Dead Set by John Krane

I'll often listen to albums by my favorite local artists and think, "damn, that sounds tremendous, but it doesn't sound like how they actually sound."

I think this is because we know that when we're recording, we're putting it out there forever, so we want it to be perfect. We do multiple takes, we use click tracks, we use autotune, and so on.

I like that process, but I also want to put out something that's just my songs, as I play them, warts and all -- because that's what *I* want, frequently, when I hear someone play something tremendous at an open mic or a local show.

So, this is my attempt to do that. It was recorded in one take, in my basement. I talk a little bit about each song -- just as I'd do in a normal show -- and I make many mistakes. I stumble a bit when introducing some of the songs, and I miss notes, and I don't fingerpick perfectly, but that's how I sound in real life.

The only studio stuff is a bit of compression, some reverb, and some fades for each track (I took a few breaks while recording, and everything just sounded better with some light fades).

I called it "dead set" for two reasons -- one of those reasons is that this is essentially a live album with no audience. The other reason is an inside joke that three people will get.

By the way, there's also another version of this called "Dead Set (No Talking)" that is also on Bandcamp (and will be on streaming and everything).

Since this album was easy to record, it is free.

If you support it, though, I would appreciate it: I'm working on a much more complex record that will require some studio time and payments to skilled musicians. That album will be called Sun Dog II (title might change, but it's essentially the same approach as my record Sun Dog, which is now about 13 years old, oh my God).

thanks

John Krane writes story-driven music about bombs, payphones, and neighbors.

Trohn is a collaboration between John Krane and Troy Brenningmeyer (Tro[y] + [Jo]hn, get it?)

johnkranemusic.com