Announcing...

I am very excited to announce the launch of the new Zanois website, on August 10th. The website will no longer be at this address: http://zanenoise.us, or this one: http://www.zahib.blogspot.com

Instead you will be able to visit the website at the simple address: http://www.zanois.com, starting August 10th.

The website will no longer be just a simple blog, it will feature many sections, including photos, press, and such. Rapture!

lastPROBLEMfm.

Two things - 

1. Jay and I both seem to be encountering the same problem with some of our recordings: Quietness...itude. Hopefully it isn't anything too big, I think we may just have to get a noise eliminator or just re-record the tracks on a higher input level. We'll see.
2. Got a last.fm. For those who have one too...good for you. Username is Zanois (now why would I choose that?). Also, all of "In The Event Of Moon Disaster" is available for listening on last.fm.

(2b.) Getting back into actually using Twitter.

-Zane And His Imaginary...I stopped using that awhile ago.

VideosForPictures. {i am the robot}

Yesterday I finally got to go to Jay's to record yesterday, albeit for only an hour and a half or so... Still, we got a good amount of work done on his upcoming EP:

{i am the robot}

BY

VideosForPictures

I've been working on it since, and it's coming along pretty well. He already has a couple people on album art duty, and I figure I might as well try something too. Can't hurt...unless he got a paper-cut! ...because...because it's paper....you know...p..papercut...nevermind. I've also started work on bringing together Zanois MACH2 (Turbo Edition)...which is what I've decided to call the new band. *

-Zane

* - No...never.

Tranvideo Base?

Alright, so a video for Tranquility Base is in the works currently, but probably won't be finished until this weekend or so, but it will be the best video ever made for Tranquility Base... partially because it's the only, but still... 

Things I've been listening to lately: 

• Cold War Kids - "Robbers And Cowards"
• Beck - "Modern Guilt"
• Albert Hammond, Jr. - "Yours To Keep"

And a whole bunch of other stuff.

Progress And Return

Alas, I return from SYMS... 

While there, I got several really cool song ideas, met up with Joseph K. Murphy of Murkadee, created a spontaneous elevator concert, and made what I think was the highest jazz band, and took some photos. 

Here is what I will say for now: 

No further information about when I will be recording with Jay, but hopefully soon. 

An album title has been decided for my next album, and will be revealed, possibly along with a potential tracklist. 

That's all I can think of for now... yeah...

-Zane

SYMS And Such.

So, next week I'm going to SYMS again, which should be pretty cool. For those of you who aren't one of the people that can say the above sentence, SYMS is actually Summer Youth Music School. Now isn't that clever? ...yeah... 

Anywho/way, pretty soon Jay and I are going to start working on his second EP, which is yet to be titled (?), and I get to produce/play various extra instruments on it. 

And thirdly of all, I (and a couple of other people) have been (opposite of vigorously and patiently) working on the second Zanois album, which I'm expecting to be: 

• Much better than "In The Event Of Moon Disaster" 
• Not a solo album 
• A record that I actually sing on 
• Released January 6th, 2010. 

That should about be it for now. 

Post Script: I'll explain why ZANOIS2 will not be released until aforementioned date. 

Post Post Script: ZANOIS2 is not the name of the album. 

Post Post Post Script: Post Post Script makes it sound like I have a speech impediment. 

Recent-er Things

It's been awhile since the last update I realize... 

Some very exciting things in the works: I've started working on the next album. We'll be playing a few more dates in support of ITEOMD before we get back into school time again, as well as shows outside of New England around Christmas time, but we're preparing to be done with it for awhile... I'm going to keep nearly everything hidden about the next album until it's release (aiming for summer of '09, keep patient). A couple of exciting things about it: 

• I will actually be singing on this record. 
• This record features a single band, comprised of many members (you'll see). 

• Our live show is going to change very much, visually as well. 

I'm not going to spoil anything else about it for a long time, though. 

And now...movies/music that I've been liking alot lately: 

Coldplay's Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends 

Sigur Ros' Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spylum Endalaust 

Feist's The Reminder

Michel Gondry's movie Be Kind Rewind, as well as M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening. 

And lastly, I have never anticipated a record as much as this one: Of Montreal's ninth studio album, entitled Skeletal Lamping. I recommend reading as much as you can about this record, because it sounds like the most obscure thing that Of Montreal has done. A great piece on the record can be found here: http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/7546/feature/music/cold_lampin_with_of_montreal, as well as several others that can be found here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=skeletal+lamping+pre+review&btnG=Search. 

