Rabbits Full of Magic

03 May 2010

 

DL the new Back Pockets album here for FREE



The Back Pockets - Blissters N Basements

Click the above link to download the complete new Back Pockets album, "Blissters N Basements". You will get all the songs (at a compromised bitrate), the tour kickoff flyer, and some wonderful photographs (like above) by Jenny James. Clicking on the individual song titles below you can download single tracks. Later if you come and see us and decide to purchase a CD at a live show, will get you a CD-quality burn, bonus tracks, original hand-drawn artwork, and your support for a live performance ensemble as they get ready to embark on an early summer tour. Forthcoming tour details will be posted here as well.

...

Here's a ridiculously detailed blog post about the new Back Pockets album "Blissters n Basements" because I did executive production at nearly every stage, mainly working with Back Pockets leader Emily Kempf. The result is one of the most professional quality recordings I've worked on -- professional in sound quality and tonal consideration. The folksy, joyfully ramshackle quality of the Back Pockets energy is enhanced and clearer than ever.

"Australia" was recorded mainly at the end of a long day of Back Pockets live performance recordings in the basement of Atlanta community arts center Wonder Root. A song written by Emily and Grl Party co-lead Katie Holcomb, this track is built on a nice lo-fi drum machine sound and Appalachian banjo rhythm section, with Katie's bells and some additional rhythm inserted by the producer. Since the song had an underlying electronic motivation, we decided for fun to add in auto-tuned backing vocals. This is the Back Pockets' biggest chance for a bloghouse hit.

"Story Song" is almost all live performance, being one of the most exciting musical moments of the current live show. I added some minimal overdubs for clarity and punctuation. A natural Wall Of Sound begins to appear here in places, because the live basis for this and many tracks on this album are an ensemble of 6 people.

"Lovelike" recieves a Nico-Krishna 1st half from a lucky accident one day where Em's banjo began to make a sitar-sounding buzz during certain notes in the song. It also features Em playing harmonium and harmonizing with Katie and Adam on the droning initial build up. The 2nd half is live, gathering overdubbed arrangements as it reaches a climax as some kind of pulse-pounding tribal rave exorcism. Nathan Brown of Tree Creature helped me master this record, and I think the sound of this song in particular is brilliant. What I think we aimed for is something that sounds like it was recorded outside of time, and we succeeded.

"Makin Out Is Great" is recorded by Em and Katie on a handheld cassette recorder during the taxing day of full band recordings. It was a beautiful Sunday and we all went out to Eats and had a picnic later on the old wooden table where they wrote this song in 15 minutes. It's very charming and beautiful and kind of sad, but still very fun.

"My Demise" is one of the top 3 tracks I think I have ever recorded with anyone, and I love the strength of the performance and the variety of effects, it makes me feel similar to when I hear a psychedelic record from some random place in the world that was just dug up. Billy's drumming comes across so crisp and full that it's nearly a fuckin' miracle considering it was recorded with 8 mics mixed live to mono. Em's poltergeist backing vocals during the interlude (and other spots) were done with backwards reverb, and Katie's vocals were live through a delay pedal.

"Funeral Song" is the newest song on here, written during a performance we did for Dodekapus, which involved a local Atlanta circus performing routines that were integrated into our songs. The hardest thing about recording this was recording Billy's djembe.

"Leave Me Alone" is based on drum loops manipulated from a live Back Pockets drum circle performance from 529, months before I joined the band in summer 2009. I don't think a toy accordion has ever sounded so good. If you sign us to your label we can put out a summer 2009 12" dance mix jungle club version. Katie told me it sounded like "The Lion King" the first time she heard it. Circle of life.

"Cannibal Erotica" is mostly a single live performance, with some new organ stabs and additional vocals. The lyrics on this track are often obscured live because of a theatrical event that involves a band member being ritual killed and eaten. Sounds like a spooky Okefenokee Swamp river ride.

