01.27.07 Saturday

First day of recording. Pleasantry lane with Salim Nourallah. Enter stage right. Only christmas lights and martini lights on. Salim is unraveling some chords. The song we decided to start with is "black market value". Kyle's stomach began's to rumble so Socks and Jayson went to Freebirds to get him a steak burrito. Jake was able to complete his drum take before their return. Jayson's guitar parts were done with on a Vox AC 15. Some parts with reverb and some through a "buzz-tone" pedal. Salim had an idea for a piano part so we banged it out. We also laid down some melleotron. Some other percussion instruments were used such as: Vibra slap, shackers, and sleigh bells.

Chad-Well, here we are back at salim's for yet another installment of "the cut*off: recording, love, hair, migraine, and broken finger." So far, I've learned a couple of things....1)it's a beautiful life we live but kyle is swimming in excrement...2)salim is good at bass guitar. Salim came up with some cool bass stuff and his p-bass has me flying like I just scored a p-wing. We've added some piano and acoustic, and you know that it rocks. Jake knows that the Pappa don't preach and kevin willis can perform slam dunks. Ok, that's it for now.

01.28.07 Sunday

Today we are working on unarius. A decision was made to channel some unarians as choir singers for the song. Salim had lasagna. Jayson used the AC 15 again. Kyle used a fender princeton. Once again Jake knocked out his part like Little Mac fighting Glass Joe. Chad decided to pop up his collar and stand on the 1069 Ampeg while he recorded to get more of a punk rock feel to his bass line. We think he captured it.

04.13.07 Friday

A few months off but, we are back at Pleasantry lane. We are going to work on a softer side of the cut*off. The song is Better off Dead but, it is minus John Cusack still featuring the kid who wants his $2. It still featuring rock songs though. We started off laying down the acoustic track. Kyle uses a Gibson J-45 and an orange .70 Dunlop tortex pick. Kyle usually forgets his picks so that is actually one of Jayson's. Drums were recorded next. We didn't want anything to loud or extreme for this song. An older Univox was used to record the bass sound. It just seemed to fit the song well with its warm sound. A Silvertone 1482 was used for some of the guitar parts and others were done on a Fender Princeton.

04.14.07 Saturday

Today we shall work on Enjoy the Weather. It is a short but, stout song. Drunk drums were the sound we were looking for here so we recorded them around 11pm to add a little to the chaotic feel of the song. We only had to twist Jake's arm a little bit to get him to agree to drunk drums. Jake drank his weight in Sloe Gin Fizzes tonight. Lots of vocals, numerous local legends such as: Kelly Clarkson and Dirk Nowitzki wanting to help with recording...No's to all...plenty of guitars...spaghetti "eastern". You decide?

05.11.07 Friday

We started recording "My Dear, a thousand ways" today. Lots of talk about what to name this song. It has gone through more names than Sean Puffy Combs. Bullet mic vocals, rim shots and delay pedal make the cut*off something something. Jake, being the pro that he is, made quick work of his drum part. Salim broke out his brand new delay pedal and we spent some time playing around with that to get the needed tone for the guitar part. The delay pedal is hand made by some guy that lives up north. That would be nice to be able to make your own guitar pedals. Some of Kyle's vocals were recorded through a Silvertone 1482 with a bullet mic. It is shaping up pretty good so far.

05.12.07 Saturday

"Why can't I please you" not sure if that name is going to stick around for the release of the album. We didn't finish the song today. How is that for displeasing?

06.22.07 Friday

We are adding strings to "why can't I please you" courtesy of Rick Nelson. It sounds like Fantasia on weed.
Black Market Value * Enjoy the Weather * Unarius - These songs were honestly already done, but hot shot Rick Nelson put his stamp on it. The squid sent a text message asking the important question "What is Strings?"

