Today, nearly six months to the day after we moved Ethan’s drums into a small art studio to begin recording our new album, we have sent off the final mastered tracks to begin the manufacturing process of Tangerine! It has been a long, difficult, challenging, and rewarding experience in many ways. There were times when we thought it would be done in two weeks. There were times when we thought it would never be done. There were times when the only thing we could be sure of was that God is in control. Now it’s DONE, and we couldn’t be more excited!

In celebration, here are a few of our favorite Facebook updates from the first day of recording until now.

August 9, 2010 at 10:49 PM – We’ve moved into an art studio and prepped the drums. Tomorrow, we shall commence recording our new album! Caleb is in New York.

August 19, 2010 at 6:47 PM – Tonight’s slogan: Phat bottom bassists make the rockin world go round.

August 23, 2010 at 1:31 AM – We are so sorry for our lack of information regarding the recording of our new album. To make up for it, here is the whole thing in a nutshell… Ethan got home from St. Louis, Caleb left for New York, Ethan recorded drum tracks, Caleb came back from New York, Caleb left for Indiana, Nate recorded bass tracks, Caleb is still in Indiana, Nate leaves for the beach, Ethan and Seth go off-roading in a Jeep Wrangler.

August 23, 2010 at 9:42 PM – UPDATE! Caleb is still gone BUT very near, Nate is still gone but not to fear, Seth and I were hard at work, but non-grounded studio is being a jerk. In other words, Seth’s guitar sounds like this BUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…Please pray for us.

August 24, 2010 at 1:29 PM – ‎(The following status is to be read in a Jeremy Clarkson style voice.) TONIGHT, Ethan and Caleb will trek to Waynesboro PA for their gig, in a semi broken down purple Dodge Caravan. Seth will try to make it on time before the gig starts. All the while, Nate is still at the beach…taunting some some vollyball players.

September 8, 2010 at 12:32 AM – We just fit the entire studio into the back of Caleb’s van. There’s still enough room for him to safely ferry his children to school in the morning. This is but one of many unbelievable accomplishments of this recording process. Goodbye, studio. You have been, and always shall be our friend.

September 15, 2010 at 12:14 PM – Who has a piano that we could “borrow/use” for a few hours? The new album requires the real thing, not just some electrically excited blinky-screened poser. We have portable recording gear, so all we’d need to do is show up, set up, and play for a few hours. Also, you’d have to be quiet. And in thanks, we’ll autograph your necktie. Message Caleb if you’re interested in being so helpful.

September 25, 2010 at 8:16AM – Yesterday- guitar tracks. Today – the WORLD! I mean piano tracks! Today – live piano tracks!

September 28, 2010 at 7:41pm – We’ve decided to nix tracking bass guitar tonight. Instead, we have opted for eating Chinese food in front of the dog.

September 28, 2010 at 8:49pm – Ooooo. Nevermind that last lapse in judgement. Revived by the aforementioned vittles, bass recording has resumed. Nate is now investigating the fabled “brown note.”

September 29, 2010 at 8:07am – If musical tones were like pieces of cloth, Nate’s bass tone is like a blanket of soft velvet that encompasses and comforts you right before the radio’s burlap sacks pummel you with a ton of bricks.

September 30, 2010 at 5:22pm – You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
…and so we join our feeble voices…tonight we track vocals…

October 4, 2010 at 11:50pm – After singing through a U-87, and ultimately settling on an AKG414 for a vocal mic (pending review of the CV-12 coming tomorrow), Caleb went home. The rest of us voted unanimously to replace all of his vocal takes with our imitations of Kermit the Frog, Elmo, spoken word, screamo, and Johnny Cash, then proceeded to do so. Gold has been born.

October 9, 2010 at 10:37am – Good afternoon, people. Due to a flash Lame Alert issued for our gig this afternoon, we will commence to recording vocals and street drumming tracks for the nearly completed EP.

October 19, 2010 at 8:46pm – Caleb’s phlegm is seeming to act like the perfect luge for his vocal melodies. CHEEKS UP EVERYBODY!!!

November 2, 2010 at 12:18pm – We are beginning to feel somewhat like the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

November 20, 2010 at 1:21pm – Mixing down this album – one song at a time. Also, stopping momentarily to update the Facebook Diaries.

November 24, 2010 at 8:33am – The countdown for the new CD is on. WE’RE TALKING LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, BOYS AND GIRLS! Who wants one or three or ten? (We do.)

December 3, 2010 at 4:12pm – CONGRATULATIONS Jodi O.!!! Your orange radiance and Facebook savvy has won you a free copy of our new album Tangerine and a free Stereoreel t-shirt! But that’s not all! You’ve also won – A NEW CARd worth $20 at any Chipotle restaurant! Thank you all for playing, and watch out for our next CD giveaway! ♥

December 8, 2010 at 5:08pm – We hope you all are still waiting…

December 29, 2010 at 11:33pm – Seriously, people, we are REALLY close to finishing this album. If you’re feeling gypped, then at least know that our progress was only impeded by Jesus’ birthday party. All of you who have pre-ordered the album, or special ordered t-shirts, you will receive them as soon as the album is complete. We haven’t forgotten! The only thing we ask for is prayer.

January 5, 2011 at 11:17pm – Tomorrow, we’ll be mixing more of the album. Just one day closer to the penultimate release! It’s coming. Wait for it…

January 12, 2011 at 6:16pm – Don’t tell anyone, but there is a very real possibility that we could have these songs finished this week.

January 16, 2011 at 2:01pm – In the spirit of keeping you informed, Stereoreel has proofed the final mixes of all the songs on the new album. Oh how musically yummy! They get mastered this week.

January 20, 2011 at 11:02pm – While our ukulele skills increase, the time you have to wait for our album decreases. You can almost set your watch by it. Almost.

February 5, 2011 at 11:25am – Lesson learned: Don’t count your chickens before they’ve hatched or they may turn out to be ducks. But…just because ducks have a longer incubation doesn’t mean they’re all ugly.

February 8, 2011 at 9:20pm – They begin making all of our CDs TOMORROW!!!