Volume 10

Posts 226-250
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
to
Monday, June 2, 2008
T U E SD A Y , M A Y 6 , 2 0 0 8

This Day in Studio History

It was on this day in 1997 that the Isthmus album Ideas was released.

This was a collection of songs from the 1995 Electric Field Donut jam session that
did not make it onto the 1996 Electric Field Donut album.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:38 AM 0 comments
Labels: This Day in History
W E D N E SD A Y , M A Y 7 , 2 0 0 8

Equipment File #10: DR-660 drum machine

Boss DR-660

Although the DR-550 drum machine was a great improvement over the drum
sounds from the Yamaha keyboard, it had a limited number of kits to choose from.
So after two and a half years, it was set aside and the DR-660 was purchased in
late 1992.

The DR-660 put in over ten years of service before its internal battery finally died.
Hundreds of songs were recorded with this unit. It provided many more drum kits
and programmable patterns than the DR-550. It also included bass sounds so an
entire rhythm section could be programmed. And this one could be backed up via
MIDI cables to a computer (as opposed to the cassette deck back-up method of the
DR-550).

And now with drum loops and built-in drum machines, the computer has replaced
the DR-660. The Studio can now use the drum machine sounds of the 80's and 90's
or loops that sound like real drums from within one program on the computer.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:43 AM 0 comments
Labels: Equipment File
T H U R SD A Y , M A Y 8 , 2 0 0 8

Video File #3: Isthmus "Flathead Midget"

"Flathead Midget" video is now online!

Today is the release of the second Isthmus music video, "Flathead Midget". The
song comes from their 1998 album Parabolic Dish Festival Volume 1.

The footage used in the video comes from two sources. The first is the Isthmus jam
session where the album was actually recorded. The second is a circus that came
to Isthmus' home-town in April of 2008.

Click here for the YouTube post.

Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:51 AM 0 comments
Labels: Video File
F RI DAY , M AY 9 , 2 0 0 8

Project Spotlight #19: Who Are The Spartans?

In 1991, Brad P showed up at the doorstep of Metal XOR Studio after having been
away at school for a couple of years. The Studio was in the midst of recording
Mune Mud's Olympus album. So Brad programmed a few drum patterns and added
some vocals on a couple of outtake tracks.

He was also around for the 1992 Mune Mud album Underwater Problem Factory,
contributing a few musical ideas but mainly designing the cover for that album on
his PC.

It was also during this time that Harry and Jason were playing in various garages
and bedrooms, so Brad was a natural to join as the drummer since the three had
played before in their previous band, Pheonix.

For a couple of years the three got together and jammed often. Brad was on
drums, Harry on guitar and vocals, and Jason on his new bass. Some of these jams
were video-taped and turned into bootleg audio tapes. They even played at Harry's
21st birthday bash.

At the time, the band didn't even have a name. They just got together and played.
For many years after the band quit playing, these jams were considered to be a
newer version of Pheonix. But Pheonix really was a different band, so recently the
Harry, Jason, and Brad trio was named The Spartans.

The name comes from the fact that many of the people that would attend or
participate in the jam sessions were from the nearby city of Sparta (where Harry
worked). Many memories of this time are of those people and places. So the name
is appropriate to the band.
It was around 1993 when Brad got a new job and moved away once again. But this
did not stop Harry and Jason from jamming, they used a drum machine in Brad's
absence. And that was the beginning of their new band, The Duke Boys.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:52 AM 0 comments
Labels: Project Spotlight
SU N D A Y , M A Y 1 1 , 2 0 0 8

Album of the Week #38: Best of Darrin and Jason

Project name: Darrin and Jason

Album name: Best of Darrin and Jason
Release date: unreleased (compiled in January 1989)
Release format: cassette
Studio name: none

Tracks:
1. I Love You
2. Happy Together
3. If You Could Read My Mind
4. Seventies
5. Brenda Sure
6. Circus Women
7. Botulism
8. Seventies Era
9. Tim
10. What Have You Done for Me Lately?
11. Simply H
12. Take Me Home

In the fall of 1988 Darrin and Jason started making up their own lyrics and singing
to songs on the radio as they cruised around town in Darrin's car. Before long Jason
had his tape recorder rolling, preserving the sessions. Documented sessions were
on 8-31-88, 11-3-88, 1-25-89, and 1-29-89.