"Diarrhea" caps us off with less frenetic pace, but no less grotesque and circusy. Backing vocal effects flown in from T-Rex's "The Slider". Billy plays drum upside-down with his hand on the snares. Has to be the only song ever featuring a chant of "Hummus & Pita", which I totally love. The ending brings to mind the work of 60s era Frank Zappa, whose "Call Any Vegetable" was played a little before the recording of this.

All the songs were pretty much left as they were after the overdubs, including off-the-cuff comments at the beginning and ending of certain tracks. I'm not really a fan of fade out and the clean-cut, clinical ending that is present in most recordings. More often than not any additional sound present around the song on these tracks is pertinent to the performance, the lyrical material and the sonic restructuring that takes place when jumping from one performance to the next.

Labels:


Comments:
I love all of the song descriptions and experiences. That's right - we were listening to "Call Any Vegetable" the day of recording. And "Hummus and Pita" - I laugh every time!

Likewise "My Desmise" is one of my favorite song recording experiences ever. The wall of sound is just built so high, here and in the "Story Song" too. Plus the between song conversations.
"Silence on the ship!" - Em's direction: if only the listeners knew...

I'm not such a super-fan of the "Leave me Alone" loops, though as of now. I hadn't heard them before and it sounds too far removed from the original. I'd also like a "basic/wild" version of the song like some of our live takes.

Such a wonderful job, producing this album. Yay!

Arianna

blog:
"Standing Water" (nature/travel)
http://foundobjectsofdesire.blogspot.com
 
Yeah I'd like to do "Leave Me Alone" also plus a few other songs like "Shruti Box" and stuff, but when I tried to get everyone in for further recording Em was really the only one that made time. Well, Katie and Billy came in for some overdubs towards the end, but a band with so many people, it isn't easy to get everyone's schedules to align!

Still, the drums on it are actually from a Back Pockets live show, at 529, wayyyy before I was in the band. I think it's good to experiment with the sound every now and again too. But definitely thanks for your criticism!
 
Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]





