Hello there...

Today was not a day off... I left for the studio at 11:30. We were back in the mix room to do one more re-mix on "Music Man". I did mention that I hated mixing acoustic rock songs and ballads right? I think it is done...fits the sound of the CD more. Since the stuff was mixed first it was a bit too soft in its original mix. A bit TOO pretty! I have lots of Faces on the CD...but when they confuse me...we are all in trouble!

We finished this at 3PM. Then I found out that Nick had promised one of the TSO singers he would finish work on 2 of her songs. He actually told me this, I had just forgotten! So...I spent the next 4 hours backing up music drives and listening to mix versions in Nick's studio while he worked in Spin. I was actually home and watching sports again by 9PM...It is so strange...an 8 hour day seemed like I did not work. I felt guilty.

Tomorrow I have off again...well...I am not in the studio. I am going to do some work here at my home studio. I have 2 solos to finish and I want to do a re-write of a chorus for a song...yup...it is never done! Won't say which, but it is something that I had already finished! I think I can kick it in the ass even more...so, I had an idea...the idea is...add more work to your impossible task of 30 songs...

Plus, I need to get together the GDWAR CD noises and fun stuff like that. So...I will spend the day recording and surfing the net for WAR. I am so psyched to get to work on the WAR CD again. I went over it today, this CD alone would be something I would be excited about releasing...very excited! I think it will wind up being 13 songs when it is done...kinda funny...a 13 song Bonus Cd!

I am also working on the GDWAR story with my colleague Greek John from the basement. We are very excited about this. Every day we talk about politics and life. We are going to morph some of these conversations into my story. I spent a few hours tonite going over things with him...then I was given Greek pastries from his Mom. I went back up stairs to my kitchen. I put the pastries and my mail on the table. While I was opening my mail Haley decided to try and jump up to visit me. She jmped up alright...landed on the pastry box...slid off the box and landed in my garbage can. It was empty so she was completely inside. I was crying I was laughing so hard. She knocked the garbage can over, climbed out and looked at me like "Don't say a fucking word!" I love my cat, she is my sanity!

In the next week and a half I have tons to do. We need to mix 4 songs in Nick's room. "Curtains" and "Forever We'll Be" plus 2 bonus tracks. The first 2 are drumless...so they will get a really cool sound in a new environment. The others have a very different sound, I want the mixes to be different. I still have some recording to do on them also. Then we have to edit GDWAR and get it ready to mix. Get all of the sounds together...Get another bonus track ready to mix. I still have some string work that needs to be done...I am possibly having Mark Wood come in to arrange it. I also need some middle eastern percussion played live for "Saddamize" This may happen the day we mix it...haven't decided yet.

The mix for GDWAR starts the 19th. At this point I will only have 11 1/2 songs left to mix...so...it should only take me 8 or 9 days...I HOPE!!! I have a well known European jounalist flying in to write a story on the CD's. He will be here the 19th through the 24th. I believe he will write my bio for the press release also.

I do see a light at the end of the tunnel...Hopefully I can be officially finished with the recording and mixing by the 28th. A little later than I anticipated at first...However, 2 weeks late on 30 songs is not too bad! From there it is turkey hunting, fishing, some work at Mom's...then mastering.

Then the butterflies really hit the stomache...the CD will start to go to magazines and business people...I am so nervous about the reaction. I have never worked so hard on something in my life. I really hope everyone likes it! I am anxious to see how it is received by everyone...press...business partners...and most importantly the fans!!!!

Good night to all...

Even on a short day I still go to bed at 4:45AM...oh well!

Chris

Hi,

Yesterday was funny...
I had a plan...HAD...
I woke up and did some business...then I headed to the bank to do more business...
Then I headed home to print out my WAR story. I was to meet Greek John and get his opinion on my rough draft.
I headed to the basement at around 6PM. He read the story and offered me a beer...one thing led to another and it was Greek Moonshine and ancient Greek music...machine gun fire...just nuts...by 1 AM we were pretty much useless. I made an ass out of myself on the phone with some friends and headed to bed...no home recording...not much of anything!

Today was a different story...Nick and I hit the studio at 1PM. We began to edit WAR! "Fool, Fool!" was up first. I think this may be the first single off of the WAR CD. I challenge just about any new song against this one in the heavy dept. It is dark, sad and flat out violent. This song is the one on the WAR CD that happens after the Twin Towers fall.

The 1st Chorus....

"Fool, Fool....
The Devil is alive
Fool, Fool....
You should have seen him coming....
Time To Get The Night Stick!"

Love songs!

We then hit "Piece Be With You". This song is pretty heavy lyrically....A soldier is shot and sings from his death bed and funeral...eventually rises from the dead to avenge his death...

"I view life from the edge of the gates.
Watch my family cry in the rain.
Now, I'm forced to abandon my name.
How, can I ever explain."

"I lived my life for justice, now I'm gone all I have to say is..."

"Peace be with you...it means a lot when you're six feet under...
Piece be with you, watch your back 'cuz revenge is coming...now!

"Avenge me, Avenge me, Avenge me, Avenge me...NOW!"

"From the grave my wrath is about to rise...you pull the trigger now you must die..."

Love songs...

Next was "I". This is the WAR protest song...
I have a feeling this one is going to be very well received by metal fans all around the world!

We ended up with God Damn War...it is not done...but we were assembling War's heart beat and voice...he is an evil bitch!

Throughout the day I re-sang some stuff...added in some harmonies...ones I forgot and new ones we invented...we also added some of our own keyboard and electronic percussion. WAR is fun....

I am still working on the cover for WAR...I want something really evil...seriously considering the hand written lyrics...

"Faces" will be a bit more spiritual. A bunch of "Faces" surrounding mine...focusing on my eyes...Fire...Water...Spirits...this concept has been what I had drawn up last year...still not finalized...but getting very close...

Tomorrow we will finish God Damn War's editing....then I think I want to mix "Curtains". At least get it to where it is 90% in Nick's studio so that it only takes about an hour to finish in the main room. There are no drums...so it is a pretty simple mix....just eerie and evil!

Still so much to do...however, I think I can get it done by the end of the month....worst case scenario...I have Faces and GDWAR done and have to finish a few bonus tracks after I turkey hunt!

We shall see!

I am off to sleep...

Getting more excited by the day!

Chris

Yes....

It is happening...

I kinda smile...as I really love it....

Everyone talks about heavy....what music sounds like when a+b=c....Well...I have news..."Faces" is heavy....aggressive...actually...it has material that is heavier than anything I have ever recorded....

God Damn War makes Faces seem like Cinderella's birthday party.....

I will leave today at this...

This is only the beginning!!!!

C

Greetings...

I just got home from the studio. Jeff Plate came into town. We sat and listened to "Faces". By the smile on his face I am guessing he liked what he heard!

Today we finished editing "Edge of Darkness" and got "Curtains" ready to mix....then we broke for dinner. The main room was open, so we went in and finished "Curtains". Pretty evil...I have mentioned before I think that this song is one of the heaviest on the CD's....it has no drums...clean electric guitars...Scared u slistening to it! This is the last song on the two CD's...evil exit!

Thw WAR CD is 1/2 edited and ready to go. The rest will get finished next week. I have a few lines to sing and a guitar solo to play. Getting closer!!!

I have the weekend off...so, I will go to Mom's tomorrow. Fishing, relaxing...turkey scouting...

If I get a chance I will write you from there...if not...have a great Easter and weekend...

Chris

"The objective concerns me, propaganda and noone gets paid...
We can argue 'til our faces turn blue...but still the Curtain remains!!!!"