Skate the Razor

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

2011-07-13T19:57:00.000-07:00

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

Store

2011-07-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor, Both Friend and Foe, Greetings!

The Skate the Razor Store

Skate the Razor - CODA CD

Limited Edition

$6.99

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

2011-07-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

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

Media

2011-07-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor, Both Friend and Foe, Greetings.

Skate the Razor

Contact Us

2011-07-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor, Both Friend and Foe, Greetings.

Contact Us

Skate the Razor 2011

CODA CD NOW Avaiable!

2011-06-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor, Both Friend and Foe, Greetings!

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

Skate the Razor announces plans for upcoming twentieth anniversary

2010-11-07T06:05:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor, Both Friend and Foe, Greetings.

I guess there is no time like the present for acknowledging the obvious. The original members of Skate the Razor are currently writing and recording new material together to coincide with the upcoming twentieth anniversary of the band. We have been on a long journey together and separately, and we look forward to the group of us creating music together again.

As many followers of the band are aware, Ryan and I have continued to write together whenever possible, whether in Western New York, mid-Manhattan, or central Maine, we have found ways to keep the formula alive and fresh. As such, we anticipate little difficulty in bringing this project up to expectations. As for lyrical content, rest assured, there is always someone out there ready and willing to push my buttons. Once engaged, I have no problem reaching a boil. I have plenty to vent about.

One nice thing about this group of guys was their unwavering work ethic. The boys accomplished a great deal because they worked for it! Make no mistake, they worked hard, encountering more than their share of adversity along the way. The re-union project allows us to come together to celebrate our successes, and perhaps kick a few old demons back under the bed. For myself, it also provides me with an opportunity to properly thank all those who were supportive of Skate the Razor, through thick and thin, before the advent of the internet and Facebook and band blogs…

That having been said, I will be attempting to keep readers abreast of our progress, as we prepare for this project… Feel free to send me your questions and suggestions, as I want to hear what you have to say. I will also be posting video footage of our progress from time to time, and perhaps even snippets from some of the new tunes. Fortunately, we are geared up and ready to go, cause time passes quickly when we’re having fun…

Skate the Razor

Leaches and Barnacles

2010-11-04T04:18:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor, Both Friend and Foe, Greetings!

Well, I guess the Skate the Razor re-union project is causing quite a buzz. I have yet to make the formal announcement, and already I can distinctly hear the sound of blood sucking leaches preparing to move in for a free bite.

What can I say? For years, these free-loaders bit the teat that fed them. It should surprise no-one they are first in line for the encore… their little tummies must be starved.

Let us not forget… these are not folks who emboldened the Razor… we’re talking stinky old gutter trash, quick to press others for an easy dime. You would think twenty years would have provided these ignorant barnacles with enough time to find another ship from which to cling, but apparently not. Nonetheless, I have news for them… that ship left port years ago, setting sail for smoother waters.

One would also think after twenty years my animosity toward these urchins would subside, but such is obviously not the case, and for damned good reason… once bitten twice shy.

So don’t expect me to temper my vitriol any time soon… it ain’t gonna happen. Too many thieves in the night tapping at my window. Too much water under the bridge and absolutely no sign of remorse. Stupid is as stupid does, and I would have to be pretty damn stupid to open the door and invite them in.

There is a line from ‘Change my Mind that sums it up nicely…

"I don’t seek blood atonement,
Somehow, my conscience is clear,
I’ve been out on the tiles,
Dragged by my balls,
The end of my patience is near".

And I don’t mean maybe.

A reminder to pre-order your Skate the Razor CODA T-Shirts now! $6.00ea or $5.00 a piece if you purchase more than one. This deal won't last forever. Price after Thanksgiving will be $12.00 per shirt. Contact either Brad or Ryan for details. Please add $2.00 shipping

Brad
2011

) Skate the Razor

Improving Your Song-Craft

2010-11-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

Choosing the Right Studio for Your Next Session

2010-10-27T18:33:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, and thank you for sharing a few moments of your time with me.
I just completed writing an article for Helium.com and I thought some of you might find it interesting, if not valuable. Please read on.

Having spent over three decades as a professional musician and producer, I have been fortunate to work alongside some amazing talent. Over the years I have designed and built a number of studios, for various clients, each with their own specific needs in mind.

Indeed, each recording is as unique as the individual artist. The process can be as simple or as complex as the project requires. There is no magic formula. The goal should always be for the essence of the song to transcend the limitations of the process.

What do I mean by all of this? Well for starters, don’t make the recording process any more difficult than necessary. No recording can be perfect, so don’t think about perfection. Think about the impact of the performance.

These days, we have far more options than limitations. Be honest with yourself about your goals and expectations. Reliable recording studios can be found in even the most remote locations. Visit the studio before actually booking any time. Don’t be afraid to ask the engineer to play you a song or two he has recorded recently. Be sure these are people you will feel comfortable working with for long hours at a time. Prices will vary from one studio to the next, so take your time and choose wisely. You shouldn’t need to spend a fortune.

In Recent years, computer based recording software has made it possible for artists to make affordable high quality digital recordings from home. However, this method requires an understanding of the software as well as the recording process itself. This is the fundamental difference between production and engineering. The producer sets the course, whereas it is the responsibility of the engineer is to navigate (twiddle the knobs). Some artists, like Prince and Moby prefer to do all three themselves, but no man is a mountain. Don’t assume you can handle everything yourself. Experience, good or bad, can be priceless.

It is always wise to copyright your songs for your own protection. Any simple recording of the song is acceptable and the process is way easier than filing your taxes. Downloadable copyright forms are available online, free from the Library of Congress. For more information, visit their website at: Library of Congress

If you have any questions you’d like to ask, you may contact me by e-mail at: sfefeedback@msn.com
or feel free to visit my webite: Sound Foundation Entertainment

Good luck,
Perhaps we’ll be hearing from you soon!

Brad Skate the Razor

Harry and the Monologue

2008-05-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

It’s only Tuesday, and already, it’s been quite a week. I have been working away on a monologue I am set to deliver this Saturday at Flower Street Station in Phoenix.

As you might guess, listening to a monologue and delivering a monologue are quite different, and composing this first monologue has not proven a simple task. For several days now, I have shouldered the burden of great anxiety over the content, you know, just trying to find the right words to share on such a momentous occasion.

In fact, it has begun to adversely effect my sleep to the point where I am experiencing nightmares. Usually I don’t recall my dreams, but one in particular continues to haunt me.

In this dream, I’m sitting in the front row of what begins as a typical show here at Flower Street station, but then suddenly morphs into a large, exquisite auditorium, complete with orchestra pit, and an entire orchestra, with a pair of cellists sitting just below me, perhaps no further than three or four feet away. In this dream, I am so close to the musicians, I can see the eyes as they follow along with the dots on the sheets of music before them, strange, as I should have been staring at the backs of their heads. May I remind you, it was, of course, only a dream.

On stage is a large, pearl white grand piano. Playing that piano is none other than singer, songwriter, Marc Cohn, known primarily for his one big hit, Walking in Memphis released back in 1991. In fact, Mr. Cohn is performing a rather moving rendition of Walking in Memphis, and is just about to admit to being a Christian of convenience, when out of the blue, in swings Terrible Ted Nugent, high above the crowd, one hand grasping a rope, the other a cross-bow. Terrible Ted is quite old in my dream. He appears to be in his late seventies, perhaps older. Like many his age he has little body fat… he is all skin and muscle, and he is wearing nothing more than a deer skin G-string and a camouflage-colored military style beret that makes him appear as though he is wearing camel genitalia on his forehead. It is not a pretty sight, mind you, and it’s about to get downright ugly.

Just as the song is reaching it’s dramatic crescendo, Ted aims with precision, discharging his trusty cross-bow. Ted, as you know, is a master marksman and bow hunter. He scores a direct hit, striking Mr. Cohn in the center of his heart, which explodes on impact, sending a stream of blood gushing onto the pearl white grand piano, and covering the nearly naked Nugent. As Ted reaches up to wipe the blood from his eyes, he looses grip of the rope and falls into the orchestra pit below, impaled on a cello. There he lies, obviously mortally wounded, poked through the middle like a shish kabob.

I react as any man would. I lean over the orchestral pit, and I ask the mortally impaled Ted if he is alright. Of course, he isn’t alright, and I believe he would have said as much if he hadn’t been so delirious. Ted is in shock now, and his time on this Earth slipping away. Again, I speak to the dying man, asking if he has any last words before moving on to that great used car lot in the sky. He looks at me with a kind of a look only a nearly dead Ted Nugent can conjure up, and with his final breath, mutters the words,,, Harry Bedurchy.

Harry Bedurchy, and then he just slumps back on the cello and dies. Harry Bedurchy, I repeat, as the house lights come on and the crowd begins to shuffle out. Harry Bedurchy, indeed, and with that I awakened from my dream. Even now, I have no idea what may have prompted this nightmarish scenario. I can only wonder.

Well, I suppose it’s time to wrap up this, my first of monologues. I hope you’ve enjoyed it, and I hope the next time you hear the song Walking in Memphis, you think of an aged Ted Nugent sporting camel genitalia. I know I will. Good night everyone. Oh and by all means, Harry Bedurchy.

