Gears Turning Before Knobs

So after doing some initial rehearsal, we’ve been doing some listening and thinking. The most exciting, and perhaps daunting, aspect of recording is the near limitless possibilities. But as much as unbridled creative freedom is enticing, it’s a slippery slope into indecision and paralysis. I guess the trick is giving yourself enough parameters to feel comfortable and even to have something to react against at times. And so we are listening, thinking, reading. The core of the songs are in place, but now is time to breathe life into the vision for the record so when we arrive for the first day of tracking, we know where we are heading—even if the road curves along the way. There is a growing discussion about reverb v. echo that proves how geeky we are. I’m wondering if I can sneak a chorus pedal into the mix. So I’ll go back to listening to the new Phoenix record and think about how we’re going to create a thing of beauty.

—Matt