So that's it for now! 

-Zane

Things...

SEW LOW OWL BUM

Jason Lytle (of Grandaddy) has a solo album coming out sometime in 2008!!! Sew Low Owl Bum. Go to http://www.jasonlytle.com
I will keep people updated on this as I find out more...

Awesomefest Photos

Another:

Redundance!

I'm pretty much just going to keep reminding people of Awesomefest until it arrives...

New special guest: ELECTRIC NIGHTLIFE!!!

These guys are amazing, you should come to Awesomefest, even if it is purely to see them, or us, or everyone else.

http://www.myspace.com/awesomefestnh

EXCLAMATION HERE

Alright, so this year the RPM Challenge is putting together some compilation discs of some of the best from that year. Now, the voting has begun, and I'm actually getting votes!!!

Sweet.

Anywho, thanks very much to those of you who have voted for me.

Cracked Zune

I cracked the screen protector on my Zune. And here's the kicker: I did it while putting it into it's case... Or at least that's the short of it. I'll put a picture up in my next blog... Anywho, the point is, what little money I actually had before can only go to absolutely necessary things, as it's going to cost about $10 to get a new screen for it...

I'm going to see Cake (for the third time in my life) this Saturday at the Hatshell in Mass. It's free, so what reason is there not to go. And the next day, I'm going to see Islands at the Middle East in Cambridge. That should be cool.

I'm also trying to sell 40 issues of MAD, as well as two hardcover books of it, because I used to read it about five years ago, and can't stand the very sight of them anymore. So if anyone is willing to buy them, let me know.

And lastly, spread this flyer for Awesomefest '08 around:



http://a636.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/107/l_2069f2acb9f004eaeec817c0d6c0579b.jpg

I Return? I Left?

So...no blog for nearly a month.Yeah, this is what I've been doing mostly:
- Played a couple of shows...- Started recording Phelan's new EP- Spending more time trying to decide when to record than the actual recording process (with Jay)- Over-preparing for our June 7th show at Awesomefest '08.- Listening to the new Death Cab non-stop.
I've pretty much stopped using my brain to write music from now until next February. This is how I manage to actually do the RPM Challenge.
I urge all of you to buy the new Death Cab For Cutie CD (NARROW STAIRS) right now. It is amazing. Illegally download it. Go ahead. I don't mind. Just cram it into your head directly. Whatever you want.
Also, you may or may not have heard about the whole thing about the album leaking sometime back in April. Being the huge DCFC nerd that I am, I went out looking for a leaked torrent of the album several months before it's release. What I downloaded was really cool, too, albeit not actually "Narrow Stairs." As it turns out, it was actually German band Velveteen's debut "Home Waters..." Which is equally as amazing, and I urge, neigh, I demand you all go listen to it right now.
And second-to-lastly, you should watch the movie Lars And The Real Girl. That's it. I have no need to elaborate. I just don't...
I can make stairs:__----==\
That's a cliff at the end.
Also, you should all go to Awesomefest '08. Find out more info at http://www.myspace.com/awesomefestnh, or just ask me.

I Return? I Left?

So...no blog for nearly a month.Yeah, this is what I've been doing mostly:
- Played a couple of shows...- Started recording Phelan's new EP- Spending more time trying to decide when to record than the actual recording process (with Jay)- Over-preparing for our June 7th show at Awesomefest '08.- Listening to the new Death Cab non-stop.
I've pretty much stopped using my brain to write music from now until next February. This is how I manage to actually do the RPM Challenge.
I urge all of you to buy the new Death Cab For Cutie CD (NARROW STAIRS) right now. It is amazing. Illegally download it. Go ahead. I don't mind. Just cram it into your head directly. Whatever you want.
Also, you may or may not have heard about the whole thing about the album leaking sometime back in April. Being the huge DCFC nerd that I am, I went out looking for a leaked torrent of the album several months before it's release. What I downloaded was really cool, too, albeit not actually "Narrow Stairs." As it turns out, it was actually German band Velveteen's debut "Home Waters..." Which is equally as amazing, and I urge, neigh, I demand you all go listen to it right now.
And second-to-lastly, you should watch the movie Lars And The Real Girl. That's it. I have no need to elaborate. I just don't...
I can make stairs:__----==\
That's a cliff at the end.
Also, you should all go to Awesomefest '08. Find out more info at http://www.myspace.com/awesomefestnh, or just ask me.

