How can you get some cool short stories, support (like with actual money!) a dedicated independent artist (not me), and check out the creative work of one of my long-time friends, all in one fell swoop?


Go buy this book.

9 short stories by fairmer, 216 pages, delivered to your door for less than $20. Cake.


(Sorry i've been posting so much, but this was important! Also apologies to fairmer if my quick-n-dirty cover selection and intro don't do her work justice. However, the site will let you copy the anthology, change the cover/intro and even collection as you please, and make your own! Pretty neat, huh?)

Anyways, go share the love. It's the holidays 'n' stuff.

rev_e's recent request for new music -- particularly gritty new music -- has been puttering around in the back of my mind, so i thought i'd take a little time to share this one.

My brother M recently introduced me to the album Colors by the group Between The Buried And Me. Despite needing to take a couple of listens before i fully acclimated to it, the album has actually turned out to be something of an earworm (and believe me, it's is not due some kind of irresistible pop sensibility). This group's actually one of the most interesting i've heard in awhile because of how precisely they combine a particular set of styles.

( a mix of styles that surprised me )

I don't believe that anything short of hearing this album at least twice in its entirety can truly get its value across, but the opening two-track suite (via an interesting fan video) might lend a clue of what one is in for. (Oh, and break out the headphones or a quality sound system for that link, because computer speakers will not allow you to fully appreciate what's going on here.) I think anyone with a fairly open musical mind may want to check this album out, especially those that enjoy extremely tight performance ability, complex phrasal structures, careful production, and/or sheer unadulterated speed.

Specifically...

• rev_e: This wont be your new favorite band or anything, but i believe your life will be richer for having heard it, and you might find a few tidbits you really like.
• mrgeddylee: I plan to buy this record and will gladly lend it to you if you think you'd give it those couple of listens, because it might really impress you.
• jeff_elbel: If you haven't heard these guys yet, you should at least know they're out there.
• multiplexer: Ditto.
• ... and this is by no means a complete list; there are at least half a dozen others on my flist who might dig this.

Thanks to M for putting me hip to this unique album. I'm looking forward to checking out more.

More info: betweentheburiedandme.com

In the unrelenting mania of life, i missed an incredibly sad piece of news earlier this month...



Eric Woolfson
1945 – 2009


The New York Times Obit can't capture the breadth of this man's work, nor can any words i write fully express the musical influence that it had on me. As the "other half" of The Alan Parsons Project, Woolfson's heartfelt songwriting and business savvy perfectly complemented Parsons' arranging and production genius. Though he never considered himself a vocalist, his voice leads some of the group's most acclaimed tunes.

The Project was one of the first bands i was seriously into, hallmarking what i'd consider the beginning of my self-realizations about the depth of my love of music. Their work was rock-centric, but freely explored adjacent styles, focused on creative production, and brought diverse elements into their orchestrations such as large classical arrangements, vocal ensembles, and the ever-emerging synthesized sounds of the era. The project had no fixed lineup, but was formed around the two-man nucleus, with a family of performers moving in and out for various productions, some short-term guests, some veterans.

Sound familiar?

After ten groundbreaking albums with the Project and a prolific solo career -- seemingly always happy to peek out from halfway behind the stage curtain -- Eric left us in the early hours of 02 December (coincidentally on the anniversary of another major loss in my life, perhaps even to the hour).

He also left us a hell of a legacy. As is reportedly said of The Velvet Underground, relatively few people listened to The Alan Parsons Project, but i'll bet most of them started bands.


Please include me in that count.


Thanks, Eric.