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The new CD Losing Faith coming Summer, 2009!
Listen Behind the Scenes look at the making of Losing Faith |
| Behind the Scenes of Losing Faith | |
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Guest Guitarist Extraordinare!
Recording Mixing |
| Guest Guitarist Extraordinare! |
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| Jim Reindel |  |
Jim added such a new dimension to this CD, words don't begin to do it justice.
I've known Jim for almost 8yrs since our early days on MP3.com (before
it became the corporate cesspool it is today). After listening to just a
few moments of Jim's playing way back then I knew this guy was one of the
very few truly blessed with what Eddie Van Halen calls "motion". We all have a different
word for it, but know it when we hear it. I was ecstatic
Jim agreed to contribute to this project and hope to work with him much more on the
next one (Stay tuned!!!). Since Jim and I don't live in the same city - it required that
I send him a mix of each of the three songs he contributed to and then have him send back
a WAV file of his solos. Once I received that, it was just a matter of
importing into Reaper, aligning and then letting them rock! And ROCK they do! I've been playing
guitar for a very long time and have heard just about every influential guitarist known
to man. I can safely say Jim is the real deal.
Jim's lead work can be heard on "Losing Faith", "Until I See Your Eyes" and "The Monster Inside". Jim on Soundclick Jim on Myspace Behind the Scenes |
| Recording |
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| Coming soon...
Behind the Scenes |
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| Mixing |
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| Coming soon...
Behind the Scenes |
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June 20th, 2009 |
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Mixing is done, but I made a last minute decision to add Steven Slate drums to the mix. A real kit was recorded for this CD, but I decided to blend the kick, snare and toms to provide another level of "umph!". And "umph!" it does! This change has set things back a week or two - but I think you'll agree when you listen it was well worth it. Steven Slate provides kit samples for some of the most recognized and accomplished engineers/producers out there today. Stay tuned! Mark |
May 23, 2009 |
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Hey gang - Mixing for the new CD is just about done!!! The release date has moved slightly to early summer, but will hopefully be worth it once everything is wrapped up! Thanks for your continued patience and support! In the meantime, Check out a few new mixes and releases off the CD. Stay tuned for exact release date and related info as it comes online! Mark |
March 23, 2009 |
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Updates:
Check out the new Behind the Scenes addition to the site. It's a special, insider's view of some of the things you won't hear anywhere else but here about the making of Losing Faith. With this update Guitar Extraordinare Jim Reindel is spotlighted for his major contribution of amazing guitar wizardry. In the next few weeks I'll be adding the RECORDING and MIXING sections, so stayed tuned!!! |
Feb 21, 2009 |
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It's about this time every year, here in Chicago, I wonder what's seriously wrong with me living in a place like this! And then... spring comes.
Mixing for the new CD is feverishly in process. Being independent has its pluses. One being I don't have a record company breathin' down my back, so i can take whatever time I feel is necessary to get this damn thing right! And let's face it, screw something up, it gets printed for life. So I'd rather take a bit more time and get it right so you're listening to the very best I can provide! With that said.. things are sounding great! Drums are THUNDERING, guitars are blowing buildings over and vocals are ROCKIN'! Now, all that's left is bringing it together! Heard my last CD "Monster Me"? Lookin' for some really ancient stuff (ugh) I did around the turn of the century? Well, fear not, MP3 streams are here, as well as cuts off the new CD. Stayed tuned for more info on the new CD as it happens! Mark |
Jan 18, 2009 |
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The CD design is complete and a sneak peek is right here on WWW.MARKBSCHUSTER.COM! Special
thanks to Nick Ledesma for providing an absolutely incredible cd design!
The final touches are being put on the mixes and then will be sent off to the capable hands of Hal Chiasson at SWEETRAX MASTERING in Atlanta. Stayed tuned for new samples off the CD and more info about the CD as it comes online!! Mark |
Jan 2, 2009 |
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Work on the new CD continues... Had a few personal issues pop up in Nov/Dec that caused a slight delay - but things are back on track now.
