Friday, May 30, 2008

Web Log #1: Posts 1-25

This is the first in a series of posts called Web Log. Each entry will contain an embedded .PDF file containing twenty-five posts from this blog. After the initial Web Logs are posted, new ones will be posted after every twenty-five additional posts.

This first entry covers the beginning of this blog. It contains posts #1-25.

Read this document on Scribd: Web Log 01 (1-25)

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Equipment File #13: ART SGE effects unit

ART SGE Mach II

Equipment File 13

The Studio had been using the Alesis QuadraVerb for a few years when it was decided another effects unit was needed for more variety. So in 1996, it got the ART SGE Mach II effects unit.

Harry had this ART effects unit and had not been using it much. And Jason had a Sega Genesis that he had not used for a while. So Jason exchanged his Sega and $75 for this unit. The ART also came with a foot board, but Jason never used it.

This unit did not replace the Alesis, but added to the pool of effects than was now available to the Studio. It was used for a few songs, mostly heavier and weirder unreleased NueroMorgue songs. But it just wasn't as popular as the Alesis.

The Studio still has the unit but it has not been used in years and there are no plans to use it any time soon. So it will remain on stand-by for the time being.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Single #4: Believe Me

Song name: "Believe Me"
Album name: Underwater Problem Factory
Release date: fall of 1992

04 Single - Believe Me

Tracks
1. Believe Me (album version)
2. Garden of Hesperides
3. Believe Me (instrumental)

Song History
This was the second single from the 1991 Mune Mud album Underwater Problem Factory.

There isn't much history behind this song. It was an outtake from Underwater Problem Factory. It did remain nameless for over ten years, finally receiving its name in November of 2002.

Track Breakdown
The first track is the version that appeared on the album.

The second track was another song recorded during the Underwater Problem Factory sessions. It was simply an unused track from the album.

The third track is the instrumental version of the album track.

Just For Fun #10

Happy Memorial Day


Just For Fun 10


From all of us at Metal XOR Studio

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Album of the Week #40: UPF 10th Anniversary

Project name: Mune Mud
Album name: Underwater Problem Factory 10th Anniversary Collection
Release date: December 31, 2002
Release format: CD Extra
Studio name: Metal XOR Studio

Underwater Problem Factory 10th Anniversary Collection

Tracks:
1. One Last Time
2. Time, That's What
3. Gridlock
4. In My Heart
5. I Don't Get It
6. Odyssey VI
7. The Smell of Earthworms
8. 5Fifty
9. My Firmament
10. FF
11. Believe Me
12. Eggs to Eternity
13. Go Disco!
14. Xavier's Goat
15. The Grasshopper Child
16. I'll Go Berserk
17. My Style
18. EnVenum Above
19. Rite of Diaboli
20. Holed Up
21. Garden of Hesperides
22. Ben Proud
23. Ring Down the Curtain
24. Nothing Cube

This was the second album in the 10th Anniversary Collection. It was a digital re-release of the 1992 Underwater Problem Factory album.

The album cover and CD label were new designs. The liner notes explained how UPF was an experimental album and that there were twenty-four songs recorded during the UPF recording sessions. So this album is the complete catalog of what was recorded during that time.

The new cover also has the same quote that the original album had on its cover, "If it looks like strudel, treat it like strudel!" It was credited to Steve Hart, a co-worker of Jason's, on the original album. This time it was added "in memory of Steve Hart". Steve died a few years ago and this was a tribute to him.

The first nineteen tracks are the same as what was on the original album. Tracks 20-24 are the bonus tracks. All of the bonus tracks were outtakes, incomplete songs or deemed not worthy of being on the album. "Garden of Hesperides" was used as the 'b-side' for the "Believe Me" single that came out later in 1992.

And this has been the only CD to date released by Metal XOR Studio that was considered a CD Extra. In addition to the audio, it contained documents and picture files pertaining to the UPF era. These were little trivia fun-fact items to make the collectors happy.


Next week's Album of the Week: Pryme Material 10th Anniversary Collection by Mune Mud from 2003.

Friday, May 23, 2008

This Day in Studio History

It was on this day in 2001 that Harry and Jason The Vintage Years Volume 1 was released.

Harry and Jason - Vintage Years Vol 1

Although this has been the only volume released in this series in the last seven years, there are more planned. Stayed tuned...

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Studio News: *** NEW ALBUM RELEASE ***

Metal XOR Studio is proud to announce today's release of Isthmus Parabolic Dish Festival 10th Anniversary Edition!!!


