Los Angeles Approves Condo Next to Capitol Records With Provisions to Protect Underground Studios

The city of Los Angeles has approved the building of a new development near the famed Capitol Records building. However, the planned condominium building must provide measures ensuring the recording studios underneath the building are not damaged. Both EMI and Hollywood conservationists expressed concern that the development and its planned underground garage, both to be built at 6230 Yucca Blvd., would affect the acoustics of the neighboring studios. Among the concessions the developers made were agreeing not to do construction after 10am within 40 feet of the property line, implementing a foam sound baffle to protect the studio's echo chambers and using an ongoing noise and vibration monitor. The underground studios at Capitol are noted for their "natural reverb" and have hosted legendary recordings from Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole to the Beach Boys and Green Day.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

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