It was in January of 1989 that Jason put together this tape of their favorite songs
that they had sung so far. They had one session after the tape was finished.

No one has heard the tape and no one probably ever will.

Next week's Album of the Week: Olympus 10th Anniversary Collection by Mune
Mud from 2001.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:37 AM 0 comments
Labels: Album of the Week
SU N D A Y , M A Y 1 1 , 2 0 0 8

Just For Fun #9

Happy Mot her's Day

From all of us at Metal XOR Studio

Posted by - Mune Mud - at 6:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Just for Fun
M ON DAY , M AY 1 2 , 2 0 0 8

Single #2: Waterfall

Song name: "Waterfall"

Album name: Olympus
Release date: January 7, 1992

Tracks
1. Waterfall (album version)
2. Mystical Dream
3. Waterfall (instrumental)

Song History
This was the second single from the 1991 Mune Mud album Olympus.

"Waterfall" actually had its beginning as a different song. "Priest and Friar" was a
set of lyrics written in August of 1991. It talked of a priest and friar, fire, and the
destruction of a town. Although it never became a song, these themes carried over
to the music that was recorded a week later and a new set of lyrics was written as
"Waterfall". This was one of the defining songs for the sound of early Mune Mud.

Track Breakdown
The first track is the version that appeared on the album.
The second track was recorded during the Olympus recording sessions. The lyrics
to "Mystical Dream" were started on July 21, 1991, but were not completed. At
some point the lyrics that had been written were recorded. But after the double-
time bridge in the middle of the song the lyrics ended. When it was time to put
Olympus together, Jason did not want to take the time to finish this song, so it
was discarded. This is the only place this song has been made available.

The third track is the instrumental version of the album track.

Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:47 AM 0 comments
Labels: Singles
W E D N E SD A Y , M A Y 1 4 , 2 0 0 8

Equipment File #11: DigiTech sampler pedal

DigiTech PDS 2000

Until early 1991, the only effects the Studio used were the reverb and distortion
on the guitar amp. It was used for both guitar parts, drums, and vocals. Then a
used DigiTech PDS 2000 sampler pedal was bought. It was bought around the same
time as the 4-track recorder.

The pedal provided two effects. The first was delay. It also doubled as a sampler
pedal, recording up to 2 seconds of audio that could be triggered for playback.

The pedal was used extensively in the early days of Mune Mud. Every effect on
Mune Mud's 1991 Olympus album was from this pedal.

Around November of 1991 the first multi-effect rack unit (the Alesis QuadraVerb
GT) was bought by the Studio, so the use of this pedal for guitar and drums
dropped drastically. But it was still used to add delay to vocals for years. In fact,
even as recent as the last Mune Mud album, Hobson's Choice from 2004, it was
used for that purpose.

But now that the computer is being used to record all new music, the pedal may
have seen its last use. The computer can do everything and MUCH more than the
pedal did.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:50 AM 0 comments
Labels: Equipment File
F RI DAY , M AY 1 6 , 2 0 0 8

Project Spotlight #20: The Duke Boys

By the early to mid 90's, Harry and Jason had been involved in several music
projects. But not since their earliest days had they done anything with just the two
of them. So as the band The Spartans came to an end around 1993, Harry and
Jason continued playing together in garages and bedrooms for the next couple of
years. They rarely played any original songs, almost all of the music from this time
was cover songs from the bands that influenced them the most.

They had an occasional drummer sit in (Shawn or Danny) but most of the time they
used a drum machine or had no drums. Harry played the guitar and sang while
Jason played bass or drum machine.

Several of these jam sessions were recorded on video or audio but have never been
released. Bootleg copies of some of them have turned up over the years. The Duke
Boys slowly evolved into their next project, Isthmus. On February 5, 1995, Isthmus
had their first jam session which led to the release of their first album, Electric
Field Donut, in 1996. With that jam session and their new name, The Duke Boys
was officially finished.

