I'm not very good really. I just realised how much worse I've gotten, sat here playing bass on my own :|

The list price on the JJ sig bass is about 1500 I think. And an 8 month+ wait. And half the world away. If that makes the gas subside any?

Lmao ihy.

1500 pounds like like 4000ish here I think. My god. And 8 months? Jesus christ.


If you are noticing a decrease in skill it's probably just a lack of technique and finger strength exercises. If you ran a few scales and modes for like 15 mins a day you'd notice an improvement in like a week.


Also practice to drums or a metronome. Drums are more fun and practical to me.

For the last year or so, maybe more, I've had one bass and it's lived at our practice room. I never practice at home. It's shocking how my timing has gone down the pan. Now I have something here I'll actually try and play to some drum loops and stuff :) That's the plan anyway. If anyone has some like drum loop tracks they wanna send me, it'd be neat.

what do you guys think about how bands release material?

jordan and i want to do a celldweller/nin type of release where we release songs in pairs of 2 - just like a normal CD, it comes with everything. artwork, toys, gizmos, gadgets, the two songs, the instrumental versions - maybe alt versions, remixed versions

etc

we also just finished up a new song its like an "indie pop song" it isnt industrial in the slightest

and then we're gonna do a steampunk song and release the two like that

thoughts?

Idk, I kind of a fan of the 'album'. I know most people don't give a fuc, but I think the process of bringing 10-15 songs together that highlights that era of your music is cooler than releasing it in like glorified ep's.

j/s

[quote=fatbandit;18016284]For the last year or so, maybe more, I've had one bass and it's lived at our practice room. I never practice at home. It's shocking how my timing has gone down the pan. Now I have something here I'll actually try and play to some drum loops and stuff :) That's the plan anyway. If anyone has some like drum loop tracks they wanna send me, it'd be neat.[/quote]
EZdrummer, make your own. (they come with a bunch of their own that you also drag and drop into a midi editor and edit.)

/post.

we just finished most of our new song

all that's left is for jordan to put vocals on the verse

this song is really different for us - its really "30 seconds to mars" and its not industrial in the slightest bit. its more indie/altrock

and lol@optimistic lyrics

chorus/bridge:


Considered by most to be an enemy
I am and will always be
A different make and a separate breed
Even though we’re the same when we bleed
Amalgamate and juxtapose
Become all you refused to know
Dissolve your fear don’t let it grow
I promise you that there is hope

It’s our time
We will rise
To exist entirely as one mind

the chorus is also sung in almost exclusively falsetto/head voice which isn't that easy for me cause i suck so bad but if i had to practice this damn song one more time i was gonna kill myself

[QUOTE=Joelbassman;18016414]Idk, I kind of a fan of the 'album'. I know most people don't give a fuc, but I think the process of bringing 10-15 songs together that highlights that era of your music is cooler than releasing it in like glorified ep's.

j/s[/QUOTE]

Agreed one hundred percent. One of my least favorite things about Fuc[SIZE="2"]ked[/SIZE] Up is that two full-lengths have been released, but their 7"/12"/reel-to-reel/vinyl collection of songs is just ridiculous and masturbatory (to me). I don't want to have to buy twelve different audio devices to play and enjoy a band's music, nor do I want to spend thousands of dollars getting all this super rare and hard to find material... I just want to hear the music. Putting it into one cohesive unit just works well for a guy like me. Also EPs and whatnot feel way too short 90% of the time, like some kind of teaser. But with additional gadgets, sure, it'd definitely be a crazy-go-nuts spend-a-thon for consumers, I suppose.

also read up on the reason for the hole. Thanks Ben and FMB for answers.

Raayl I dig the lyrics. then again I'm biased because I love indie and whatnot, but hey.

its not "really" an indie song

its really heavy it just has that kind of alt rock thingy going on

it should be done by tomorrow ill have it uploaded for download

Upload the download to the fifth quadrant and all that shize?