Brad

Skate the Razor

Show Time at the County Fair, Pt. Two

2008-04-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

The show last night at the Maricopa County Fair was a big success! Thanks to everyone who took time out of their afternoon to attend. The sound was a little rough in spots and the reverb was just too much, but the band played all but flawlessly.

We are still picking through the video footage, which may take a few days, but we have already posted several photos of the show, in this and in part One of this article.

B. Thomas Cooper & Friends perform
at the Maricopa County Fair

In all, we played a total of ten tunes, which is a first for us. It’s much like preparing for a ten round middle-weight bout, only we get to sit on the stool most of the time. No spit bucket, of course. (Kudos to Don Biscoe, who stood in for Michael Buffer).

(L-R) Nick Gill, B. Cooper, Jon Duff

I hope you enjoy the photos. Try back in a day or so, and don’t be surprised when you find we have posted a slew of the new.

Once again, thanks to everyone who contributed. I owe you big time!

Brad

Skate the Razor

Show Time at the County Fair, Pt. One

2008-04-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

It is 10:26 a.m. and Nick and I have commenced to watching ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ , a ritual before most gigs. Currently listening to ‘Cups and Cakes’. Life imitates art.

This isn't a Skate the Razor gig, however. This is B. Thomas Cooper and Friends. We will be opening with 'These Clever Lies'. Our bass player Jon Duff will be arriving at 12:30 or so. We go on at 3:00 p.m. for a forty-five minute set, while strangers eating fry bread point at us with their sticky fingers. Ah, spring is in the air.

Jon Duff at Fairgrounds

Nick Gill performing at fair

We’ll be shooting lot’s of digital film. In fact, our camera crew is larger than our stage crew. (Listening to 'Lick My Love Pump.)

We are expecting the temperature to a be a very agreeable 85 degrees. I’m very much looking forward to a great time. More on what transpires later.

See ya' there!

Brad

Skate the Razor

Free Skate the Razor Downloads

2008-03-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

FREE Skate the Razor Downloads
The Downloads have arrived.
As promised, here are the first batch of songs from Trance Factor, the rare debut CD by Skate the Razor. These are the complete versions of each song as they appear on Trance Factor, not some diced up sound-bites. Quality is important, so the downloads are only available in Mp3 format. Feel free to download any time, day or night.
Oh, and tell a friend.

She Loves Jesus (2:32)
One Little Drop (3:43)
Jack-Knife (3:16)
Stranger (5:20)
Sleeping with Fire (4:00)
Last Time (2:53)
Firing Line (2:19)
It Rains (2:57)
The Gods Must Be Sleeping (3:23)
Judgment Day (4:15)
Rock City Man (3:30)

To download right-click the link and select "Save Link/Target As..."

If you like what you hear, check back next Friday, when I’ll be posting three more Skate the Razor classics from Trance Factor. All Skate the Razor downloads offered by me on this blog are FREE! No Charge! Gratis. These free downloads will also be available soon at Skate the Razor and at Sound Foundation Ent , and as the man says, you pay nothing. It’s just my way of spreading the love.

Shove that in your pipe and smoke it!

Skate the Razor

Seasons Greetings!

2007-12-24T07:52:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Season's Greetings!

The holiday candles are burning, my friends. Christmas is only days away. Many presents have yet to be purchased, let alone, wrapped and distributed. Thank the good lord above (thanks be to Allah, etc.) I can always count on Santa to bear the brunt of the load.

Yes, the holiday season is again upon us. Rest assured good old Saint Nick knows who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, no matter what George W. Bush or Dick Cheney may say to the contrary. I recommend two lumps a piece. Of coal that is, but then I assume you knew where I was going with this.

Ah, but I digress.

We acquired our Christmas tree in the usual manner, and from the usual suspects, whom we have ascertained use the proceeds to fund a covert children’s hospital in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. Mum is the word.

The parking lot was dimly lit. Actually, it was not lit at all. It was dark! We peered through the shadows, shaking branches curiously and horse-trading in our best broken Spanish. We settled on a fine tree. The gentle mannered attendant then secured the tree to the roof of our truck with about forty feet of heavy rope I assume was strong enough secure an angry bison to our rooftop. No extra charge.

As we pulled away from the unpaved parking area adjoining the unlit tree lot, we were greeted by the most unusual sign. 'NO REFUNDS OR RETURNS' the sign portended. They must be on to us, we mused, as we drove away, singing carols in our best broken Spanish.

More later,
Eggnog and fudge await.

Skate the Razor

Free New Skate the Razor Video - She Loves Jesus (Live)

2007-11-19T19:41:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

You saw it here first! The New She Loves Jesus Live, all digitally re-mastered for the YouTube generation. Watch Now and Be Amazed!

She Loves Jesus recorded live in Buffalo, New York

Originally filmed by Ralph Burgess aka Rip Starly during a live performance in front of a packed house at Sinbad’s, in Buffalo New York.

As promised, the video kicks a whole bunch of backside, so watch it over and over, and of course, show it to all of your friends, That’s what it’s for.

Oh, and remember, we’re not done yet! We also have videos for Stranger and Sleeping With Fire, both currently undergoing treatment. Both should be ready for action in a few days or so.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
Chow,

Brad

Skate the Razor

Sound Foundation Entertainment - blogment - National Newswire - The Infinite Echo - Sound & Recording - Impeachment Now! - Skate the Razor - Skate the Razor Blog

Skate The Razor Videos Coming Soon!

2007-11-17T17:20:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

They’re Coming!

The new, digitally restored and re-mastered versions of Skate the Razor’s classic music videos are nearly here!

It’s amazing! These great videos now look better than ever. If only Rip, our loyal friend and video director were still around to see his hard work appear on YouTube and the likes. He would have been quite proud.

Unfortunately, Rip recently passed away of heart failure, and we had to complete this project without his priceless input. Needless to say, the newly restored videos would have turned out much differently had he been around to guide us through the maze of memories.

Nick and I ran into a few obstacles, but ultimately, if proved to be less stressful than we’d imagined. I have been contacting the guys to keep them up to date on our progress, and I suspect when they actually see this stuff, they’re going to be stoked in a big way.

Brad & Mike in summer of 2006

The videos include our single, ‘Stranger‘, as well as Rip’s first real effort, ‘Sleeping with Fire‘, which he created entirely without the aid of computer software. For years, he had wanted to go back and re-edit the video. I think he would be pleased with the results.

My favorite is the live video for ‘She Loves Jesus’ which was filmed before packed house at Sinbad’s in Buffalo, New York. This was a big show for our homeboys, so we always had a great time, and this particular night was no exception.

Check back again in a day or two, or try looking on YouTube, perhaps.
Any day now, my friends… any day.

Brad

Skate the Razor

The End of Summer

2007-11-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

It was indeed, a long, hot summer. Nick has returned, and we have acquired some new hardware since my last entry. The difference should be felt within the next day or so, as we will be uploading the original Skate the Razor videos, for free of course.

Skate the Razor

Unfortunately, Skate the Razor has simply not been a priority of mine as of late, but I am hoping to dedicate more time to the project in upcoming weeks. There is always much to do. We have begun production on a video for Judgment Day, but it’s still a long way from being finished.

The winter holidays are nearly upon us once again, and this year, with the economy slipping, we can expect the full court press. Still, we hope to offer free cd’s, t-shirts and other fun stuff before the year is out, so be sure to visit again soon.

Brad

Skate the Razor

Thirteen Things An Aging Rock Musician Should Never Do In Public (Revisited)

2007-11-06T17:43:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

I have compiled a list of thirteen (newish like) things an aging rock musician should never, never, ever do again...
at least not with the door unlocked.
Enjoy.

NEVER NEVER NEVER:

1. Grow your hair back down to your shoulders, unless you happen to be Britney Spears, who has a damn good excuse, or Jon Duff, who doesn't, but looks cool anyway). Save yourself the embarrassment... leave it short, like a book report.

2. Get a second job moonlighting at Sam Goody’s. You are not hip, in spite of your recent hip surgery. Leave that line of work for the experts… teenagers. Here's a word of advice... a 'flat screen', and a 'flat-line' are not the same thing.

3. Sing about getting drunk and chasing groupies around at the Implodium. That whole shtick is now the domain of modern FM country radio.

4. Wear a one piece jump suit to the Van Halen re-union concert at the Implodium. Face it, little dreamer, uni-tards are not retro cool, old school, or not.

5. Play air-guitar every time 'Little Dreamer' comes on the radio, even when driving seventy on the toll-way, (like say, en rout to the VH re-union at the Implodium).

6. Hold a lit cigarette lighter aloft whenever 'Aint Talkin' 'bout Love' comes on the radio.

7. Brag about jamming backstage with former members of Trixter.

8. Never take all of your old backstage passes, (not even Trixter) with you to Parent Teacher conferences.

9. Brag about hanging out backstage with Anson Williams and Donny Most at the 'Happy Days' re-union.

10. Encourage your audience to hold lit cigarette lighters aloft when your band breaks into the opening riff of 'Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love', (This is especially important in small clubs with low ceilings).

11. Brag about all the drugs you partied away back in the eighties.

12. Brag about all the parties you drugged way back in the eighties.

13. Pine for the days when Sammy Hagar still sang with Van Halen.

Good luck with the tour, guys. Yes, you too, David!

