Skate the Razor: July 2011 ©2011

Reaching over the net - Bands find new ways to record music in digital era

Bands like the Gin Blossoms and Skate the Razor are increasingly recording new records over the internet, with musicians sometimes thousands of miles apart.

For many of us, the iconic black and white image of George Martin and the Beatles huddled together at Abbey Road Studios in London will forever represent the high-water mark in recording history. A group a young men sitting together, making magic.

Much has changed within the recording industry in the decades since the Beatles went their separate ways. Stereophonic hi-fi was a catchy little phrase in the sixties, like an old motel sign, quaintly advertising color television. Blink twice, and the sign now reads “high speed internet“, making it entirely possible for musicians to record new music from their hotel rooms, or perhaps even tour bus. It also enables the musicians to come together creatively, even when the members are on opposite ends of the country.

The Gin Blossoms, known for such hits as “Hey Jealousy“, and “Til I Hear It From You” are prime examples, having recorded their fifth release “No Chocolate Cake”, in such a manner. Gin Blossoms lead vocalist Robin Wilson recently relocated to Manhattan with his wife, while the other members of the band continue to live near Phoenix. The first single from “No Chocolate Cake”, a tune called “Miss Disarray”, has received significant airplay in Adult Contemporary radio, marking a return to the charts for the band.

Skate the Razor, of Western New York, have adopted a similar method for their new CD. Two members of the band, brothers David and Michael Moran reside in the sleepy village of Delevan, New York, an hour south of Buffalo. Vocalist Brad Cooper lives in Phoenix, while guitarist Ryan Hansgen has settled in rural Tennessee.

“The whole process has changed”, states Ryan, a veteran of the recording industry. “The digital age has arrived. We can now record a project in multiple locations. All one has to do is send a digital capture of the work to the next person, open it up on their computer and record their tracks. Most of the out-board goodies such as effects are included with the software, making the whole process cleaner, and more robust.”

Legendary record producer, and designer of the world renown Power Station Studios in Manhattan spoke of having mixed feelings on the subject when interviewed for this article, but fully embraces the new technology, comparing the old system to a buggy whip… a “lost and useless craft“.

Bongiovi recently appeared at CES 2010, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, where he spoke about the success of his latest technological innovations, the iHome, the iP1 and the iP2. “Almost all urban music is recorded on computers”, he emphasized. Bongiovi, best known for his work with artists like Areosmith and his second cousin Jon Bon Jovi has watched the industry shift in recent years. Mr. Bongiovi, who has over a hundred gold and platinum albums to his name saw it coming, moving to Fort Lauderdale Florida in the late nineties when the studio industry began to feel the pull of progress.

“It‘s simply more practical“. Hansgen added. “It's actually much quicker than having to hop a plane or drive for hundreds of miles to some studio somewhere to get work accomplished. Just press a button and there it goes, on to the next person.“ Skate the Razor

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Skate the Razor, Both Friend and Foe, Greetings!

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Skate the Razor - CODA CD

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At long last, Coda is finally complete, and available for Skate the Razor fans to enjoy! This project has been a labor of love for me, and I am thrilled with the outcome! Admittedly, some of the recordings on CODA have more than their share of warts, but as I recall, Rock n Roll music was invented by people with warts… lots and lots of warts! The uglier, the better, or so I’ve heard. That having been established, the end result is a collection of tunes that make for a great ride, especially for those fans familiar with Skate the Razor and the band’s storied past.

Coda was originally envisioned as a proper ending to the story of a hard working band that had the unfortunate luck of running into some rather seedy and unethical characters… nothing new in the entertainment industry, but debilitating nonetheless. I just couldn’t let all that good will go to waste…the guys deserved better. Well, most of the guys, not all of them.

As for the songs on CODA, they all sound stronger than I remember, and in fact, the set sounds pretty solid together. Songs that sounded somewhat dated at the time now sound fresh again. In hindsight, it’s pretty obvious we made the right decision by going with our strengths, rather than embrace another limited trend. Where are those bands now? It’s a fair question, even if I say so myself!

And I know damn well what glues this set together so nicely… it’s called sincerity. Fuck the pompous pretense, lets just rock! And indeed, CODA rocks! It’s not Pantera, and it’s not System of a Down, and for Christ’s sake, it sure as hell aint the Chili Peppers. Skate the Razor never fit snugly into any of the obvious genres… we were just rock n roll band with a heavy edge and a whole lot of passion, and that’s what I enjoyed about my years with Skate the Razor.

For the most part, CODA accomplishes the goals we set out to achieve, but in doing so, Ryan and I both felt we had a few good songs left in us, and that there simply isn’t a good reason to let the band die a tragic death. Why close a door to the past when we can open a door to the future? Coda succinctly sums up the Skate the Razor experience. I hope many of you enjoy this record as much as I do!

Thanks to everyone for your continued interest and support! I hope to see you down the road.

Brad Cooper
Skate the Razor 2011

Skate the Razor

Improving Your Song-Craft

Skate the Razor, both friend and foe, greetings.

Other than romance, music may be the closest thing to real magic most people will ever experience. A song can lift us up or bring us down, inspire us, or maybe just help us fall to sleep at night. Music can be a very personal experience, or shared by thousands.

As a professional musician and songwriter, I find that my opinion often falls from the fray, as I neither adhere to, nor do I encourage reliance on a formulaic approach to lyrics. Instead, I prefer to concentrate on the essence of my song-craft with the understanding that the lyrics are an integral aspect.

Cryptic messages or entendres hidden within song lyrics are certainly nothing new. For centuries, many found this to be the safest way to express political or religious dissent. The Mother Goose Rhymes are a classic example. Some lyrics rely on the nonsensical turn of a phrase. A particular rhyme scheme should be guided by the muse, and little else.

Of course, each song should be approached individually. If your goal is to write a hit song, the rules begin to get slippery. Obviously, the lyrics for a dance number should reflect the spirit of the mood. One can’t be afraid to “get down and boogie oogie oogie” when that is what the song calls for. By the same token, one shouldn’t ignore the value behind lyrics like the overtly pedantic “The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald“.

When writing for myself, I always write what I feel, and for me, the little twists and turns are all part of the puzzle. This of course, explains why you have probably never heard my records. Legendary record producer Tony Bongiovi likes to describe hit songs as “Cheeseburger Music”, easy to identify with, and easy to digest. The more twists and turns you throw in, the less your chance of connecting on a grand scale.

Still, where would we be without lyrics like “I am the Walrus” or “Gabba Gabba Hey” Both, although seriously stilted, represent delicious song-craft. There are no rules that can’t be broken. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.

I am by no means suggesting you find a way to excuse bad ideas. Settling for less than your best will not bring lasting satisfaction. Push those lyrics hard, and then push them a little harder. Be brave and be diligent. Make those words count.

Later,
B. Thomas Cooper
Skate the Razor