Single #9: Ginkgo Biloba

Song name: "Ginkgo Biloba"
Album name: Sleep State F
Release date: October 21, 1997

Tracks
1. Ginkgo Biloba (album version)
2. Little Germany
3. Ginkgo Biloba (instrumental)

Song History
This was the first single from the 1997 Mune Mud album Sleep State F.

And then Jason was interested in herbs and herbal remedies. One aspect that interested him in particular was memory. And Ginkgo Biloba supposedly has medicinal properties to improve memory. So this song is a story about someone connecting with their Ancient Chinese past through herbal means.

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

The second track was recorded during the Sleep State F sessions but was not included on the final album. It's a peppy, up-tempo song about Jason's German grandma. The song is full of family inside jokes and is fun to listen to.

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

Album of the Week #45: Precursory 33

Project name: Mune Mud
Album name: Precursory 33
Release date: April 8, 2008
Release format: CD
Studio name: Metal XOR Studio

Tracks:
1. That's All I Need to Know
2. Plutonic
3. Ominous
4. Peach Tree
5. Lyric
6. Why Did You Go? v2.0
7. Harley
8. Fruit Preserve
9. Under the Sky
10. Umbra Flame
11. That's Life
12. Decomposition of a Song
13. I'll Be Here
14. I Dream
15. Go West
16. Tip 26
17. King Song
18. Just Defied
19. The One-Liner
20. Eighty-Eight II
21. We Dog
22. Suburban 70
23. Leaves Fall

When Mune Mud began recording in 1990, it was with rudimentary equipment and talent. By early 1991 there was enough material to collect onto a tape. The collection was simply called Mune Mud. Over the next couple of years Mune Mud recorded more music and released more tapes. In 1994 it was decided to re-release the original tape, so Mune Mud was was reissued.

Years went by and many more Mune Mud albums were recorded and released. It was decided in early 2008 to revisit the beginnings of the project once again. For the re-re-release of Mune Mud, the songs would be put into the computer and cleaned up, then released on CD. And for a more complete picture of the early music, songs from the original Mune Mud were used along with some songs from the 1994 Mune Mud EP Devaulted, which was a small collection of unused material from the debut Mune Mud album.

So when the songs were chosen and cleaned up in the computer, it was time for packaging. It has been confusing over the years to refer to the original 1991 Mune Mud album (usually refered to as the debut album) and the 1994 version (usually referred to as the re-release), since they were both called Mune Mud. So a new name for this release was needed. That is why this album of previously used material has a new name.

This album also had a Studio first... a website for the album. On the website you can read the history of the album and listen/download most of the songs. You can visit the website here.

The end.

Web Log #5: Posts 101-125

This fifth entry contains posts #101-125.

Web Log 05 (101-125) - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Web Log 05 (101-125)

Equipment File #17: Nexus MIDI switcher

Nexus MIDI switcher

This was purchased in the big Studio upgrade in June of 1993. As stated in a previous post, the biggest change in the Studio at that time was the implementation of MIDI. The Studio now had several pieces of equipment that was MIDI capable: a synthesizer, a drum machine, an effects unit, a sequencer, a sound module, and eventually the Studio computer itself. So it became clear that with all of those MIDI inputs and outputs something was needed to control and manage it all.

And that is where this little gem came in. It allowed up to three MIDI inputs (or triggers) to control up to eight different outputs. So with the flick of a switch, the synthesizer could go from controlling the sound module to triggering sounds from the drum machine. And just as easily, the sound module could be triggered by either the synthesizer or the drum machine with the flick of a switch.

So this unit provided the flexibility needed for the MIDI set-up the Studio used for many years. But the switcher was recently retired since the only MIDI now in use by the Studio is the synthesizer acting as a trigger for all instrument and drum sounds in the computer. And that is accomplished by the use of one MIDI cable.

Single #8: One Night

Song name: "One Night"
Album name: Equation of Time
Release date: October 8, 1996

Tracks
1. One Night (v2.0) (album version)
2. One Night (v1.0)
3. One Night (v2.0) (instrumental)

Song History
This was the second single from the 1996 Mune Mud album Equation of Time.

Jason had a group of friends over one night. Even though it was after midnight when they left, he wanted to record a new song. So he recorded "One Night". The song was good, but could have been better. So he re-recorded the song with better vocals (still ad-libbed as the original version was) and slight changes in the composition. It was the second version (v2.0) that was used for the album.

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

The second track was the original version of the song. It could also be considered the demo for the album version.

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

Album of the Week #44: PDF 10th Anniversary

Project name: Isthmus
Album name: Parabolic Dish Festival 10th Anniversary Edition
Release date: May 22, 2008
Release format: CD
Studio name: Metal XOR Studio

Tracks:
Disc 1 - see Parabolic Dish Festival Volume 1
Disc 2 - see Parabolic Dish Festival Volume 2
Disc 3 - various

It wasn't long after the first two volumes were originally released in 1998 and 1999 that talks began of a deluxe edition since there was so much extra content recorded and not used for the original two albums. So the project was started. Soon things got hectic and it was put on the back burner. A few years later it was worked on again, but it still was not finished.

Fast forward to 2008. The band was eagerly awaiting the release of the new Indiana Jones movie on May 22. And there were talks of possibly recording a new Isthmus album in June. So Harry said what would inspire him the most for another jam session would be the release of the Parabolic Dish Festival Deluxe Edition.

By coincidence, the date they recorded the album was May 22, 1998, exactly ten years to the day prior to the new Indiana Jones release. Jason dug up the material that was ready for the project and cleaned it up. Could it be done by May 22?

The new packaging was going to be adventure-themed since it was being released on the same day Indiana Jones was coming out. But due to time constraints, the only thing that remains of the adventure theme is the title font on the front cover. It was decided to go with a space theme for the rest of the packaging.

So the album did release on May 22, the first Metal XOR Studio album not released on a Tuesday. It contained 3 CD's, one for each of the original Volumes and a third that contained all the bonus content in the form of MP3's and PDF's. Being a multi-disc album was also a first for the Studio.

The band has been inspired to record the next album. Now it is a matter of getting their three schedules to allow for a recording session. And as of now, July looks promising.

Since the album was rather rushed to be completed by the May 22 deadline, there were some things that did not make it in this edition. So there are already plans for a bigger, much more complete edition to be released some time in the future. Let's hope it doesn't take another ten years for this one to be released!


Next week's Album of the Week: Precursory 33 by Mune Mud from 2008.

Studio News: New Website

Metal XOR Studio presents a new website...

The Time Door Is Closing

The new site has nothing to do with music. It is a collection of memories and stories from Jason's past. There will be a new story every Monday and Friday, so stop by and read about events that helped make Jason what he is today.

* A link to the site is included in the Studio Links section on the right side of this page.