Brad

Skate the Razor

Free Trance Factor Downloads

2007-08-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

Recording Acoustic Guitar, Pt. One

2007-06-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Who says recording an acoustic guitar is difficult?
Oh contraire, my friends. Recording an acoustic guitar is no harder than recording any other acoustic stringed instrument. Oh sure, some simple sonic rules apply, but certainly nothing worth getting high strung about.

I'll begin by addressing a few of the common misconceptions. Most microphones are designed with a general recording purpose in mind, but there are few hard and fast rules that apply to recording. Although a particular mic may seem appropriate for the setting, there are no guarantees. No two acoustic guitars sound alike, no two rooms sound alike, and no two players play alike. Each recording presents a different set of variables.

Some folks believe a good acoustic guitar sound can only be accomplished by placing the microphone inside the sound-hole of the acoustic. My advise is to forget such nonsense, as it falls dangerously far from the truth, and almost always results in a very poor recording. Even a high quality contact condenser mic mounted inside the instrument produces a compromised result and is generally not used for serious recording. You don't stick your ears in the sound hole when you listen to an acoustic guitar do you? I certainly don't.

Indeed, microphone placement is key to recording any acoustic instrument, but it need not be difficult. An acoustic guitar has wonderful ambient and dynamic qualities, often overlooked or misunderstood. Try backing the mic away from the guitar a few inches, pointing the diaphragm toward the sound-hole. Relax, and let the instrument breathe. Changing the axis alignment of the mic, even ever so slightly, can produce startling results. Most importantly, listen for the subtle changes, and learn what is meant by critical listening'. Don't settle for the first sound you dial in. Take your time, and by all means, enjoy the process.

Skate the Razor

Choosing the Right Microphone

2007-04-01T20:15:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

When choosing the right microphone for a particular application, an array of external variables come into play, including room acoustics, mic placement, frequency response, sound pressure, etc. For this reason, different types of microphones are designed to address different sonic properties.

A microphone works by converting acoustic energy into corresponding electrical voltages, through a process known as transduction. There are various methods by which this process can be accomplished, however, the two most common types of microphones used in recording are the dynamic and the condenser.

With a dynamic microphone, a moving conductor cuts the magnetic field of force to produce electricity, or signal. There are two basic types of dynamic microphones, the ribbon mic, and the more popular, moving coil dynamic, in which a coil of wire is suspended within a magnetic field. Sound-waves strike the diaphragm, causing it to vibrate. This in turn causes the coil to vibrate, generating the desired signal. With a ribbon microphone, a thin strip of metal foil (the ribbon) is suspended within the magnetic field. Again, sound waves cause the ribbon to vibrate within the field, resulting in transduction.

There are dozens of companies who manufacture dependable, reasonably priced studio microphones. So many in fact, it would be nearly impossible to discuss all of them in this article. Therefore I will limit my suggestions to a handful of the more popular microphones
readily available at an affordable price.

Shure Bros. SM-57 & SM-58

Manufactured by Shure Bros. for decades without ever undergoing any notable changes.,
these two dynamic microphones have been the foundation of countless legendary recordings. Every studio, no matter how large or small, should seriously consider keeping a couple of these little workhorses around.

The SM-57 produces a unidirectional pattern, limiting unwanted noise, while capturing a warm, fat response. This mic is great for recording loud guitar amplifiers, horns, vocals, etc. and can usually be purchased new for around $100.00

The Shure SM-58 produces an omni-directional pattern, and is great for lead vocals. I have used this microphone for nearly every imaginable recording at one time or another. When all else fails, the SM-58 can always be depended upon for a clear, even response. Like the SM-57, this mic is also available new for around a hundred dollars, and is worth every dime.

The Electrovoice RE-20, another workhorse of the industry, and found in nearly every major studio in the country. Created especially for critical recording, broadcast and sound re-inforcement, the RE-20 produces a flat but fat response over an unusually wide frequency range. This is the microphone most often associated with radio broadcast (disc Jockeys, etc) and is ideal for applications involving sound pressure in excess of 160 dB.
The RE-20 can be purchased for around $400.00.

I would also recommend the AKG C-414. With five polar patterns, this is indeed a versatile microphone, although some may find it a little pricey, as it usually sells for just under a $1,000.00 This mic is ideal for vocals, brass and woodwinds, and is often a favorite for film scoring.

Predictably, as you become more familiar with the recording process, you’re microphone collection will grow accordingly. Don’t be afraid to experiment with whatever mics you may have available, as there are no hard and fast rules. Information on the subject is vast and easily obtainable, but nothing beats good old hands on experience. Recording should be fun.
Take your time, and enjoy the experience.

B. Thomas Cooper

Skate the Razor

Choosing The Right Studio For You

2007-03-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Music Recording & Engineering
Choosing The Right Studio For You

Hi everyone, and thank you for sharing a few moments of your time with me.
I just completed writing an article for Helium.com and I thought some of you might find it interesting, if not valuable. Read on.

Having spent over three decades as a professional musician and producer, I have been fortunate to work alongside some amazing talent. Over the years I have designed and built a number of studios, for various clients, each with their own specific needs in mind.

Indeed, each recording is as unique as the individual artist. The process can be as simple or as complex as the project requires. There is no magic formula. The goal should always be for the essence of the song to transcend the limitations of the process.

What do I mean by all of this? Well for starters, don’t make the recording process any more difficult than necessary. No recording can be perfect, so don’t think about perfection. Think about the impact of the performance.

These days, we have far more options than limitations. Be honest with yourself about your goals and expectations. Reliable recording studios can be found in even the most remote locations. Visit the studio before actually booking any time. Don’t be afraid to ask the engineer to play you a song or two he has recorded recently. Be sure these are people you will feel comfortable working with for long hours at a time. Prices will vary from one studio to the next, so take your time and choose wisely. You shouldn’t need to spend a fortune.

In Recent years, computer based recording software has made it possible for artists to make affordable high quality digital recordings from home. However, this method requires an understanding of the software as well as the recording process itself. This is the fundamental difference between production and engineering. The producer sets the course, whereas it is the responsibility of the engineer is to navigate (twiddle the knobs). Some artists, like Prince and Moby prefer to do all three themselves, but no man is a mountain. Don’t assume you can handle everything yourself. Experience, good or bad, can be priceless.

It is always wise to copyright your songs for your own protection. Any simple recording of the song is acceptable and the process is way easier than filing your taxes. Downloadable copyright forms are available online, free from the Library of Congress. For more information, visit their website at: Library of Congress

If you have any questions you’d like to ask, you may contact me by e-mail at: sfefeedback@msn.com
or feel free to visit my webite: Sound Foundation Entertainment

Good luck,
Perhaps we’ll be hearing from you soon!

Brad

Skate the Razor

Banding Together

2007-03-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Some bands are good at it, some are not. Some musicians understand how important it is, others don’t. Frankly, some people are simply too concerned about they’re own egos to do the right thing. What is the “right thing”?. Banding together, of course! Networking, so to speak.

Far too many young musicians think the club scene is some kind of ‘dog eat dog’ scenario, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Nowhere has the pressure been greater than on the Sunset strip in Hollywood during the ‘Big Hair’ era, and yet my band, based in Phoenix nearly four hundred miles eastward, played alongside Guns & Roses, Poison, and other future legends without getting sucked down by personal egos. We were always supportive of the bands on the scene, and it paid off for us in big ways.

Of course, there are ways to be helpful and self serving at the same time. I would urge my guys to help the other bands strike the stage, for example. After all, the sooner the stage is clear, the sooner my band can set up. Doesn’t this just make good sense?

Ultimately it’s up to you, but having personally booked literally hundreds of gigs at dozens of clubs, I can assure you that a band with a bad reputation is far less apt to be offered the choice gigs, no matter how cool they may think they are. On the other hand, if you can’t network on the local level, what ever gives you the idea you’ll be ready to work with the big boys?

Get out there and get it done! Making excuses is not going to get you where you want to go. Don’t be shy to show your meddle and remember, networking is your friend. Now that’s what I call ‘sound reasoning’.

Brad

Skate the Razor

When Your Voice is Your Instrument

2007-02-23T06:05:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

B. Thomas Cooper

The human voice is a unique and complex musical instrument. It is my principle instrument, and one I have spent years learning to master. Although I play many instruments, it was always my voice people wanted hear. Try as I might to establish myself as a respectable instrumentalist, there was always someone with better guitar chops, but a strong vocalist was and remains a rare commodity.

I love to sing. I cannot calculate how many hours I have spent singing. I sing on stage, I sing in the studio, rehearsal and yes, sometimes I sing in the shower. (try that with your electric guitar). It seems obvious then that I would want to learn everything available about my instrument and my craft, don't you agree?

Sadly, many young singers overlook the value of learning more about themselves. Many singers, especially those in the rock or punk genres, fear such information will somehow taint the authenticity of their art form. Oh contraire, ye of bruised larynx. In the event your new snare drum should take a nasty fall down a flight of stairs, it can usually be replaced with little difficulty. Your voice, on the other hand, cannot be replaced so easily.
Damage your throat and you risk your dream.

Don't think I'm not aware of the nerd quotient. I realize how ridiculous those ads look, the ones touting vocal technique. I get queasy every time I see one. Here's my advise get over it.

