Masters of Mayhem

First off, this is the 5th time I've written this post. This is quite annoying, Tom. So, I am putting in a feature request so you can input the blogs via a file upload so that you can write it offline then upload the entire blog later.

With that said...

Since I've had my iPod, I've been diligently converting all my precious CDs to AACs. I spent a lot of time this week also downloading art for each of these records and associating them properly. In order for me to do that, I had to delete everything from my iPod then put everything back. When I got to the Smashing Pumpkins catalog, which is the biggest component of my collection with official albums, live tracks, and bootlegs, I reminisced about driving around the streets of San Antonio in my '86 Mustang LX bumping the Pumpkins at massive volumes and thinking to myself, "Nothing is ever gonna top this loudness!"

Well, I was wrong...

In recent years audio mastering has been more about volume and excess than taking music into consideration. This belief is fueled on the idea that the louder the record, the more of a chance it'll get played on the radio. That might've been true in the old days of vnyil and tape, but little do people know that radio stations take any recording, add 10-20 Db of gain to the recording to make it louder then limit the hell out of the signal to get the recording to smooth out prior to being broadcasted. So, if you're recording is already a few DB less than the standard rock record, once it gets played on the radio, it sounds just like everything else.


For those of us not on the radio, we have to think about it. People have become accustomed to hearing records with hardly any dynamic range on them and think something is wrong if they hear a record with normal dynamics. Also, there is a level of "crunch" that can be introduced into a mix with judicious use of a mastering program that is magical when pushed very hard. However, artists with loud/soft song dynamics in their records miss out on that advantage when even the soft parts are at 10 (the loud parts go up to 11).

I wonder if the Pumpkins took these ideas into consideration when they made their records or if they just took advantage of what could be done and got them to the loudness that they could for the times. For now, I have selected to bump up all the recordings in volume just so I don't have to reach for the volume button when a SP song comes on shuffle. I guess I'll have to ask Billy his thoughts at the time when we're ballin' at the club.

Currently listening : Gish By Smashing Pumpkins Release date: By 04 October, 1994

Lights, Camera, 5 Minutes of Action!

I went to my first movie audition yesterday evening. The whole experience was surreal. I warmed up at my house with stretches, vocal warm-ups, GTA San Andreas...then headed out.

I got there 10 minutes early and stayed in the car and went over my one and only monologue just in case they ask for one. The audition notice was for improvisers and they mentioned they would be providing a "side", which is a page of the script, 15 minutes prior to the audition itself. However, I wanted to be as prepared as possible just in case they got a wild hair and wanted a bit more.

The character in the script was a lot like the role description they had given me, so, I felt good about that. I got into the character pretty quickly and tried the lines out to a wall in the back complete with gestures, coughs, and little ad-libs to make the character believable and my own.

I was summoned into a room where they had set up a small stage with a chair, microphone hanging above it, a canopy with light semi-circumventing the area and a camera. I shook hands with the directors and producers of the film and they seemed like a jolly bunch. Whoah, this has the inklings of a professional deal! So, I took my chair and got into action!

5 minutes later, I was done reading through the lines the first time and staying on script in character and then a second time with me improvising the scene with a couple of cues from the script. I was a lot of fun! I then proceeded to reshake the same hands as before and walked out feeling pretty good about it. Callback or not, it was a good audition.

The speed at which this audition went made me wonder how many other people were trying out for this. Must be a lot because they wasted no time getting me in, seeing what I could do, and getting me out. It seems that the more and more I audition for things, the less time I get to actually showcase my talent. The good news is, thanks to my warm-ups and a bit of advice from various folks, I get down to bidnez right from the start. FUN!

Currently listening : Destroyer By Scabs Release date: By 29 August, 1994

Down With My Tracker

I bought my Geo Tracker new in 1997 with the idea that it would last me forever. I knew it was a complete chick magnet back in the day with it's meager 4 cyclinder engine, boxy construction, complete with it's rattles, shakes, and inability to handle uneven surfaces. It was a convertable that only lived a whopping two days in that form due to the logistics of storing and maintaining a hard top in a small apartment. It never left me stranded, however, and although what repairs were done on it were costly due to expensive parts, it was overall easy to maintain. I thank the Tracker for it's wonderful service in my life!

My transmission started slipping and acting a fool last week; the sure tell-tale signs that something was going on with my beloved transportation. So, I am keeping it on medical leave while I put the wheels in motion to find a replacement. I'm looking at getting a Nissan Murano as a replacement. I was hoping to get one at the end of the year, but, alas, it may come sooner than later.

So, any one want a Tracker in a slightly-used-for-10-years condition?

Currently listening : Code Red By DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince Release date: By 12 October, 1993

Embarrasing Moments in History

Moment #1
I was working for a "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt" shop in San Antonio and had just become self-sufficient enough to attend to customers. I was 16 and full of vigor and ignorance, but, was having a blast getting a paycheck every week to blow on everything I probably shouldn't. A customer walks in and orders a waffle cone with Chocolate and vanilla swirled. I craftily put together the delicious treat, wrap a napkin around the base, and hand it to the customer with a spoon left inside. They then ask me to remove the spoon. I pull the spoon out of their ice cream and proceed to lick it clean. Their face turns to complete disgust and they hastily pay for their ice cream and leave. I didn't see what the problems was. What, THEY were supposed to be licking that spoon clean?

Moment #2
I went to my first Ice-T concert shortly after I arrived to Chicago. I was a longtime fan and had brought all of my Ice-T cds with me in the hopes to get his autograph. I got right up front of the pit and maintained my proximity to the Iceberg and was mouthing all the words. The classic "Original Gangster" track came on and I went nuts. He then tells me to come up on stage! Holy shit! Ice-T asked me to come up on stage. I was beside myself not knowing what to do. I am moving and grooving and dancing and having a ball. I then decide to act out the song by acting I got shot. In the middle of the air, I accidentally kick Ice-T in the back of the head. I've never seen security move so quickly to jack me up! I was locked into a full Nelson (yes, the irony), slammed into shit back stage and released back into the crowd. After that, Ice-T would barely approach anyone in the crowd. I was embarrassed but it still makes me laugh.

Currently listening : O.G. Original Gangster By Ice-T Release date: By 14 May, 1991

Note: This was originally posted on MySpace with comments at:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&FriendID=16074757&blogMonth=4&blogDay=21&blogYear=2006

Some News on Young M.C.

Bonjour mis amis!

As you may already know, I am a huge Young M.C. fan and have been hungry for YMC news beyond the Celebrity Fit Club stint he did. I found a recent podcast with him on it prior to doing a show out in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Enjoy!

Peace,
Nelson

Currently listening : Stone Cold Rhymin' By Young MC Release date: By 15 June, 1990