“Trainwreck” by Heroic Lane Change

This is one of those rare songs that actually ended up sounding like it did in my head by the time it made it onto tape. On the first mix there’s a clean guitar intro that I had Jon cut because I thought it would be more effective to launch right into the “swing” of the song, if that makes any sense. Of all the songs recorded during these sessions, this was the most “tyson-y” sounding of the bunch…and I guess it’s still my favorite. I always thought this turned out really nice with very solid musicianship from the gang.

Tyson Deines – Vocals and Guitar
Travis Adams – Guitar
Chris Sapone – Bass
Matt Bloodwell – Drums

Recorded in 2003 at Kitty Kat Studios in Orlando, FL by John

The entire recording of “The Golden Ratio” was basically an experiment after spending a couple of years trying to record a “hit” record with Bring Back Joel. In my head I was planning on doing 3 Eps – an art-fuck record, a pop-rock record, and an acoustic-ish record. After running into delays doing the work on the first one I basically started working on all three at the same time. I was also working on a Wheelchair EP and the Trophy Wife EP all around the same time as those, and usually in different recording studios around town. They were interesting times. In my head I wanted “The Golden Ratio” to be a cross between Pavement’s “Slanted and Enchanted” and Archers of Loaf’s “VS. The Greatest of All Time”. The resulting record doesn’t bring either of those records to mind. Heh. “TSE” (which stands for “Tropical Storm Erin”) is one of the better songs I’ve ever written, in my opinion. I guess the fact of how easily the changes came when I was writing the song and how intuitive it felt always left a mark in my brain. Plus the guys really did a nice job writing their bits I just think it turned out really well. I should also point out the spectacular engineering done by Davey Schweiter and Jon Marshal Smith.

“TSE” by Heroic Lane Change

Tyson Deines – Vocals and Guitar
Steve Garron – Vocals and Guitar
Chris Sapone – Bass
Matt Bloodwell – Drums

Recorded at Ricther Studios in Orlando, FL in 2001 (?)

This is a demo version of “Radiation” from the HLC “Golden Ratio” EP. Recorded in our garage on a 4-track cassette machine, it’s a much cleaner version than what ended up on the EP. Two guitar tracks were recorded (playing the same thing) and panned left and right with the vocal straight up the middle. The first four tracks on the Ratio EP were a narrative of sorts chronicling falling in and out of love…and this song was the fourth so it’s about (I suppose) unrequited/fleeting love and moving on. But it could mean whatever to whomever hears it. Such is the beauty of music. :)

“Radiation” by Heroic Lane Change

Tyson Deines – Vocals and Guitars

Recorded in a garage on Princeton St. in Orlando, FL around 2001.

This song was originally written as a little burst ala Guided By Voices…just a “you suck” song “done in one” style. It was also intended to be more of an 8 count kinda driving rocker as well…but when I needed another song for this EP (it was never released and thus never named) I added a bridge to it and repeated the second chorus. The strange timing the song has it a result of rehearsing it with the gang. As many songwriters/band leaders know, the more the song is touched other players the less likely it’ll end up sounding the way it did in your head when you wrote it. Generally I enjoy the process…mostly because I like to play with musicians I trust musically.

“Eff You” by Heroic Lane Change

Tyson Deines – Vocals and Guitars
Travis Adams – Guitar
Chris Sapone – Bass
Matt Bloodwell – Drums

Recorded in 2003 in Orlando, FL at Kitty Kat Studios (I think)
Mastered by Jon Marshal Smith