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Monday May 12, 2024

aprox. 3:00p

Steve Miller Band

Rock Love

Captiol

Man, I started this blog hours ago. I carved my plate and I intended to write before I finished, but I finished. Well, the first layer...

I am doing, whats called at "reductive" technique for this print. Thats where I print the first layer, carve out that "color" spaces on the plate. Print the next layer, carve out that color and so on... until I reach which is called the key image, which will frame all the layers together.

I'm very nervous. and exicited.

Aprox. 8:00p

Steve Miller Band was bluesy. It was okay. I sounded very different from the one song I know by them which is the song everybody knows.. "The Joker". Which is a good song. But I have to admit, listening to this album made me want to listen to my music. Like my generation, I guess? I guess I just couldn't connect. Not because of the music. just I think the mood I was in.

I still want to rip my paper tonight.

For some reason my computer speaker is really weak. So I decided to put on a cd. I have them in stacks on my entertainment center? The think where all my stereo system is set up with my vinyl and cds in it. Most of the cds are my dads. I do have some, but most of mine have been lost in the war. I do have this cd book from middle school and I decided to put on:

Sum 41

A Killer No Filler

Island

2001

I really like their new song "Landmines" so I thought I would revisit 7th grade. lol.

And the sound quality is MUCH better. I have wired Polk speakers. Do wired speakers really sound better? Because of the physical connection. I dunno, lets look it up.

....

welp, long story short yes. Wired speakers sound better. technically. There is a whole tangent on the interwebz about this and I found myself getting lost in the, ahem, snobbery of it all. And I'm not knocking the people who are passionate about it, Im just making fun of them. lol. I actually love snobby people, when they are pretentious for all the right reasons. I admire their dedication and passion and stand. It just got to be too much for me to waste my time reading about once I figured out the answer, it was just a lot of people repeating the same mindset.

It makes me think about another question I've been thinking and haven't looked it up yet...

If the music that is recorded is all digital, like for example beats, and synths and digital keyboards, does it make any sense at all to record it onto vinyl? Because if my understanding of analog sound serves me properly, it makes none. If the sound itself is digital, there is no way to convert it to an anolog sound.... unless you play the digital recording and record it analog. That sounds so stupid, I probably sound so stupid right now. But thats where my mind gets confused, because if thats the case, why would you buy a vinyl album that is digitally recorded. Okay, I had to release that thought before I actually look it up. so here it goes...

<<okay>> so there is a BIG fight about this question going on. It seems to me like the answer is... it doesn't actually sound better when pressed to vinyl, but people buy the vinyl recording of digital music becasue they like the "experience" of vinyl- physically having the media, lowering the needle and flipping the record- and they like seeing the artwork and posters etc. that come with it. Some claim to hear of difference in the sound, but I don't believe them. While I have no problem with people buying it if they want the vinyl version- I get the "experince" of it all. But I'm not going to force a logic that does not compute.

However, even listening to CDs on my sound system sounds way better than my bluetooth speaker I have in my living room. There is a warmth to it. In the physical connections. So hey, maybe some people do hear it sounding better, not because of the recording itself, but through the system of which its outputting. Here, I am now arguing with myself about this.

SUM 41 is over.

9:40p

Holy cow it is late. And I'm not even tired. I haven't taken my meds yet tonight though. But I wanted to say that I am seriously happy. I want to paint you a picture, metaphorically: I am in the Backspace, mood lighting, Thrice is on, I am ripping paper, amber incense buring and I am working. Ripping paper and I feel like I am doing exactly want to do.

Arist in Ambulance just came on.

"Into Florencent light"

Kay, I'm getting back to work.

Also, I just realized there is more on my plate I need to carve, I totally forgot until I just, by chance looked and noticed it... thank goodness. So, I'll have to get to that before I go to bed.

10:15p

When to put another CD on and it hit me hard. I am getting really tired. I finished ripping one pack of paper and now I still have one more pack to go, plus that plate I wanted to finish. I don't think its going to happen tonight.

Tuesday May 14th, 2024

9:39a

I'm getting a late start today. I woke up at 7, but then I fell back to sleep. I wanted to take a hike this morning, but I just looked at the weather and its supposed to rain for the next 20 minutes or so, so I'm going to get started with the rest of my paper I need to rip and possibly carving that last bit of the plate that I forgot.

