I volunteered, being the only member of the band with experience on Adobe Illustrator. This is the result of my efforts, approved yesterday.

My design was inspired by Jackson Pollack. Kidding! I took my inspiration from Matisyahu’s album, Live At Stubbs. Thank G-d for brushes and eraser.

Now here’s my art for the front/rear panels:

Yesterday I updated the “Discography” page of this website, something that was months overdue. You’ll notice the new additions were all released in 2010! Not a bad year for recording, I guess
Please click around and enjoy a more subtle update – Bandcamp links (where applicable)! ~Nick

Last week I had the pleasure of laying trombone and trumpet tracks for Grinder Nova’s 2010 Christmas record. If you like mariachi with your NASCAR, then you love Grinder Nova. It’s a cocktail of even parts Tijuana Brass, James Bond and pit crew.

We recorded at Jeff Bakos’ studio and let me tell you, that’s always a treat! For those who don’t know Bakos’ work, check out “Already Free” by Derek Trucks Band, which won the GRAMMY for “Best Contemporary Blues Album” in 2010.

The album release party is December 9th at Star Bar. Come out, add some brass to your eggnog! ~Nick

Related show(s)

• Date: Thursday, December 9th 2010
• Time: 10:00 PM
• City: Nick Edelsteinin Atlanta, GA
• Venue: CD RELEASE PARTY for Grinder Nova @ Star Bar
• Address: 437 Moreland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30307
• Country: US
• Age restrictions: No minors

It can also be had on Bandcamp, CD Baby and via most other retailers. If you subscribe and/or use a service that does not carry my music (and you wish it did) please notify me using the Contact page of this website. Thank you!

My friends, I am not one of those artists who is afraid to praise “the competition.” I know good music when I hear it, and I give credit when it’s due. High Tone Shelter is one of the best (if not the best) Funky Bluesy Rock bands. Every member of the band is extremely talented – OK, they’re my friends - but this isn’t bias talking. Click here to see for yourself. I was invited to play Hammond organ on “Low Scene Woman,” the 9th track on Redemption Day (iTunes). I urge you to download, listen five times over, burn copies for friends, and join their mailing list. It’s that good.

Contrast is very important in many facets of Life, but especially in Music.  Contrast in stage dynamics during and in-between songs, lighting, song tempos, etc.  So when I begin a creative task – like recording an album – I am constantly looking for ways to contrast … anything and everything. I begin by identifying all aspects of the process that are unique, and then decide how to magnify them. The result is a product that could not have been created by any other process; a product that *hopefully* contrasts those created by other processes.  For example, some bands will record in the studio with a “live feel” setup to emulate a concert experience. I understand the many reasons for doing that, but  in some respects it’s better to record an actual concert.  There are SO many things you can achieve in the studio which can’t be done on stage, to me it would seem like a wasted opportunity not to employ them.

First of all, you can click “save,” go to bed and then return a week later with a fresh mind.  I began chipping away at this project in 2009, with the first drum tracks happening in March 2010 (and you can see today’s date of release).  Perhaps the best example of studio advantages is “Steal Me,” which has numerous effects including hundreds of camera shutter “clicks.”  They were recorded live in the studio, sure – along with all the layered guitar effects – but it would take a much larger ensemble than our current sextet to achieve the same result on stage. If you read the credits you’ll notice that we also tracked in more than one location.  Another uniqueness of studio recording is the ability to overdub, best exemplified by “500 Mountains” on which I sang all the vocals and played all the instruments.  This allowed me a ton of freedom to employ certain performance techniques such as rubato, and to freely arrange on-the-spot. Very organic, plug-n-play.  The result is a dark, powerful song (especially the ending) with some haunting vocal harmonies that quite frankly happened by accident.

Now for a glimpse behind the title: Named after the Chinese lunar calendar year, “Year Of The Earth Ox” which began on January 26, 2009.  Earth Ox’s Western zodiac counterpart is Capricorn, which is “my sign.”  Many parts of the Earth Ox zodiac proved true in 2009, including associations with materialism and long-term progress. For example, it predicts that we should focus on long-term financial strategem; serious romantic commitments (weddings and births increased steadily all year); and “keeping your nose to the grindstone” (we all struggled to find or keep a job).

Credits:

All songs written by Nick Edelstein (BMI). Produced by Nick Edelstein with Wizkid Sound (2-4). Recorded at NESS Records and Wizkid Sound in Atlanta, GA and Richenroll Studios in Alpharetta, GA. Mixed by Rich Grillo (1, 5-7) and Wizkid Sound (2-4). Mastered by Rodney Mills (www.rodneymills.com). Cover art by David Sherer (baconmcshig.deviantart.com).

Nick Edelstein (vocals, 6-str acoustic guitar, 6- and 12-str electric guitar, e-bow, Hammond organ, piano, percussion, MIDI strings, snare drum, trombone, trumpet and horn arrangements)

Will Scruggs (tenor and bari sax)

Tim Fash (alto and tenor sax)

Darren Stanley (drums)

Jon Morrison (bass)

Aaron Hevenstone (drums)

Andy Margolis (bass)

Rich Grillo (bass)

Sara Speert (camera flash and shutter FX – www.saraphotography.com)

Gray Sartin (slide guitar, vocal on 7)

We’ll be performing and taping a private concert for a few lucky “Super Fans” to appear later on WUGA-TV!  Free food and drinks plus a VIP After-Party.  Attendees will also receive a free signed copy of our new album, “Year Of The Ox.”

Space is limited so tell us what makes you a “Super Fan.”  Write to superfan@nickedelstein.com

cover art by David Sherer

Happy to report that recording for “Year Of The Ox” has gone really well. Rough mixes sound great. Heading back to the lab on Sunday for another mix session and some vocal tracks. Here’s a list of the songs on Disc 1:

Foolin’ Yourself, Collusion Collision, Daphne, Say You Will, Steal Me, Eric Jam, Flow, 500 Mountains, Queen Of The Nile, and a suprise bonus track!