Official Zanois AIM Icons!!!!

Just click on it to set it as your AIM Buddy Icon:

A blog about Friday's shows is coming soon. Also, it's official: we are playing Awesomefest this year.

Album Review

I realize I haven't made the blog post or put up the videos from Friday's show(s), but I will by tomorrow. Here is a track-by-track album review written by a Jeffrey David Archer. Everyone should mentally thank him right now.

1. Tranquility Base? - Bursts of white noise give way to a keyboard driven tune accented with a great glokenspiel sound. The music has an almost 1960's vibe to it which goes well with the fact that the mission was made in 1969. The lyrics are sung with an almost robotic delivery (as they are throughout the entire album) which strangely fits the music very well. The drums sound fairly lo-fi but this is actually a plus as the contrast between them and the more hi-fi sounding keyboards create a very interesting texture to the music.

2. Chattering Teeth - If 1970's-era Santana got together with Steve and Eydie's backing band and had a lovechild and that lovechild made music it would sound a lot like this. The lyrics tell us about the vastness and coldness of space. The mix is very strong and glockenspiel sounds abound.

3. Eagle On The Moon - This tranquil instrumental represents the actual landing of the the astronauts onto the Moon's surface. More Santana percussion mixed with the glockenspiel bring this musical reverie home. A dreamy mix of other worldy sounds.

4. Nixon & Cohorts - This song marks a departure from the overall vibe of the songs preceding it. There is some great rocking piano being played here but my attention was constantly being pulled to the raw sound of the drums. The lyrics here tell of Nixon and his fellow politicians' limited funding of NASA and the Apollo program. Good groove here.

5. First Photos (Reminiscent) - The glockenspiel is back in full effect. The lyrics in this song sing the praises of the beauty of the Moon's surface and the colors that exist there that we don't see on Earth. The astronauts are so taken with this beauty that they don't want to leave the Moon.

6. Safire Wants Gold - This piece begins with some fast piano playing then the drums come in with an almost shuffle feel. The lyrics tell the tale of newspaper writer Will Safire and his longing for the Apollo mission to fail so that he can make a good story out of it for his paper. At least that's how I understood it.

7. Why Anyone Would - A funky drumbeat starts off this song about how after you have been to the Moon the Earth just doesn't seem all that great anymore. Nice piano fills around the verses and that ever present glockenspiel filling in the cracks.

8. In The Event Of Moon Disaster - The title track of the album and in my opinion the most engaging song of the lot. This short but sweet instrumental features a wonderfully distorted organ sound (is that organ?) that grabs your attention right from the start and doesn't let up. It is definately the hook of the song. The drums are kicking in an almost John Bonham style. Awesome song. I am almost tempted to say that the distorted organ part is a little too high in the mix but at the same time it's such a strong hook that I think it's loudness works.

9. Malfunction - Another keyboard driven piece that features some very complex layers of sonic goodness. This song changes complexion quite frequently from it's uptempo beginning to a spacy middle section and finally resolving itself in an almost blues -like ending. The music reminds me of 1970's-era Weather Report. A kind of jazzy-rock fusion with suprises around every corner.

10. Turkey In The Space - This song celebrates the safe return of the brave astronauts. The tune takes the tempo of a march with an organ making tight little stabs into the musical soundscape. A flute sounding synth plays a melody over the top of the march. The tune fades out but tjust when you think that the album is over the listener is treated to what sounds like some heavily processed speech although I wasn't able to make out what it was saying.

I really enjoyed this album. When I first signed on for this critiqueing thread I was sort of afraid of what album I might end up with to review. I don't like saying bad things about other artists work although I would been honest about any album that I ended up reviewing. Luckily I ended up with this album and I can't say that there was much of anything that I didn't like or anything that I would have done differently. This is definately a charming and entertaining listen.

Vote For Me

Hey, everybody...
I'm in this contest thing on a website called vLES (virtual Lower East Side), and it would be greatly appreciated if you and your friends would all vote for me. All you need to do is sign up at http://www.vles.com, and then go to http://www.vles.com/kickstart and vote for my music by finding it in the player and clicking "HIT".

Thanks!
-Zane.

