Not so…

Smart.

Closing March 1st, 2010.

Found this tidbit in their site “History” section:

Very quickly, word spread through the Midwest that Smart Studios was the place for independent punk and skateboard bands like Tar Babies and Killdozer to record their music.

Hmmm… I remember dragging Bob Mould up there in Smart’s old space and kinda muddling through a bunch of sessions. I don’t think Bob and Butch had the same esthetics at the time, they were both totally into the power pop, just from different sides of the record isles. Seems like we were the guinea pigs for their first 1/2″ eight track sessions and we lost tracks and flubbed overdubs routinely. We probably tracked 16 songs over two 12″ EPs. Neither of those records sold more than a 1500 units.

I distinctly remember smashing Huber bottles into a microphone for demolition sound effects and making the engineers extremely nervous. Certainly the “punk and skate” methods of pretty much one take and done was not what a polished recording studio and team would take a lot pride in. I guess it worked for them though… Tar Babies–>Killdozer–>Nirvana–>u2–>$$$

The best was “co-producing” the Old Skull Get Outta School album in the new(then) 2″ 24 track facility with Vern, and just romping through 20 songs in a few hours. We push record, the boys thrash through a song, playback, J.P. “okay”, Jamie “meh”, Jesse “good.”  Done! Mixing went just as smooth- Thank you Steve Marker! I’m sure that is on your list of best production work. “You want Scooby Doo samples?!”

It is kind of a shame, but the music industry is a brave new world. None of my bands could really afford Smart after they hit the big time and went all ProTools. They did offer local band discounts and everyone always seemed very Madison-nice. Along with Merlyn’s, Paradise Records, Club d’Wash and Ocayz Coral, Smart altered the music landscape.

Time to move on! I wish them all the best.