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