Self-Analysis – Parker Ben Parker, Backlog, Self-Released
By Adam Fox

The last two years have been something else. It has definitely been an incredible test of patience and will. Two years and six months ago (August of 2001), we started recording an album in Dayton at Ciarlariello's house. We could not shake the terrible recording quality. And after three records, I never had a single song turn out the way I wanted. I decided to cut my losses and began building a studio. Shortly thereafter, Marc got on board. We bought a couple sound cards and compressors and began recording. The process had begun.

Athens, Ohio’s low cost of living and great musical resources made it a no-brainer for me to call home. I was producing guitar repair videos for Dan Erlewine and, later on, for Stewart MacDonald. The money went toward recording equipment. I also began buying and building an arsenal of guitars to contribute to the studio. I currently repair guitars, work in my studio, and am a freelance producer.

In April of 2002, I met Brian K. Adams through Dan Erlewine. Since then, Brian has been my mentor. An artist and a technical genius, Brian has openly shared production tricks and guided my purchases with absolutely no wasted time or money. Needless to say, we would not be anywhere near this level of production without him. Brian runs Panoptic Media in Cincinnati, Ohio and is a freelance producer of all that can be produced.

Even with the great efficiency bestowed upon us by Brian, a mind-boggling chain of problems and set-backs left us at a stand-still for an enormous chunk of these two years. Six reinstalls, two Omni's, driver problems, third-party incongruence, bargain hunting for expensive gear, several software and plug-in upgrades, waiting for packages, "depression," and simply being lost has consumed at least one of those two years. Beyond this ridiculousness, filling every role in the production process is very time consuming. Marc and I are the lead, rhythm, and auxiliary guitar players; the bass player, drummer, singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, and secretary. Besides trading lead lines for vocals on a few songs (and even some drums here and there), we have each produced and filled all roles on our own songs.

Throughout the weeks (when we can't meet in person), we work together on music through our server system. Last summer and fall we were tracking drums and rhythm tracks for 15 new songs. After discovering some missing puzzle pieces while working on new material, we were able to pull together the old songs and release them. I did the final mixing of all the tracks. Marc downloaded, uploaded, and tested the mixes in his studio in Cincinnati to help me with the final fine adjustments. Utilizing broadband has been a great advantage for us.

Backlog the results of this tremendous journey is the culmination of a long learning process and the beginning of a steady stream of new material to follow. It is our first internet-only (for now) release. Includes re-mixes of Rhumbus, Glint, Acetone, and Rome & Back — which practically sound like completely new recordings -- and a few "bonus tracks," of sorts. Has Been and Keys & Rails are two electronic tracks that I created many years ago (on a Sound Blaster card), and the only survivors of our early attempts at recording.

Anyway, download, burn, and hand out to friends. We are very excited about the future.

To download Backlog, please visit: http://www.parkerbenparker.com/music.asp