Unfortunately I most likely won't be able to DL it because the work computer is a bitch. but hey, could be worse I guess, I could not be able to get on at all.

also, about the whole "album" thing

i think albums are a thing of the past. the "album" originally was a record - and even back then, ALL bands released singles on vinyl.

as far as im concerned - my life is my album. when i'm dead, that's it - the album is done. until then, i release song after song under the pretense of my morbid little life.

so i really like the idea of 2 song releases. it gives my short attention span less to focus on. cause lets be honest, when you buy a CD or w/e, you're usually doing it because of one song you heard. this way, it allows the artist to condense the material, perfect it, and even a chance to give out things like demos of the track, individual files so people can remix, creative commons stuff, i mean - it just makes so much sense and it has so much potential.

albums are for big name acts who do all the recording in big, month-at-a-time sessions. for the little guys like all of us, condensed releases have a lot of appeal.

im all for music being free i never want people to have to pay for it but i do like the NIN business model of selling things like artwork and packaging. im a really big fan of clever CD case design and stuff like that. i like toys and gadgets

EDIT: and im talking about just selling enough to break even or to pay for all the materials required to actually release it

[QUOTE=Raayl;18016442]also, about the whole "album" thing

i think albums are a thing of the past. the "album" originally was a record - and even back then, ALL bands released singles on vinyl.

as far as im concerned - my life is my album. when i'm dead, that's it - the album is done. until then, i release song after song under the pretense of my morbid little life.

so i really like the idea of 2 song releases. it gives my short attention span less to focus on. cause lets be honest, when you buy a CD or w/e, you're usually doing it because of one song you heard. this way, it allows the artist to condense the material, perfect it, and even a chance to give out things like demos of the track, individual files so people can remix, creative commons stuff, i mean - it just makes so much sense and it has so much potential.

albums are for big name acts who do all the recording in big, month-at-a-time sessions. for the little guys like all of us, condensed releases have a lot of appeal.[/QUOTE]

I see what you mean with the little guys like all of us thing, but I personally have always owned albums because I'm interested in the record as a whole, and not just the two or three songs I hear on the radio. I'll often walk into a store and buy an album on a whim, just because. If it doesn't knock me out I can always give it away, sell it or break it and throw it down... I don't know. I don't particularly let one song judge dropping (usually) twenty bucks on an album. Back in the day when I had internets at home I would actually download part or the whole of the album and preview it that way, then buy the real deal later if I dug what I heard before. but I'm a strange fruit, I know.

and another one is I actually want to record a full-length - it's a pain in the *** and it'll never get done, but I would just drive myself ballistic if I had to do it all in pieces. but yeah. oh and btw the "album is my life" - that's pretty cool. good way to put it.

and I sincerely hope an album never truly becomes a thing of the past... I like having the tangible item in my hands, the art, the little stuff written down... if everything were to go digital suddenly that stuff wouldn't matter somehow, because I'm insane. anyways.

so anyways, I'm sick of typing and I'm supposed to go to a friend's back-in-town pizza party/drink lots/meet up with the rest of the gang/all-night-fuc[size="2"]k[/size]-fest/possible throwing [SIZE="2"]sh[/SIZE]it down as our two-man project tonight after all that while still loaded. I'm sure it'll turn out just like John Petrucci psycho excersises and we'll actually destroy the planet with our powers... or maybe because we haven't rocked it in like forever we'll just end up desacrating what once was. Either way, can't find out unless I give'r. (if you haven't seen Fubar... find it and watch it. it's wicked retahded.)

and yeah. SALUT

EDIT: had to come back and do some editing because I can't stand posts being censored. Yes I actually speak in stars when I swear in real life... are you fuc[SIZE="2"]king[/SIZE] [SIZE="2"]shi[/SIZE]tting me?

AND THAT'S THE GAME.

wow who the **** is that dude

also that **** about the album being your life is gay as hell dude. i don't download albums 2 songs at a time why the hell would i wanna pay to buy 2 songs at a time and why the hell would you wanna pay more to release 2 songs at a time.

oh shi i forgot you're all artistic and stuff ok cool

[QUOTE=Moon Flavor;18016469]wow who the **** is that dude

also that **** about the album being your life is gay as hell dude. i don't download albums 2 songs at a time why the hell would i wanna pay to buy 2 songs at a time and why the hell would you wanna pay more to release 2 songs at a time.

oh shi i forgot you're all artistic and stuff ok cool[/QUOTE]

lol drug addict gay kid on the internet disagrees

I prefer full length albums if a band is capable of pulling it off but not everyone is up for it.