Parabolic Dish Festival 10th Anniversary cover

This is the long-awaited deluxe edition of Isthmus' 1998 Parabolic Dish Festival album. The original album was released on two cassettes as Volume 1 and Volume 2, but there was a lot more material from the recording session that was not used. This new compilation not only contains the two original volumes on CD for the first time ever, but also a third CD containing hours of additional audio in the form of MP3's. It also contains several .PDF documents including a behind-the-scenes look at the recording session and lyrics to both original volumes.

This album is being released today because it has been exactly ten years to the day since the album was recorded. And this is a good way to celebrate the grandest adventure of the past decade!

This Day in Studio History

Ten years ago, on this day in 1998, Isthmus had a marathon recording session which spawned two albums, Parabolic Dish Festival Volume 1 and Volume 2. These were the last Isthmus albums to be released to date. But talks are underway for a new Isthmus jam session this year to record a new album.

Also watch for the Parabolic Dish Festival 10th Anniversary Deluxe Limited Collectors Edition coming VERY soon!!!

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Equipment File #12: Alesis effects unit

Alesis QuadraVerb GT

Equipment File 12

For most of 1991, the Studio had been using the DigiTech delay/sampler pedal for most of its guitar, drum, and vocal effects. But more effects were on the way...

Around November 1991, the Studio purchased the Alesis QuadraVerb GT effects unit. It did the same as the pedal, it had delay and a built-in sampler, but it also had distortion, flange, phaser, reverb, and many other effects. The difference in the Mune Mud Olympus and Underwater Problem Factory albums was the effects used. Olympus only had the pedal to work with, UPF had the effects unit. And probably the song with the most effects was "The Smell of Earthworms" on UPF, each line of the song was sung with a different effect.

In May of 1993 the Alesis was expanded even further. The Studio ordered a second effects chip to replace the first, so now the unit had an entirely new set of effects patches to use. Throughout the years the chips would occasionally be exchanged to take advantage of the different sets of sounds.

The Alesis has been the primary source of effects for the Studio since it was purchased over fifteen years ago. Patch #11 is the default distorted guitar sound Mune Mud has used in many songs. And this rack unit will provide the Studio with effects for years to come.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Single #3: Gridlock

Song name: "Gridlock"
Album name: Underwater Problem Factory
Release date: fall of 1992

03 Single - Gridlock

Tracks
1. Gridlock (album version)
2. EnVenum Above (original version)
3. Gridlock (instrumental)

Song History
This was the first single from the 1992 Mune Mud album Underwater Problem Factory.

This song was obviously about a relationship. Or more specifically, the confusion that can come out of a relationship. The snoring at the beginning of the song was his friend Joe B. Joe had come by the Studio as Jason was getting ready to record. He laid down and fell asleep and started snoring. So Jason put the mic next to Joe and recorded him snoring. Later he recorded the song after the snoring.

Track Breakdown
The first track is the version that appeared on the album.

The second track is a remake of an older Mune Mud song. "EnVenum Above" originally appeared on the Mune Mud debut album in 1991 and then again on the debut re-release in 1994. And this is that original version of the song. But the song did not appear on 2008's Precursory 33. It was decided the quality of the original recording was too low to be brought back.

The third track is the instrumental version of the album track.

This Day in Studio History

It was on this day in 2001 that Nikki and Jason Love Songs was released.

Nikki and Jason - Love Songs

This has been their only release so far, but look for another release from them in the future.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Album of the Week #39: Olympus 10th Anniversary

Project name: Mune Mud
Album name: Olympus 10th Anniversary Collection
Release date: December 29, 2001
Release format: CD
Studio name: Metal XOR Studio

Olympus 10th Anniversary Collection

Tracks:
1. Etesian Wind
2. To Clementi
3. Waterfall
4. Castor & Pollux
5. Another Troubled Night
6. Sittin' At Home
7. Moon Mud
8. The Last Temptation
9. Infernal Tree
10. Scales of Justice
11. You and Me
12. Paroxysm
13. I'm With You
14. The Solitude
15. So Many
16. Redman
17. Slow It Down
18. In the Morning
19. Matter in General
20. Night Sea
21. Ministry
22. Moon Garden
23. Audobaun
24. Telescope
25. Country Ill
26. Chaser
27. Just Defied (2)
28. Test
29. Off Silence
30. Mystical Dream

It was decided shortly after the 1999 ORC album Purging the Great Abyss was released (the first Metal XOR album to be released on CD) that the Studio should go back and release some of its previous albums on CD. The project that had the most releases at that point was Mune Mud. So it was the logical starting point for digital re-releases.

