Here we are, finally in winter in Central Oregon…a fitting time to be finishing mixing and production on Winteresque, the new full length album from Finn Miles.
Thanks to all who have been on the journey with us the last few years; 2012 is looking up for Finn Miles!
Dan Bosman of Scented Vinyl let us release hold the first phase of our album release at the Mars Cafe in December 2010. This was momentous…the best album yet, self recorded and produced and released with a great backing band. Still…I wanted Winteresque. I had been playing the songs live, sharpening parts and watching the crowd for reaction. By this time I had nine songs, plus the idea to rerecord two previously recorded songs.
We were growing in depth, building the skills, and the set of microphones that would allow us to make no compromises in recording Winteresque.
But of course, there was a new challenge that was facing us. I was moving to Oregon in the mid-summer, giving us a tight deadline to complete tracking.
Meeting once a week in Scott’s rented basement/studio we applied more rigor and discipline than ever to getting the right sounds. We split duties, co-engineering and co-producing. I played some keys and organ, Scott played guitar. We were starting to overlap. The only question was, would we finish in time? (read on to Part 5 of this adventure)
So, I thought we were ready to go to work on yet another album. That’s how things had worked between Branches and Telltale Heart, there hadn’t been much of a break. I had the songs…now hit it!
Kickstart Winteresque with us!
I even started a Kickstarter project in anticipation of starting the album. I was playing with a great six piece band, getting good gigs, doing radio interviews. Life was good.
It was good, but in some ways paper thin. The band was superb, but all part of other projects as well, and over a few months they mostly drifted into other backing bands. The Kickstarter didn’t really “kickstart.” It went splat. It turns out these crowd-sourcing tools work great if you have a crowd ready to give. I didn’t. Then…my brother got engaged. A happy event…but a death knell for Winteresque happening in 2010.
Fortunately I had plenty of shows lined up at coffee houses and small venues…and I could always go back to looping with the Boss RC-50 Loopstation. Still, I was ready to record…so I decided to take a step of audacity.
I would write and record an album of “new” material while waiting until we could work on Winteresque. Thus, the idea for the “Modern Saints EP” was born.
Read on to Part 3 or the Winteresque saga. (coming soon)
We promised, we’re finishing the album…and here’s the evidence – a sneak peak at “There’s a Better Way (Looper)” including an actual track of vocals mixed into the song.
We’re warming up our chops this winter with a handful of unplugged shows in Central Oregon. Check out our upcoming shows. We’ll see you there!
I think I’ve got it…I just need one more mic to finish the job!
The tracks for our upcoming FULL LENGTH are finished except for the vox, and I think I’ve been persuaded that the Shure SM7B is the mic for me. Both my brother, and Chris Cunningham have been strong proponents of the SM7B…now I just need to find a deal on ebay!
Also, if you happen to be in Central Oregon you may find us at a local open mic or cafe gig. That’s right, we’re warming up to get back on stage. Say tuned…
I just picked up an Audix i5 today, just one of the many microphones that will be used on our upcoming album “Winteresque.” The Audix i5 is a good workhorse mic, I’m looking forward to using it for variety on guitar amps and percussion. Stay tuned for more updates on our recording process; things are sounding incredible so far, we’re excited to share the music!
Thanks to Darren Hushak of Pinnacle Records the new Finn Miles EP “Modern Saints” is mixed, mastered and almost ready to go. We’re in the process of booking a tour, working on album art, and all the other creative tasks that come with releasing new music.
So…without further ado – here’s the track listing and brief song description for the Modern Saints EP
1. Come back to me ( Kings of Leon + Queen)
2. Saints of Yesterday (My slide guitar gently weeps)
3. Right by my side (Happy jazzy folk-pop)
4. Modern Love (Has a ring of Springsteen methinks)
5. It’s a New City (Textural wonderland, Nels Cline shades with Sufjan aftertaste)
Keep sharp watch for a CD release party and other shows in latter months and hours of 2010!
We’re just about finished with an outstanding five song EP, Modern Saints. Keep an eye out for upcoming tours and a release party… as well as posted tracks and more details on the album!
New songs on the way from Finn Miles! I (Paul) have been tracking guitars and drums at the Hakeman Estate, our latest recording location in scenic central Des Moines, IA.
The new EP will contain five songs, probably our most mature and well balanced tracks to date, all centering around the ‘L’ word, LOVE. Here’s a lyrical sample from one of the new songs – enjoy!
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We go out
pretty things looking around
playin’ it cool
we are the kings and queens of fools
new time, the bomb
hurried love under cover songs
stretch cars and highlights
how will we know when we’ve done it right?
we’re making us
we’re faking us
we’re taking us
for a joyride, baby
- I confess I haven’t a clue
when it comes to loving you
modern love, what we have we done?
2009 is nigh well passed. As we look toward 2010 we can reminisce on a fantastic year of music and art. If the spirit of shows past came and walked us through EP releases, DogtownFest,movies made, and video games soundtracked we’d have little to flinch at, and much to revel in.
As we approach 2010 we look forward to a time of silence, a time of rest. The first XX months (3-5) of 2010 Finn Miles will be digging deep, writing new songs, recording new music, and investigating the grand ideas that make our minds tick.
Don’t worry, we may pop up for an odd acoustic show here and there, and we’ll keep posting progress…but for a full rock sound may I suggest purchase of the Finn Miles Telltale Heart EP? Share it with a friend. Throw a dinner party. Have a conversation. Drink hot chocolate. Live the good life.