The title of the CD has been chosen and will be called "Losing Faith". CD Design is well underway and I'm hoping this gets wrapped up in the next week or so. Mixing is 90% done with a few final touches and then it's off for mastering. Check out the two new mixes from the CD: "Until I See Your Eyes" AND "The Monster Inside". Once again BIG thanks to buddy Jim Reindel for stepping up to the plate and knockin' one outta the stadium with his solo on Monster. By the way, if you dig SUPER-MOLTEN-HOTTER-THAN-LAVA GUITAR, check out Jim's new tune "Guitarnage". Guaranteed to cause blistering on contact!!! Stayed tuned for new samples off the CD as well as a sneak peek at the cover once it's finished. Here's to a fantastic and rockin' 2009! MARKO |
October 18th, 2008 |
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With all the recording done, the next steps in releasing the upcoming CD have started.
Mastering and art design for the cover are underway! Check back for updates. A few new cuts are previewed with this update. Check em' out! As always - thanks for stopping by. |
September 28th, 2008 |
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Quick CD update:
All vocals for the previously released tune 'Lies' were re-recorded. The original recording was done about a year or so ago and the quality just wasn't up to snuff with new things I've been doing lately. It was a lot of fun, and for those of you who like this tune - I hope you dig the new vocals even more! Good friend Jim Reindel once again stepped up to the plate and knocked one out of the stadium by providing the Lead Guitar work for "Loosing Faith". You gotta hear it to believe it! Look for a sneak peek of this one and "Lies" very soon right here on WWW.MARKBSCHUSTER.COM! Finally, I got off my arse and got a mailing list together. If you're interested in being included in future emails, please SIGN-UP! Mark |
September 1st, 2008 |
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Site redesign.
For those of you who might have thought I fell off the end of the earth, fear not, I'm still here. Sadly, I lost my mother in May. Anybody that's lost their mother can relate to how devastating it can be. It's not something you get over quickly, in fact, wondering if one ever truly gets over it. Anyway - after a few months of downtime, I've attack the NEW CD with a greater vengence then ever. Here's what's been happening:
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April, 6, 2008 |
| Site redesign (again...)
Drum tracking for several songs off the new CD resumes in a few weeks, as well as vocals and a few guitar tracks. With any luck enough will get done to release a few sneek peeks here on WWW.MARKBSCHUSTER.COM!! Stay tuned... |
March, 8, 2008 |
| Is it possible? Spring is truly on its way? Looks that way.
Work continues on material for the new CD. Here's a quick rundown, as of now, of the names of songs on the CD: Until I See Your Eyes Did What I Did Static Nothing Without You Loosing Faith Lies Bitter Man The Monster Inside Believing in You Look for a sneek peek of "Until I See Your Eyes" in the near future. |
February 8, 2008 |
| Holy Schnikes!! When is WINTER going to be over?? I'm going nuts!!
Ok, in a fit of depresson and claustrophobia I decided to give the site a makeover. Lighter colors - thus more LIGHT!!! That's good thing in winter, right?? Anyway - a huge addition has been made with this update in the form of a new section below with 20 or so old MP3's I dusted off. I was actually amazed I've created that much music since 2000. Well, it has been 8yrs, so I guess not that weird, but still.. Anyway - it was kinda fun listening to some of this older stuff. Where it's lacking in production, or even perhaps a performance here and there *clears his throat*, I think in several situations it is made up by the tremendous amount of emotion and passion. I hope you agree! Some good progress has been made on the new CD in recent weeks. Drums were tracked on two older tunes I decided to add to the CD. I'm eyeing a few other older ones too, never released, for the same makeover. All they need is some great vox and a guitar solo here and there and then they'll move into the mixer. Stayed tune, I will of course post them here once done. Think WARM thoughts! Bob's your uncle. |
January 4, 2008 |
| Happy New Year! A new mix of "Did What I Did" is up. |
December, 23 2007 |
| Happy holidays and Merry Xmas! Look for a new mix of "Did What I Did" coming soon. Also - a new tune called "Until I See Your Eyes", recorded over the Thanksgiving holiday, will be posted soon. Not everything's done yet - a new vox track and some guitar lead work need to be done yet...but SOON! This is a continuation of the story started in "Did What I Did". In fact, the album will be based on a fictional story started by "Did What I Did". Kinda of an "Operation Mind Crime" of sorts. So check back.. I'm really happy with the guitar tone on this new one. Trying new things all the time with the help of my new killer DAW "Reaper" and help of friends on both COCKOS and ANDY SNEAP forums. |
November 10, 2007 |
| Well, another summer officially over here. Now, those of us in the icing cold wastelands of the northern United States get to enjoy winter, or as I like to say "hell frozen over".