There's a difference between making 11 songs and making an album.

you can still release albums in smaller batches

in singles or in condensed releases over time

I can see that working for some kinds of music but not others.

The kind of stuff you do I can see it being alright for.

I've got nothing against small releases, the whole DIY thing is you can do whatever you want. Especially if you aren't worried about selling stuff, you can just put out stuff at your own pace.

I wouldn't want to get all my music that way though.

the most promising business models in music revolve around this philosophy

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njuo1puB1lg&playnext_from=TL&videos=5hJWZayRPKg[/url]

I thought you despised making money out of music?

I wouldn't rely on trying to do what Reznor did if you're starting from scratch. He already had millions of fans when he started trying to experiment with those things.

most interesting elements of that 15 minute case study:

1) even though ghosts I-IV was technically free (as it was licensed under creative commons - meaning once one person bought it, they could share it for free) it grossed 1.6 million on amazon alone

2) the deluxe edition limited ghosts I-IV package, which sold for 300$, sold out 2500 copies in under 30 hours, thats a gross of 750,000 dollars in one day for an album that was free

3) the slip was released for free in mp3 and lossless format while simultaneously tourdate listings were posted - meaning you could get the music and immediately buy tickets to shows

4) he would routinely leak his own music while on record labels, involving fans in a lengthy "scavenger hunt" type of deal at his shows, where he was known for doing things like leaving USB drives in the bathrooms at concert venues containing unreleased music

5) he also encouraged fans to video his shows and then he uploaded all the 25789235782935 gigs of raw footage to the site and then asked fans to create something with it

his business model is essentially connect with fans + reason to buy = $

and its ****ing lucrative as ****

[QUOTE=gaslight;18016540]I thought you despised making money out of music?

I wouldn't rely on trying to do what Reznor did if you're starting from scratch. He already had millions of fans when he started trying to experiment with those things.[/QUOTE]

no, i hate ownership of music, corporate interests, and punishing people who file share

making money using business models that embrace file sharing and creative commons is completely appropriate

[QUOTE=Raayl;18016442]as far as im concerned - my life is my album. when i'm dead, that's it - the album is done. until then, i release song after song under the pretense of my morbid little life.[/QUOTE]

:lol:

Come on, man.

[img]http://trickledown.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/emo-kid.jpg[/img]

We both know you're better than that!

By the way, I'm really interested in hearing this new stuff you're working on. I admire your dedication and passion for making music! :thumb:

[QUOTE=Joelbassman;18016414]Idk, I kind of a fan of the 'album'. I know most people don't give a fuc, but I think the process of bringing 10-15 songs together that highlights that era of your music is cooler than releasing it in like glorified ep's.

j/s[/QUOTE]

I back this. There's nothing like grabbing an album, listening with headphones, and admiring the album's artwork and flipping through the booklet as you listen to the album. It's an experience that's, unfortunately, becoming obsolete, with downloading individual songs to iPods where people, it seems, almost rarely listen to a whole album.

[QUOTE=gaslight;18016509]I prefer full length albums if a band is capable of pulling it off but not everyone is up for it.

There's a difference between making 11 songs and making an album.[/QUOTE]

I also support this, which buttresses my second point: people don't really listen to full albums anymore, so young musicians now a days (16-30 years old, lets say) aren't MAKING full albums. I'm all for progress and the idea that music will go where ever its best for music as a whole to go, but I don't think the album format is quite done yet. There is still lots of potential.

His business model is great and clearly works for him, but it's not going to work for very many other people.

The thing is he already had fans and money, which enabled him to try out that business model.

I predict 99% of musicians who try to copy his approach would be lucky to see 1% of his success.

