Make Believe Sessions: Difference between revisions
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In November 2003, in preparation for a fifth album, true [[Make Believe Demos|pre-production demos]] were recorded. Then in December, recording for an album began in earnest. Over the course of three separate sessions, many different songs, as well as different versions/mixes of songs, were committed to tape. These recordings differed rather strongly in sound from prior sessions, including the [[Album 5 Demos]], [[S.I.R. Demos]], and [[Acoustic Office Demos]]. These new recordings reflected a sound closer to what ''Make Believe'' would ultimately sound like. The band was indeed beginning to home in on a final recording. However, due to the band's constant recording and second-guessing, many recordings from these sessions did not actually end up on the album, and to this day remain unreleased. The crop of unreleased songs became know as [[The Fallen Soldiers]]. | In November 2003, in preparation for a fifth album, true [[Make Believe Demos|pre-production demos]] were recorded. Then in December, recording for an album began in earnest. Over the course of three separate sessions, many different songs, as well as different versions/mixes of songs, were committed to tape. These recordings differed rather strongly in sound from prior sessions, including the [[Album 5 Demos]], [[S.I.R. Demos]], and [[Acoustic Office Demos]]. These new recordings reflected a sound closer to what ''Make Believe'' would ultimately sound like. The band was indeed beginning to home in on a final recording. However, due to the band's constant recording and second-guessing, many recordings from these sessions did not actually end up on the album, and to this day remain unreleased. The crop of unreleased songs became know as [[The Fallen Soldiers]]. | ||
==Phase One== | ==Phase One: Cello== | ||
In December 2003, afer completing a whirlwind round of recordings and rehearsals the previous month, Weezer checked into [[Cello Studios]] and began to record a fifth album. With [[Rick Rubin]] present, things went well. | In December 2003, afer completing a whirlwind round of recordings and rehearsals the previous month, Weezer checked into [[Cello Studios]] and began to record a fifth album. With [[Rick Rubin]] present, things went well. | ||
Committing songs to 2-inch, 24-track tape, and using Pro Tools to clean things up, a host of songs were laid down between December 1st and December 19th. In truth, the recordings weren't fully completed, but would have required only a few touch-ups to be releasable. Despite the good vibes, the band soon decided that the results were not up to par, and set the recordings aside. However, during the next two rounds of recordings, many of the songs were reconsidered by the band. Still, while many of these songs did end up on ''Make Believe'' in the long run, much of the material was touched up or completely re-recorded during later sessions. | |||
Interestingly enough, Cello Studios closed its doors in early 2004, making Weezer one of the last artists to grace its hallowed halls. | |||
===Phase One song list=== | ===Phase One song list=== | ||
The following recordings were worked up by Weezer at Cello in December 2003, and mixed on January 30th 2004: | |||
*"[[Show Me Who You Are]]" | |||
*"[[Blowin' My Stack]]" | |||
*"[[I Don't Want Your Lovin']]" | |||
*"[[My Best Friend]]" | |||
*"[[The Other Way]]" | |||
*"[[Hold Me]]" | |||
*"[[Pardon Me]]" | |||
*"[[Turn Me 'Round]]" | |||
*"[[We Are All On Drugs]]" | |||
*"[[Private Message]]" (alt. chorus) | |||
*"[[Private Message]]" (alt. verse) | |||
*"[[My Life Is My Life]]" (acoustic) take 10 | |||
*"[[My Life Is My Life]]" (acoustic) take 11 | |||
*"[[Haunt You Every Day]]" | |||
*"[[Happy On Your Own]]" | |||
*"[[The Formula]]" | |||
*"[[Peace]]" | |||
*"[[Perfect Situation]]" | |||
==Phase Two: Grandmaster== | |||
After seemingly aborting the Cello sessions, Rivers begana series of solo demos recorded over the first half of 2004. By July, the rest of the band was getting antsy. Brian and Rick Rubin were cool with whatever Rivers wanted, but at a July meeting, Scott and Pat decided that they were raring to go on a new round of sessions, and the others agreed. They moved the party to Granmaster Studios, and recording commenced. | |||
By this time, Rivers had whittled down a list of twelve specific songs that he felt were right for the album. He asked the others to humor him, and focus only on these songs. If the end result was not up to par, he would gladly open things up to suggestion. | |||
Rubin assumed a very 'hands off' postiion during this round of recording, with engineer Chad Bamford providing some production duties, and Rubin would check in daily. Between July 22nd and September 15th, the twelve songs were crafted, and a rough mix CD was compiled on September 25th. | |||
Rivers left the sessions to return to school, and Pat, Brian, and Scott were left to finish overdubbing. However, the trio felt that there were some song being left behind that had much potential, so between September 16th and October 22nd, not only did they finish the required overdubs, but they also worked on other 'forgotten' songs from the previous session. Five additional songs were 'rebuilt' by the band from older recordings, creating a list of seventeen total songs recorded at Grandmaster. | |||
===Phase Two song list=== | ===Phase Two song list=== | ||
*"[[Average Person]]" | |||
*"[[Last Chance]]" | |||
*"[[Beverly Hills]]" | |||
*"[[This Is Such A Pity]]" | |||
*"[[Freak Me Out]]" | |||
*"[[I'm A Robot]]" | |||
*"[[They Are Stupid]]" | |||
*"[[Save Me]]" | |||
*"[[Losing My Mind]]" | |||
*"[[You're The One]]" | |||
*"[[Outta Here]]" | |||
*"[[Love Is The Answer]]" | |||
*"[[The Damage In Your Heart]]" | |||
*"[[We Are All On Drugs]]" ("regular" version; no vocals at this point, from Cello 12/03) | |||
*"[[We Are All On Drugs]]" (new "rock" version) | |||
*"[[Where To Start]]" | |||
*"[[Peace]]" (December '03 Cello version) | |||
==Phase Three== | ==Phase Three: Rubin's home studio== | ||
===Phase Three song list=== | ===Phase Three song list=== | ||
The following list of rough mixes were compiled at the outset of, and worked on during, this phase: | |||
*"[[Average Person]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[Perfect Situation]]" (12/03 Cello) | |||
*"[[Beverly Hills]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[Freak Me Out]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[We Are All On Drugs]]" (10/04 Grandmaster; no vocals) | |||
*"[[The Damage In Your Heart]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[Peace]]" (12/03 Cello) | |||
*"[[Losing My Mind]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[You're The One]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[Hold Me]]" (12/03 Cello) | |||
12. Love Is The Answer (10/04 Grandmaster)<br/> | |||
The following songs were unlikely to make the cut at this point: | |||
*"[[Haunt You Every Day]]" (12/03 Cello) | |||
*"[[Unbreak My Heart]]" (12/03 Cello) | |||
*"[[Last Chance]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[I'm A Robot]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[They Are Stupid]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[Outta Here]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||
*"[[Where To Start]]" (10/04 Grandmaster) | |||