To heat things up, I've decided to add ALL songs from my "Monster Me" CD for stream here. It's the only place you can stream ALL songs, complete MP3 (192kb) versions, on the net. Enjoy!
Another round of drum sessions for the new CD are slated for a few weeks from now. Hopefully tracking for at least 3 more songs on the new CD will be completed by the end of it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! As always - thanks for your support! |
October 13, 2007 |
| Happy ROCKTOBER to everyone! Some good progress has been made lately on the new CD. In fact,
check out the new tune 'Static' below. Lyrics can be found by clicking on the arrow ">" next to the song. Let me know what you think!
Switching gears slightly - it appears CDBaby is now selling MP3 copies of my first CD "Monster Me". I wasn't aware of this until they sent me a note saying a few had bought it lately. When I sold out of the original copies there late last year, I decided for a few reasons not to refill. Too long to go into why, but, if you're interested in mp3s, I guess they have complete CD copies available. For those of you who have bought it recently - and of course EVERYONE who's bought a copy since it's release last year......THANKS!!! |
September 13, 2007 |
| It's been a while since an update! Sorry about that - but I've been busy working on recording some new music for the next CD (*Check out a new song below called "Did What I Did") and also getting comfortable with a new PC based DAW called "Reaper". It's a fantastic piece of software that has literally revolutionized the way I'm approaching music. More importantly - it's increased the quality of my music by 100%! Look for a preview of another new tune soon! Until then... |
July 27, 2007 |
| Recording for the new CD continues this weekend. Look for some samples in the coming weeks! |
July 15, 2007 |
| Site redesign. |
July 4, 2007 |
| Work continues on material for the new CD. Fifteen or so songs have been written and now it's just a matter of figuring
out which ones stay and which ones go.
I'm excited about this new disc. I'm trying something different with vocals - and as always - making every effort to improve the general writing and recording aspects of it. To that end, I purchased a new Pearl drumset to replace the old triggered set I was using. This of course adds a whole new dimension to my recordings - both at the music level and on the recording side. A long weekend was set aside in early June to start tracking the drumset and find a good mic'ing setup. Like most new endeavors - there was limited success and a boat load of frustration. What cha' gonna do, right? The upside is...about a month later - I'm dying to give it a try again - and hopefully this time nail it. With vocals on the new material, I think it also marks a fundamental shift in my music. Whether I like to admit it or not - I'm a product of the music I listened to, for countless hours, while growing up. Most, if not all, of that music was vocal based (e.g. Scorpions, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Alice in Chains). My writing has always been geared toward vocals - even though when I started recording again in early 2000 everything was solely instrumental (Satch/Vai). For me, it never seemed to click 100%. The new music does. You be the judge. Below are several samples and one full length song from the new CD. |
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Name: Mark Schuster
Background: I won't bore you with every detail since I was 6, but let's just say music's a big part of my life. I've played everything from classical to metal, but one thing has always been true: i love Xtreme music. I write, play, and record everything you hear on this site (except for the occasional friend helping out). Some people think you're nuts for doing everything yourself, I find it liberating. And this Website: Music man, Hard Rockin' Music! Genre:Hard Rock/Metal Guitars/Drums/DAW: Jackson, Ibanez, Fender, Pearl, Paiste Cymbals, Reaper Dude, what's up with the B in markBschuster.com: It's my middle initial. Some crank took markschuster.com. ;( |
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Title: Losing Faith
Release Date:Summer, 2009 Mastering: Hal Chiasson, Sweettrax Mastering Cover Art:Nick Ledesma Genre:Hard Rock/Metal Preview (unmastered) |
Reviews coming Summer 2009... Look for a special section "The Making of Losing Faith" coming soon. |
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Title: Monster Me
Release Date:12/2005 Mastering:The Boiler Room Cover Art:Scott Radke Genre:Hard Rock/Metal Instrumental Buy Online: CDBaby (MP3 only) Applie iTunes Napster Fossil Records MP3 Stream |