Mozart took piano lessons and Michelangelo took drawing lessons. There are no good reasons why a singer shouldn't seek out professional vocal training. I can't stress how important this is to anyone considering a career as a singer.

Skate the Razor

Purchasing Your First Guitar

2007-02-18T06:54:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

So you want to play the guitar?
I don’t blame you, really. The guitar has been one of the most popular musical instruments for nearly a half a century, and was a major factor in the development of modern music. While players like Duane Eddy and Carl Perkins defined the guitar sound of 1950’s pop culture, innovators like Les Paul and Dan Armstrong were pushing the technical limitations. As the quality of the instrument improved its reputation grew exponentially, until no self respecting teenager would be caught without one. Where would ‘Rock’ music be today without the advent of the electric guitar?

There are many styles of guitar available for purchase, each with a specific purpose in mind. In this article we shall attempt to cover the basics without boggling the mind.

It al began with the ‘Classical’ guitar, an acoustic instrument strung with genuine ‘cat-gut’ strings. These days however, most classical players prefer nylon strings, plucked or strummed with the fingers. By the onset of the US civil war, C.F. Martin had ventured into guitar production, manufacturing guitars that had much in common with the violin. Soon the acoustic ‘Dreadnaught’ became the guitar of choice.

Unfortunately, the guitar remained a rather personal instrument, not loud enough for an ensemble setting, relegated primarily for use by folk musicians of the era. Around 1945 that all changed with electrical amplification. Within a decade, pop music as we know it would change forever. Songs like “How Much Is That Doggy in the Window” vanished from the airwaves, overwhelmed by the new sound coming from groups like The Ventures. Already it was becoming apparent the electrified version of the guitar was far more versatile that it’s acoustic counterpart.

Even now, the guitar continues it’s domination over other musical instruments. Guitars are readily available, and relatively easy to learn. Still, and you may quote me on this… no two guitars are exactly alike.

When choosing the right guitar, one should never be afraid to ask questions. Although the purchase price will almost certainly be higher at your local guitar dealer, I strongly suggest you begin your search with the experts. Unless you really understand what your needs are, I encourage you to steer away from the pawn shops, as they seldom have your best interest in mind. Whenever possible, take a friend along, preferably one with knowledge of guitars. Don’t hesitate to think twice. Take your time and choose your instrument wisely. As your playing improves your taste in guitars will become more discriminating.

Learning to play the guitar can be fun and rewarding, but the wrong guitar will only cause you grief. Ultimately your choice of instrument will be determined by your personal taste and experience. The decision is yours.

B. Thomas Cooper
Skate the Razor

Selling Out For Fun And Profit

2007-02-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

We all have heard it said at one time or another, usually accompanied by the distinct aroma of unbridled disgust. Some-one we formerly admired has betrayed us. They have committed the unforgivable sin They have "sold out".

Shame, shame.
How could any self respecting artist stoop to such dastardly lows? Oh, and another thing I've been meaning to ask? Just what does it really mean for an artist to sell out?

As a recording artist, I was fortunate enough to work along some amazing talent. Believe it or not, some of them were musicians. I very quickly learned to appreciate the extraordinary opportunity I had been afforded, and I found myself humbled on a daily basis. After years of struggle, I was working at the highest level of the music industry. I certainly didn't have time to foster thoughts of "selling out" In fact, it never came up in a conversation.

Honestly, the term makes me squirm. More often than not, it is bantered about by some-one not familiar with what actually goes into the process of making a record. The music industry is indeed just that, an industry, not some non-profit organization designed to appease the ego of some brain damaged couch dweller who thinks he's the next Kid Rock.

I like to refer to it as bird-house syndrome' Frankly, I love birds, and if ya don't mind me saying so, that's a right dandy little bird-house you've got there! However, we here a Really Big Records are specifically geared toward selling, well you know, really big records. No offense, kid really. Come back and see us when you think you might be interested in building a really big record. Just keep in mind, if you want us to invest in you, you need to be willing to invest in yourself.

Of course, this does not excuse good artists who make bad records, but be honest with yourself. Do you really want to sell less records with each release? Will you be content with relative obscurity? Just what is it you think you want out of this experience? God forbid you catch a decent break and sell a few million units. After all, I know you wouldn't want anyone to think you'd sold out'.

Skate the Razor

Lyrics and Song-craft

2007-02-15T08:10:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Other than love, 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

Submitting Your Demo to a Record Company or Producer

2007-01-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Landing the Mythical ‘Record Deal’
Submitting Your Demo to a Record Company or Producer

It’s the dream of every aspiring musician. Whether one is a member of the hardest working club band in town or the next fresh face on American Idol, rest assured they long for a crack at that mythical pot of gold, the recording contract.

But what exactly is a recording contract? If you just shrugged your shoulders you answered correctly. You see, there are as many types of recording contracts as the mind can imagine.

As a staff producer for Power Station Records, one of my duties was finding and developing new talent for the label. In the music industry this is usually referred to as ‘A&R, or Artist Development. The larger record labels may have several persons working A&R. None of them think alike and thus each may specialize in a specific genre. Furthermore, just because one guy in the office hates your new demo doesn’t mean everyone else in the room feels the same.

A motivated musician learns quickly to become a resourceful musician. The old cliché that one gets but a single chance in this business was not true twenty years ago and it’s not true now. If you really want it bad enough, you will do whatever is necessary to bring your talent to the attention of the industry.

Although some might wish you to believe otherwise, record companies are not magical entities controlled by super-humans. They may sometimes appear larger than life but behind the curtain the man pushing the buttons needs you as bad as you need him. Believe me; if records companies thought they could make their millions without developing new talent, they would have attempted it long ago. Without you, the talent, the entire façade that is the music business, would crash to the ground.

Try not to feel intimidated by the scope of your endeavor. Surround yourself with equally talented people and learn everything you can about your craft. When approaching a record company or a producer with your demo be confident and be prepared. No-one expects you to hand them a finished record, but if you don’t take your craft seriously, why would you think these individuals would take you seriously? Be sure you present yourself in a professional manner. Hire a reputable photographer and be prepared to hate every single photo. Like it or not, repeat the afore-mentioned process until the desired results are obtained. Having a friend or family member shoot your photos is generally not a good idea, unless of course this person happens to be a photographer.

Find some-one to write a bio that doesn’t read like a bad book report. You really only need three or four paragraphs. Go light on the clichés, stuff like talent shows and battles of the bands. Be sure to have your contact information at the top of the page and be absolutely certain your contact number appears on the actual cd itself, as it is not uncommon for the cd to become separated from the jewel case.

Here comes the fun part.

Once you have your package organized and ready for presentation, I want you to pay a visit to your neighborhood office supply. Ask an employee to escort you over to the 91/2 X 121/2 clasp envelopes.
Select the most brilliant solid color available, like bright green or orange.

You see, somewhere within three point range of the A&R persons desk is a large cardboard box or plastic bin filled to the brim with demo packages, many which get neglected for no better reason than because it’s lost in the pile. I always recommend you contact the person you are sending the package to, and let some-one know it’s on the way. You should always follow up with a phone call as well. E-mail is nifty, but in this instance, it’s apt to be ineffectual. Don’t ever assume anyone on the receiving end will have any idea where your package went. This is where the large, brightly colored envelope pays off in spades. It’s infinitely easier to pick out of the pile.

It is true that many of the larger record companies don’t accept ’unsolicited material’ but what does that mean, really? Truthfully, it makes good business sense for these behemoth companies to adapt such policies, as it limits possible copyright disputes. Don’t let this minor little speed-bump deter you. Fear not, brave heart, there are limitless avenues one can pursue. Once again, I implore you to take yourself and your craft seriously. The best advice I can offer is to do your homework and do it well. Don’t focus your energy on landing a record deal. Instead, I suggest you prepare yourself to be ready when opportunity comes knocking.

B. Thomas Cooper

Skate the Razor

Choosing the Right Microphone For Your Recording

2007-01-03T19:18:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

When choosing the right microphone for a particular application, an array of external variables come into play, including room acoustics, mic placement, frequency response, sound pressure, etc. For this reason, different types of microphones are designed to address different sonic properties.

A microphone works by converting acoustic energy into corresponding electrical voltages,
through a process known as transduction. There are various methods by which this process can be accomplished, however, the two most common types of microphones used in recording are the dynamic and the condenser.

With a dynamic microphone, a moving conductor cuts the magnetic field of force to produce electricity, or signal. There are two basic types of dynamic microphones, the ribbon mic, and the more popular, moving coil dynamic, in which a coil of wire is suspended within a magnetic field. Sound-waves strike the diaphragm, causing it to vibrate. This in turn causes the coil to vibrate, generating the desired signal. With a ribbon microphone, a thin strip of metal foil (the ribbon) is suspended within the magnetic field. Again, sound waves cause the ribbon to vibrate within the field, resulting in transduction.

There are dozens of companies who manufacture dependable, reasonably priced studio microphones. So many in fact, it would be nearly impossible to discuss all of them in this article. Therefore I will limit my suggestions to a handful of the more popular microphones
readily available at an affordable price.

Shure SM-57 & SM-58

Manufactured by Shure Bros. for decades without ever undergoing any notable changes.,
these two dynamic microphones have been the foundation of countless legendary recordings. Every studio, no matter how large or small, should seriously consider keeping a couple of these little workhorses around.

