Sleigh Bells Ring. Are You List’nin?

Yesterday, a bunch of my extended family got together to celebrate some family birthdays. My grandma got me a really great present: real sleighbells. you’re probably thinking, “What does Scott need sleigh bells for?” Good question.

In case it wasn’t entirely clear, I write and record music a lot. Sometimes, (ok, nearly always) I want to include sleigh bells in the track. In most situations where I’ve needed them so far, I’ve managed to fake them with some little bells I picked up somewhere and a few programmed rhythm tracks here and there. Now I can record the real thing. What’s even cooler is that Grandma bought the sleigh bells from an amish man, who made them by hand and lives near where I record (The Recording House in Grabill, Indiana). Don’t be surprised if these bells inspire me to record a Christmas album. Commence the gossip and rumors.

BTW, a friend bought Joanna Newsom’s new album Ys for me. This is her second album, which she has used to create a broad landscape of fable-ish stories narrated by her unique voice and harp, accompanied by an orchestra. It’s not an easy listen by pop standards, but it is an expansive and complex album worth exploring. I’ve listened through several times and keep hearing this album as a theatrical/musical piece set in a beautiful woodland scene. If you aren’t familiar with her music, try her album The Milk-Eyed Mender, which is probably much more palatable to the pop listener.

Currently listening:
Ys
By Joanna Newsom
Release date: 14 November, 2006