In 2001, this album was released as the first in the 10th Anniversary Collection. At that time there were five Mune Mud albums (excluding the debut and EP's) that had been released on cassette. The 10th Anniversary Collection concluded in 2007 with the re-release of Sleep State F.

It was decided early on that in addition to the songs being remixed from the original masters, the albums would also include previously unreleased tracks such as demos, alternate versions, or outtakes. And the packaging would also be new (new covers, labels, etc).

The liner notes give a short history of the album and a few facts about the original tape. The inside of the sleeve lists the same lyrics that appear on the original tape sleeve, the lyrics are all run together making one long word (sentence, paragraph, or whatever).

The first twenty-four tracks on the album are the same as what appeared on the original tape. Tracks 25-30 are the bonus tracks. Of those, tracks 25, 26, 28, and 29 were short outtakes from the Olympus recording sessions. Track 27 was a remake of a song that appeared on the Mune Mud debut album in early 1991. And track 30 was an outtake that was not used because the lyrics and vocals were never finished. "Mystical Dream" did appear as the 'b-side' on the "Waterfall" single in 1992.


Next week's Album of the Week: Underwater Problem Factory 10th Anniversary Collection by Mune Mud from 2002.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

This Day in Studio History

It was this day in 1994 that Jason went to work and talked to his co-worker, Kevin, about the new music he had been recording. Kevin asked what the new music was like. Jason said it was a combination of the heavy, industrial music of NueroMorgue and the lighter, more melodic music of Mune Mud. So Kevin's suggestion for a project name was NueroMud, a combination of the other two projects. Jason liked the suggestion, so this was the day that NueroMud was named.

On October 18 of that same year, the first of two NueroMud albums, ...Libra 971, was released.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Project Spotlight #20: Who Are The Duke Boys

By the early to mid 90's, Harry and Jason had been involved in several music projects. But not since their earliest days had they done anything with just the two of them. So as the band The Spartans came to an end around 1993, Harry and Jason continued playing together in garages and bedrooms for the next couple of years. They rarely played any original songs, almost all of the music from this time was cover songs from the bands that influenced them the most.

They had an occasional drummer sit in (Shawn or Danny) but most of the time they used a drum machine or had no drums. Harry played the guitar and sang while Jason played bass or drum machine.

Several of these jam sessions were recorded on video or audio but have never been released. Bootleg copies of some of them have turned up over the years. The Duke Boys slowly evolved into their next project, Isthmus. On February 5, 1995, Isthmus had their first jam session which led to the release of their first album, Electric Field Donut, in 1996. With that jam session and their new name, The Duke Boys was officially finished.

Where did the band name come from? The Dukes of Hazzard of course! Until recently, this period of their music career was considered to be early Isthmus. But all of their fans know that Isthmus wasn't created until the Electric Field Donut session in February 1995. So recently the pre-Isthmus era band was finally named. The final three choices for the project name was Outpatient, Lonely Minstrels, and The Duke Boys. The Duke Boys seemed the most appropriate since deep down inside Harry really is Bo and Jason is Luke.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Equipment File #11: DigiTech sampler pedal

DigiTech PDS 2000

Equipment File 11

Until early 1991, the only effects the Studio used were the reverb and distortion on the guitar amp. It was used for both guitar parts, drums, and vocals. Then a used DigiTech PDS 2000 sampler pedal was bought. It was bought around the same time as the 4-track recorder.

The pedal provided two effects. The first was delay. It also doubled as a sampler pedal, recording up to 2 seconds of audio that could be triggered for playback.

The pedal was used extensively in the early days of Mune Mud. Every effect on Mune Mud's 1991 Olympus album was from this pedal.

Around November of 1991 the first multi-effect rack unit (the Alesis QuadraVerb GT) was bought by the Studio, so the use of this pedal for guitar and drums dropped drastically. But it was still used to add delay to vocals for years. In fact, even as recent as the last Mune Mud album, Hobson's Choice from 2004, it was used for that purpose.

But now that the computer is being used to record all new music, the pedal may have seen its last use. The computer can do everything and MUCH more than the pedal did.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Single #2: Waterfall

Song name: "Waterfall"
Album name: Olympus
Release date: January 7, 1992

02 Single - Waterfall

Tracks
1. Waterfall (album version)
2. Mystical Dream
3. Waterfall (instrumental)

Song History
This was the second single from the 1991 Mune Mud album Olympus.

"Waterfall" actually had its beginning as a different song. "Priest and Friar" was a set of lyrics written in August of 1991. It talked of a priest and friar, fire, and the destruction of a town. Although it never became a song, these themes carried over to the music that was recorded a week later and a new set of lyrics was written as "Waterfall". This was one of the defining songs for the sound of early Mune Mud.