Where did the band name come from? The Dukes of Hazzard of course! Until
recently, this period of their music career was considered to be early Isthmus. But
all of their fans know that Isthmus wasn't created until the Electric Field Donut
session in February 1995. So recently the pre-Isthmus era band was finally named.
The final three choices for the project name was Outpatient, Lonely Minstrels, and
The Duke Boys. The Duke Boys seemed the most appropriate since deep down
inside Harry really is Bo and Jason is Luke.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:53 AM 0 comments
Labels: Project Spotlight
SA T U R D A Y , M A Y 1 7 , 2 0 0 8

This Day in Studio History

It was this day in 1994 that Jason went to work and talked to his co-worker, Kevin,
about the new music he had been recording. Kevin asked what the new music was
like. Jason said it was a combination of the heavy, industrial music of NueroMorgue
and the lighter, more melodic music of Mune Mud. So Kevin's suggestion for a
project name was NueroMud, a combination of the other two projects. Jason liked
the suggestion, so this was the day that NueroMud was named.

On October 18 of that same year, the first of two NueroMud albums, ...Libra 971,
was released.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:32 AM 0 comments
Labels: This Day in History
SU N D A Y , M A Y 1 8 , 2 0 0 8

Album of the Week #39: Olympus 10th Anniversary

Project name: Mune Mud

Album name: Olympus 10th Anniversary Collection
Release date: December 29, 2001
Release format: CD
Studio name: Metal XOR Studio

Tracks:
1. Etesian Wind
2. To Clementi
3. Waterfall
4. Castor & Pollux
5. Another Troubled Night
6. Sittin' At Home
7. Moon Mud
8. The Last Temptation
9. Infernal Tree
10. Scales of Justice
11. You and Me
12. Paroxysm
13. I'm With You
14. The Solitude
15. So Many
16. Redman
17. Slow It Down
18. In the Morning
19. Matter in General
20. Night Sea
21. Ministry
22. Moon Garden
23. Audobaun
24. Telescope
25. Country Ill
26. Chaser
27. Just Defied (2)
28. Test
29. Off Silence
30. Mystical Dream

It was decided shortly after the 1999 ORC album Purging the Great Abyss was
released (the first Metal XOR album to be released on CD) that the Studio should
go back and release some of its previous albums on CD. The project that had the
most releases at that point was Mune Mud. So it was the logical starting point for
digital re-releases.

In 2001, this album was released as the first in the 10th Anniversary Collection. At
that time there were five Mune Mud albums (excluding the debut and EP's) that
had been released on cassette. The 10th Anniversary Collection concluded in 2007
with the re-release of Sleep State F.

It was decided early on that in addition to the songs being remixed from the
original masters, the albums would also include previously unreleased tracks such
as demos, alternate versions, or outtakes. And the packaging would also be new
(new covers, labels, etc).

The liner notes give a short history of the album and a few facts about the original
tape. The inside of the sleeve lists the same lyrics that appear on the original tape
sleeve, the lyrics are all run together making one long word (sentence, paragraph,
or whatever).

The first twenty-four tracks on the album are the same as what appeared on the
original tape. Tracks 25-30 are the bonus tracks. Of those, tracks 25, 26, 28, and
29 were short outtakes from the Olympus recording sessions. Track 27 was a
remake of a song that appeared on the Mune Mud debut album in early 1991. And
track 30 was an outtake that was not used because the lyrics and vocals were
never finished. "Mystical Dream" did appear as the 'b-side' on the "Waterfall" single
in 1992.

Next week's Album of the Week: Underwater Problem Factory 10th Anniversary
Collection by Mune Mud from 2002.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Album of the Week
M ON DAY , M AY 1 9 , 2 0 0 8

This Day in Studio History

It was on this day in 2001 that Nikki and Jason Love Songs was released.

