Where It Began: Track #13

UNFOLDING

In all of the years that I've been writing music, no other song has been stuck in my head more than Unfolding. There is just something about it that I can't shake.

I immediately thought that it would be a great way to close out Where it Began.

The album title comes from the lyrics in this song, after all. 

To me, it's about letting go of past regret & finally coming to the realization that the possibilities are endless. The future is right in front of you. It's unfolding.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

____________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5. HOLD ME DOWN

6. RECOLLECTION

7. LIFE ANEW

8. CHAOS ENSUES

9. DEAR WOMAN

10. FAULT LINE

11. CROOKED BUILDING

12. IT SPINS

13. UNFOLDING

Well, there you have it! It's been a lot of fun writing these blogs over the last 2 weeks! 

The PRE-ORDER for Where It Began starts on Monday, September 17th. We'll be sure

to give you all more info on how the pre-order will work in the next week or so.

Thanks, everyone.....

Matt

Where It Began: Track #12

IT SPINS

I found myself flipping through the channels one day. I started watching a documentary on about human suffering in the history of the United States.

It really shook me how some men decided to "play God" by forcing people to leave their native lands. I started thinking about what I'd learned in school as a kid....

and soon realized that it was only a small portion of what I knew today as an adult.

I didn't know the whole truth because the books only taught so much.

The pen moved easily across the page for this song and I could clearly hear the music in my head. I wanted there to be two distinct parts...

one peaceful & one aggressive. 

What we think we know vs. What we should know.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

_____________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5. HOLD ME DOWN

6. RECOLLECTION

7. LIFE ANEW

8. CHAOS ENSUES

9. DEAR WOMAN

10. FAULT LINE

11. CROOKED BUILDING

12. IT SPINS

13. 

Where It Began: Track #11

CROOKED BUILDING

Much like The Ghost, this song was a late addition to the album. It just seemed to fit the tone of the record in so many ways. It has this sense of uncertainty & menace to it.

The person in the song is drifting...looking for a foothold. Something (or someone) to grab onto to help show them the way. When everything looks familiar & you don't know who or where you are...

Time spins, time falls.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

_____________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5. HOLD ME DOWN

6. RECOLLECTION

7. LIFE ANEW

8. CHAOS ENSUES

9. DEAR WOMAN

10. FALUT LINE

11. CROOKED BUILDING

12.

13.

Where It Began: Track #10

FAULT LINE

This is another tune that Chris wrote. As soon as I heard it, I knew that I only needed to add vocals. Much like Recollection, it was done. I'm not sure if it's an old riff of his or not, 

but it really thumps. It's one of the heaviest songs he's ever sent me, that's for sure.

When I heard it, I was really excited. 

It had an attitude to it & a sense of immediacy. 

I listened to it a few times while developing some lyric & phrasing ideas. 

The stops & starts of the bridge were challenging, but so much fun.

I'm constantly reminded of how lucky I am to be writing with this guy.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

_____________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5. HOLD ME DOWN

6. RECOLLECTION

7. LIFE ANEW

8. CHAOS ENSUES

9. DEAR WOMAN

10. FAULT LINE

11.

12.

13.

Where It Began: Track #9

DEAR WOMAN

I'm a big fan of the blues. 

I'm also a big fan of spontaneous, simple & fun tunes.

I was recording another demo on my strat & really loved the dirty tone I was hearing.

So, I plugged in the mic so both the strat & mic had the same tone.

I started strumming a simple chord progression, then hit record.

I recorded the rhythm guitar & vocals at the same time.

No pre-written lyrics or ideas...I simply went with it.

I sent it to Chris & said "have fun."

What he sent back floored me.

Drums, bass & lead guitar...that's all him.

When tracking this album, this song just felt like a no-brainer to both of us.

It had to be on the album.

It sounds like we're in the same room just having a blast.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

______________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5. HOLD ME DOWN

6. RECOLLECTION

7. LIFE ANEW

8. CHAOS ENSUES

9. DEAR WOMAN

10.

11.

12.

13.

Where It Began: Track #8

CHAOS ENSUES

This song is a trip. When I started writing it, I decided to really let loose & experiment.

Multiple layers, voices, textures...all swirling together.

A controlled chaos, if you will. 

I remember telling Chris that I was experimenting with layers & loops. He was pretty excited.

I was really excited to see what he'd add to the song. He took it far beyond the next level.

It just builds & builds & builds....

The silence at the end is the beginning of the chaos.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

_____________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5. HOLD ME DOWN

6. RECOLLECTION

7. LIFE ANEW

8. CHAOS ENSUES

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Where It Began: Track #7

LIFE ANEW

Life Anew was one of the last songs to make the final track listing for Where It Began. 

I started writing it late one night while taking a study break. It was raining & I 

had tried going to sleep, but had no luck. 

By the next morning, the storms had passed & I finished writing the song.

After I wrote it, I rarely found myself playing it. Now I strum it on my acoustic quite a bit.

Songs are funny like that.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

__________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5. HOLD ME DOWN

6. RECOLLECTION

7. LIFE ANEW

Where It Began: Track #6

RECOLLECTION

Chris wrote the music for this song. When he sent it to me, it was clear to me that all I

had to do was sing on this one. I was floored by it. The music is beautiful.