The SM-57 produces a unidirectional pattern, limiting unwanted noise, while capturing a warm, fat response. This mic is great for recording loud guitar amplifiers, horns, vocals, etc. and can usually be purchased new for around $100.00

The SM-58 produces an omni-directional pattern, and is great for lead vocals. I have used this microphone for nearly every imaginable recording at one time or another. When all else fails, the SM-58 can always be depended upon for a clear, even response. Like the SM-57, this mic is also available new for around a hundred dollars, and is worth every dime.

The Electrovoice RE-20, another workhorse of the industry, and found in nearly every major studio in the country. Created especially for critical recording, broadcast and sound re-inforcement, the RE-20 produces a flat but fat response over an unusually wide frequency range. This is the microphone most often associated with radio broadcast (disc Jockeys, etc) and is ideal for applications involving sound pressure in excess of 160 dB.
The RE-20 can be purchased for around $400.00.

I would also recommend the AKG C-414. With five polar patterns, this is indeed a versatile microphone, although some may find it a little pricey, as it usually sells for just under a $1,000.00 This mic is ideal for vocals, brass and woodwinds, and is often a favorite for film scoring.

Predictably, as you become more familiar with the recording process, you’re microphone collection will grow accordingly. Don’t be afraid to experiment with whatever mics you may have available, as there are no hard and fast rules. Information on the subject is vast and easily obtainable, but nothing beats good old hands on experience. Recording should be fun.
Take your time, and enjoy the experience.

B. Thomas Cooper

Skate the Razor

Music Recording & Engineering - Choosing The Right Studio For You

2006-12-31T12:07:00.000-08:00

... And Counting

2006-12-27T16:59:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

With only four days remaining in 2006, it appears 2007 is already shaping up to be an interesting year.

Skate the Razor is not apt to be an exception, at least not by my account. Many exciting possibilities are already beginning to take shake. In fact, this is an ideal time to thank those of you who haven’t taken a few minutes to check out our video for THESE CLEVER LIES. So far, the concept has proven very successful, with the video having already been viewed over twelve hundred times. This has unquestionably contributed to improving Skate the Razor’s visibility.

Thank you.

Nick and I have been building a structure out back that will open up space and hopefully increase our productivity. It is nearly complete.

I wish all of you a happy 2007. Now let’s get the US military out of Iraq and get back to the ideals this great country of ours was founded upon.

May the truth be your longest shadow.

Peace,
Brad

Skate the Razor

Season's Greetings!

2006-12-21T16:21:00.000-08:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,

Season's Greetings.

I’ll begin by apologizing to those of you who have been waiting patiently for me to report. Some of you have gone so far as to call my residence to voice your concern. Fear not, for I have responded. I have received more mail in my absence than I normally receive for a standard six hundred word tirade. I thank you, and I urge you to seek professional help immediately.

Don’t get all teary eyed. We have much catching up to do, and the candle is burning, my friend. Christmas is now but a few days away. Many presents have yet to be purchased, let alone, wrapped and distributed. Thank the good lord above (thanks be to Allah, etc.) I can always count on Santa to bear the brunt of the load.

Yes, the holiday season is again upon us. Rest assured good old Saint Nick knows who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, no matter what Scooter Libby or Dick Cheney may say to the contrary. After all, it certainly isn’t nice to shoot your hunting buddy in the noggin, accident or no accident. I recommend two lumps a piece. Of coal, that is, but then I assume you knew where I was going with it.

Ah, but I digress.
Christmas rapidly approaches, and I fear I am ill prepared. We acquired our Christmas tree in the usual manner, and from the usual suspects, whom we have since ascertained use the proceeds to fund a covert children’s hospital in a bad neighborhood. Or so we’ve been told. Mum is the word.

While inspecting the available stock, I spotted an elderly man nearby, ringing a bell. I suspect he may have been in on it as well. Personally, I doubt his snow white beard was even real. One can never be certain of such things. Still, the strangest was yet to come.

We settled on a fine tree, and the kindly attendant secured it to our truck with twine. As we pulled away from the unpaved parking area adjoining the tree lot, we were greeted by the most unusual sign. NO REFUNDS OR RETURNS. They must be on to us.

More later,
Fudge awaits.

Brad

Skate the Razor

October Suprise

2006-10-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

October has turned out to be one hellofa month.
It’s been awhile since I have found enough time to really address this blog with the attention it deserves, but it ain’t easy. I haven’t slowed down since late July.

Still, a great deal has been accomplished in a relatively short period of time. In addition to Skate the Razor I maintain other blogs, including

The Infinite Echo
National Newswire
Destination Arizona

This in addition to my daily workload, which is already a handful. After all… an idle mind is the devils moped.

Good news!
I found a bunch of cool old pics of the band from back in the day, so to speak. I know you‘re all anxious for me to get that stuff posted, but it takes time. Perhaps tomorrow. The website is also coming along, but ever so slowly. Just smoke a big one, and try to relax… its only rock and roll.

Brad

Skate the Razor

Twelve More Things An Aging Rock Musician Should Never Do.

2006-10-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

A few days ago, I posted a blog titled Twenty Things An Aging Rock Musician Should Never Do. I've decided to offer up another dozen. Read on, and hopefully, enjoy.

NEVER

1 Wear parachute pants to your high school re-union

2 Brag to your in-laws about all the groupies you’ve bagged

3 Buy an eight track player at a yard sale, so you can play all your old tapes.

4 Program your Tivo to record re-runs of Night Rider

5 Program your Tivo to record re-runs of Night Ranger

6 Do the “Bic lighter bit” when Sister Christian comes on the radio

7 Schedule your vacation to coincide with the KISS Konvention

8 Choose “Smoke on the Water” for your ring-tone

9 Leave your Toker2 where the grandkids might find it

10 Loan your lave lamp or black light to the neighbor kid.

11 Forget how many good Americans have lost their lives in bad wars

12 Vote Republican

Later,
Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Both Friend and Foe

2006-10-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings,

And welcome back.
I’m really impressed with the way they do things over at Ifilm. If you haven’t checked them out yet, this is a good opportunity.

These Clever Lies - Music video by Skate the Razor

This is the video all the fuss is about. There’s really not much to it, but apparently there are a curious few.
That’s Ryan, playing lap steel. He also wrote the guitar riffs, and did the arrangements. I’m the guy in the shades. The drummer featured in the video is Tony Spano, whom I’ve worked with for many years.

By the way,
Nick and I are preparing to shoot a video for Judgment Day. We intend to use the re-mix featured on Edge of the Century, which will be re-appearing soon on Artifact, an up-coming compilation of Skate the Razor classics. The video will focus on the horrors of the war in Iraq. Filming is scheduled to begin soon.

Mike Moran and Brad Cooper of Skate the Razor

Brad
Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Trance Factor Downloads Are Here!

2006-10-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Here They Are!

Trance Factor, now available to Skate the Razor fans for FREE! Every song has been digitally re-mastered for your listening pleasure. Now you can hear Trance Factor the way it was meant to sound.
Why pay for downloads that don’t hold up, when you can get the real deal, FREE from the band.

So what are you waiting for?
Start Downloading Now!

She Loves Jesus (2:32)
One Little Drop (3:43)
Jack-Knife (3:16)
Stranger (5:20)
Sleeping with Fire (4:00)
Last Time (2:53)
Firing Line (2:19)
It Rains (2:57)
The Gods Must Be Sleeping (3:23)
Judgment Day (4:15)
Rock City Man (3:30)

I hope everyone will enjoy listening to our songs as much as we enjoyed creating them. Skate the razor has always been a unique band, with a unique sound. Yes, you could have called us Rock, or Hard Rock, or Metal, or whatever, but we were none of the above, and all of the above. Skate the Razor was independent long before it became cool. We recorded Trance Factor with the hopes that someday, somewhere, some-one might eventually hear the songs, and get it.

So make my day,
Go get it!

Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Twenty Things An Aging Rock Musician Should Never Do

2006-10-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

I have compiled a list of twenty things an aging rock musician should avoid. Enjoy.

NEVER:

Grow your hair back down to your shoulders, unless of course, you’re Melissa Etheridge. Save yourself the embarrassment. Leave it short.

Get a day job at Sam Goody’s. You are not hip, in spite of your recent hip surgery. Leave that line of work for the experts… teenagers.

Sing about getting drunk and chasing groupies. That whole stupid shtick is now the domain of modern country.

Mike Moran and Brad Cooper, 2006

Wear a one piece jump suit on stage.

Sing along when Freebird comes on the radio.

Hold a lit cigarette lighter aloft when Freebird comes on the radio.

Brag about jamming’ backstage with Bret Michaels

Keep all your old backstage passes in a scrapbook and show them to everyone who comes to visit

Waste your time with MTV

Drive an old panel van with name of the band painted on the side.

Sleep with anyone willing to sleep with you.

Use the “N” word. It might work for some, but it’s not apt to work for you. Dig?

Hold a lit cigarette lighter aloft when Cat Scratch Fever comes on the radio

Brag about hanging out backstage with Anson Williams

Encourage you audience to hold lit cigarette lighters aloft when your band plays Freebird,
This is especially important in small clubs with low ceilings

Brag about all the drugs you did back in the eighties

Brag about all the drugs you did back in the seventies

Brag about all the drugs your parents did back in the sixties

Pine for the days when David Lee Roth still sang with Van Halen

Release a live raccoon into the crowd just before show time.

Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Full Speed Ahead

2006-09-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Thanks to many kind individuals, the video for These Clever Lies continues to rack up impressive numbers, and has considerably improved our ranking in the various search engines. Honestly, Google has been a Godsend of sorts, as has Blogger.com. We are all blazing a new trail, one without precedent. There are no rule books… only game plans.

In fact, I would again like to remind you… that’s ALL OF YOU, to take a few moments and check out some of our sponsors. Forget that shallow, anti-establishment crap. Even God has sponsors. Without them, we would not exist long. Google AdSense present an ethical alternative to old school ad methods. Like spam, for instance, or telemarketing, which was supposed to go away, but never really did. With Google AdSense, you will only find ads that relate to the content on the website. I can live with that.

The internet is quickly becoming the great equalizer. The big record companies will soon be obsolete. Those days are history. Already, the web has developed a style unlike other entertainment mediums. Make no mistake, a star is born.

Which reminds me.

Tomorrow is the big day, the re-launching of the official Skate the Razor website. Nick has been working like a dog preparing content for the site. I’ve got a feeling we can expect new stuff to pop up on a regular basis for awhile before we get things settled. I have reviews I need to complete, interviews to conduct, etc. We are busy little beavers around here lately.

Here’s the links again, in case you misplaced the ones I gave you before.

www.skatetherazor.com
www.skatetherazor.net
www.soundfoundationent.com

Well then, I’m about puttered out for now, but I’m sure I’ll be back tomorrow. In fact, I’ll make you a deal…
You keep reading’ and I’ll keep bloggin’.
It's all good.

Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

These Clever Lies Goes Live

2006-09-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Let me say this about that…
Thank you.

What more can I say. You people are great! You should have all grown up and found responsible jobs, and married by now. Then again, maybe you have. The point is, I can’t imagine how you retain interest in the band so many years after the fact. Skate the Razor should be six feet under by now, and yet, the video for These Clever Lies was viewed over a hundred times on Google Video in the first week. In fact we are so stoked by the reaction that we have made the video available at other locations.

Here’s the list so far:

Google Video
MySpace Video
YouTube
Yahoo Video
Ifilm

Of course, I realize we are no threat to the latest internet sensations, but I’m happy if my phone rings and it isn’t a telemarketer. In this world, I suppose everyone can expect fifteen megabytes of fame.

Those of you new to all of this may be wondering what the hell the fuss is about. When you figure it out, let me know, as I’m somewhat curious myself. If you haven’t yet seen the video for These Clever Lies, I must warn you in advance that the video features full frontal nudity… of sorts. Actually, it’s just me with my shirt off, and anyone who has ever seen Skate the Razor live, knows I can’t keep my shirt on for long. In fact, I was recently refused re-entry into this formerly great country of ours because I crossed into Mexico without a shirt, and the U.S. border authority has a bad attitude toward shirtless men. Pretty damn stupid of them, actually… at least they knew I wasn’t smuggling contraband under my armpits.

Go now,
be offended.
Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

This Ain’t Jack Sh_t!

2006-09-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Face the facts, kiddies…
Just because Skate the Razor is back doesn’t mean Jack. Catch my drift, Lucky Charms?

There was a day when rock bands could not survive as credible creative forces without at least a modicum of support from some so-called record company or another. Back then, who would’ve guessed that plastic would so soon fall by the wayside, replaced by audio downloads, available online.

Not too long ago, I promised to provide you kind folk with a few FREE DOWNLOADS fer yer very own. Well’n, here they is, all fer nothin’ so to speak. We’re just tryin’ ta go easy on y’all.

Remember to “RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE TARGET AS”
It really is as easy, and as FREE as it sounds.

She Loves Jesus (2:32)
One Little Drop (3:43)
Jack-Knife (3:16)
Stranger (5:20)
Sleeping with Fire (4:00)
Last Time (2:53)
Firing Line (2:19)
It Rains (2:57)
The Gods Must Be Sleeping (3:23)
Judgment Day (4:15)
Rock City Man (3:30)

Wow! How can we be so generous? How can we possibly be making a buck? Well, we ain’t! That’s just the way it is. That’s not all, either. We’re so defiantly giving, that in fact, we’re also throwing in a FREE VIDEO DOWNLOAD, of THESE CLEVER LIES, now available at

Google Video
and at
MySpace Video
and even at
YouTube Video

The world can be a strange, cruel place to be, but you can always trust me and my homies here at Team Razor to watch yer back.

Right on!
Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Every Day is a Holiday

2006-09-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Every Day is a Holiday.

We are approaching the final hours of summer. Phoenix should start cooling down in a few months.
Meanwhile, us guys at Team Razor are just full of surprises. Skate the Razor fans can now download the entire video for These Clever Lies at Google Video. In fact, I’m going to make it easy for everyone, and provide y’all with the link: Click Here For These Clever Lies Video.

You can watch the video from Google, or you can download it to your computer. I recommend you share it with everyone. After all, it’s honest, and it’s FREE! How can you pass it up?

Again, I invite you to visit my other blogs. I’ve got a whole hell of a lot more than music to expound upon.
I also urge you to take a moment to visit a few of my sponsors. I’m sure they would appreciate it too!

The Infinite Echo
National Newswire
Destination Arizona
Sound Foundation Entertainment
Skate the Razor Official Website

Thanks,
Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

The Great Pretenders

2006-09-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Some people never learn. Some never even try.
There’s always someone who can’t resist temptation. You know the guy. He’s the one who hangs around backstage, acting like a big shot, when in fact, he doesn’t know jack shit. In the music biz, these guys are a dime a dozen. Just another pretender, looking to steal his share of the pie.

The internet has opened the door for a whole new breed of scam artists, determined to make a quick buck off some poor sucker. Back in the day, they hawked their wares, knock-off watches and bootleg Lp’s from the trunk of their car, in some dimly lit jack alley somewhere. Perhaps they scalped concert tickets, or God only knows. Well, times they are a changing’ and a good con artist goes where the money is. For a short while, it seemed the quick cash was in internet domain squatting (read story here). These days the trend seems to be returning to that old standby… piracy.

It can be enough to drive an honest man right off the track. Who really wants to go round and round with these guys anyway? I suppose it goes with the territory. Still, these guys aren't that hard to spot. The stench can usually be traced back to the source.

Con artists are certainly nothing new. Remember that story about the boy who traded a cow for magic beans? Jack and the Bean-stock, I believe it was called. Of course, the boy in the story wasn’t exactly conned, so to speak. He got what he bargained for, a hand full of beans. I suppose little Jack could have cut his losses and asked for his cow back, but then, it just wouldn’t be an interesting story, would it.

Be sure to visit my other blogs and websites

The Infinite Echo
National Newswire
Destination Arizona
Sound Foundation Entertainment
Skate the Razor Official Website

Thanks again for dropping by,
Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Power Station Years, Pt. 3

2006-09-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Power Station Years, Pt. 3

The weather was rough that winter, but we trucked along anyhow. If no one else wanted those gigs, we certainly did. We all understood how important it was to build a fan base, prior to releasing the CD. I had remained in touch with Tony Bongiovi, but the news wasn’t always good. Most people thought of Skate the Razor as a classic Hard Rock band, but Hard Rock was already on the decline.
Tony never lost his confidence in the band, but it was a hard sell, to say the least. The guys hung there like true Vikings. We recorded whenever possible, learning what we could about the process.

Finally, we got the call. The Big Apple was waiting. Tony had a few heavyweights he wanted us to meet with, so we loaded up the gear and set out for Manhattan. By now, the miles were nothing new to us, but Manhattan was a whole new ballgame. Even the skyline can be intimidating.

Tony put us up in a hotel on 57th and 9th, just a short walk from the studio. We were spared the prerequisite parking nightmare. As luck would have it, we were able to park on the roof of an adjacent muffler shop. We didn’t know just how good we had it.

We set up in Studio C, a spacious, wood paneled playground, with unusually pleasant acoustical properties. This was where Trance Factor would slowly grow, from a concept into a reality.

Next time,
the recording of Trance Factor

Thanks for droppin' by,
Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

FREE Skate the Razor Downloads

2006-09-15T18:50:00.000-07:00

Trance Factor Sales and Downloads

2006-09-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

If you haven't yet purchased a copy of Trance Factor, and you don't feel like waiting any longer, fret not! The CD is available throughout the web, along with audio samples of each song. In fact, I've saved you the trouble and included several links to sites offering downloads and whatnot. Here's just a few.

Yahoo Music
RealPlayer
MSN Music
PayPlay
Hemisphere Music

Remember, the entire CD will be available to download for FREE to all visitors, right here at: Skate The Razor soon!

Go now!
Check it out!

Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Great Skatin'

2006-09-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

We are still plugging along with this thing. We are currently assembling the team necessary to make this baby fly. For better or worse, Trance Factor is now available through Wal-Mart Online, which would be fantastic, except for the fact that the band has not seen a dime from those sales. Don't blame them though... When the time is right, we’ll turn that around. Like it or not, this is business, so we gotta get our ducks in order first, or the music ultimately suffers. I will probably announce where we will be recording basic tracks for our next release within a week or so.

