Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Paste Magazine September 2008 CD Sampler



Apparently, I am featured on the CD Sampler included in the September issue of Paste Magazine. It seems this is their 'Best of What's Next' issue. I am soon to be a thing of the future.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

'Amplifier' Review

This will show you how my mind works.

I'm sent these reviews and press pieces from the PR company the label hired to do the publicity for the album. They usually come with a brief sentence or two along the lines of "Great review from such and such" before the link.

When this review in 'Amplifier' came, it just said "for clip file." I immediately thought "okay, they've crucified me" and then debated for an hour whether I should click the link and read the review or not.

Turns out they were just busy at the PR company that day. It's another really nice review:

"For Clip File"

Sunday, August 17, 2008

A Few Words in Defense of My Album

No, my album is not being attacked by Communist forces and, yes, I am basically ripping off my subject line from the title of a great Randy Newman song but that's the title I used a few months ago when I was asked to write up short descriptions of each song on the album for radio and press folk.

Having just come across this again I thought: "Why should only radio and press folk experience the joy of reading what I have to say about my own songs?"

Since I couldn't really come up with a compelling reason, you are no longer spared the following:

A Few Words in Defense of My Album

Side One: My Misadventures

Johnnie's Going Down

It's always fun to watch the mighty fall, particularly when they don't see it coming. The instrumental section tries to bring back some of that Tijuana Brass sound that accompanied so many of our parent's "key parties" in basement dens across early '70s America.

To and Fro

A musical melodrama around the theme: You're either on the bus or off the bus, but don't make me sit here with the door open. Features lots of over the top piano runs and the first appearance of castanets in a pop tune since the Phil Spector trial.

No Way Out

If you're going to throw your life away you might as well have a good time doing it. Written drunk, recorded drunk, I'm not going to tell you how to listen to music but I'm just saying I'm buying the next round. By the third drink you'll begin to notice that the chord progression isn't as close to that other song's as you thought it was back when you were sober.

So

People leave. You don't have to hate them for it. If you really want to know what this one's about, listen to Mike Frank's piano part - says it all.

Nothing's Changed

Sometimes it's hard to get out of bed in the morning. But usually only Mondays through Fridays, and then also on the weekends. Once you get past that it's usually . . . oh wait, never mind.


Even though this is a song-by-song blow-by-blow, I feel like I gotta tell ya I made this to be listened to like an album. That means sitting down and taking in all of either side one or side two. Side one is done, so if you wanna take a little break now and come back later for side two, I'm cool with that.


Side Two: Other People's Misadventures

8Track

The guy singing this song has really great childhood memories singing songs with his sister while listening to 8Tracks. The fact that he isn't old enough to have actually been around when 8Tracks were doesn't seem to bother him. Neither does the fact that he doesn't even have a sister. A great memory is a great memory. It doesn't have to be YOUR memory.

Listening to NRBQ

Is this guy reminiscing about the fantastic, though criminally under-recognized, NRBQ, his old girlfriend, or just about a time when music was the center of everyone's lives? I don't know. I just know two things: First, Big Al Anderson from the legendary NRBQ plays electric guitar on this tune, sounding EXACTLY like Big Al Anderson (no mean feat) and secondly, it turns out Tricky Dick was wrong when he said "You won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore." I am happy about both.

Chalk One Up for Albert's Side

The guy in this song was an eye-witness to the pivotal moment in the life of a third grader, when the good guys actually won a round against the forces of evil. It was probably the last time in his life he saw anything like this. Written with Tony Asher, which still makes me think "Jesus Christ, are you kidding me, Tony Asher?" And then I check and it turns out no, Jesus Christ is NOT kidding me, it really was written with Tony Asher.

On Your Birthday

Why does this guy's ex-girlfriend's birthday still get to him? Why does he even remember her birthday? Is he still in love with her? You'll have have to ask David Poe, because he wrote the lyric to this one. Love that David Poe.

