WE WENT TO SPACE

On The Road and On Tour With METRIC. A short film.

FINALLY got the tour movie under 10 minutes (youtube requirement. didn't want to split it into 2 parts) which was quite the accomplishment. ENJOY!!!

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We had some issues with our Twitter page and had to start a new one. Follow the link below to keep up with the shenanigans.

We're on tour with METRIC now!!

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We're on tour with METRIC !!

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Our New CD. Truth on Tape. A Blog by Ryan

With the exception of a few things here and there we are DONE with the RECORDING of “Truth on Tape”

Lately we’ve been doing a lot of listening. We’ve been listening to different mixes and versions of the same song. Listening to what the record label thinks. Listening to what our management thinks. Listening to what our family thinks. Listening to the songs in my car, on my computer, with headphones, without headphones, small speakers, big speakers, right side, left side, close, far away, loud, soft. . . listening and listening. This is new for us. We’re used to recording the music exactly the way it was written, putting it on a C.D. and releasing it. It’s both a blessing and a headache to have the support and time a label provides. It’s nice to be able to take our time, try the songs different ways and make sure we have represented the song as well and honestly as we can. At the same time, I can become obsessed and crazy over the smallest changes because I want it to be just right. I guess time is the issue. We’ve never had this much time to record. It’s a strange animal, recording with lots of time.

People speculate a lot about mine and Jencey’s relationship, both past and present. I will shed a little light. When you have been through something as intense and painful as Jencey and I have together, you typically don’t talk to each other ever again. Or, you at least completely resent the other person. Truth is we really do fight ALL the time and can barely stand to be in the same room. So, when we decided to stay together for the sake of the music (as cheesy as it sounds, it’s true) we wanted the new C.D. to be perfect. When I say perfect I don’t mean slick and over produced, that wouldn’t be Smile Smile. I mean we want it to be perfect as far as our vision goes. The feeling, the honesty. . . . . . Yeah, uncomfortable honesty, that’s what I want. We are business partners. We share a love and respect for the music we make together and tolerate each other because of it.

Anyway, we don’t have a set release date yet, but we’re close, really close to being done. I appreciate the patience of everyone who’s been waiting on this record to be finished. Believe me, as much as we have invested in this record we want it to be finished too.

-Ryan

In the studio. "Truth on Tape" Sessions. Blog #3. He Said

Toadies and Smile Smile SUPER GROUP. . . . . . sort of.

He Said – Ryan’s Blog

So, what happens when you combine Jencey, myself, Toadies
drummer Mark Reznicek, producer great David Castell and Miller Light?

MAGIC, PURE MAGIC

;-)

The unlikely pairing of Smile Smile and the Toadies ended up
being a wonderful surprise. I’ve been a big fan of the Toadies for years and to
have their drummer come in and play on our new CD was a great honor. Mark came
in and did a GREAT job and the songs turned out so, so good.

Here’s some video

The new CD is coming along quite nicely. I am SO READY to
finish and for everyone to hear the new stuff. As much as Jencey and I argue
and disagree I’m always surprised by how great the finished product ends up
sounding. It’s a struggle and quite frequently we want to kill each other but I
love the music we make.

Until next time,
Ryan

In the Studio. "Truth on Tape" Sessions. Blog #2

Smile Smile and the Case of the Whistling Man
3-5-09

She Said - Jencey's Blog



Well we've started a process I never thought would happen, preparing ourselves to release songs that are extremely personal and almost painful sometimes to listen to. These are songs for the broken hearted and the lovelorn, the album serves as an anthem for loneliness, heartache and helplessness. When we stared working on these songs I didn't fully understand the scope of emotion they represented, as Ryan and I's relationship slowly died. I can listen to these songs objectively now and realize that they are honest, hurtful but can hopefully serve as a comfort to anyone having a hard time with their relationship. That being said...let's meet the cast.

Smile Smile. We've been playing music together for almost 3 years. People can't really classify our music so we've settled on different conglomerations of folk, pop, indie, progressive and acoustic. We've been compared to Mazzy Star,Ben Kweller
and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Quite an odd mix. I play piano and sing. Ryan plays guitar and sings.



Right now we are in the studio with Dave Castell and his sidekick Bronson, the wonderdog. We are currently working on a song called The Attic which is one of our only tracks that doesn't necessarily address "her" personally. This song is about looking through someone's things, your old things, etc. and finding out things that you never wanted to know. And wishing that you had never looked in the first place. It's also about starting over and realizing that you need to let things go and that you can't hold on to things forever.

Everyone who has seen us live knows that I play a Fender Rhodes Mark 1 live but typically our albums have a lot of grand piano on them. Working with Dave Castell has really expanded our arsenal of sounds, voicings and has helped begin to grow each song into its full potential. People are NOT kidding when they say he is a pro, knowing exactly which piano sounds will sound interesting and really weaving different instrument textures together while still keeping our songs intimate and raw.

So who's the whistling man?

Highlight of the night was this discussion.

Ryan : "Are you guys happy with the way I sang that first line?"

Jencey and Dave: " Why? You didn't like it?"

(We listen to it and hear Ryan whistling through his teeth like an 80 year old man during "clothessss" and saying "ole" and "ole"!)

Maybe you would have to be there to get it, but there's nothing more hilarious than Ryan singing like he has dentures!!!



Well, until next time. We are Smile Smile.

Jencey