SONGS TO GET HARD TO
released MAY 11, 2018
ALBUM 17, RELEASE 44
If memory serves, this took less than two weeks to record, and it shows. The first time anything notable happens is "Classroom", a song that has no bass because I couldn't think of a bass part. The drums are kinda neat though. The synth drone that runs through the song was supposed to be a loop, where it would go from F# to E but then back to F#, but I messed it up and it just stayed on E. I could have fixed it but I thought a drone would be worth messing with too. Eagle-eared listeners will recognize the beat from XTC's "Seagulls Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her" at the end. I programmed it myself. I was listening to a ton of XTC around this time. They were a very on-and-off band for me for a long time. Now I love them again. The Big Express, Drums and Wires, and English Settlement are all towering masterpieces of music. "End of Something" is chill, but it does painfully remind me of the drum mic setup I was using at the time. I had a dynamic mic for the left side, and a condenser mic for the right side. This was what I had, or more accurately, what my twin had (it was their drums). This often meant the kick drum only came through the right channel, which is AGONY. "Untied" was written the day after the Expanding Markets show. I'd had a nasty argument with a mutual friend (not someone I would have called a friend in any stretch) and the whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth. If you only listen to one song on here (not a bad idea) listen to this one. "Dancing on the Truth" is pretty half-baked, but every now and again it stumbles into a good idea. "Around The Neon Sun" is even more half-baked. It exists to be the longest HW song.