This has been their only release so far, but look for another release from them in
the future.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: This Day in History
M ON DAY , M AY 1 9 , 2 0 0 8

Single #3: Gridlock

Song name: "Gridlock"

Album name: Underwater Problem Factory
Release date: fall of 1992

Tracks
1. Gridlock (album version)
2. EnVenum Above (original version)
3. Gridlock (instrumental)

Song History
This was the first single from the 1992 Mune Mud album Underwater Problem
Factory.

This song was obviously about a relationship. Or more specifically, the confusion
that can come out of a relationship. The snoring at the beginning of the song was
his friend Joe B. Joe had come by the Studio as Jason was getting ready to record.
He laid down and fell asleep and started snoring. So Jason put the mic next to Joe
and recorded him snoring. Later he recorded the song after the snoring.

Track Breakdown
The first track is the version that appeared on the album.
The second track is a remake of an older Mune Mud song. "EnVenum Above"
originally appeared on the Mune Mud debut album in 1991 and then again on the
debut re-release in 1994. And this is that original version of the song. But the song
did not appear on 2008's Precursory 33. It was decided the quality of the original
recording was too low to be brought back.

The third track is the instrumental version of the album track.

Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Singles
W E D N E SD A Y , M A Y 2 1 , 2 0 0 8

Equipment File #12: Alesis effects unit

Alesis QuadraVerb GT

For most of 1991, the Studio had been using the DigiTech delay/sampler pedal for
most of its guitar, drum, and vocal effects. But more effects were on the way...

Around November 1991, the Studio purchased the Alesis QuadraVerb GT effects
unit. It did the same as the pedal, it had delay and a built-in sampler, but it also
had distortion, flange, phaser, reverb, and many other effects. The difference in
the Mune Mud Olympus and Underwater Problem Factory albums was the effects
used. Olympus only had the pedal to work with, UPF had the effects unit. And
probably the song with the most effects was "The Smell of Earthworms" on UPF,
each line of the song was sung with a different effect.

In May of 1993 the Alesis was expanded even further. The Studio ordered a second
effects chip to replace the first, so now the unit had an entirely new set of effects
patches to use. Throughout the years the chips would occasionally be exchanged to
take advantage of the different sets of sounds.

The Alesis has been the primary source of effects for the Studio since it was
purchased over fifteen years ago. Patch #11 is the default distorted guitar sound
Mune Mud has used in many songs. And this rack unit will provide the Studio with
effects for years to come.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Equipment File
T H U R SD A Y , M A Y 2 2 , 2 0 0 8

This Day in Studio History

Ten years ago, on this day in 1998, Isthmus had a marathon recording session
which spawned two albums, Parabolic Dish Festival Volume 1 and Volume 2. These
were the last Isthmus albums to be released to date. But talks are underway for a
new Isthmus jam session this year to record a new album.

Also watch for the Parabolic Dish Festival 10th Anniversary Deluxe Limited
Collectors Edition coming VERY soon!!!
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: This Day in History
T H U R SD A Y , M A Y 2 2 , 2 0 0 8

Studio News: *** NEW ALBUM RELEASE ***

Metal XOR Studio is proud to announce today's release of

Isthmus Parabolic Dish Festival 10th Anniversary Edition!!!

This is the long-awaited deluxe edition of Isthmus' 1998 Parabolic Dish Festival
album. The original album was released on two cassettes as Volume 1 and Volume
2, but there was a lot more material from the recording session that was not used.
This new compilation not only contains the two original volumes on CD for the first
time ever, but also a third CD containing hours of additional audio in the form of
MP3's. It also contains several .PDF documents including a behind-the-scenes look
at the recording session and lyrics to both original volumes.

This album is being released today because it has been exactly ten years to the
day since the album was recorded. And this is a good way to celebrate the
grandest adventure of the past decade!
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 9:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Studio News
F RI DAY , M AY 2 3 , 2 0 0 8

This Day in Studio History

It was on this day in 2001 that Harry and Jason The Vintage Years Volume 1 was
released.

