Aug
18
2010

At What Point Can You Still Be Called "A Band"?

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - 02:39:18 PM
(Posted Under: The No Chocolate Cake File)
For the No Chocolate Cake file. From Amazon: Gin Blossoms Biography

Wilson recorded his tracks, “Wave Bye Bye,” “Go Crybaby” and “Something Real” (co-written with Tempe based singer, songwriter and producer Jamie Woolford) at his Uranus Studios in Tempe. The band joined him there to produce the mid-tempo drive tune “Goin’ To California.” Valenzuela and Wilde produced the rest at Wilde’s Pueblo Studios in Thousand Oaks—the jangling, inspirational “Don’t Change For Me,” the optimistic “I Don’t Want To Lose You Now,” the high spirited “Miss Disarray,” the heartfelt yet hard rockin’ “I’m Ready,” “Somewhere Tonight,” “If You’ll Be Mine” and the summer-y, brass-tinged “Dead Or Alive on the 405.” Typical of today’s modern recording process, lead vocal (Wilson), vocal harmony (Valenzuela) and instrumental parts were exchanged back and forth electronically—with no single session where the band was in the same studio at the same time.
Firstly, for months I've been stating that Wilson's songs aren't the problem with the band today. And here's further evidence to why - they were produced by Wilson and Woolfood. At least someone in this band has the gumption to work with a producer that is worth his salt. While the rest, which sound horrible, were done by Valenzuela and his good pal Wilde. Case in point on what I can and can't stand from the new record.

What I really thing is darling about this whole thing is there was "no single session where the band was in the same studio at the same time". Welcome to the "Gin Blossoms of 2010" - where not only does the band not write songs together, but they don't even record them together. Well, that's just awesome.

I do particularly love the excuse for this too - the members don't live in the same city. The members of the band that don't live in the valley are Wilson and Valenzuela, and Wilson worked out here at Uranus for his tracks. Which leaves Valenzuela out in Los Angeles - a 45 minute flight from Phoenix.

It doesn't add up to much of an excuse, does it? I think the new found ability to "co-exist" that they've been going on about is now obvious - spend absolutely as little time together as is humanly possible. I'm sure once there is the technology is in place for it, their live show will be a huge screen with each member teleconferencing in. And if anyone's connection goes down, it'll be fine, there will be a Rembrandt on hand to fill in - teleconference style, of course! [lol]

Pardon me if I expect bands I listen to to work as - errr - y'know...a band.

Comments

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Kevin Tucker says on
Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 06:26:24 PM

Ok, the big screen teleconference concert thing was pretty funny. You are way off on everything else though, as always.
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Kevin Tucker says on
Thursday, August 19, 2010 - 06:30:32 PM

I am glad they found a process that works.
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Lauren says on
Friday, August 20, 2010 - 12:18:06 AM

IMO Jamie's only good work is with The Stereo (Three Hundred album)...a bit pale in comparison to LET GO.
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Mark says on
Friday, August 20, 2010 - 02:20:11 PM

Kev, this blog entry is commentary on a directly quoted biography. If you're bothered by how "way off" I am, perhaps you should take it up with the author of the biography and the members that provided them with this information.

The only information not quoted from that biography is where the members of the band live. And given how you know everything there is to know about the Gin Blossoms better than anyone else (including the band itself, it seems) you know this too is 100% accurate.
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Mark says on
Friday, August 20, 2010 - 02:27:44 PM

Lauren,

For someone whose "only good work" was for one The Stereo album, Jamie sure as hell made a name from himself with Let Go and as a producer.

And for a band that pales in comparison to the one The Stereo album you like, Let Go continue to generate a lot of excitment. Apologies to you that you're stuck on that one record that Jamie did with Roy. But the general public, myself included, have moved on with Jamie and really enjoy his current work with Serifini and Hessel.

Jamie's discography when in comes to producing, engineering and mixing speaks for itself. He's been behind some of the best discs to come out of the valley in recent years, not to mention jet setting overseas to work with bands. And of course, was the engineer, mixing and production mastermind behind the best record to be released this year - Domo's With Friends Like These....

Of course, that brings us to the fact that Jamie Woolfood lives and breathes power pop. True power pop. Which the Gin Blossoms record is not.

The continued suggestion by Gin Blossoms fans that wthe reason why people like myself have a problem with the band in 2010 is because they've taken a power pop direction that I don't agree with is an absolute slap in the fact to any, and every power pop band that is actually true to the genre. And of course, is a ridiculous suggestion that I, of anyone, don't like power pop.

The fact is Jesse Valenzuela, Susan Sandberg and particularly Danny Wilde would not know power pop if they fell over it at it jumped up and bit them in the ass. The only genre the Gin Blossoms fit into in 2010 is sappy easy listening adult contempary. Otherwise known as bad elevator music.

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