Track Breakdown
The first track is the version that appeared on the album.

The second track was recorded during the Olympus recording sessions. The lyrics to "Mystical Dream" were started on July 21, 1991, but were not completed. At some point the lyrics that had been written were recorded. But after the double-time bridge in the middle of the song the lyrics ended. When it was time to put Olympus together, Jason did not want to take the time to finish this song, so it was discarded. This is the only place this song has been made available.

The third track is the instrumental version of the album track.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Just For Fun #9

Happy Mother's Day


Just For Fun 09


From all of us at Metal XOR Studio

Album of the Week #38: Best of Darrin and Jason

Project name: Darrin and Jason
Album name: Best of Darrin and Jason
Release date: unreleased (compiled in January 1989)
Release format: cassette
Studio name: none

Image Not Available

Tracks:
1. I Love You
2. Happy Together
3. If You Could Read My Mind
4. Seventies
5. Brenda Sure
6. Circus Women
7. Botulism
8. Seventies Era
9. Tim
10. What Have You Done for Me Lately?
11. Simply H
12. Take Me Home

In the fall of 1988 Darrin and Jason started making up their own lyrics and singing to songs on the radio as they cruised around town in Darrin's car. Before long Jason had his tape recorder rolling, preserving the sessions. Documented sessions were on 8-31-88, 11-3-88, 1-25-89, and 1-29-89.

It was in January of 1989 that Jason put together this tape of their favorite songs that they had sung so far. They had one session after the tape was finished.

No one has heard the tape and no one probably ever will.


Next week's Album of the Week: Olympus 10th Anniversary Collection by Mune Mud from 2001.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Project Spotlight #19: Who Are The Spartans?

In 1991, Brad P showed up at the doorstep of Metal XOR Studio after having been away at school for a couple of years. The Studio was in the midst of recording Mune Mud's Olympus album. So Brad programmed a few drum patterns and added some vocals on a couple of outtake tracks.

He was also around for the 1992 Mune Mud album Underwater Problem Factory, contributing a few musical ideas but mainly designing the cover for that album on his PC.

It was also during this time that Harry and Jason were playing in various garages and bedrooms, so Brad was a natural to join as the drummer since the three had played before in their previous band, Pheonix.

For a couple of years the three got together and jammed often. Brad was on drums, Harry on guitar and vocals, and Jason on his new bass. Some of these jams were video-taped and turned into bootleg audio tapes. They even played at Harry's 21st birthday bash.

At the time, the band didn't even have a name. They just got together and played. For many years after the band quit playing, these jams were considered to be a newer version of Pheonix. But Pheonix really was a different band, so recently the Harry, Jason, and Brad trio was named The Spartans.

The name comes from the fact that many of the people that would attend or participate in the jam sessions were from the nearby city of Sparta (where Harry worked). Many memories of this time are of those people and places. So the name is appropriate to the band.

It was around 1993 when Brad got a new job and moved away once again. But this did not stop Harry and Jason from jamming, they used a drum machine in Brad's absence. And that was the beginning of their new band, The Duke Boys.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Video File #3: Isthmus "Flathead Midget"

"Flathead Midget" video is now online!

Isthmus video 2

Today is the release of the second Isthmus music video, "Flathead Midget". The song comes from their 1998 album Parabolic Dish Festival Volume 1.

The footage used in the video comes from two sources. The first is the Isthmus jam session where the album was actually recorded. The second is a circus that came to Isthmus' home-town in April of 2008.


Click here for the YouTube post.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Equipment File #10: DR-660 drum machine

Boss DR-660

Equipment File 10

Although the DR-550 drum machine was a great improvement over the drum sounds from the Yamaha keyboard, it had a limited number of kits to choose from. So after two and a half years, it was set aside and the DR-660 was purchased in late 1992.

The DR-660 put in over ten years of service before its internal battery finally died. Hundreds of songs were recorded with this unit. It provided many more drum kits and programmable patterns than the DR-550. It also included bass sounds so an entire rhythm section could be programmed. And this one could be backed up via MIDI cables to a computer (as opposed to the cassette deck back-up method of the DR-550).

And now with drum loops and built-in drum machines, the computer has replaced the DR-660. The Studio can now use the drum machine sounds of the 80's and 90's or loops that sound like real drums from within one program on the computer.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

This Day in Studio History

It was on this day in 1997 that the Isthmus album Ideas was released.