The more I think about this print, the more difficult it seems like its going to be and I think I maybe tried to do too advanced of a project for my current skill level. Time will tell.

The Allman Brothers Band

Eat A Peach

Warner Bros.

1972

Whats cute about this album is that there are some skribbles on the cover and a little on the inside. I think the albums are too old to be my skribbles, they are probably one of my older sisters'. I don't really remember my dad listening to vinyl when I was a kid. He definitely had this steroe system hooked up and listened to it often. But I feel like he always played the same cd. Dr. Hook. "Sylvia's Mother says Sylivia's happy..." He did hook one up in my room when I was about 8-10, but he only gave me one record to listen to: The Smurfs.

The artwork in the inside of this double album is noticeable. Its a little more risque than what I associate with The Allman Brothers. Even the album name "Eat A Peach" does not escape my dim wit. But there is a lot of weird stuff going on.

If you need to know one thing about me, and maybe it makes me totally lame, but I do not like satyrical nudity or satyrical implications of sex. In short, I don't like things like a mushroom with a boner. I guess you would call that "low brow", but my distain is only limited to sexual stuff. If its like a cartoon kid riding a mushroom top as a flying saucer thats cool, I'd enjoy that. If the flying saucer is headed to Titty Land, the land of a million tits, I really don't want to hang it on my wall. Would I look at it, possibly. Would I buy it and take it home and hang it on my wall so I can be reminded, everyday, of a place called Titty Land? No. I probably wont. In fact, I don't really like this artwork, its not really something I need to ever look at again.

10:04a

Side II

I'm going to get to work now.

Feels like the Allman Brothers have a jam band thing going on, some psychadellic features, a little Grateful Dead vibe going on. One thing I notice about this old music vs. my generations now slightly older music, is that we have a poetry about us, a sharp tounge and lyrics that bite. I'm finding it hard to hear the poetry. I know admitting to all of this makes me sound like a loser. I should be like, eh I only listen to old music, the music of that generation is the only real music.

But I think I'm going to make a revelation. That the emo music of my generation has such a strong poetic nature to the music that it is why it has lasted to the next generation. Emo made it. Emo is classic rock now. Its Rock and Roll and it is here to stay.

Side III

Wow. Side III has skribles on the actual grooves. Let see if it affects the playback.

10:57a

I don't know where I was getting psychadellic earlier but this was more jammy. Definitely Blues, especially in the baseline. I think. They have very memorable solos and I really enjoyed how the side ended. It ended on a really peaceful note. I thought it was the end of the entire album and it would have been better if it had been the last song. But who knows? The actual last song might be better I haven't gotten there. They really reminded me of the Hi-Matics or vice-versa. whatever. And also "Band on the Run" by Wings. They definitely were influence by those two.

Side IV

I don't know if I like the Hi-Matics because of the Allman Brothers or I like the Allman Brothers because of the Hi-Matics but this album has really turned around for me. I really like this.

11:45p

Finished carving my plate and setting up my print area. I think I might go for my hike while its still not raining. I'm just nervous because I usually go for about 2hours and if I get caught in it.... I guess it wouldnt be the biggest deal. I've walked in the rain many times before. So I guess, I'll do that and plan for printing for the rest of the night. brb.

3:40p

Back from my hike. Did 6 miles in 1h50m. Got a shower and then got stuck on the phone with a bunch of family drama that is happening right now. It all has nothing to do with me, but somehow I keep getting dragged into it. But I'm not getting into it. I'm going to make some coffee and get started.

4:00p

Coffee made, snack eaten- pickle and mayonaise sandwich in case you were wondering. Now lets pick some music. The last album- The Allman Brothers is probably one of my favorites that I have played so far. Next up:

I can't read the font on the cover... something Messina. I'm going to look it up.

ahh.

Loggins & Messina

Native Sons

Columbia

1976

First off, the cover looks a lot like Led Zeppelin I and the inner sleeve is really neat. It looks like newspaper articles that I guess read the lyrics to the songs? Thats cool.

Side I

Going to get to work, its already a very late start. Apron on!

4:46p

Already ran into my first hiccup. My color printmaking inks (not black) haven't been used in so long that the lids were fused on via dried ink. But I figure it out after only cutting myself twice. lol. But the first color which is going to be the stars and moon is a gold color. I'm using two different kinds of paper because, mostly, they didn't have many of any one particular color so I had to get two different colors. One is a pretty cream color and the gold looks good on it, but the other is a cool grey tone and the gold doesn't look as good on my test sheets. Also, I am prepping to have pretty color test sheets which could possibly be framed if I don't eff them up.

