the revolution).
download it illegally (as long as you promise to listen to EVERY note).

i hope you all get sweet presents for the holidays.

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in the headphones:
spoon - don't you evah

i recently unearthed spoon. this song is off their most recent LP "ga ga ga ga ga." this and 2005's "gimmie fiction" are some of the most unbelievable examples of modern production and unique songwriting. it's beck with a little cake mixed in - its heaven.

britt daniels might possibly my hero of the month. stay tuned for more...

no in german.

shane laid down all of his leads last night. talk about a transformation. the kid is an animal... but his riffs have, like the band's music, just matured so much. it seems like yesterday we were in my sophomore dorm room writing "three step drop" thinking music couldn't get any better than that...

anyway. this album is really coming together. the only stuff we have left are sham's key parts and the vocals. jon sage, a fantastic engineer and microphone master, has been doing a PHENOMENAL job producing and engineering these sessions. here is a track listing for those of you keeping score.

keep in mind, the order and titles of the tracks are still tentative:

1. love & music
2. graffiti
3. man can't fly
4. neighbor's wife
5. vinyl sound (mr. recordman)

hopefully you guys recognize a few of these... and hopefully some of them are brand new to you. most of all, we hope you like them once they're released.

one love,
andrew

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in the headphones:
after the rain - little dragon

this is a sick track. the female vocalist reminds me of M.I.A. with a little Feist in her. she's a chameleon, though... there are a few tracks where she brings the soul, the funk, and everything in between. the little middle eastern flourishes in her voice kick ass and the backing beat is driving, but dynamic. things are flying everywhere, but it never seems gimmicky. you could dance to this at a party, or kick it at the library with it in the headphones. check their debut self-titled album.

ate.

so we have drums, bass, rhythm guitar, and a few leads laid down on this new EP.

it sounds phenomenal. we're working with a fantastic mix/tech engineer and we sound as good as we ever have before. we're finishing up lyrics, and shane and sam are going to lay down some leads/keys tonight. sam's gonna play only his vintage rhodes... i'm so excited to hear how it sounds on "tape."

i guess that's it for now. we'll get back to you with another report from the studio soon, but for now keep on keepin on.

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in the headphones:
bob dylan - mr. tambourine man

sevone.

so its studio time.

we've grown up. we're writing more mature, more meaningful music right now. the new lineup is full of guys who know how to really lay it down - in the studio or in a club. the songs are ready to be laid down - there are two brand new ones and a few you all might have heard before, if you were listening carefully.

we're getting a party planned to release this bitch in january. there's gonna be booze. and members of the opposite sex. and probably some illegal narcotics. but enough about what'll be going on backstage...

we think we're gonna charge you fools to buy this record. cause it's gonna sound like it's worth it. we've given away all our live shit for the last year and a half, and we're definitely going to keep on with that. if you dig the music, let your buddies back home know what's up. send em to the site to check it out and see whether they dig it for themselves. trust me, stumbleupon is only giving us so many website hits per month haha.

this track (head to the site for a free download) is a sneak peek as to what our studio effort's gonna sound like. its a new take on a song that we first recorded about two years ago. its free.

ya. $0.

i gotta say. i love playing music. it's tight that some of you people like to listen.

peace, love, & rock,
andrew

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in the headphones:
hate it here - wilco