Meh, you gotta nuke something...

Recording Update #2 - Rhythm

Well, i'm glad to say i've finished recording the drums for the record. Things seem to be running along a little quicker than i expected, which is good.

I'll begin tracking guitar tomorrow night, which is going to take the most time. Hopefully i'll breeze through it like i did the drums and be done in a week or so. That would be nice, but probably not likely.

**Update**
I got a strange call from D.C. about 20 minutes after i made my last post... which is strange because i've never had a call from that part of the world, and the fact that it would happen 20 minutes after i made a post about the President of the United States is sort of strange...

I have a feeling it was Barack calling because he is upset that i don't think he's Jesus.

Let's Take a Step Back

I think things might be getting a little out of hand with Barack. He's not Jesus, people.

I understand it's exciting that he's in office and he may and hopefully will do some great things for the United States, and yes, possibly even the world. However, we're sitting pretty close to the edge of worshipping him. Notice, him with a lowercase h.

Maybe if we put as much focus back to who Jesus was and what He did instead of putting so much of our time into our 'false messiah' we could really do some good. Oh well, what has He done for us in the last couple thousand years?


Wait, that's actually so vast that it is unmeasurable.....

YES

As long as you don't pay much attention to the links on the right hand side of the page, you might think this is an original post....

Why did I waste all my time recording real drums like a sucker, when i could have hired this guy?



Classic.

Thanks to Mr. Good for finding this for me. We worked out a deal where we could steal each other's ideas whenever we wanted. We're best friends. BFF's, so to speak.

Recording Update #1 - Simplify

Well Hello...


Today was the first day of recording that I actually was able to lay down some drum tracks. After hours and hours of trying to set everything set up with the most amount of mics and trying to get as many tracks into the computer as i possibly could, i become absolutely frustrated. Thing after thing went wrong and tensions were mounting and i decided to take a bit of a break before i flipped out and punched something.

After i cooled down a bit, i decided that i really needed to simplify things. I am, in my nature, a minimalist, but for some reason when i get into the studio that all changes and i become the opposite of normal. Finally i just decided to cut down to 4 tracks and changed the mic setup to make things a little simpler. Right away things started working out and i was able to lay down tracks to all but one of the songs on the album.

Simplify, brothers and sisters.

I do find it interesting, this change in my personality when i enter the studio. I know that many other times while recording this record, i'm going to be faced with the same situation...trying to complicate things way too much, and eventually i will take a step back and re-think things. If only i could just save all that time and skip the first part......

Anyways, things (now) are flying along pretty fast, and i should be starting to record guitar parts within a week or so. As for now, i'm going to finish watching this episode of the cosby show and then make my way to bed.

Thanks for reading,

Eric Michael Braun

Something's Burning In Centralia

This is a very interesting story. At least I think so....

I came across this story today, about a town in Pennsylvania called 'Centralia.' It's not accurately documented how it happened, but a fire started in the old coal mines that were laced underneath the town. This fire started back in the 60's, and they didn't notice it until a few years later, but there is enough coal there to allow the fire to burn for up to 250 years. They attempted to put out the fire, but they could not do so. They basically just decided to live with it, but eventually holes would unexpectedly open up in the ground, spewing out toxic smoke into the air. Most people eventually moved away because of the state buying out their homes (being that it was unfit to live there) but some people stayed. The current population of the town is around a dozen people.

I found this absolutely amazing. Not even in the sense that there's an indefinite fire burning underneath a town, but that people still choose to live there, even with gaping holes in the ground expelling hazardous smoke. Simply amazing.




'There now, Pennsylvania;
My circus fire is burning.
Were you there when I started,
Or are you leaving me for good?'

This is Howie SUCK it

Last night, for some reason, I decided to attempt to watch the new nbc show "Howie Do It" and, i have to say, i was quite frustrated. For some reason, it is assumed that everybody loves Howie Mandel, and in actuality the only reason people like him is because he gives out numbered briefcases full of cash. What bothered me most was the obvious over-reactions by the studio audience. I'm somewhat used to this after shows like America's Funniest Home Videos, but in this case, it was just ridiculous. There's no way that these people honestly think these sketches are that funny. If so, these people need to get out or watch a movie or something. Or, maybe just change the channel to a different network.