MidWestBands.com (US) (4/15/2006)
From the get-go, I have to make it abundantly clear that Mark Schuster is an excellent musician! He not only provides the guitar work on the CD – he also plays every other instrument, as well as shouldering the burden of production and mixing! He is the man with the plan, and Monster Me is one hundred percent his Baby! Review by Mark Lush, Midwestbands.com Bad Attitude Radio (US) (3/11/2006) "This is a awesome CD! We have only had it a few hours now and I have listened to it a few times already. Great Work Man. Keep It Up!" Ken, Bad Attitude Radio What makes a great instrumental album? This is a question that we should ponder with intellect and attention, focus and heart. To take on a instrumental project one must allow the axe to speak instead of vocals, and it has to be done in a very concise manner, or all is lost on the novice listener. Mark Schuster’s ‘Monster Me’ is described by the artist as 10 Instrumental Hard/Rock Metal songs. I describe it as a Story told by guitar. A story that is unique to whomever is listening, it is not overplayed, the melody is present, and never foregone to ‘ham it up’. So often soloists violate that simple rule. They overplay and what is sacrificed is the journey. The track ‘Agree to Disagree’ slows down in the appropriate places to allow the eyes to focus as the ears react pleasantly. By the time I reached ‘Bang Bang’ I had chosen a destination in my mind and Mark allowed me to roam freely with the perfect tone and pitch. This player is confident, energetic and hammers you when necessary. The artist uses effects and delays appropriately throughout his pieces and he holds notes and picks never forgetting that a hammer needs a nail if you are going to build something. Dancing with the Devil is a track that did just that, what a build up. I think that this is a must listen. The instrumental's make a collectors overall appreciation of metal have an almost academic meaning. This album needs to find it’s way into your mind and cd case. Congrats Mark my first 5 on the old 1-5 scale. Review by John Ritondo (aka Jalapenopope) STRUTTER'ZINE (Europe) (2/28/2006) Instrumental Melodic Hardrock in the best 80s style (read: early SATRIANI, VAI, VAN HALEN) is what we get to hear on the debut CD of guitarist MARK SCHUSTER. Actually you should call this mastermind a multi-instrumentalist as well as producer, because he did everything on his own. The result is a great typical instrumental Hardrock CD with one foot in the 80s (the songs), although the production quality is of course the level of 2006, so nothing sounding dated here. Recommended to fans of guitar orientated instrumental Melodic Hardrock, because there are some really gems on the CD (check out the awesome “Agree to disagree” that has some beautiful melodic guitarwork). (Points: 8.3 out of 10) Review by Gabor Fabian Germany's #1 Internet Hard Rock radio station (2/10/2006) Check out Monster Me cuts on Munich's Hardest Hits FRETNET.COM Radio (Australia) (1/23/2006) Jan 23 Show HARDROCKHAVEN.NET (US) (1/12/2006) Comments: Shred? Sure. Powerful riffs? Check. Is this yet another mindless pseudo guitar god album? No fucking way! Former drummer boy Mark Shuster was even self-deprecating in his press release for this album, something you will never see from an expert guitarist. He admitted he hadn't touched a guitar in more then 10 years! That may be the most refreshingly honest thing in the history of rock CD promotion. The $64,000 question is: was his extended layoff a liability? In this case, no it certainly was not. In his case it was more then 10 years spent growing, maturing and letting multiple solid rhythms spawn into one well-written song after another! There is a song here for all style guitar aficionados. The metal fans get an early treat with a distortional almost Satriani, early Lynch flavored tune called "Bang, Bang" that includes some really "seasoned" bass guitar playing as well. Next up is the best written song on the CD, "Agree to Disagree," a soft rock/metal tune that flows like beads of water down Paris Hilton's legs. A muted "ahh, ahh" is sung a few times here but the highlight is the clear slow lead played over the basic rock rhythm. It's just so damn catchy! The rock/blues fans have "Dancing with the Devil" a soulful rock tune with mad feel and clarity. This track is as good a driving song as there has been in ages! An evil voice pans a Devilish, "Hey baby you wanna dance," as Schuster finishes with an almost Bayou rhythm. "Herd Of Elephants" includes some fast lead licks and much more slowly played