Cut of the Month is YAM with their song "Dub Fear". This recording - which
was completed earlier this year - was part of an interesting collection of
tunes which fall into the Saturday Morning Cartoon Theme/Punk-Dub-Pop Rock
Land. This cut features a vocorder solo that I love, as well as a short
drum and bass section. Give it a listen, you'll be pleased.


MICHAEL NORDEN stopped by briefly to demo out three songs. His material is
sort of like Costello meets The Boss.


UPSOYO recorded few songs this past month. A "few songs"? Jesus, this
stuff is good, definitely radio rock material. I'll have to have it as a
Cut of the Month some day soon. They have the same pop sensibilities which
brings Nirvana to mind, but the music, itself, sounds more like what Pearl
Jam could be were they properly mixed and not so heavily slicked-up. Or
maybe a current day Experience? It's all good.


A remote recording was made of Sarah Bassingthwaighte's new composition at
the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Unfortunately, we had to record in the
atrium (aka, the echo chamber from hell), but it came out pretty good under
the circumstances. Happily, I got to use my new Audio Technica Shotgun
mic! This event also featured composition by Stephen Louis Bayne, Jarrod
Powell and Keiko Takano.


HOLLIDAY was in to do a few verses for a collaboration with Jabon. It's a
dark Kid Rock sort of thing.


Towards the end of the month we recorded the mighty, mighty MUDHONEY,
completing three new songs for an upcoming album on Subpop. These were
great sessions, partly because the dynamic flowed through each day. A
Roland Space Echo was used on every song in some way, which is a kick,
resulting in one of the songs sounding like it was tanked from Black
Sabbath. Another piece has an Iggy do-wop feel to it, and the third is an
all out psych-punk Sonics blast. We talked alot about punk rock records
since a copy of "American Hardcore" was lying around.


Speaking of "American Hardcore", my old punk rock band is listed in the
discography. That was a surprise.


I've recently begun to explore the dominion of black metal and have found
some truly interesting music therein. LUMINOUS FLUX returned to record two
new songs, both of which could fit comfortably in the black metal category,
but most will refer to it as goth pop. These new pieces have a certain
early Bowie appeal, or maybe a mid-to-late period Alice Cooper (Raise your
Fist and Yell and beyond doesn't count). Maybe it's the majestic strings,
the operatic voice, the big guitars, the key swells... It huge, I tell ya'!


Jaye and I did another remote recording at Vodvil of Curtis Taylor's
production of "Shades of Parkland". It's a murder ballad/opera which at
times is like Lynch on vaudeville - very entertaining.


Elizabeth Falconer recorded another children's story called "The Golden
Arrow," which will be included on the Crane's Story CD (due out early next
year). This story was about a prince who wishes to marry a princess (of
course) and the Father of the Princess won't have anything to do with it
(no surprise), so he puts the prince through several torturous tests (as
usual). The twist, however, is that in the end a little mouse helps the
prince win the final battle. Couldn't we all use a little helper mouse
right about now?


Those of you who live in - or will just happen to be in - the Seattle area
are welcome to attend the 6th Annual Gravelvoice Corporate Solstice
Party. Come celebrate the birth of Frank! This year, events will include
a live performance by Climax Golden Twins, the projection of classic
children's Christmas tales (ie; Frosty, Rudolph and Peanuts), fabulously
recorded music by brilliant local artists (natch!), and a shit ton of
holiday cheer. -- Friday December 21st, 7-midnight. Send me an e.mail if
you need directions.


I wanna be a Dentist!