Although this has been the only volume released in this series in the last seven
years, there are more planned. Stayed tuned...
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: This Day in History
SU N D A Y , M A Y 2 5 , 2 0 0 8

Album of the Week #40: UPF 10th Anniversary

Project name: Mune Mud

Album name: Underwater Problem Factory 10th Anniversary Collection
Release date: December 31, 2002
Release format: CD Extra
Studio name: Metal XOR Studio

Tracks:
1. One Last Time
2. Time, That's What
3. Gridlock
4. In My Heart
5. I Don't Get It
6. Odyssey VI
7. The Smell of Earthworms
8. 5Fifty
9. My Firmament
10. FF
11. Believe Me
12. Eggs to Eternity
13. Go Disco!
14. Xavier's Goat
15. The Grasshopper Child
16. I'll Go Berserk
17. My Style
18. EnVenum Above
19. Rite of Diaboli
20. Holed Up
21. Garden of Hesperides
22. Ben Proud
23. Ring Down the Curtain
24. Nothing Cube

This was the second album in the 10th Anniversary Collection. It was a digital re-
release of the 1992 Underwater Problem Factory album.

The album cover and CD label were new designs. The liner notes explained how
UPF was an experimental album and that there were twenty-four songs recorded
during the UPF recording sessions. So this album is the complete catalog of what
was recorded during that time.

The new cover also has the same quote that the original album had on its cover, "If
it looks like strudel, treat it like strudel!" It was credited to Steve Hart, a co-
worker of Jason's, on the original album. This time it was added "in memory of
Steve Hart". Steve died a few years ago and this was a tribute to him.

The first nineteen tracks are the same as what was on the original album. Tracks
20-24 are the bonus tracks. All of the bonus tracks were outtakes, incomplete
songs or deemed not worthy of being on the album. "Garden of Hesperides" was
used as the 'b-side' for the "Believe Me" single that came out later in 1992.

And this has been the only CD to date released by Metal XOR Studio that was
considered a CD Extra. In addition to the audio, it contained documents and
picture files pertaining to the UPF era. These were little trivia fun-fact items to
make the collectors happy.
Next week's Album of the Week: Pryme Material 10th Anniversary Collection by
Mune Mud from 2003.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Album of the Week
M ON DAY , M AY 2 6 , 2 0 0 8

Just For Fun #10

Happy Memorial Day

From all of us at Metal XOR Studio

Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Just for Fun
M ON DAY , M AY 2 6 , 2 0 0 8

Single #4: Believe Me

Song name: "Believe Me"

Album name: Underwater Problem Factory
Release date: fall of 1992

Tracks
1. Believe Me (album version)
2. Garden of Hesperides
3. Believe Me (instrumental)

Song History
This was the second single from the 1991 Mune Mud album Underwater Problem
Factory.

There isn't much history behind this song. It was an outtake from Underwater
Problem Factory. It did remain nameless for over ten years, finally receiving its
name in November of 2002.

Track Breakdown
The first track is the version that appeared on the album.

The second track was another song recorded during the Underwater Problem
Factory sessions. It was simply an unused track from the album.

The third track is the instrumental version of the album track.

Posted by - Mune Mud - at 1:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Singles
W E D N E SD A Y , M A Y 2 8 , 2 0 0 8

Equipment File #13: ART SGE effects unit

ART SGE Mach II

The Studio had been using the Alesis QuadraVerb for a few years when it was
decided another effects unit was needed for more variety. So in 1996, it got the
ART SGE Mach II effects unit.

Harry had this ART effects unit and had not been using it much. And Jason had a
Sega Genesis that he had not used for a while. So Jason exchanged his Sega and
$75 for this unit. The ART also came with a foot board, but Jason never used it.

This unit did not replace the Alesis, but added to the pool of effects than was now
available to the Studio. It was used for a few songs, mostly heavier and weirder
unreleased NueroMorgue songs. But it just wasn't as popular as the Alesis.

