Recording Mantoloking with Steve Fisk. Yes, in Kansas.

The Sexy Accident[1]Ref. 1The Sexy Accident sexyaccident.com made Mantoloking[2]Ref. 2Mantoloking music.sexyaccident.com at Black Lodge in Eudora, Kansas[3]Ref. 3Eudora, Kansas en.wikipedia.org, and Steve Fisk[4]Ref. 4Steve Fisk en.wikipedia.org produced, engineered and mixed it.

The album credits spell out who did what, which I appreciate. Production, recording and mixing are related jobs, but those descriptions aren't interchangeable just because somebody happened to be sitting nearest the console.

On the Mantoloking album, I am credited with "bass and attitude". Which is true. I played bass and was a crabby curmudgeon, HUZZAH!

Meanwhile, the dates are being a pain in the ass. The band's contemporary press page[5]Ref. 5contemporary press page sexyaccident.com announced August 21, 2009. Bandcamp now says July 31, 2009. They're in the same summer, but they don't agree.

A bass part does one thing under your hands and another thing coming out of the speakers with everybody else. That difficult transition can feel like the whole point while you're playing it. You got through the bastard! Then you listen back and the useful thing might be a held note that lets the singer finish a sentence. It's a little annoying when you've been so pleased with your fingers.

This is my opinion about recording, by the way. I am not sneaking it into Fisk's mouth because it would sound more impressive coming out of there. Blame me for this part, he has enough credits already.

I can read the credits and know who did the work. I'm still curious about how fast a take came together and what somebody was listening for, or which little choice made the band recognize itself on playback. A name printed next to a job doesn't tell you any of that.

Next time you're recording, try listening once without chasing your own instrument. The song might get better when you stop following your part. Your fingers can file a fucking complaint.