Rain

Mea Culpa... lol

May have been one of the best Christmas gifts ever. Came with 10 brand new 3M reels, in their solid plastic case that he'd gotten through CBC. (These are not mine obviously, just pics I found on the web - all that stuff is in a locker back home). One of the most intensively creative periods of my life because of the limitations. All I had was this machine, an Akai XR10 drum, a couple of guitars and a small solid state Marshall (the Fender Bassman was just too loud for me to record) and a Boss Flanger for effects. You'd push start on the drum machine and lay down a rhythm guitar track at the same time, hitting fills on the XR10 in real time (I had no clue how to program that thing). Then rewind and record an overdub live as the previously recorded tracks were being bounced. And on and on, until the song was completed. I got so used to it that even after years working with DAWs, for quite some time, I could not bring myself to use punch in features. I insisted on playing through the whole thing everytime. I guess I felt that if everything else was programmed, the guitars had to be "live".

Sonic Youth - Into the Groovey

Exactly! The irony is that the bar where I worked in th mid-late 90's had an internet café section. I remember a few of us looking at people staying online for hours on chat boards and thinking that computers and this internet thing were turning people into zombies. Like a weird addiction. The first time the owner brought that strange virtual reality helmet sort of thing, we were like: "Look at them! What's the world coming to, man?" But then one day my younger brother brought home a demo and I couldn't believe how good it sounded. And when he told me they'd recorded it on his friend's computer, ma fate was sealed.

Deee-lite - Groove is in the Heart

Oh the memories... The year was 1999 and my father in law was working for the francophone branch of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). When we purchased our first PC, after I mentionned Cakewalk to him, he managed to get a NFR copy of Guitar Studio. In exchange, I provided a basic review. I thought the folks at Cakewalk were the coolest. I read the whole manual TWICE before I even installed it - even the parts about MIDI - which I thought I'd never have a use for. I really wasn't familiar with computers either. All I cared about was: 8 tracks of cd quality audio. Quite an upgrade from bouncing from Left to Right and Right to Left while playing live to reecord overdubs on the old Sony reel to reel. I never regretted taking the time to read that manual because it allowed me to learn all the basics, so figuring out DAW software was easier afterwards. And eventually, I realized that MIDI could be useful as was the Song Wizard. It probably spared me a lot of painful user errors too. My father in law later got me a copy of Audio FX 2 (tape and amp sim), too, and I moved up to Cakewalk Pro Audio 8 (IIRC). Conidering that he also gave me the Sony reel to reel, and a provision of brand new reels of tapes for it, along with a pair of AKG headphones, I'll always be very grateful to him. Anyway, it sends me down memory lane to see this on eBay. Might be worth grabbing just to display in the studio. THIS is where it all began (and why I ended up learning a whole lot more about computers than I initially intended).

I like this small one so much that I considered getting the 2 x 12 for a while. But then I figured there wouldn't really be a point, although I'd be very curious to hear it. Otherwise, I'm recording demos, and using my old POD HD300 when/if I need to track guitars, or sometimes whatever plug-in will work for the job. And if things get serious, I have access to plenty of goold old tube amps.

The Katana Artist is amazing. Had on for a while, but the 2020 happened...

Yes! That sound! Got these for Christmas a few years ago, with a little 8-track player - identical to the one we had when I grew up. Obviously, they're not in mint condition, but, still...

Slayer - Raining Blood

The Cult - Rain

Elvis Presley - Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)

Vinyls are hip again, so there are a lot of options, and many all-in one cheaper setups, with built-in speakers. My ex grabbed one for me a few years ago, just so that I could listen to a couple of old vinyls. Not an audiophile experience by any stretch, although I'm not sure that it's actually much worse than what the average consumer had access to when I grew up. For me, that's never been the point of vinyls. In fact, quite the opposite. Same reason I like to pop in a 8 track tape to listen to old Elvis albums once in a blue moon. The flaws are part of the charm. I am not sure that I buy the idea that vinyl sounds "better". Of course, you get what you pay for. This part hasn't changed. There are just a lot more options I would think.

The rare radiant maiden whom the angels name the Angry B*tch - a 2013 Gibson LP Studio. And this surprising little practice amp - Fender Champion 20. I do most of my practicing in bed in front of the tv before going to sleep in the morning, and this humble setup covers all my need.

Loudness - Let it Go

Triumph - Never Surrender

Every year it's getting worse - they are prematurely Black Fridaying all over us earlier and earlier. And then they won't leave... Well, I got news for them - the only Black Friday that matters in my world is this one: Although I hear that man-made monsters are indeed on the loose in a lot of retail stores across the coutry on that day.

Soundgarden - Into the Void (Sealth)

Black Sabbath - Into the Void

KISS - Into the Void

Nine Inch Nails - Into the Void

The tragic story of guitar virtuoso Jason Becker who suffers from ALS is another one. He was diagnosed in 89, at the age of 20, after joining David Lee Roth's band. He managed to finish the album they were working on deaspite his hands being weakened, but he could not tour. And his state quickly deteriorated. By 1996, Becker had lost the ability to speak, and he now communicates with his eyes via a system developed by his father. He continues to compose with the aid of a computer. I was going to share a personal story but let's simply say that I have lived with a sword hanging over my musician head - nothing as tragic as Mr. Becker's story, though. But enough to know that my guitar playing days may be numbered. And it's not a pleasant perspective. That being said, it's been accompanying me for decades, so I guess I am somehow prepared. Ironically, my music rarely features any guitar, and the most important thing for me is to write music, so I guess it's not all that bad. But I am sure that if I couldn't play anymore, I'd go insane not having that option and my head would be buzzing with guitar music. So I can relate.

There is only one man who can perform ritual circumcision on a bear, and he is known as Rabbi Bris-ly Adams.

Love and Rockets - So Alive