<< Home

Archives

Mar 1, 2007   Mar 4, 2007   Mar 15, 2007   Mar 18, 2007   Mar 27, 2007   Apr 4, 2007   Apr 5, 2007   Apr 7, 2007   Apr 11, 2007   Apr 14, 2007   Apr 18, 2007   Apr 20, 2007   Aug 8, 2008   Aug 12, 2008   Aug 16, 2008   Aug 17, 2008   Aug 20, 2008   Aug 21, 2008   Aug 22, 2008   Aug 25, 2008   Aug 29, 2008   Sep 2, 2008   Sep 6, 2008   Sep 19, 2008   Sep 28, 2008   Sep 30, 2008   Oct 1, 2008   Oct 9, 2008   Oct 16, 2008   Oct 21, 2008   Nov 1, 2008   Nov 12, 2008   Nov 13, 2008   Nov 18, 2008   Nov 19, 2008   Nov 22, 2008   Nov 29, 2008   Dec 2, 2008   Dec 8, 2008   Dec 9, 2008   Dec 19, 2008   Jan 5, 2009   Jan 8, 2009   Jan 14, 2009   Jan 16, 2009   Jan 17, 2009   Jan 18, 2009   Jan 21, 2009   Jan 24, 2009   Jan 25, 2009   Feb 2, 2009   Feb 4, 2009   Feb 8, 2009   Feb 9, 2009   Feb 11, 2009   Feb 15, 2009   Feb 16, 2009   Feb 19, 2009   Feb 21, 2009   Feb 23, 2009   Feb 24, 2009   Feb 25, 2009   Mar 1, 2009   Mar 2, 2009   Mar 5, 2009   Mar 12, 2009   Mar 14, 2009   Mar 16, 2009   Mar 19, 2009   Mar 20, 2009   Mar 23, 2009   Mar 26, 2009   Mar 29, 2009   Apr 1, 2009   Apr 2, 2009   Apr 7, 2009   Apr 8, 2009   Apr 11, 2009   Apr 13, 2009   Apr 15, 2009   Apr 20, 2009   Apr 22, 2009   Apr 23, 2009   Apr 25, 2009   Apr 29, 2009   May 3, 2009   May 13, 2009   May 16, 2009   May 18, 2009   May 21, 2009   May 22, 2009   May 23, 2009   May 26, 2009   May 27, 2009   May 30, 2009   May 31, 2009   Jun 1, 2009   Jun 3, 2009   Jun 6, 2009   Jun 7, 2009   Jun 11, 2009   Jun 14, 2009   Jun 18, 2009   Jun 23, 2009   Jun 24, 2009   Jun 25, 2009   Jun 27, 2009   Jul 2, 2009   Jul 3, 2009   Jul 7, 2009   Jul 16, 2009   Jul 19, 2009   Jul 20, 2009   Jul 23, 2009   Jul 25, 2009   Jul 26, 2009   Jul 29, 2009   Aug 2, 2009   Aug 5, 2009   Aug 7, 2009   Aug 8, 2009   Aug 15, 2009   Aug 20, 2009   Aug 22, 2009   Aug 27, 2009   Sep 1, 2009   Sep 4, 2009   Sep 6, 2009   Sep 8, 2009   Sep 13, 2009   Sep 17, 2009   Sep 22, 2009   Sep 27, 2009   Sep 30, 2009   Oct 2, 2009   Oct 6, 2009   Oct 13, 2009   Oct 17, 2009   Oct 19, 2009   Oct 28, 2009   Oct 30, 2009   Nov 1, 2009   Nov 2, 2009   Nov 4, 2009   Nov 10, 2009   Nov 15, 2009   Nov 19, 2009   Nov 23, 2009   Nov 24, 2009   Nov 25, 2009   Nov 27, 2009   Nov 30, 2009   Dec 3, 2009   Dec 8, 2009   Dec 13, 2009   Dec 15, 2009   Dec 18, 2009   Dec 23, 2009   Dec 24, 2009   Jan 1, 2010   Jan 2, 2010   Jan 3, 2010   Jan 4, 2010   Jan 6, 2010   Jan 7, 2010   Jan 11, 2010   Jan 19, 2010   Jan 24, 2010   Jan 29, 2010   Jan 30, 2010   Jan 31, 2010   Feb 1, 2010   Feb 4, 2010   Feb 5, 2010   Feb 8, 2010   Feb 12, 2010   Feb 13, 2010   Feb 14, 2010   Feb 15, 2010   Feb 22, 2010   Feb 23, 2010   Feb 26, 2010   Feb 28, 2010   Mar 5, 2010   Mar 6, 2010   Mar 8, 2010   Mar 9, 2010   Mar 12, 2010   Mar 13, 2010   Mar 14, 2010   Mar 18, 2010   Mar 20, 2010   Mar 25, 2010   Mar 28, 2010   Mar 