$RRRRRDFHIVP()D*^F*$P

So...Realized I haven't updated this in awhile, I've pretty much just been either playing gigs or getting ready for them. It's kind of weird that up until this April, I had never really performed my own songs live, but since April 1st I've played my music live at four or five different shows, and I have two more shows this Friday, in separate states. As for plans after this Friday's shows, I'm organizing a couple more shows for April and/or May. I'm also working on a new EP, and producing Jay's new EP, Kyle's first EP, and Phelan's metal album. I really can't stand having nothing to do...
Anywho, I finally got the CDs for Friday's show back from the factory place, and here are way too many photos of them:

Note the real bar code and cellophane!!!!

Today's Show!

For those of you who didn't know, I had a show today. Let's go through it (let's is me):
1. It was kind of a Talent Show thing at my school.
2. First 8 acts: Dancing (good), singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, drums...
3. Act 9: Me, Hugo, Sam, Alex, and Michi covering Sara Bareilles' "Love Song". It was sick ill nasty.
4. #10: Somebody, I had no idea who or what was going on as I was up next again, so I had to set everything up discreetly.
5. Act 11: Me, Mr. Redmond, Sam, Grant, and Hugo performing my own "Tranquility Base?"...with a disco ball, a oversized bouncing ball, and dimmed lights...ball.
6. After this, I drank about two gallons worth of luke warm water from a dirty water bubbler. I'm not quite sure what happened, but I think I heard some R&B.
7. My good friend Phelan was on last, doing a Metallica medley on guitar, which was sick.
8. Finally, the winners were announced:

• Me, Grant, Hugo, Sam, and Mr. Redmond - Tranquility Base?
• Singing girls
• Dancing dudes
• Singing girls and dudes
• Me, Alex, Michi, Sam, and Hugo - Love Song
• Drum dude
• Phelan, with sick guitar-ness
• Girl singing...I'm pretty sure it was about a Disney movie. Again, PRETTY sure...

All in all, it was really sick, next friday I am playing in front of the entire school and faculty at a MANdatory assembly. I have become a legend around my...house. Not the school yet, but hopefully soon. I wish other people could've seen it, but my camera died in the middle of taping the song.

Relieved To Know I'm Not A Golumb

Name that reference!
Anywho, a couple of possible shows (might) have come up:

• An online show in Second Life (more info to come soon, this one's the most likely)
• One on April 8th (a definite, but also fairly private. Let me know if you want to come, and I can get you in most likely)
• Early show on the 18th (likely)
• Kingston, MA on the 18th (definite, you should all come, whoever you may be)
• Awesomefest '08 (highly likely, but not yet confirmed)
• A show with my good friends "31 to Go" (definite, but no date or location set. Sometime in May)

So that's about it for now. It's looking like I'm going to get to produce Jay's next EP, which will be sweet. For those who are unfamiliar with the greatness that is Jay, download his first EP at http://www.verythree.blogspot.com. Hugo and I have been working on alot of stuff for "I Am The Future" lately, which is turning out pretty cool so far. Alot of the songs are very basic and acoustic-style songs when we play them, but in the demos we've been working on, they're starting to sound more over-produced and arranged.

I realized that about a paragraph I said that was it for now...

I'm not going to change that though.

-Zane.

Completely Necessary

I think everyone really needed to watch that.

Money money money money

Howdy, people!
Time for an annoying plug blog:
Go buy my new CD at AmieStreet for only a $1! (http://www.amiestreet.com/zanois)
While you're at it, check out Justice Rules! too: (http://www.amiestreet.com/justicerules)

Thanks!
-Zane McIrritating

MUXTAPE

zanois.muxtape.com

Correction

The correct "Tranquility Base? 3-27-08" video is up on my YouTube now, you should check it out. Also, my newest album is finally up on AmieStreet.com, you can go download it now:


I just downloaded the entire Beatles catalog, as well as 17 of Hussalonia's 25 albums. That's the only thing I've been listening to lately, IGNORE THE ZUNE "MODULE".

"Tranquility Base?" 3-27-08

Read the description on my actual YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/phantomimefilm). It'll make more sense why I'm using a mega-phone and such...

#50!

Howdy, everybody! It's the fiftieth post, so...eat...dinner...?
Anywho, here's a poster for my first show. EVER:

Please go...You'll get bubbles if you show up early!

TRAILER======

All questions will be answered soon.

I Am The Future.