Full liner notes: Installment #1

It's official (truly this time)--Tom and I finished tracking my album, pareidolia, last night. Our friend Leeland came up to lay down some super sweet, mystical flute parts on "Funakoshi's Paperback" that totally pushed the song into the stratosphere!

I made a mock-up of the CD packaging (very rough and VERY low-tech) and knew I wouldn't be able to fit all the info I wanted on the inside sleeve. I'll be using this blog to release excerpts from the full liner notes over the next few weeks. Today's view: thanks and artistic influences.

Thanks: My wife Laurie and daughter Addy for putting up with “too much time with Tom”; Tom Kutrieb for friendship, not to mention endless hours of tracking, editing and pocketing—without you this record would not exist; Deb and Emily Kutrieb for sharing their home (and Tom); Mike Kutrieb for adding your fingerprints to this record; Zach Brawford for traveling from the Cities to lay down some sweet beats; CJ Conner for your astouding artwork; Jessie Braun for capturing my good side; my family for loving and supporting me; Toby Kutrieb for getting me into music in the first place; Karl and Cindy for forgiveness and renewed friendship; Aaron LaMere for answers; Jeremy Michael (a.k.a. The Archiver); Martha Jean (miss you); my fellow Mavens Richard Price and Aaron Kittelson; Good Guys Wear Wolf; Gabriel Wilson for being a constant (though geographically distant) presence both musically and spiritually; God, who still loves me, despite my many shortcomings.

Artists that provided direct or serendipitous inspiration for this recording include the following: Hoodoo Gurus; Trip Shakespeare; Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground; Violent Femmes; Good Guys Wear Wolf; Gabriel Wilson and The Listening; Black Rebel Motorcycle Club; U2; Nectarmen; Death In Texas; Red Hot Chili Peppers; Tar Babies; Aaron LaMere and The Blackstones; The Beatles; Sheryl Crow; Bon Iver; Bob Mould; The Dandy Warhols; David Bazan; Wilco; R.E.M.; and Ryan Adams (no relation).

I'm pretty sure Tom and I have finished tracking my record. We redid vocals on "Emerald Plumes" and finalized the enhanced harmonies for "Happy As A Dog." I believe that's all we needed to finish. Now, all the not-as-fun stuff begins: assembling the master disc, figuring out packaging, duplication and distribution, and spreading the word about the record release (TBA). My friend and college roommate Karl (anybody recall the raging bagels, rottweiler or Toothpick magazine?) has agreed to do the lettering for the liner notes, and my sister Chris is going to help me with the disc packaging design.

In addition to my own record release, there are a few excellent artists set to unleash their latest in the next 12 months, including Good Guys Wear Wolf (one of my "other" bands), Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and (hopefully) U2. Looks like my record will be in great company.

As my record is nearing it's "put to bed" stage, I'm totally stoked to be helping Tom Kutrieb (my producer) start recording his solo album. Tom and I will soon begin recording some stripped down demos of his new songs both at his studio, and my own Magnetic Door studio. Tom and I have grown into an incredibly efficient and effective studio team in the last several years. I'm eagerly anticipating the musical magic we'll create under his moniker.

Oh, one last thing: I'm quite sure this will be the final track order (I'm pretty certain this time):

12 songs / 45 minutes of music:

1. Space Woman Yeah
2. Hair
3. Funakoshi's Paperback
4. Checkout Line
5. Cocoon
6. Quiet Place
7. Happy As A Dog
8. Emerald Plumes
9. Holy Cow
10. New Soap
11. Too Far Away
12. Meantime