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Don't Try

by Haywood Yards

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1.
Seahorse 04:09
2.
3.
4.
Circus 03:48
5.
Parking Lot 03:28
6.
7.
8.
White Clay 03:15
9.
misdirected 03:46
10.
11.
Ghost 03:58
12.
New in Us 04:39
13.
Captain Jack 05:04
14.
15.
Shark Attack 03:03
16.
Sorted Out 03:56
17.
Vine St. 03:43
18.
Dolly Schiff 03:59
19.
20.
21.

about

In June of 2007, we met Scott Herschler of Joe Quality Studios in Chicago, IL. He was in attendance at a festival performance Haywood Yards was playing. He approached me after the show and said, "I like your sound very much and want to record you". To be honest, I didn't put much stock in the offer. It wasn't until nearly a year later when we saw Scott at another festival gig. He approached us again. He still expressed interest in recording my music. I jokingly say to this day he "stalked us" to record. But, I think he just heard the same thing we all did and we knew it was something special. After collectively agreeing to give Scott a shot, we gathered at the W. Montrose studio to record "Vine St."-a new song we had just written and were really excited about. That night, I remember vividly, it seemed there was magic in the air. All cylinders were hitting and we were comfortable as could be. We all knew instantly that we found a perfect home to record the new songs in.

We spent 92 hours working with Scott. A year and a half later, it was somewhat finished. The process was grueling and I just could not stop writing. But, I think from a writers perspective, I inevitably exhausted myself creatively. I was drained. Even the band had lost a lot in the process. I think, at times, we wanted to kill each other. But, looking back now, I know we put everything we had into making this record. Sometimes, it seems, you have to pull out all of those emotions in every facet to conjure just the right energy. When I listen to the record, I feel all of that.

On the gravestone of one of my favorite writers, Charles Bukowski, it reads "Don't Try". That reflection moved me and made me think of the process of recording this record. It seemed like the times I tried, the product was so far out of reach. If I(or we) naturally let the music happen and moments occur, then and only then we were happy with the outcome. It was a fitting title to the tracks.

Almost two years after the tracks were finished, people coming and going, moving and reloacting I finally decided to make it available to the public. I feel like it's time. It is available on a 'pay what you want' basis. Download it for free or toss a few bucks. All money made will go to help fund the pressing of vinyl copies, which will be available sometime before the new year.

Good times, great memories. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did making it.
MCHLUV
Mike Semrad

credits

released September 1, 2011

Mike Semrad: Guitar
Shankar: Banjo
Nate Brown: Bass Guitar
Adrienne Gregg: Violin
Austin Hall: Drums

Guests include:
Eric Stafford: Feedback Effects Guitar 'Seahorse'
Maria Diamantis: Vocal
Kevin Richey: Trumpet 'New in Us'
Kerry Semrad: Backing Vocals

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Haywood Yards Chicago, Illinois

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