I’ve been traveling for most of the summer. In fact, I'll be heading out again first thing in the morning.Unfortunately, I’ve spent far less time writing than I would have preferred. Everyone involved is really stoked about going forward with this.
Hopefully things will pick up again as the weather begins to cool.

Until next time...
Great Skatin'

Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Up and Running on Empty

2006-08-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

I’m exhausted, to say the least.
It’s been a long month, and it’s only half over.

My trip to New York proved interesting. I encountered all the usual suspects, including some who will remain nameless, but certainly not blameless. All were kind, and on good behavior. Still, there are some individuals who have a long road ahead, should they wish to return to my good graces. I could just as easily poke them in the eye with a sharp stick.

It is always a pleasure to spend a few moments with Mike and Dave. I had hoped to attend a rehearsal while I was in town, but it was not to be. Their current band project is called GRIND. With a little luck, we may be hearing good things from their camp in the near future. God bless ‘em all. Oh, and keep rocking!

Which reminds me.
As promised, The Sound Foundation website has returned, although I must warn you… much of the information posted is way out of date. Nick will be addressing these issues as time permits. Still, this will allow us to begin posting Trance Factor downloads on this blog, as promised. You can expect She Loves Jesus to become available within days.

I have much to do this week, so if I manage to blog at all, I suspect my entries will be somewhat brief.
In the meantime, be sure to take a gander at my other blogs, and while you’re at it, wander on over to www.soundfoundationent.com and check out our new digs.

Later,
Brad

Skate the Razor 2006
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Change My Mind? Don't Bet On It!

2006-07-23T05:47:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Change My Mind?

Not a chance! I still believe now, what I believed then, way back in early 1994 when I wrote those lyrics.

Even then, I knew who was fooling who, and if you’ve ever listened closely to the words, they remain eerily accurate, and stunningly relevant. At the time, there was a handful of back-wood dinks who thought their stupid little dog and pony show was going un-noticed. Alas, it was they who were the fools. I have a long history of exacting revenge through my lyrics. Change My Mind is a classic example.

Life is funny like that. Jack my chain, and see what happens? Karma drops from the sky like thunder.

The version of Change My Mind available on this blog was recorded for, and originally appeared on Edge of the Century, a limited, numbered, release. Later, it was made available online, via Garageband.com, where it peaked at number six, among thousands of other modern rock entries.

The recording process for this song was in itself, quite unique. Basic tracks were recorded by the Moran brothers, ( Demon Dave, and Michael ) in western New York, with help from fellow band-mates and life-long friends, Chris Hansgen, guitar, and Mike Celotto on drums. The tapes were then shipped to Ryan who was living in North Carolina at the time. Ryan, of course, did his thing, even tweaking the arrangement in spots, before stuffing the tapes back in a box and shipping them off to me.

The vocals were recorded by Josh at Octane Records in Mesa, Arizona. He and I then proceeded to do the mixes. Additional sampling and mastering was then conducted by my buddy, Dave LaBounty, at his facility. Little about the recording was ideal, and yet, the final product is great! Again, everyone rose to the occasion. A true Skate the Razor classic!

Skate the Razor 2006
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

Where's The Website?

2006-07-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Where’s The Website?

Good question…
glad you asked.

Having determined to post the entire Trance Factor CD online for our true fans, it occurred to us we would be well served to go ahead and re-activate the Sound Foundation website at this time. According to my assistant Nick, we can expect the site to start re-appearing gradually over the next few weeks. He’s now got a whopper of a workload to look forward to, so remind me to go easy on him.

There has been some debate among those interested as to which songs should be posted, and in what order. Let’s just start at the top. Skate the Razor often began shows with She Love’s Jesus, and since it’s also the opening track on Trance Factor, it seems like an obvious place to start. We will also be making these tracks available at the website, again, without charge.

I will be heading to New York a week from tomorrow. I guess the guys had a show somewhere this weekend, but I’ll have to catch them another time. I look forward to attending one or two rehearsals, though. In fact, I’m expecting to have a lot of fun!

Only this time, Jimmy is not tagging along for the ride.
Entiende?

Brad

Skate the Razor
http://skatetherazor.blogspot.com/

RIP, Old Friend

2006-07-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

I have about two weeks before my wife and I fly out to New York. I was able to reach Dave night before last, but I still haven’t been able to reach Michael. I’m sure by now, he has heard we are coming.

Before I return to my Power Station yarns, I think I should say a few words about someone who won’t be waiting for our arrival this time.

I met Ralph Burgess shortly after relocating to New York State, and he remained a close friend, and a reliable member of the Razor organization up until his unexpected passing, due to a sudden heart attack. Some of you may remember him, as he was always present, having video recorded nearly two hundred live Skate the Razor performances. Rip, as he preferred to be called, contributed far more to our success than we often have opportunity to acknowledge. He drove us all over New England. The experience would have been much different without him. As much as anyone, band members included, Rip would have been very excited about any future Skate the Razor speculation. He was my friend.

Rest in peace, old buddy.

That reminds me…
My wife and I will be passing right through Elmira, which is where Rip's brother lives. It is also where Mark Twain is buried. Perhaps I should plan to stop in town for a spell.

Later,
Brad Cooper

Skate the Razor 2006

The Power Station Years, Pt. 2

2006-07-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

To prepare for the recording of Trance Factor, the band played dozens of gigs. In fact, we played just about every gig we were offered for a while there. We spent what little we earned, recording demos at various studios in the Buffalo area. (you thought I was about to say we spent it all on beer, didn’t ya.)

The idea was to work the songs (and the band) into shape before entering a facility as intimidating as the Power Station. The guys were great. We were all determined to get this thing done. We approached our songwriting with a sincerity that was immediately obvious to our growing fan base. Even Tony was amazed by our artistic growth. Developing some ‘road muscles’ made a big difference.

I recall one night in Rochester, New York. We were gigging downtown at a club called Boscos. It was bitter cold outside, and the snow was about two feet deep, so naturally, only a few real die-hards showed up for the show. Dave (Demon Dave, the Desecrater , as we called him) was livid. He was fit to be tied. We had worked so hard and traveled too far to play for tables and chairs. He was right, of course. But something different happened that evening during the show. I heard it, and so did the others. What we heard was the sound of Skate the Razor kicking ass! It was ringing off the walls, and it was indisputable. Crowd or no crowd, Skate the Razor was becoming a top notch recording and performing unit.

We were just about ready for the Power Station. Now if only the Power Station was ready for us.

Next time:
The Power Station Years, Pt. Three

Thanks for dropping by,
Brad

Skate the Razor 2006

Free Skate the Razor Downloads

2006-07-12T17:58:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Nick and I have come up with a wonderful idea. Once we clear it with Ryan, we will get right on it.

Here’s the deal, and I think you’re all going to be stoked about it.(that’s a good thing) Why should all you people be paying good money to download Skate the Razor songs from someone not authorized by the band, when you can download higher quality versions of the same songs from us for FREE.

As it stands, no members of Skate the Razor earn a dime from these “unauthorized” downloads available all over the internet. We own the publishing rights, so why not just give the songs away? We will post one song from Trance Factor per week, until we’ve made the entire CD available to our die-hard fans.

However, we will soon be re-releasing Trance Factor, with all new packaging and liner notes, including lyrics, and a bunch of never seen before photos. The CD is also being re-mastered in "32-bit Floating Point" for modern digital players.

Those fans interested in the re-release, will of course, be able to purchase the CD directly from us, or at any number of online locations. I have already lined up limited distribution in some areas, which I will discuss in greater detail later.

On a different note, my wife and I will be heading to New York in August for our fifth anniversary. I hope to meet with the Moran brothers while I am in town, at which point, we can begin to hammer this thing out.

I'm stoked already.

Brad
Skate the Razor 2006

The Power Station Years Pt. One

2006-07-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor
B. Thomas Cooper

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

I am often asked what it was like to work with legendary record producer Tony Bongiovi. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Tony is the first cousin of superstar Jon Bon Jovi, who changed the spelling of his name to simplify pronunciation. Jon was still in diapers when Tony began his career at Motown Records in Detroit, where he polished his production skills working with,and alongside some of the greatest recording artists in history, including Dianna Ross, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and of course, Barry Gordy himself.

Following the riots of the late sixties, Tony relocated to Manhattan where he could be closer to his elderly parents. There he recorded a host of superstars, including Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, the Ramones, Blondie… The list goes on and on.

Tony used the profits from his success to purchase and renovate an old Con-Edison building deep in Hell’s Kitchen, where he built and operated Power Station Studios, a world class recording facility. Soon, the stars came calling. Everyone who was anyone, lined up for an opportunity to record at the studio.

By the time a young Jon Bon Jovi came into the picture, the Power Station had already racked up dozens of Gold and Platinum records. Tony worked with Jon for nearly three years, before Jon eventually signed with Polygram, at which point Tony and Jon went separate ways.

I didn’t arrive on the scene until 1992. Tony and I met at the Empire Music Conference in Rochester New York. I was looking for a producer. Fortunately for me, Tony was looking for a new artist.

Tony and I hit it off right away. This however, did not entirely go over well with my other band members. Although I had been through this sort of thing in the past, it was all new for these guys, and this often led to anxiety. As Tony began to understand my talents better, he became more involved with the band. For awhile, he through every gig at us he thought might stick. Mostly independent film soundtracks and such.