06.23.07 Saturday

Shanghai - Spanish counting, jake and jayson on xylophone. shakers, lizard lounge sounds. Things are taking form. Grins from ear to ear on everyone. Jake drank an organina and Jayson was jealous.

07.31.07 Tuesday

Healthy Greed and Luggage for Light Years - Gavin came to help produce and do some inspirational dances. We're talking "sideways to sideways". Gavin gave some encouraging words such as "I got a poncho" ,"Charmis"and "I wear underpants now." All these words from young Gavin pushed Jimmy Cat to one of the most incendiary drum takes in the history of drums. Tomorrows work has been taken care of, so that leaves the creative mind to be as fresh as summer peaches. Jayson got a tattoo, Jake performed the artwork, Kyle was jealous. Kyle soaked his hands in ivory for a bit before trying his luck on the piano. After a few takes on the piano we convinced Kyle to sing into a can for $100 for the Healthy Greed vocal track. Jimmy Cat finished the night off with big dumb "Ringo Star" tambourine and naranjah shackers. Kyle, Jayson and the Jimmy Cat then supplied the track with big dumb hand claps. It was a good night due to the suggestion from David Bowie to wear a funky eye patch.

08.01.07 Wednesday

John Lefler came in to lay down a boot scootin' piano part for Healthy Greed. Gavin again joined us to rejuvenate life and dance into the recordings. Majority of today was a spent on Luggage for Light Years. Vox AC 15 and Fender Deluxe were used. Treble heavy and ear bleeding guitar parts. The Red Rawker might just make this song his new myspace profile song. And you know that it rawks. There is a possibility that Luggage for Light Years could become the new National Anthem for the United States of America. Coming soon to a ballpark near you...stand with your hats over your heart, lets bring our troops home!

08.17.07 Friday

Salim was jumping off amps when we entered Pleasantry today. That was a for sure sign that today was going to rock. We're working on wrapping up some songs like a #2 at Hooya's. Jimmy Cat just mentioned that he'd like whiter teeth and a redder neck. Kyle used a fender deluxe with dirt but, plenty of brightness to stab his way through Healthy Greed. It's been left up to him because he knows how to walk the halls. Salim just took a break to grab some dinner and catch tonight's episode of "the Two Coreys." This evening is all about tying up loose ends on some tunes and drinking mini beers. We've tackled Better Off Dead and One Crazy Summer is up next. KG is at Fishballs house right now and we're hanging out with the lunchbox. Still, we're going to rawk this joint like a trash bag helmet. Pleased to Please You had a face lift and Jimmy Kat supplied the percussion for it. Salim supplied some imagery to describe our sound today "It's like Frank Black and Wilco's Summerteeth fighting in a dark alley."

Poetry of the day: Pop stars we will be, rockin' the masses you just wait and see, Best producer in Dallas leading the way, this shit is far better than okay. Work hard, play hard, rock you 'til you're in a leotard!

08.18.07 Saturday

Today started with a little bit more work on Pleased to Please You but, quickly moved to Luggage for Light Years. A Thousand Ways To Kill just needed a slow hand of TLC. Kyle is looking for a lover with a slow hand. Salim is coming off his recent victory in the Dallas Observer awards. He was named Best Producer, showered with Gatorade, and is now giving the cut*off a tune up. Bobby Jenkins is stuck with relatives and is missing iced coffee with Eggs. We just received a quick lesson in music, featuring Robin Hitchcock. Salim is searching ebay for old school clothes and bobble heads. We're trucking through these like an evil trucker driving to hell or Mexico. Jenn Nabb showed up (with a list of demands) to apply an angelic voice with an evil eye to Shanghaied. She knocked it out of the park like Barry Bonds without the juice. poetry of the Day: We spoke of Ranger pitching, moustaches, and racoons, We bring people happiness with our tunes. To talk a big game and eat corn flakes in the morning, this album might earn us a super bowl ring. Understand the lay of the land, what you see, and bring a coat, I once saw a guy who looked like a billy goat.