There’s less than a week remaining in February, and that means crunch time for nearly 2,000 worldwide participants in the 2011 RPM Challenge. While many artists are on track to complete a new CD by the end of the month, others are stumbling as they attempt to balance jobs and family with their ambitious recording projects. What follows is a sampling of unedited excerpts from recent comments posted on the RPM blog at www.rpmchallenge.com. And remember—it’s still not too late to sign up.

have 10!: Hey, Orphans have assembled 10 songs for the RPM—all of which are decent lengths and make up about 45min of total material. Some have a decent mix on them and others (about 4) are structured bones only and need alot of flesh. All lyrics are done. —Orphans, Cheshire, Conn. 

9 songs: The song count is up to 9. We got together and slogged through them in preparation for recording. Since it’s a jazz thing, it will pretty much be recorded live to a click. It’s a challenge for all of us as a band because we haven’t done a jazz recording yet. —Daniel Becker, Oswego, Ill. 

Album name: I think I’ve found a name for the album. “Kaleidoscopy.” It will contain a lot of pretty diverse musical styles. I didn’t plan it that way, but that’s the way it’s looking to turn out. So what I’m hoping for is that somehow the various parts will combine into some kind of pattern that will in the end be pleasing to the ear. —Strummindude, Stockholm, Sweden

 dynamics of serious music dedication and marriage: the end of the second week of febuary and beginning of the third brings on a whole new challenge to The Hearts of Mars, finding balance in life and love. due to work schedules, the third week of feb. is slated to be night cram sessions. we already lost monday night to valantines. (had a great time with my wife though).. friday night is my wifes  birthday so that one is lost on me also. we had already lost most the first week due to ice storms. we have begun scaling back some of our arrangements and are moving toward getting takes in the “can” instead of getting the “one.” all in all i think things are going well. we have learned so much about incorporating live drums into the mix and arranging for multi insrtumentation. three of the four of us are married and our wives dont seem to be that frazzled yet. if we can get to the finish line with something and all stay sleeping in the same bed as our wives, it will be a huge success. our wives really allow us to live out our “rock n roll fantasy.” but, there is a limit to everything. everybody in a relationship and with kids good luck! its only rock n roll.... —Hearts of Mars, Indianapolis, Ind. 

Just Fun: Last night I spent a little time working on mixes on a couple of my songs and I re-recorded a vocal on another. Then I took a little time and had some fun. I recorded a techno vocal for another band. It was silly. It was goofy. My performance was WAY over the top. And it was great fun. Take a break from your own project and invest 20-30 minutes into helping someone else this week. It’s tremendous fun and it might just re-energize you. —Letter Seventeen, Norcross, Ga.Vamanos!: Now I REALLY have to hussle. No more flailing around over technical concerns! I want it to sound good, but mostly I want it to exist, soooo... —Ana Balka, London, U.K. 

Done-ski!: I blame sickness for this album. I got a cold (during a heat wave, go figure) and so I had some time on my hands. I started writin’ and recordin’ and hey, presto! All done. I’m actually surprisingly pleased with the results, given that I did the whole thing at a sprint. —The Crown Fires, Sydney, Australia

Hearing things—Day 17: While chatting on IRC i was hearing things... like my phone getting emails and text’s even though I wasen’t. At one point I microwaved some food, and listened closely and was able to hear sizzling and bubbling still. I began bobbing my head to it. Needless to say I’m engaged. You? Hope so. —carrier signal, Scottsdale, Ariz. 
6 down, 4 to go: six songs down, four to go....is anyone getting tired besides me? LOL —MosAiK USA, Post Falls, Idaho

Will miss the deadline: Let it be heard that the Yawns fully own up to the fact that they will miss this year’s deadline after 3 (of the last 4) very successful years. Nonetheless, the record they started in February and will continue to produce for the next few months is likely to kick ass. Or at least be good. So, rock on my fellow RPM’ers. We will be too, just on our own schedule. Thanks RPM for stirring up the inspiration that was necessary to get us going again. —The Yawns, Alexandria, Va.

Slump: I forgot how hard this all is/was/can be! Am currently tired, and feeling less than satisfied with efforts so far. I seem to remember a similar feeling about this time last year, yet I finished somehow. —uglifruit, Leicester, U.K.

Finished Recording: Recorded, burned. Now to print up the playlist, associated data, and to physically mail the final. —Wetdryvac, Mount Vernon, Maine
Think I’m done: Last night I hit the mark. I didn’t even try singing along, because I didn’t want to mess up my rhythm. I wrote the lyrics this morning. I came up with exactly what I was looking to create! And it’s a perfect way to end the album. —The Raygun Girls, Pine Plains, N.Y.

Fresh as a daisy, twice as nice: We have in fact gotten ourselves moving and in the right frame of mind (got your mind right, boy? I got my mind right boss...) much earlier in the day than usual. We’ve been eating a whole lotta bagels around here. Turns out bagels are a bit of an event around here. Mike, Kira, and Daniel load all kinds of things on top including home-made kraut and avacado. I’m catching onto the idea. The sun is streaming with gusto through the windows, and the kitties are baking in the sunbeams. The day already feels good. —Free Radicals, Somersworth, N.H.

The Red Velvet Swing “Boofuls”...finished: for all intents and purposes the red velvet swing’s album “boofuls” is finished. there’s a possibility i might do a few more and pick the best of the bunch (relatively speaking). so...10 songs in two and a half weeks. i really don’t know if they’re any good. i’m not much of a recording engineer. all my friends’ recordings blow mine away! it was such a good experience though. it really sharpens you up. makes ya zero in on things you wouldn’t notice normally. just because of the concentrated amount of time spent. looking forward to new hampshire if i can afford it...good luck to everyone else! —the red velvet swing, Brewster, Mass.