29, 2010   Mar 30, 2010   Apr 1, 2010   Apr 6, 2010   Apr 9, 2010   Apr 16, 2010   Apr 18, 2010   Apr 23, 2010   Apr 28, 2010   May 1, 2010   May 2, 2010   May 3, 2010   May 5, 2010   May 6, 2010   May 12, 2010   May 13, 2010   May 15, 2010   May 17, 2010   May 24, 2010   May 27, 2010   May 30, 2010   Jun 3, 2010   Jun 7, 2010   Jun 8, 2010   Jun 9, 2010   Jun 10, 2010   Jun 14, 2010   Jun 16, 2010   Jun 17, 2010   Jun 18, 2010   Jun 20, 2010   Jun 21, 2010   Jun 22, 2010   Jun 24, 2010   Jun 25, 2010   Jun 26, 2010   Jun 27, 2010   Jun 29, 2010   Jun 30, 2010   Jul 4, 2010   Jul 5, 2010   Jul 8, 2010   Jul 9, 2010   Jul 11, 2010   Jul 12, 2010   Jul 13, 2010   Jul 15, 2010   Jul 19, 2010   Jul 21, 2010   Jul 23, 2010   Jul 26, 2010   Jul 29, 2010   Jul 30, 2010   Aug 8, 2010   Aug 13, 2010   Aug 14, 2010   Aug 20, 2010   Aug 21, 2010   Aug 27, 2010   Sep 1, 2010   Sep 9, 2010   Sep 15, 2010   Sep 17, 2010   Sep 24, 2010   Sep 27, 2010   Oct 2, 2010   Oct 3, 2010   Oct 4, 2010   Oct 8, 2010   Oct 11, 2010   Oct 21, 2010   Oct 22, 2010   Oct 28, 2010   Oct 29, 2010   Nov 1, 2010   Nov 6, 2010   Nov 12, 2010   Nov 13, 2010   Nov 17, 2010   Nov 22, 2010   Nov 25, 2010   Nov 27, 2010   Dec 5, 2010   Dec 8, 2010   Dec 10, 2010   Dec 14, 2010   Dec 22, 2010   Dec 25, 2010   Jan 4, 2011   Jan 5, 2011   Jan 11, 2011   Jan 12, 2011   Jan 16, 2011   Jan 17, 2011   Jan 18, 2011   Jan 22, 2011   Jan 23, 2011   Jan 25, 2011   Jan 26, 2011   Feb 1, 2011   Feb 14, 2011   Feb 15, 2011   Feb 18, 2011   Feb 19, 2011   Feb 21, 2011   Feb 24, 2011   Mar 25, 2011   Mar 26, 2011   Mar 27, 2011   Mar 28, 2011   Mar 31, 2011   Apr 4, 2011   Apr 8, 2011   Apr 14, 2011   Apr 19, 2011   Apr 20, 2011   Apr 24, 2011   May 7, 2011   May 16, 2011   May 17, 2011   May 19, 2011   May 20, 2011   May 22, 2011   May 23, 2011   May 24, 2011   Jun 1, 2011   Jun 14, 2011   Jun 16, 2011   Jun 23, 2011   Jun 29, 2011   Jul 16, 2011   Aug 5, 2011   Aug 9, 2011   Aug 10, 2011   Aug 11, 2011   Aug 19, 2011   Aug 20, 2011   Aug 24, 2011   Aug 25, 2011   Sep 6, 2011   Sep 11, 2011   Sep 20, 2011   Sep 28, 2011   Oct 12, 2011   Nov 6, 2011   Dec 1, 2011   Dec 3, 2011   Dec 9, 2011   Dec 21, 2011   Jan 3, 2012   Jan 4, 2012   Jan 10, 2012   Jan 11, 2012   Jan 21, 2012   Jan 23, 2012   Jan 25, 2012   Feb 1, 2012   Feb 6, 2012   Feb 13, 2012   Feb 14, 2012   Feb 17, 2012   Feb 22, 2012   Feb 24, 2012   Feb 27, 2012   Feb 29, 2012   Mar 5, 2012   Mar 8, 2012   Mar 11, 2012   Mar 17, 2012   Mar 22, 2012   Mar 27, 2012   Mar 31, 2012   Apr 4, 2012   Apr 6, 2012   Apr 8, 2012   Apr 10, 2012   Apr 13, 2012   Apr 17, 2012   May 4, 2012   May 6, 2012   May 30, 2012   Jun 5, 2012   Jun 11, 2012   Jun 13, 2012   Jun 20, 2012   Jun 29, 2012   Jul 1, 2012   Jul 16, 2012   Jul 18, 2012   Aug 6, 2012   Aug 8, 2012   Aug 10, 2012   Aug 12, 2012   Aug 22, 2012   Aug 24, 2012   Sep 10, 