Recording the album - Day 4.

So this is how we stand at the end of Day 4.

Slymon from VCR loves Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Lewis at 2.45pm

Boris at 2.46pm

Boris at 2.59pm

When you hear the album you will understand why these are needed so bad.

Recording the album - Day 3

Boris, chuffed.

Lewis with my producer glasses.

Recording the final few guitar pieces

Ladies and gentlemen, the only non power chord on this album is A Minor, it happens in "Black Kids and White Kids".

A wider view.

Ollie on trampoline.

Kickflip on trampoline.

Lewis setting up.

Cormi drops over for a pizza and to record an Accordian piece for us.

Lewis chuffed that he has finished his drum bits.

Recording diary - Day 2

Day two of making what will become the biggest selling album since Michael Jackson's "Thriller" begins at about 3pm when I leave work and head down the M4 to the studio. I arrive at 3.30pm to hear some sawing and hammering going on and no Boris present. I use this opportunity to go for a walk to the Tesco down the road.

So I remember then that my girlfriend sent me a pretty good picture message the day before...

This makes me chuckle for a few minutes. Being a vegan and having a Tesco Metro as your only choice means you pretty much have no choice in what you eat, so I go for crumpets.

Lewis is coming a little bit later today as he is at home sorting out some police fine or something so Me and Boris crack on with the bass part to "Weston Terrace", Boris nails it in one.

Our good friend Pete comes over to check how we are doing and attempts some ollies and kickflips on a trampoline.

A couple of hours happen and Lewis does in fact return.

We now have studio nicknames which will last until the album is finished. Nicky is "Johnny Onetake", Boris is "Johnny Nomoan" and Lewis is "Johnny Cotton".

We record 4 songs today, slightly less than yesterday (11) because all of todays songs were completely brand new - in fact it was the first time Boris and Lewis ever heard them, so productivity took a dip today. Songs came out pretty cracking though.

So this is how we stand at the end of Day 2. We have 45 smiley faces, when we get to 88 smiley faces we will have completed the album. I must note after yesterdays confusion... Vocals make up 22 of those potential faces.. and we aren't starting them until all the music is done. So to finish all the music we need 66 faces - and we have 45. Hope this clears it all up.. a couple of you seemed confused by our system.

so tonight (Day 3) we are hopefully going to finish the music ready to start vocals on Saturday and finish them next week.

Recording the album - Day One

OK, so day one of recording finally comes. Considering we wanted to start recording the album in April we havent done too bad. Anyway yeah, so unless we pull out another one from the bag we are recording 22 or 23 songs, roughly half of them we have either recorded before or played live a fair bit. The other half is a complete mystery as they are all new to us, so new that we literally haven't even practised them.

So heres how recording with The Shortcuts went, the photos aren't in any particular order.

Lewis gets about making some Coffees for the guys. He does make a storming cup.
Not content with making coffee he also gives Boris a few pointers on the bass.

This is the second half of the album, and before anyone thinks anything dodgy.. that top song is actually called "Black Kids and White Kids". Ta.

fIn recording terms, all the smiley faces are awesome. We are 33 smiley faces through an album that needs 88 smiley faces to be complete.

This is what Lewis' drums look like in computer world.

After tracking 11 songs Lewis has a well earned relax while Boris starts.

Lewis' kit.
A piano, Boris' minging old bass and a random Strat
Other random muso stuff
Keep it DIY innitThis was 11/88 smiley faces


The sheer concentration.

Bridgend is mainly shit

We played Bridgend last week, it was horrendous. Horrific promoter, horrific bands, horrific venue. This is all.

Album starts in a fortnight I believe