5:29p

Did a couple of test prints. 1. the color is perfect gold 2. The plate itself seems to be well carved 3. I forgot to brush all the little bits away that may have gotten stuck when carving so they are showing up when I print.

Need to pick a new album. Not really any commentary for the last one.

Feeling stuck. These little bits are really interfering

7:13p

We're going to be here all night. I can't get the pressure right or something. There are like these little inconsistencies that I thought were the bits, but I got them out with a brush. Also, the prints are slightly off center 😩

I've listened to this side of the album 3 times now. Just too in the groove to change the album. I don't even know what it is. And I'll probably tell you later because I am on print 4 of 22 and it's 7. I'm hoping when I get the flow going, things will progress more smoothly.

okay, I'm going back in.

7:36p

It was:

Leon Russel & Marc Benno

Asylum Choir II

Shelter Recording Co.

no year

I really like the cover for some reason. It seems silly and playful but interesting all the same. Like they took a picture and put a "cloud" filter over it. Which is funny because thats what I felt in the music silly, but no less talented. It was okay. 6/10

I'm feeling like I'm probably only going to do the cream paper today. Its taking me so long and I just don't think I'm going to make it through the night when I have to work tomorrow. But setting up and cleaning up take so much waste because I don't have a rag service or anything so I have to throw the paper towels and stuff away. You can't put oil soaked rags in your regular washing machine

I just put in for a quote for a towel service. Just to see, ya know?

Okay, I'm putting another album on and powering through these last 6 papers and I think I'll print the grey paper tomorrow. Round 800.

9:01

I finished printing the cream paper. I cleaned up. I think I might get a snack and then go to bed. Maybe play guitar for like 10 minutes. I wrote two new songs and want to practice them. One has been in my head for the last couple of hours. Thats a good sign, right? I don't know how to put my music on this site. The last guys that just played were goofy. As soon as I looked at the cover I knew they were goofballs. Sounded like The Beatles.

Thursday May 16th, 2024

4:08p

I got a bonus day off today so I was planning on finishing my printing. I did get an early start this morning but I did my 6 mile hike again today and then I had to take my mom to wal-mart and so the day got away from me a little bit. But none-the-less I am going to print this afternoon-evening and hopefully it will be a success. Remember, today we are printing the grey paper. Putting an album on and then getting to work!

5:33p

The album I put on was Tommy- The Soundtrack. First, I had no idea what Tommy was. I've never heard of it and when I first put it on, I had no idea what I was listening to in a way that I had no idea why my Dad would have this album. But then pinball wizard come on, and my mom was in the other room and she kind of explained it to me, that Tommy was the "Pinball Wizard". I definitely new the song, I just never knew the context, but it was really interesting listening to the soundtrack to a musical I've never seen. It was interesting following the plot by just the songs.

That was the music. Printing on the other hand has been just a giant mess. Literally. I need some piece of glass thats bigger than my 6x6inch square. I thought it would work for what I was doing, but it doesn't. It just makes everything messy. The prints are coming out okay, but I ran out of room on my drying line. 4/10 finished.

6:56p

Finished printing. Started cleaning up. I made another drying line down my hallway and that really solved that problem. I put on a new album:

America

It has Ventura Highway which is my favorite America song. Those guys are really talented when it comes to playing folk guitar. I saw a video of them palying Ventura Highway in unison on stage one time and it was incredible. I have to admit, I've never listened to America more than that song and Sister Golden Hair, which is one of my Mom's favorite songs. Probably because she's blonde... and its a good song.

I thought working was supposed to keep my mind off of stuff, but I was thinking about my usual awful stuff, that everyone hates me, thinks I'm dumb, and my Dad called me a whore (all stuff I've made up in my mind, but I still feels is real somehow). Why is this happening, making things is supposed to be my escape, but its turned into the complete opposite. I have to fight through it just the same as always. If everyone is making fun of me, why can't I just say "fuck you, go away" and it go away? How come I can't make it go away?

I'm going to finish cleaning up.

7:25p

Done cleaning. Instead of feeling accomplished and victorious, I feel sad and pathetic and lonely. I thought I was supposed to heal when I put my mind to something?