I can't believe that NBC knows they're in last place in the networks and still they decide to pick up shows like this. The other networks don't always have gems, but at least they find what works for them and go with it. With ABC, it's gay hour long soap opera-like medical or "desprate-y housewive-y" shows; with CBS it's a bunch of the same mediocre sitcoms where they could swap scripts with any of the other shows of their type and it would effectively make no difference (although they've changed from their fat-guy-with-a-good-looking-wife days); FOX has aimed at the demographic of the working american who wants to come home, crack open a beer, and be able to laugh at something without processing it in his brain.

But with NBC, their anchor programs are Conan and Leno, with one night of the week set aside for quality shows. For some reason, i wouldn't be surprised if they canceled The Office or My Name Is Earl to make room for another reality show or...maybe...another show with Howie.

Enough about my frustrations about something i can't change. I'll take about something a little lighter...... um, wait, i've got nothing right now. Sorry.


You stay classy, San Diego.

Wow.

Please watch this video.

Please laugh as hard as i did.

Hey Big Spender

Yesterday i went out to rent a set of drums to record with on the new album. After several disappointing visits to a few different music stores who either didn't rent drums anymore or didn't have any available, i was very frustrated. While attempting to leave the last music store to return home and cry softly in the corner of my room, i decided to take a gander in the drum room of the music store. There were a few good deals on some pretty ugly sets, but finally i saw a really nice 4 piece Gretsch jazz set. The color they had was a little too flashy, like a white-glittery silver color. After talking to the salesman for a while i found out they had the same set in the back, still in the box, that was a natural wood finish. After a while of back-and-forthing the idea of actually buying a drumset, i decided that it made the most sense to not buy the drums.

And then i bought the drums.

Here is a picture of them, and you'll be hearing them on the new record. They sound really good and hopefully they'll add something nice to the album.

Now i am off, to start tracking drums. All is well.

E/R

For some reason i hate John Stamos so much that it makes me respect him like no other. I don't understand how that works...

This is a song from Death Cab For Cutie's latest album. The more i listen to it the more i realize how immaculate it really is...just an incredibly well put-together record. Anyways, on ER tonight John Stamos was sitting in a bar, and this song was playing in the background. I thought i'd share it with the entire world (because everyone in the world reads this) in case you haven't heard it. That was my tie-in to the Stamos comment, in case you didn't put them together.

Please enjoy responsibly.

I am a Rabid Anti-Dentite

Well today I had a wicked-bad toothache, so I caved and went to the dentist. (the first time in a few years.) Let's just say, it was not pleasant. I would go on about how much i hate dentists and how much i think the whole oral hygienist industry is a sham, but i'll save that for another day, because i am tired.

Also to note: I added a song here and on the site. It is a cover of a Dave Matthews Band version of a Johnny Cash cover of a song written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin. Simple enough? Well, either way, i think it's a cool song. Just something to hopefully lessen the dullness that 'flood' and 'honest mistakes' have created sitting there, alone, for so long.

Goodnight, and good luck.

So It Begins...

Hey Folks.

About a year and a half ago I played around with the idea of writing a blog. After many weeks of being back and forth, I finally decided that nobody would read it and I would just be wasting my time, and I should use my better judgement and stay away from that idea.

Well, nothing has changed, besides the fact that I have decided to not use my better judgement anymore.

The main idea behind this blog is to keep people updated on things involving myself and my music, and not to bore you with my thoughts on current events or thinking up deep, intellectual writings. More of an informal news page to keep you in the loop about the recording process or shows or funny things that may have happened to me in a day. Believe it or not, sometimes I get myself into amusing and awkward situations. Seriously, they could create a sitcom about my life and it would quickly bypass Cheers and Seinfeld in the all-time ratings.

Thanks for tuning in, and hopefully I’ll see you around here sometime soon.