heartfelt soul-rock as well. There are even a few psychedelic licks at the songs end too for good measure. The album's title track is a spirited rock/metal doing "85" in the slow lane bonanza! He even slams on the brakes at one point during the song and plays a piece of a possessed monster with high-pitched sustained notes of painful discourse. But then it's back into the manic weaving in and out of lanes and the depressive slows for red lights. Not sure who "Ginger" was, but she either had an impact on this life or a previous one for Mark. The track is solemn and pretty but morose and melancholy as well. It may either pleasantly remind you of a love once lost or inspire you to try and find that same lady sometime soon. It's that powerful. Up next is the similar "A Matter of Time," which never speeds but pulls on your heartstrings throughout with more soulful playing! He laces it occasionally with tasty powerful lead pieces too. "Welcome To the Freak Show" plays to a basic rock rhythm and includes several speedy leads as well as a few more "Devil" style vocal statements. "Judas Kiss" starts out with Hendrix styled distortion pulls and a few powerful gongs before vaulting into another power rock ditty and finally finishing on the distortion pull express. The last track is "The Long Road Home" a reflectively beautiful way to enhance this well played album. This guy loves rhythms, and man it shows! He probably dreams rhythms for Christ's sake! The leads in this sound a bit of soulful, like Richie Sambora with a touch of Jake. E Lee thrown in for flavor. Either way, they are as true and real as your first kiss. When you put in an instrumental guitar album and the next thing you know it's over, it's either a ringing endorsement or a death sentence. In this case, it is surely the former. The flow of this record is seamless and expert, and is just the beginning of the words you could use to describe Schuster's impeccably clean soulful style. Go to www.fossilrecords.net and pick up a copy of this unisex friendly record for Valentine's Day; your mate won't be disappointed, but he/she may get a few more speeding tickets! HRH Rating: 8.4/10 Review by Matthew Hoffman MELODIC.NET (Europe) (1/11/2006) Review by Kaj Roth PRESS RELEASE (1/1/2006) Official Monster Me Press Release |
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Title: Mark Schuster
Release Date:Circa. 2002 Cover Art:Mark Schuster Genre:Hard Rock/Metal Instrumental MP3 Stream (MP3.com stuff) |
"Mark Schuster has created an album that's gonna turn on a few heads, I think that soon
this guy could become one of the most talked about players..."
Nicky Baldrian, StrutterZine
"yeah!!!!! You are sounding great and the site looks fabulous. I love the playing. Good work. Awesome stuff!!! Neil Zaza Featured on BallBusterHardMusic.com's "Axe Banger:The Guitarist Showcase" August/September, 2002 "I do hear a lot of promise in your guitar playing - your tone is strong and you have the beginnings of a kick-ass personal style... I dig the energy and phrasing of your soloing." Phi Yaan-Zek, LNR Records "... a milestone stone of the type like Dokken. Bravo Mark! Hurray the guitar heroes!" Luca Daddi, Metal Maniacs, Italy "Although you hear a lot of guitar picking,this is not a boring album. Schuster is capable of creating a very own atmosphere and mood for every different song; and that is what I call a great achievement. Martien Koolen, RockUnited.com (AOR-Europe.com) "...Too Little, Too Late" and "I am a Machine" are supported by cutting riffs, metallic and beautiful melodies that remind you of something like Lynch or Vai" GuitarChef, Italy's first Guitar Zine “Musically, he plays with plenty of Eddie Van Halen flourishes, a Steve Vai-like approach to melodies and rather unusually, echoes of the Scorpions. However, where the album scores higher than most is Mark's mastery of the rhythm guitar which is quite superb, giving the album an enjoyable side that other albums mostly lack. “ Matthew Honey, HardRoxx Online, UK "…this cd reminds me very much of LYNCH, SATRIANI, MOORE and Mr. Eddie VAN HALEN" SLAM! Hard Rock/Metal Zine, Italy "... 10 tracks firmly in the hard rock and heavy metal arenas that offer mega-riffing, impressively fluid melodic soloing..." Guitar Nine Records, The Undiscovered June-July,2001 "Mark Schuster is obviously an indecently talented guitarist, and has already found a strong niche in a genre that could surely use an oil-change" Dave B. Wagner, Gods of Music "It didn't take long during my first listen to discern that Mark Schuster is a very talented guitar player and musician." CrashTest, Metal-Rules.com |
