Home-grown music from Vancouver Island loosely described as alt folk colliding with new wave just as Brian Wilson and Steve Reich arrive on the scene with Snoop Dogg and Robyn Hitchcock.

10 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Alternative Folk, ROCK: Comedy Rock



Details:
This is actually my second album; the first was a tape I made way too long ago (that garnered me a world-wide following of, er, dozens), and thought I would be following it up with another effort soon after. Well, 20 years later, here it is!

I was born the same year Mad Magazine was launched. This may or may not explain why I am the way I am. I don't consider myself a âmusicianâ per se, just an ordinary working class stiff who likes to play music. Some of the songs on this album are my own observations and/or experiences of life (Dumb it Down, Perceptions, Triage, Headin Home, and I'm on Board, Jack).

Some songs reflect my blue collar background as a carpenter and treeplanter, (Skid Road to Nowhere, Caulkin Girl), plus a few are from just a little bit "out there" (The Rappa Dappa Doobie Song and Ya Get Me, Steve). In a few of them, I've tried to inject a bit of my own somewhat warped sense of humour. And, of course, being only human, I had to try and achieve an historical first by writing a song that features an heavy machinery with "Me and My Excavator" .

This album was recorded and mixed in my own home studio, using Pro Tools (for all my fellow gearheads out there) and the best mics and preamps I could afford. However, I did see the wisdom in taking the rough mix to a professional (Zak Cohen at The Woodshop)and having a second set of ears listen to and make suggestions towards bringing out the best sound possible. The CD was also mastered there.

Trying to define my own music has been a next-to-impossible assignment for me. I've been influenced by everyone and everything from The Beatles to Brian Wilson, XTC,the Pogues, New Wave, Rock music, Art music, Minimalism, and various and sundry folk idioms from around the world. Not that I would compare my music to the Beatles', but what I like about their music is that every song is completely different from any other. And what I like about Brian Wilson's songs are those neat little breaks he throws in. As for my stuff, if you listen to any of the clips you'll realize that I like variety. I just can't confine myself to any one genre- I like them all. Just about every song has an acoustic guitar in it somewhere, after that they kind of head off in different musical directions.

This CD has only been out for a few months, mostly given away to friends to elicit feedback. Most say they like the variety, and also the "songs within songs" that appear in some of the pieces. The two-minute clips may not fully portray what I am talking about.

Then, of course, it's not enough just to create a CD. It then has to be "packaged" and turned into a "product", with photos, text, and graphics. Try taking a picture of two of YOURselves. Not easy. After that, you have to make up all kinds of neat and cool things to say about yourself and your songs. Now you have to find someone to put it all together. Luckily I was able to enlist the help of a friend of mine, and we did it in a couple of days. You'll just have to buy the CD to find out how the Front Cover resolves on the inside...

If indeed you do take a chance and purchase this CD, please let me know what you think. Backhanded compliments especially welcome.

Guaranteed- no love songs, no soppy duets, no pop, nothing too religious, political, or obscene. And no shrinkwrap!