Churn by Seven Mary Three

ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN 1994
LINER NOTES: 2008 RE-ISSUE

Trying now to reconnect with who I was- who we were- during the recording of Churn, has manifested itself to be much more of an exercise in humility than I originally anticipated. Listening to this record revives some tucked away memories, cobwebs from far reaching corners. Listening to it again has also been cause for more than a few heart-stopping grimaces (What the @!!()$%# was I thinking when I wrote those lyrics? WTF is a “david mask?”), and a few laughs (A handlebar mustache at 21 years old? Really?).

Churn is the prelude to the proverbial “15 minutes” of fame our band endured, and the now 28+ (or so) years we’ve survived. Shortly after its release in 1994, we were hustled into the studio to re-record most of it for our debut Mammoth release, American Standard. Churn is the early, earnest, awkward snapshot; the beginning of our tiny history.

Here are some things I remember about recording the album-

At the time we were anything but a real rock band. Giti and Jason had both finished college, and were working at a bike shop and bakery, respectively. Casey and I were clocking shifts at the College Deli, in Williamsburg, VA , and I was also a full time student. The summer Churn was released, it was the most we could hope for to get our CD in the local mom and pop store – the Band Box - and maybe score an opening gig for a band at the Boathouse in Norfolk.

We recorded in Kevin McNoldy’s basement. His parents were kind enough to let us come and go, in through the garage, down the stairs to the “studio.” McNoldy’s house had a ridiculously steep driveway. I remember my car sliding all the way down its icy slope onto the street below after a rare Virginia snow. Casey and I were laughing, then panicking, then laughing again when the car finally stopped.

Song structure had zero meaning to us – hence the original version of Cumbersome clocking in at a whopping 4 ½ minutes. It was actually a coup that radio played the AS version, since radio songs were typically cut at 3:30 by then.

To finish the record we rented a house in Charlottesville from our good friend Hunter, and a group of law students who were on winter break. It had a ping pong table and a kitchen. I was still underage, so we did most of our partying there, though we didn’t have much time for it.

I can see everything in that house. The backyard covered with snow, Casey and I huddled on the porch for a smoke, Giti and JP cooking spaghetti in the kitchen. Things were very uncomplicated.

I get the sense listening to this that we were reaching for something, not even knowing what it would end up being or what it looked like. But, now six records later, we know more of the story, even if it’s still not clear how it ends.

So if you want to know how it feels to write a song that has a life of its own, I’ll tell you - it’s amazing. Far more a blessing than a curse, no matter what my closest friends would think I believe.

If you want to how it feels for me to listen to Churn, just go get out your high school yearbook, and find the picture of you with the bad hair and glasses. Now squirm. Then turn to the back and read what your best friend wrote. If you still know that person, and they are still as big a part of you now as then, well…you are getting close to the feeling.

What I’ve learned:

Everybody has a favorite dog.

Playing in a cover band can be cool. But once playing in your original band starts to feel like you are playing covers of songs you wrote when you were a teenager- Hang it up champ, it’s time to go.

The bass is not your enemy. It’s your frenemy.

There are actually more than 3 chords on a guitar. I have just never had any use for the 4th one.

The most disgusting thing you can put in your body is a sliced up hot-pocket rolled up with a hot dog in a piece of wonder bread. You would be healthier shooting crank into your eyeballs.

Even if something is dead to you, it may be very much alive to someone else. So when that guy says “I drove 600 miles just hear you play Cumbersome” for the 2,347,897th time, you rock that shit.

TJ has lighting bolts for fingers.

A guy once told me we were all part of the “big song” and if you are lucky you get one little part to add to it. At the time I thought to myself: ‘Chris is so high’ but now I am starting to believe him.

--Jason Ross
October 1, 2008

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