From the liner notes to the new Todd Snider record, “East Nashville Skyline”:

“…all the songs on this record are true songs about true people I know and the opinions they have, the ones I have, the shit we go through and just some of my own personal stories and feelings… I have never once tried to figure out what people wanted to hear so that I could make music like that and then make a fortune in show business… that’s not why I work on these songs. Songwriting helps me through my life, shows me how to feel things closer, know people better, heal faster, improve myself, notice more and laugh harder… so I do it. That’s why.”

I hope I’m not infringing some copyright laws by putting that on my site w/out permission, but I hope someone who may not otherwise know of Todd Snider will go and buy his record(s) based on that lil’ blurb. It goes on much longer and in way more detail and is reason enough to buy the CD. Jen thinks I’m crazy for buying CDs for the liner notes, but hey- the Buffalo Tom b-sides comp’s notes were awesome… even though I already had ‘em all on other CDs… I digress… Snider has an acute understanding of the human condition, I think (MY condition, anyway) and even though he’s a hippie and LOVES Widespread Panic (shudder), he writes great songs. GREAT songs.

If this touring idea pans out, I’m a little scared of how much money I’m gonna lose. Thing is, I don’t have any, so going into debt is the only option. Most of my record collection is gone (I sell ‘em once I read the liner notes), and I patently REFUSE to sell any more instruments. I just have to patently refuse to buy any more… I guess…maybe.

Release parties are booked for here and E-town, so I guess the promotional machine will be cranking up again. If it’s half as good as last time, first-month sales will be in the tens.

Whatever. Joe Chan offered to let me review my own record for the October issue, which I might just do, but depending on how I’m feeling about it, it’ll either sabotage sales, or load up my AND izzum’s answering machine/email box w/ hate. I’ll lose, either way, but it might be good for a coupla laughs. Ummm… the Vail Halen record is awesome. Buy it right after you buy mine. Actually, since it's coming out before mine, buy mine after you buy his...

- posted @ 10:53 PM

Had an awesome time last night @ the Barfly... 2 of my favorite pals from the "great Calgary alt-rock scare" of the mid-'90's, Barb and Brooker, came out to the gig. Weird they's show, esp. on a night when nostalgia was on my mind. I'm generally not one for looking back (unles it's for some stupid story over a pint @ the Coil), but the old Fire Engine Red masters were unearthed up at Sundae yesterday, and that sent me on the "do you remember" path. (see, Jimmy and I were Husker Du fans, hence the obscure reference...). Ahhh the good old days.... are gone. Gotta go to work. Crap.

- posted @ 9:43 AM

I was just looking at my pal Jim Bryson’s website, and realized that if I have a blog, I should really write something now and again. I’m tired and should be in bed, but here goes…

I’m officially sick of my new record. After starting it twice, almost finishing it once, and spending 2 and a half months on the 3rd version, it’s now mixed and mastered and I can STOP LISTENING TO IT!! I was really proud of it yesterday, but this evening driving around w/ Mel and Kyle for the photoshoot, it sounded bad. Full of mistakes and bad judgement. Kinda like life, I guess. Thing is, I learned a LOT of stuff doing it, so I know the experience will bear fruit. I’m just never gonna play bass again, that’s all. It sucks trying to play bass when you suck at playing bass. Then hit “record” on top of that, and see how you feel. The most important lesson I learned in all of this was, “Hire a bass player, dummy! Quit being so vain and control-freakish, and hire a bass player!”

Started on putting a tour together today… oof. The music business is brutal. I’m so glad that Dawn, Jen, Ken, Slayer and DB are on my side, ‘cuz I’d be drooling in a straitjacket in no time w/out them.

The record’s gonna be called “A Dime At A Time” and it’ll be out in October. I think I’ll probably like it again by then, but the next one’s already coming together in my head, and the head version walks all over this one.

It’s been so long since I’ve blogged that the people who gave me hell for not writing have probably given up, but hopefully we’ll spruce up the site a bit when the record comes out, and someone will read this drivel.

- posted @ 2:12 AM