2012   Sep 11, 2012   Sep 22, 2012   Sep 28, 2012   Oct 5, 2012   Oct 18, 2012   Nov 12, 2012   Nov 13, 2012   Nov 20, 2012   Dec 9, 2012   Dec 17, 2012   Dec 20, 2012   Jan 4, 2013   Jan 9, 2013   Jan 11, 2013   Jan 13, 2013   Jan 19, 2013   Jan 20, 2013   Jan 30, 2013   Feb 1, 2013   Feb 4, 2013   Feb 7, 2013   Feb 9, 2013   Feb 18, 2013   Feb 22, 2013   Mar 1, 2013   Mar 12, 2013   Mar 21, 2013   Mar 26, 2013   Apr 1, 2013   Apr 3, 2013   Apr 18, 2013   Apr 22, 2013   Apr 27, 2013   Jun 18, 2013   Jun 27, 2013   Jul 4, 2013   Jul 7, 2013   Jul 8, 2013   Jul 11, 2013   Jul 15, 2013   Jul 22, 2013   Aug 11, 2013   Aug 23, 2013   Aug 27, 2013   Sep 5, 2013   Sep 10, 2013   Sep 14, 2013   Sep 19, 2013   Sep 30, 2013   Oct 23, 2013   Oct 27, 2013   Nov 21, 2013   Dec 7, 2013   Dec 17, 2013   Jan 1, 2014   Jan 2, 2014   Jan 5, 2014   Jan 9, 2014   Jan 15, 2014   Jan 16, 2014   Jan 23, 2014   Jan 28, 2014   Jan 29, 2014   Jan 30, 2014   Feb 8, 2014   Feb 11, 2014   Feb 14, 2014   Feb 17, 2014   Feb 22, 2014   Mar 9, 2014   Mar 18, 2014   Mar 20, 2014   Mar 28, 2014   Apr 6, 2014   Apr 8, 2014   Apr 16, 2014   Apr 21, 2014   May 1, 2014   May 5, 2014   May 15, 2014   May 17, 2014   Jun 1, 2014   Jun 4, 2014   Jun 12, 2014   Jun 13, 2014   Jun 30, 2014   Jul 25, 2014   Aug 9, 2014   Aug 20, 2014   Aug 27, 2014   Aug 29, 2014   Oct 1, 2014   Oct 14, 2014   Oct 25, 2014   Oct 27, 2014   Nov 4, 2014   Nov 28, 2014   Jan 2, 2015   Feb 1, 2015   Feb 15, 2015   Feb 19, 2015   Feb 23, 2015   Mar 4, 2015   Mar 5, 2015   Mar 9, 2015   Mar 11, 2015   Mar 13, 2015   Mar 22, 2015   Mar 29, 2015   Mar 30, 2015   Apr 12, 2015   May 1, 2015   May 15, 2015   May 25, 2015   Jun 8, 2015   Jun 10, 2015   Jun 24, 2015   Jun 25, 2015   Jul 25, 2015   Aug 14, 2015   Aug 25, 2015   Aug 28, 2015   Sep 25, 2015   Nov 18, 2015   Nov 21, 2015   Dec 22, 2015   Dec 26, 2015   Dec 31, 2015   Jan 11, 2016   Mar 19, 2016   May 1, 2016   Jun 11, 2016   Jul 9, 2016   Jul 19, 2016   Aug 18, 2016   Nov 11, 2016   Nov 19, 2016   Feb 20, 2017   Apr 20, 2017   May 28, 2017   Jun 30, 2017   Aug 3, 2017   Feb 14, 2018   Mar 18, 2018   Aug 19, 2018   Aug 24, 2018   May 13, 2019   Apr 10, 2020   May 30, 2020   Dec 27, 2020   Jan 9, 2021   Jan 17, 2021   Feb 10, 2021   Feb 23, 2021   Apr 9, 2021   Apr 28, 2021   May 1, 2021   May 12, 2021   May 25, 2021   May 26, 2021   May 28, 2021   Jun 1, 2021   Jul 21, 2021   Aug 12, 2021   Aug 14, 2021   Aug 15, 2021   Aug 16, 2021   Aug 17, 2021   Aug 20, 2021   Aug 23, 2021   Sep 2, 2021   Sep 10, 2021   Sep 11, 2021   Sep 29, 2021   Oct 2, 2021   Oct 8, 2021   Oct 9, 2021   Jan 25, 2022   Jan 31, 2022   Feb 3, 2022   Mar 11, 2022   Apr 29, 2022   Sep 8, 2022   Sep 24, 2022   Sep 26, 2022   Nov 30, 2022   Dec 15, 2022   Apr 13, 2023   Nov 28, 2023  

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Subscribe to Posts [Atom]