SonicMonkey » music

Happy New Year

Michael Hacker — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:25:54 +0000

In looking back at 2009, a lot has happened. I’ve been laid off twice. I’ve decided to go to grad school. I’ve lost weight, gained it back, and lost (some of) it again. I traveled a lot for work and pleasure. And, I failed to complete my 2009 song-a-week project as it was intended.

But did I actually fail? Sure… in the technical sense I did fail. I failed the explicit goal of writing, recording, and releasing a new song every week. Even the “songs” weren’t really songs most of the time. But the implicit goal was to get myself thinking about music again, to get myself playing and writing again, and to get my ass back into the studio… again. And in this, I have succeeded.

Now I have more skill with my equipment, more skill in the recording and mixing process, more confidence in releasing my stuff out into the ether, and some ideas for new songs. I also have no excuses.

Happy New Year, everyone. May 2010 be better than 2009 was.

Les Paul (6/9/1915 – 8/13/2009)

Michael Hacker — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:38:28 +0000

Les Paul, the man who pioneered the solid-body electric guitar, effects including tape delay and phasing, and multitrack recording… is gone.

Rock and Roll would not exist without you, sir. Rest in Peace.

Song-a-Week #33 – Les

Michael Hacker — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:19:47 +0000

No related posts.

While My Ukelele Gently Weeps

Michael Hacker — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 06:47:43 +0000

Tommy Emmanuel and Jake Shimabukuro have it out…

No related posts.

A Man I’ll Never Be

Michael Hacker — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 05:00:42 +0000

A guy named Mike Masse performed and recorded his own version of Boston’s “A Man I’ll Never Be” as a tribute to the late, great Brad Delp. Those who are fans of Project Studio Network have likely already heard it, but in case it slipped past you, here’s a link to the song as well as a thread discussing it on GearSlutz.com.

I recommend the following strategy:

Download the MP3
Turn off the lights
Put on a pair of headphones
Turn it up
Close eyes
Enjoy

I’ve talked to Mike, and he’s a real class act. Give the song a listen or two (or 3, or 100, or 1,000) and let him know what you think of it. Grab the MP3 while you can… I don’t know how long he’s going to leave it up there.

No related posts.

Steve Vai in his studio

Michael Hacker — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:20:57 +0000

No related posts.

Elvis Train

Michael Hacker — Thu, 10 May 2007 04:13:48 +0000

OK, OK… I know I haven’t done anything with this since… oh, August of last year. Here’s the scoop. Right after I posted the first test podcast, I quit my job and started back to school. It hasn’t been so much of an issue of time, but rather motivation and material. Well, I’m going to try to fix that, despite still being in school and working to get into a graduate program (that, alas, has nothing to do with music). Wish me luck.

This is a song that my old band “wrote” and recorded way back in the olden days before the terrorists won. I think it reflects a more innocent time, don’t you.

Note that at no time were alcoholic beverages of any kind imbibed. (No, really.)

Me: guitar / background vocals
Nico: background vocals / squeals
Shannon: drums
Ben: bass / unfortunate lead vocals