Tony and I were beginning to trust each other,but Skate the Razor had a lot of work to do before we’d be ready to begin recording Trance Factor.

Continued.

Skate the Razor 2006

Some Call It Progress

2006-06-28T10:09:00.001-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

I finally broke down and added a laptop to my collection of ultra-tech gadgetry. I’m still learning how to make it pop and sizzle without getting burned…(see manual).

I am beginning to narrow down the timeline for the Razor releases. We are probably looking at October for the release of Artifact, and March or April of 2007 for the re-release of Trance Factor, as I want to allow every opportunity for the others to fully participate in the recording of Automata. In fact, I will probably do most of the tracking in New York next summer. I want to breath a little life into the new tunes before committing them to vinyl, so to speak.

In the meantime, check out the mp3 of Away that Nick added.(below) You might also want to check out some of the odds and ends Ryan and I posted at Garageband.com

Oh, and hey….
Go check out my other blogs.

http://theinfiniteecho.blogspot.com/
http://destinationarizona.blogspot.com/

And don’t worry,
I’ll be back soon enough.

Brad
Skate the Razor 2006

The Slick and Dirty, Part 2

2006-06-15T12:04:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

And now for the long anticipated:
The Skick and the Dirty, Pt. 2 (the sequel)

Where was I… oh yeah… this stupid microphone… well it’s a Sennheiser what do I expect.

Well what all this means is that everyone has their little stubby index finger deep into the Mpeg pie in one way or another. So, Microsoft and Apple are media transfer compatible through Mpeg.

If someone where to download a QuickTime movie on a Macintosh, burn it to disc, then pop it into a Windows based PC, it might not have the same Codec (COmpressor/DECompressor or COder/DECoder) installed. Resulting in a file that won’t play. That’s not a problem since the Mpeg format has the Codec built into it.

Mpeg is everywhere, from the DVD’s you buy (or rent -n- rip) to the TV signals you watch. You can’t fight it. Well you could but the ATSC would probability have you beaten up. So, society has chosen for us what formats to use.

So in trying to provide options not provided by the big labels, we want to deliver “Disc and PMP Ready” media. PMP’s being Portable Media Players. This will include:

Headphone mixes in stereo and 5.1
Mp3’s in stereo and 5.1 @ around 112-128kbps (also for streaming)
Mpeg2/4 - A.A.C. in 5.1 @ around 128-256+kbps
AC-3 in 5.1 @ around 256+kbps

Well have more on how we plan to achieve those headphone mixes in either part 3 or 4. So for now we still have plenty of work to do.

Nick Du Jour

Note: all specs are subject to change. If you have any comments, corrections or suggestions, please let us know.

Oh, and thanks, Nick.

Chow for now,
Brad
Skate the Razor 2006

Artifactual Data Collection

2006-06-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Compiling the song list for ARTIFACT has proven much easer than expected. This is the first draft of the song list, as I will be presenting to Ryan, although not in any particular order at this time.

Stranger (original recording )
Lost In The Homeland
The Search
Love Changed
Last Time (original recording )
Change My Mind
Soul Gigolo
Still I Run
Firing Line
She Loves Jesus
Judgment Day
One Little Drop (Live)
Away
These Clever Lies
Good Riddance To Bad Rubbish

Now then, some of theses songs may ultimately miss the cut, but we aren’t anywhere near making that kind of a decision at this juncture.

Meanwhile, Nick is still compiling data for the Slick and Dirty, Pt. Two. I’ll be sure to get the info up for you just as soon as it becomes available.

It’s time for some breakfast,
so chow, for now.

Brad
Skate the Razor 2006

Do Not Go Gently…

2006-06-14T19:18:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Ryan called this afternoon, and we spoke at some length about the issues involving Trance Factor. Ryan, of course, is on board for whatever we may decide to pursue, as I would have expected. He says he spoke with Michael and David about it last summer, but they were less than enthusiastic. As soon as I know a little more, I will contact them as well.

I listened to STR material for about two hours today, choosing tunes for inclusion on ARTIFACT. It all sounds better than I remember, which is certainly a plus.

Again I am delighted by the amount of attention this blog is receiving. Thanks for dropping by. With any luck, Nick will be ready to post more on the slick and the dirty by evening’s end.

Oh, and if you remind me, sometime soon I’ll tell you the story about the “Candledefogger“, and maybe even the one about the “Stalking Gourmet”.

Until next time,

Brad
Skate the Razor 2006

The Slick and Dirty, Part 1

2006-06-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

As of last you may recall, Nick and I were attempting to hammer out the technical aspect of everything…
The slick and dirty, so to speak. Well, we have arrived at a few conclusions, from which we will base our product development, but of course, things are moving pretty quickly, and may change from day to day.
Anyone with an idea is welcome to submit it to us. We are only concerned about providing some flexibility.

In fact, I’m going to turn this post over to Nick now, and he is going to attempt to explain just what the slick and dirty entails:

Ahem, … thump, thump…. Is this thing on?

Ah yes, the “Slick and Dirty”.
Well basically I’ll be stopping in now and again, to give the results of our research and development.
See, for our parent project, Sound Foundation Entertainment, we had developed our standards for production. Even for the SFE website (which shall return) we had our formats all worked out, which is still Mpeg based.

Since then, Apple Computers released the iPod and iTunes, unleashing a whole new wave of entertainment exchange. Apple’s iPod and iTunes use the Mpeg-4 format, which is not Mp4. The people whom created the Mpeg standards, used the functionality of Apple’s QuickTime as Mpeg-4’s interactive multimedia authoring architecture. Whew!

In fact, Microsoft went the other way and took Mpeg-4’s compression architecture, they changed it to be integrated to Windows (as it’s slave) and renamed it “Windows Media Video Codec”. This is how Windows Media Player plays High Definition video. Since Mpeg-4 supports HD.

I see…
(it’s me again… Brad)
So Nick, where are we going with this? What do all of these really cool words mean to a layman like myself? You know… will I be able to download stuff straight from the website, or will have to order it online? Are we going to offer DVD extras, and stuff like that?

And just why does everyone mess with Lindsay Lohan?

The answers when we post again tomorrow.

Until then,
my friends.

Bradley Cooper
Skate the Razor 2006

STR06

2006-06-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings,

I am quite surprised by the early reaction to this blog. I really didn't expect anyone with a life to have a reason to follow along. God bless... it's apt to be an up-hill climb.

Funny you should ask...

Nick and I plan to handle most of the studio drumming chores ourselves. Out styles are very different, but I think that will be a plus. Because everything is being recorded digitally, we can (and will) cut and paste as we see fit. We will probably cut the drums at either Dave or Thads place (more on those two, later). The rest will be recorded in-house.

I was always wondering who was buying the Skate the Razor CDs over-seas. I am beginning to develop a clearer picture. We will be going online with the Sound Foundation Entertainment site again in the next week or so.

If you haven't done so already, go check out garageband. We've got some odds and ends available on Garageband that you almost certainly won't find elsewhere.

Michael Bruce approached me last night about appearing with him and the guys for a few choice gigs later this year. He also suggested I produce a few new tunes he's working on. Some big names were dropped along the way, and it sounds like it could be interesting, but time will tell. If I believe it'll help get this show on the road, I'll jump at it.

We shall see.

For now, I have plenty on my my plate. My wife, Gloria, and I will be departing for San Diego in the a.m. It will be the first time Gloria has been to San Diego. It will be my first visit since I came through on tour during the very early nineties.
That was prior to Skate the Razor, which never toured the west coast. Perhaps in 2007, we can change that.

Brad
Skate the Razor 2006

Arranging Our Ducks

2006-05-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Not much new to add. We have spent the last three weeks attempting to get our priorities straight. The websites are all being rebuilt by my assistant Nick, who will also be contributing to the Automata CD, as an artist and musician. I'm not certain about the other guys yet, as I have not even contacted them about my plans. Ryan, Dave and Michael will all be encouraged to participate.

The early artwork for Automata looks great, but we've got some distance to go before we are ready to release the CD.

Nick and I have been listening to mixes and arranging titles to see what we have to work with for the assembly of ARTIFACT. No doubt, Skate the Razor fans will be pleased with what we have come up with. We seem to be on our way, but we still have a very long way to go with this.

I'l try to update the blog more often.
If you would like to know what has been keeping me busy lately, view my profile, and perhaps take a quick gander at my other blogs.

Thanks for dropping by,

Brad
Skate the Razor 2006

Skate the Razor

2006-04-07T16:48:00.000-07:00

Skate the Razor,
Both Friend and Foe,
Greetings.

Welcome to the official Skate the Razor blog.
Too much nonsense continues in regard to Trance Factor, and so I find myself again concerned with defending the integrity of the band and it's catalog. We have all tollerated Jackstreet long enough.

As such, I have concluded that in order to protect my interests, I will pursue damages from Jack in civil court. I will also be launching a full fifteen month, three CD release package, featuring a remastered Trance Factor for foreign licensing, Artifact, a collection of rarities and unreleased material, and ultimately, the long anticipated new release, Automata. All will be released and managed by Sound Foundation Entertainment.

No dates to announce yet, but something must be done.
It starts here.

Brad
Skate The Razor