[QUOTE=gaslight;18016553]His business model is great and clearly works for him, but it's not going to work for very many other people.

The thing is he already had fans and money, which enabled him to try out that business model.

I predict 99% of musicians who try to copy his approach would be lucky to see 1% of his success.[/QUOTE]

Even less than 1%, to be honest. =/

Yeah pretty much.

We'll never know how he would have done without ever being on a major label to begin with.

Being on a major label may suck, in terms of lack of control over your music, being forced to meet deadlines, etc., but let's face it: the mass exposure being on a major label offers is by far the most useful, and will continue after bands leave that label.

What if Nirvana walked away from Geffen Records and went back to Sub Pop?

[QUOTE=whitesquares;18016550]

[img]http://trickledown.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/emo-kid.jpg[/img]

[/QUOTE]

is that your facial reaction pic to reading that a musician's life is their album

Yes, exactly.

brb I need more eyeliner

Weak retort, sir. =/

[QUOTE=Raayl;18016588]is that your facial reaction pic to reading that a musician's life is their album[/QUOTE]

:lol:

The funniest part is when you forget all of the other jokes and just look at that guy and you think, is that seriously what someone thinks is a cool way to look? Like maybe it was staged for something but if it's real, then that's the best joke of all.

[QUOTE=gaslight;18016553]His business model is great and clearly works for him, but it's not going to work for very many other people.

The thing is he already had fans and money, which enabled him to try out that business model.

I predict 99% of musicians who try to copy his approach would be lucky to see 1% of his success.[/QUOTE]

and you know this how

provide some kind of case study on how this business model will fail for 99% of other musicians or at least provide me with more than "idk man i dont [I]feel[/I] like it will work"

then you might be more convincing

reznor's model isn't perfect, but what makes it really great is that he never stops experimenting and inventing new methodologies for connecting with fans

and CwF is the basic premise of any successful business model in the digital age if you dont do that and you dont do it well then you're dead in the water its just that simple

[QUOTE=gaslight;18016595]:lol:

The funniest part is when you forget all of the other jokes and just look at that guy and you think, is that seriously what someone thinks is a cool way to look? Like maybe it was staged for something but if it's real, then that's the best joke of all.[/QUOTE]

lol hes certainly very [I]colorful[/I]

[QUOTE=Raayl;18016596]and you know this how

provide some kind of case study on how this business model will fail for 99% of other musicians or at least provide me with more than "idk man i dont [I]feel[/I] like it will work"

then you might be more convincing

reznor's model isn't perfect, but what makes it really great is that he never stops experimenting and inventing new methodologies for connecting with fans

and CwF is the basic premise of any successful business model in the digital age if you dont do that and you dont do it well then you're dead in the water its just that simple[/QUOTE]

There's no way I could ever be bothered doing a case study on it man, you know that.

All I'm trying to say is, Reznor was hugely famous already and that's why it worked for him, he already had enough fans.

If you're trying to build fans from scratch, even using his exact business model won't help you.

It's an inarguable fact that the vast majority of people who try to have financial success through their music will not get it. Hell, not even financial success, even getting a large fanbase.

[QUOTE=Raayl;18016596]and you know this how

provide some kind of case study on how this business model will fail for 99% of other musicians or at least provide me with more than "idk man i dont [I]feel[/I] like it will work"

then you might be more convincing

reznor's model isn't perfect, but what makes it really great is that he never stops experimenting and inventing new methodologies for connecting with fans

and CwF is the basic premise of any successful business model in the digital age if you dont do that and you dont do it well then you're dead in the water its just that simple[/QUOTE]

I see where you're coming from, but I'm with gaslight on this one.

I 100% wish you only luck and success, though...

well thank you whitesquares

btw our new song is done

its very "different" i guess

So, Octave4Plus strings is refusing to sell me any more strings.

At $96 per 8-string set, I don't think it's a wise decision on their behalf.

I'm both angry and disappointed.

In other news, has anybody tried Circle K Strings? I bought a 4-string balanced tension set for a buddy's bass and they really impress me. The tension uniformity is definitely noticeable under your fingers. I like them. :)