Isthmus - Ideas

This was a collection of songs from the 1995 Electric Field Donut jam session that did not make it onto the 1996 Electric Field Donut album.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Single #1: Etesian Wind

Song name: "Etesian Wind"
Album name: Olympus
Release date: December 10, 1991

01 Single - Etesian Wind

Tracks
1. Etesian Wind (album version)
2. Etesian Wind (original speed)
3. Etesian Wind (instrumental)

Song History
This was the first single from the 1991 Mune Mud album Olympus. It was also the very first single released by Mune Mud.

"Etesian Wind" was the first song that had a real audience. Jason played it for family and friends before the album was released and most people really liked it. So it was naturally the first choice to become a single. And over the years, it is the Mune Mud song that has had the most alternate versions recorded. It wasn't until 1996 that Jason finally found out what Etesian wind is.

Track Breakdown
The first track is the version that appeared on the album. The original song was recorded a bit slower to better fit Jason's vocal range, but the tempo seemed to drag a little. So for the album the song was mixed down at a slightly higher speed.

The second track is the original speed at which the song was recorded.

The third track is the instrumental version of the album track.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Album of the Week # 37: Best of Harry and Jason II

Project name: Harry and Jason
Album name: Best of Harry and Jason II
Release date: unreleased
Release format: cassette
Studio name: none

Image Not Available

Tracks:
1. Jose's Funeral Home
2. The Catburglar
3. I Killed My Dog
4. Superman
5. Washington DC
6. Pool
7. Around the World in 80 Days
8. Forever
9. On the Ranch
10. Drops in the Ocean
11. Druel
12. Greek Numbers

This tape is a continuation of Best of Harry and Jason. These songs cover the second half of this phase of their music careers. There's not much to say about this one, just more of the same as their first tape.


Next week's Album of the Week: Best of Darrin and Jason from 1989.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Article: Studio Chapter Chronology

This article is a summary of the nine Studio Chapter features that were posted in March and April.
  • 1985 to November 1991 - unnamed
  • November 1991 to summer of 1992 - Quintessential Disco-Quest
  • October 1992 to November 1994 - Circle IX
  • February 1995 to October 1995 - Metal XOR-A
  • October 1995 to July 1996 - Metal XOR-B
  • August 1996 to April 1999 - Metal XOR-C
  • May 1999 to November 2007 - Metal XOR-D
  • December 2007 to February 2010 - Metal XOR-E
The Studio began when Harry and Jason recorded themselves ad-lib singing to music on the radio in 1985. Since then the Studio has had several name changes. There have been hundreds of songs recorded there. Dozens of albums have been released. Many musicians have passed through the front door. Equipment has come and gone. And with any luck, the Studio will be around for many years to come!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

State of the Studio #9: May '08

Let us see what is in store for the blog in May...

The weekly Studio Chapter feature has ended. It had a nine-week run that covered the history of the Studio from its earliest days to present day. The series will be summarized in an upcoming article.

Replacing the Studio Chapter feature on Mondays will be a feature called Singles. An article was written last October explaining Mune Mud singles. Each week this feature will spotlight one of the twelve Mune Mud singles that was released.

The 'vintage' Album of the Weeks will end mid-May, the feature that has shed light on old cassette compilations that were made before the Studio was a studio. But the Album of the Week feature will continue. [A note worth mentioning: this is the only feature that has been posted every single week since the blog was created. And it will be around for at least a couple more months.] The feature will shift to the Mune Mud 10th Anniversary Collection of CD's that started in 2001. Tune in on May 18th for the first one that will discuss Olympus 10th Anniversary Collection.

The Studio has used a lot of equipment throughout the years. So the Equipment File feature will definitely be around for a while.

There are a couple of additions to the Project Spotlight feature that will be posted this month. You will soon be able to read about the two 90's bands called The Spartans and The Duke Boys.

The Video File feature will expand once again with the release of the second Isthmus video this month. Last month saw the release of the first Isthmus video ("Lost in Detroit (Free II)" from their 1998 album Parabolic Dish Festival Volume 1). The second video is being edited as I write this. So look for it to be released some time soon.

And rounding out the features list will be a new one called Web Log. These posts will be .PDF collections of what has been posted on this blog site. Issue #1 will contain posts 1-50, issue #2 will contain posts 51-100, etc. Currently there are enough posts to release four issues, but as each fifty posts are made, a new issue of Web Log will be released.

On the project front, Paige will have yet another recording session for her next album. Isthmus is closer to having a ten-year reunion jam which will be used as their next album. And a new, still unannounced project may make its debut within the next couple of months. Keep checking here for news on that.

It is obvious that with summer on its way, the Studio will not have time to stretch out and take a nap in a hammock. And as the weather outside gets warmer, all I can say is I can't wait for fall!!!

Next update in 31 days. . .