![]() ![]() We really wanted to max out what we could do. But the second time around was totally different. You know, there were a few songs on that first record that just came out of us in the practice spot and we'd come in with something and just kind of jam it out. There was a quantum leap forward just from having that much experience, and the writing definitely took a sharp left turn. ![]() But then we went out toured for 10 or 11 months, played 250 something shows, and that was where we really figured out what we wanted to do the second time around. We got to do a few little things at the 11th hour, "Sucked Out" was added at the last minute. With the first record - like I said, we had no studio experience at all - probably about 85% of the work was banged out in seven days. So that tells you how much we knew about the music industry. ![]() And also the fact that they signed The Stooges and the MC5, never mind the fact that that was 28 years prior or whatever. We loved Stereolab so much and we thought if they were on it, it must be a good choice. This is funny - I swear this is true - we trusted Elektra because they had Stereolab. I guess we talked to maybe a dozen different ones of all shapes and sizes. But it got to this point where we'd go and do these little runs and every time we got back there'd be two or three calls on the answering machine from different record companies. It was super raw, we didn't have any studio experience whatsoever. We had some recordings, we had a couple 7"s out, but we were still recording live on 8-track cassette and then overdubbing vocals. We would go to New York and play these showcases, like at Brownies, with four or five bands. All we knew was how to write and go out and play shows. We had only been a band for a couple of years when all that happened to us. I mean we don't have any illusions about our place or whatever, but I kinda feel like the records are still getting better, so I wanna keep trying. ![]() If the best thing you're ever gonna do happened 17 years ago, then you should probably stop. I mean anytime people talk about The Lees, they pretty much talk about Superdrag because Brandon's there too, but I think at a certain point you need to let it go. It's really nice to be able to start something new with no attachment. I can't speak for the other dudes but I know for me, with these reissues coming out and all and a lot of conversation about stuff that happened 17 years ago, I'm just kinda ready to let it be what it was. With all the others commitments and families, we just couldn't drop everything and play 200 shows. I kind of feel like with the record we made and the amount we were able to be on the road, that we took it as far as we could at the time. John: Well I think there were a lot of different factors. There were certain requirements for that style of music that I don't think we necessarily bring, but I'm cool with it if that's what people wanna call it. I mean I don't know, to me, I think a lot of what was kind of lumped in with shoegaze, I don't know if we necessarily fit the profile. Just certain ones that I feel like - you know besides the obvious like of course My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver - that they played guitar like that, that was huge to us when were trying to figure out what we wanted to do. There were other things obviously, but you know, Yo La Tengo's Painful. When I listen to it and think about it, I hear all those records that played in the house nonstop. Stylistically, when I think about this material, I kind of feel like it's the record we would have made in '94 if we had known what we were doing at the time. I got the flu one time and I missed three days of work, so I didn't do anything except watch Twin Peaks. I did watch both seasons of Twin Peaks at one point, I think that had a lot to do with it ( laughs). With these songs, they just kind of ended up this way. There have been times where I've deliberately pushed a sound in a specific direction, like that band Epic Ditch that we had, there was a very specific influence in mind stylistically. ![]()
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