Three Weeks Shy

The guy in this song lost his brother in Iraq. There are over 4000 stories like this and counting. Please play this song in the months leading up to the election.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

They won't shut up about 'Misadventures in Stereo'

A few more pieces of press praise floating around this week:

Lots of kindness from All Music Guide:
All Music Guide

USAToday Featured me earlier this week, calling 'Listening to NRBQ' "magical" (I thought it was pretty magical when Big Al showed up to take the solo as well):

USAToday

This one is from 'Jersey Beat' - which I can't figure out if it's just a website or has something to do with New Jersey newspapers. In either event, you should keep these three things in mind when reading this one:

I DON'T actually play most of the "instrumentals" myself. Most of the tunes are played live by the band with a few overdubs that also used multiple musicians.

Al Anderson from NRBQ does NOT play on '8Track'. He actually plays on (would you believe it?) 'Listening to NRBQ'.

While it is true that I DO often wear my influences on my sleeve ("good artists borrow, great artists steal") there is no way I was ever even remotely thinking about Crosby, Stills and Nash when doing the vocal harmonies for 'Chalk One Up for Albert's Side'. Beach Boys, yes. 'Ram'-era McCartney, yes. CSN . . . um, no.

Okay, now you can read it.

Some radio news to share with you soon and a request for some help spreading the word.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Thoughts on the Record Release Parties

Well, I'm exhausted.

Sitting in Rittenhouse Square the day after the record release party at Joe's Pub, feeling pretty good about how it all went both last night and last week in Philadelphia at World Cafe Live.

Just some random scattered thoughts, because I'm not capable of much else right now:

It was great seeing that we packed both rooms, that people afterwards really seemed to have enjoyed it and that so many folks I haven't seen for quite a while made it out to share the moment.

Goddam, I want me an 11 piece band for Christmas! I was so impressed by how well everybody played and how it all came together on very little rehearsal together (we cold only rehearse as a full band twice). Kind of scares me a little bit to think what we could do with some real time playing together. Also just incredibly grateful to all the musicians who really gave a lot for very little (and in a few cases, no) renumeration (that's money, folks).

I am so glad to have taken the extra time and expense to have had the WCL show recorded to multi-track by Chris Williams over at WXPN. I heard just a very rough mix of a couple of songs and already know that we captured something special.

On top of that, thanks to Russ Eisenlohr and his crew and John Anthony and Mary O'Neill for donating themselves and the cameras to film the show. We're going edit this video and sync it to the multi-track audio and have something incredible to show you soon.

It makes me happy that Ben Arnold was part of the evening with his band at the Philly show. Having good friends sharing the night was a real joy.

Ditto my happiness that most of the folks involved in making the record were on hand in one way or another at the shows. I definitely missed Adam Winokur, who sadly had a gig that night.

Just on a personal note, I was so happy to have found some settings on my Fender Deluxe that gave me a nice, crunchy electric guitar tone that made me love playing the electric tunes. Maybe I won't only play acoustic the rest of my life.

I think I've finally run out of thoughts on the subject. I am now going to let my central nervous system rest for a couple of days. Thanks to everybody who came out on either night and bonus points for those of you who made both. See you soon.

Friday, August 08, 2008

More Opinions, Your Opinions

A few more pieces of press to alert you to, and then a way to make YOUR voice heard.

First up, a very nice piece that ran in the Metro newspapers. I wish I always came across this eloquent in interviews. Obviously some good editing at the Metro!:


The Metro



Super short but very sweet. Mike Errico is a really fine singer-songwriter type himself who has crossed over to the other side, working for Blender online. I'm named as one of his favorite things here:

Mike Errico


Okay, I TOLD you I'd fess up to that first bad review. This may technically only be in the "not so good" category (and if you stop at the end of the first paragraph it's quite good!), but I'm counting it. The opinion of someone NOT convinced of my genius is a click away:

Blurt


Whoo! That knocked the wind out of me for a second, but I'm okay now. But more importantly, I want to know what YOU think. Here's a website called Download.com where you can, surprisingly enough, download (.com) a few tracks from the album and give your opinion. I'd love it if you would take the time to do so. Make your voice heard here:

Download.com

That's more than enough me for now.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Philadelphia Daily News

Another batch of very kind words, this time from the Philadelphia Daily News' Jonathan Takiff. I am particularly impressed that Mr. Takiff know a tarantella when he hears one.

You can help spread the word by clicking on all those "Save and Share" links on the page. I'd love it if you did.

Here's the news.