The Studio still has the unit but it has not been used in years and there are no
plans to use it any time soon. So it will remain on stand-by for the time being.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Equipment File
F RI DAY , M AY 3 0 , 2 0 0 8

Web Log #1: Posts 1-25

This is the first in a series of posts called Web Log. Each entry will contain an
embedded .PDF file containing twenty-five posts from this blog. After the initial
Web Logs are posted, new ones will be posted after every twenty-five additional
posts.

This first entry covers the beginning of this blog. It contains posts #1-25.

Web Log 01 (1-25) - Upload a Document to Scribd

Posted by - Mune Mud - at 10:40 AM 0 comments

Labels: Web Log
SU N D A Y , J U N E 1 , 2 0 0 8

Album of the Week #41: Pryme Material 10th Anniversary

Project name: Mune Mud

Album name: Pryme Material 10th Anniversary Collection
Release date: 2003
Release format: CD
Studio name: Metal XOR Studio

Tracks:
1. Reality Found Me
2. Four Concepts
3. Clouds Set Free
4. An Urban Theory
5. The Only One
6. Up A Lonely Road
7. Etesian Wind (Ethereal Mix)
8. Turn It Up
9. I Still Know You
10. To My Owl
11. Wait A While
12. SID II
13. Aqua Celeste
14. You Noticed Me
15. Mental Instru
16. I'm Sick
17. UFO
18. Fantasy Dream
19. Reality Found Me (demo)
20. Turn It Up (demo)
21. I Still Know You (demo)
22. Wait A While (demo)
23. Aqua Celest (demo)
24. Up A Lonely Road (Splitz Mix)

This was the third album in the 10th Anniversary Collection. It was a digital re-
release of the 1993 Pryme Material album.

The first seventeen tracks are the same as the original 1993 album, just digitally
remixed. Tracks 18-24 are the previously unreleased bonus tracks. Track 18 was a
short song recorded using the new sequencer the Studio bought in 1993. The song
remained unnamed until it was used for this album.

Tracks 19-23 are demo versions of songs from the album. This was a period when
the Studio started recording demo tapes. When a demo was recorded that could
possibly become a real song, it was worked on and usually ended up on an album.
So there are many demos and unused tracks from the Pryme Material recording
sessions.

The final track is an instrumental version of "Up A Lonely Road" using a different
patch on the sound module. So instead of piano, strings, etc. from the original
song, this version has all kinds of different sounds playing.

Unfortunately this album was never totally finished. The tracks were compiled but
the CD's were never burned. Even the CD labels were printed. The back cover was
also printed. But the front jacket wasn't even designed. It's still considered to be
'released' in 2003, but there is no complete packaged CD available. The Studio is
working to finally complete the album soon.

Next week's Album of the Week: Equation of Time 10th Anniversary Collection by
Mune Mud from 2006.
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Album of the Week
SU N D A Y , J U N E 1 , 2 0 0 8

State of the Studio #10: June '08

Summer is almost here. The Studio does not like summer. Summer is hot.

Coming this month, the Album of the Week wraps up the 10th Anniversary
Collection albums, then the feature shifts gears and discusses some of the more
current albums.

The Equipment File also continues. This month will see the end of the effects
units and then it will be on to other equipment that has been used throughout the
years.

The new Web Log feature continues. This month will cover blog posts through
#125.

The Singles feature also continues. By the end of the month we'll be up to the
singles from the 1997 Mune Mud album Sleep State F.

And there may be HUGE Isthmus news soon. There are rumors that this is the
month that the new Isthmus album will be recorded. We will see if that turns out
to be true.

Otherwise it's business as usual here at the Studio. Another milestone will be
reached real soon, post #250.

So until the first of next month, keep cool!!!

Posted by - Mune Mud - at 1:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: State of the Studio
M ON DAY , J U N E 2 , 2 0 0 8

Blog News: 250th Post

Guess what?

This is post #250 for the Metal XOR Studio blog! It is now hard to remember a time
before the blog.

MANY things have been featured on this site: albums, musicians, equipment, songs,
etc. And there is much more that still needs to be featured.

So keep on reading. And before you know it you'll be reading the 300th post!!!
Posted by - Mune Mud - at 5:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Blog News

© Copyright 2008 Metal XOR Studio