My Mom is a retired nurse. She worked with critical care patients most of her life.

As I got older, I wondered what the patients were thinking.

Dear time, 

I need more time.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

___________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5. HOLD ME DOWN

6. RECOLLECTION

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Where It Began: Track #5

HOLD ME DOWN

This song came together very quickly. 

I was recording some lead lines for a different song in an alternate tuning. 

Once I finished recording my parts, I dirtied up the guitar sound a bit & had some fun. It was recorded & written at the end of a long day.

I think some of my exhaustion spilled over into the lyrics while thinking about work.

This is probably the first song that I wrote while using a slide for the whole song.

Chris has some amazing leads on this song with great tones.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

_____________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5. HOLD ME DOWN

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Where It Began: Track #4

STATE OF FLUX

Chris wrote the music to this one & I was immediately hooked. For having such catchy music, it really opened the door for me to write the lyrics in a different way. 

The music seems light-hearted, but the lyrics are the opposite.

To me, it represents just how naive we all are to the world around us.

We turn away from reality more often than we should.

Take a seat on city bus.

Close your eyes you've seen enough.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

_____________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4. STATE OF FLUX

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Where It Began: Track #3

LONDON DREAM

London Dream is one of my favorite songs that I've written, but it's also one that 

I wish I'd never had to write. Life is funny like that. I had forgotten my Dad's voice...

I couldn't retrieve it in my mind. This scared & saddened me a great deal.

I remember talking to my wife about it & she calmed me down...

by telling me that his voice would return.

She was right.

I had the most vivid dream. 

When I woke up the next day, I quickly jotted down the lyrics & didn't 

leave anything out from the dream.

This song is a gift from my Dad. 

I hear his voice loud & clear every single time I play it.

Laurel adds some truly amazing vocals on this track.

Chris' drums are fantastic.

Thanks for the gift, Dad.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

______________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3. LONDON DREAM

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Where It Began: Track #2

THE GHOST

Chris: The Ghost is the second song on Where It Began. It was an 11th hour addition to the track list and one that Matt wrote earlier this year. 

Huge chorus in this song - and one you may find yourself easily swept up in.  

Matt: Like Chris said, this one was added at the last minute. It just seemed to really fit the tone of the record. 

The lyrics date back to 2003. 

I found them in an old notebook & re-worked the chord structure. 

The "ghost" is within all of us.

WHERE IT BEGAN

cluthe/lee

________________________

1. COMING THROUGH

2. THE GHOST

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Where It Began: Track #1

COMING THROUGH

Where It Began starts off with a song that almost made it onto our last album, Life Can Go. It was finished shortly after we'd tracked that album, so we decided to save it for the next album. We also knew that it should open the album from the get-go.

Lyrically, it serves as a warning of sorts. 

When people count you out, this is the reminder that you're

still here...still viable...still beating & ready to break through any walls that have held you back.

There you have it.

Look for posts about the next 12 songs from Where It Began over the next 2 weeks.

Can't wait to share this album with you all.

Thanks for the love & support,

Matt

Forthcoming album and more!

Hi everyone!

It's been nearly a month since we last blogged and there is much to update you on!

First is new album news! We are currently 5 songs from being finished with the mastering process for Where It Began, which resumes this week I'm excited to report. The finished songs sound simply amazing - I find I have to pinch myself while I listen "Is this really us"?! We project that the album will be ready for manufacturing by mid-September and a few weeks later physical shipment in hand. We're looking at CDs and of course, digital download on most major sites (iTunes, Amazon, and many more). You all have been very patient with our loose deadlines - for which we apologize. We have all been wrapped up in lots of life change and music had to take a back seat for awhile. Can promise that the finished product will be well worth the wait! Also want to say that our new band website is coming along beautifully thanks to Jake, who is hard at work on a new site to experience what Matt & I do musically! We are aiming for the site to be live the day the album is finished. We will be keeping you posted a bit more often than normal as we near closer to the end of these new adventures!

Second, the thank you gifts we promised to all of you who donated to the mastering process are coming. The first of which are the b-sides and live track starting today! The DVD gifts are in production as I type and I'll be getting in touch with all of you that qualified for the DVD to confirm addresses and such. Again, look for those tracks today. Huge thanks once more to all who donated to our fundraiser - Matt & I are both excited to share these gifts with you!

Third,  Matt & I are sitting on a ton of unfinished music (nothing new right?) that we will be posting on our Reverbnation page and eventually the new Cluthe/Lee website. There are some really amazing songs that are still in their infancy that we both can't wait to jump back in and work on. I counted up something over 20 + songs in various stages that we're not finished with yet. Plenty to share - always seems that way!

Lastly, Matt will be a guest performer playing live on our new friends Jenny and Sean's Portland based podcast "In One Day Radio" sometime in September 2012. Please go over to http://www.inonedayradio.com/ and check them out, 'like' them on Facebook, twitter them (did I say that right?), and jump into all things beer, movies, music, food, and entertainment. Thanks to both of them for featuring our latest song "Take Flight" on episode #19 - which you can listen to at the link above.

Matt & I are so thankful for all the support from all of you out there - this band continues to evolve and grow in exciting and unexpected ways and don't take any of it or your support for granted!

Much love to you all -

Cluthe/Lee