Broad sweeps, editing continues, vocals ramp up.

Tracks are filling up, finishing, or overfilling. The completion comes from subtraction, the thinning of parts, and decision after decision. What's better than silence? Which instrument is the right coloration? And all that.

On The Other Side: We had several pedal steel takes from Bruce Kaphan, and also a great lap steel track from Matt Beck. Very different approaches, tones. Bruce took a real "solo," while Matt sort of poked in and out of the fabric of the track. Ultimately we decided that someone should step out during breaks in the vocal, so we went with Bruce. I may always sing the Matt Beck lines that aren't there anymore, but what Bruce did was right for where the arrangement ended up. It's vocal-ready.

You Could Be Anywhere: Arranging debates swirled, and were put to rest, on this one. I recorded it once, on All In, just as a guitar/vocal, but in live shows, Matt started taking the opening figure on piano -- something I've always wanted, and something that frees me from the guitar so I can focus on the lyric. We recorded piano, but also tried Fender Rhodes, a dicey move, in my book. Don't get me wrong, I love the instrument. Billy Preston on Beatles records, Pink Floyd on "Animals," etc. etc. But those are old recordings, and a lot of damage has been done in the meantime. Maybe it was the context of the song, but I couldn't get the whiff of lite jazz out of my nose. I heard things, scary things.

Ultimately, I had to overrule, and throw the Rhodes out. Better to do it now, than to wonder forever. I stand by it. We have to cut some more, especially in the pedal steel, but it is taking shape. Grudgingly, but definitely.

Waving Goodbye: We lopped off a bar at the top, and we replaced the bass with Ken on a Music Man Stingray, using a pick. The entire track woke up, and feels like it's just dying for people to hear it. My lead vocal is on point, and I think we have one more element in the middle section to find, and then possibly female background vocals. Yet another first. I can't believe how many firsts are on this record.

Wander Away: Oof. Well, I shouldn't say that. The song has a fresh lyric, and I don't really know my way around it. I think I also have some kind of allergies, and my voice wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. Frustrating. But I think the track has all elements together and in the right place. Vocal-ready -- that is, waiting for the right vocalist to show up. Tick, tock.

It's taking form, now, and I'm stunned by it. It's positive, and it's hard-won, and it's expansive. People always say, "It's my best record ever." Then they say, "I know, everyone always says 'It's my best record ever.'" But it is.



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