Don't forget! Holocene! Jan 22!
January 17, 2008 at 8:14 p.m.
Something in the way she squirms attracts me like no other earthworm.
January 17, 2008 at 2:58 p.m.
My brand new hit album MISSING BRIEFCASE is now available for you to consume on iTunes. Click 'ere to open it in iTunes.
--Alex
When Uncle Kyle says...
January 16, 2008 at 2:44 p.m.
I wanna thank everyone who came out to my Missing Briefcase release show the other night! It was a modest gathering of souls, but it was a lot of fun. If you were there, your presence was invaluable. I really loved seeing The Morals and Mayhaw Hoons & The Casual Encounters too. Good dudes were in abundance. Backspace is totally a cool venue too. I uploaded a couple videos from the show to YouTube as well; "Still Pushin" and "The Zaps."
So thanks dudes, and come on out to the 21+ release show at Holocene on Tuesday the 22nd! It's a new batch of bands (Lonesome Radio Heart, New Agency) and a totally different venue, so if you were at the Backspace show, don't feel like it's gonna be more of the same. No, man. This Holocene show is like the Barack Obama of record release shows.
Come.
Also, KINK (101.9 FM) is going to be playing "The Zaps" on their nightly local music segment. So if you wanna hear how I look on the electromagnetic spectrum, then listen! It's gonna be between 9:15 and 9:30 pm on January 23. Next Wednesday.
Fern-like,
Alex
This is my child. His name is Led Zeppelin.
January 10, 2008 at 2:08 p.m.
I gots myself a write-up in the Willamette Week! In the music calendar section, they had this to say about the Backspace show on Monday:
[RIDICULOUS POP] Local songwriter Alex Arrowsmith certainly isn't light on corniness--not to mention They Might Be Giants emulation--on Missing Briefcase, the album he celebrates the release of tonight. But regardless of his sometimes overly in-your-face quirk, Arrowsmith is funny and charming and awkward in the same sort of way a weird childhood friend is. But awkward or no (Mayhaw Hoons, the crazy-haired bass-playin' guy from the Shaky Hands, raps on one track, for crissakes), Arrowsmith is darn catchy on tunes like "The Zaps"--which, according to his one-sheet's "useless trivia" section, is about Zoloft withdrawal--and "High Speed Chase," which tries to legitimize his creation of a Wikipedia entry for local news anchor Jeff Gianola. Missing Briefcase walks a fine line between good-ridiculous and bad-ridiculous (and, oh, what a fine line it is), but Arrowsmith sometimes hints of Ben Folds or Fountains of Wayne--employing a smart sense of humor and lots of key-heavy pop hooks, which certainly isn't a bad place to start. AMY MCCULLOUGH.
Squeeee. That rules. I always find it interesting to see how my obvious non-coolness comes across in a scene where coolness is the norm. Thanks mucho mucho Amy, wherever you may be, among the angels and flying unicorns!
Don't forget to come to my all-ages release show at Backspace on Monday! Then come and get trashed at my sinful 21+ release party on the 22nd. It's gonna be a one-two punch that will leave you begging for one more uppercut.
And buy my album!!!!!!!!! Order MISSING BRIEFCASE from CD Baby
Rabidly,
Alex
I am New Hampshire.
January 7, 2008 at 10:11 p.m.
Missing Briefcase is up on CD Baby now! You can listen to 2 minute clips and purchase it for $9.99! It will be available on iTunes and other download stores soon.
I've been writing and recording a lot so far this year. Yes, the last seven days. Many new songs. I will write many more soon.
The New Hamster primary is tomorrow. GO OBAMA!!
2008,
Alex
I am Iowa.
January 3, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.
Well people, for all intents and purposes, Missing Briefcase is OUT! Of course, it's not available on CD Baby and iTunes yet, but it will be. Soon. In the meantime, you can contact me (at alex[at]alexarrowsmith.com) if you would like to make arrangements for receiving a copy for $10. I am super excited about this album. I'm also super sick of it, but I definitely ended up with the sound and look I was going for. Now come, world. Come.
Don't forget about my record release shows as well! It's January 14 at Backspace and January 22/24 (confirmation pending) at Holocene. Check out the shows page for the details. Then come.
Check out the room sound on these drums!
December 19, 2007 at 8:33 p.m.
While all the world is sinking.
December 5, 2007 at 10:16 p.m.
I've got some news about live shows coming up in the next couple months:
December 16: Mississippi Pizza w/ Lonesome Radio Heart & Mona They Know Us
January 14: MISSING BRIEFCASE release party at Backspace! $5, all ages, 8pm. w/ Mayhaw Hoons, Lonesome Radio Heart, The Morals
January 24: MISSING BRIEFCASE release party WITH DRINKING!!! at Holocene, 8pm, 21+. w/ New Agency and Lonesome Radio Heart
So come to those shows with gusto in tow and help bring my new monstrous creation Missing Briefcase into the world (or at least my world). It's going to be super fun fest!
Elevated,
Alex
Tentacles expanding in my mind.
November 28, 2007 at 1:54 a.m.
I want you to want rocks.
November 12, 2007 at 1:53 p.m.
The official release date for Missing Briefcase is January 1, 2008! Of course, in this digital world where dates and time are as meaningful as a promise from Capital One, it could be a little before, or a little after January 1. You know how it is. But that is the OFFICIAL date. Let's start 2008 off right--with a briefcase.
Here's the tracklisting:
1. Pass By Palestine
2. Nuke Song
3. Eternal Return
4. Going Insane For The McCain Campaign
5. The Zaps
6. High Speed Chase
7. There May Be A Place
8. Last Generation
9. Skybridge
10. Still Pushin (feat. Mayhaw Hoons)
11. When The Bees Are Gone
12. Secret Catastrophe
In other news, the moustache project has fallen apart. You couldn't even see it after a week. It was a lost Cosby. Sorry, stache fans.
Russianly,
Alex
BREAKING NEWS:
October 9, 2007 at 9:53 p.m.
I'm growing a moustache.
Much to Alyssa's chagrin.
She's grown from a nice young lady to a child.
October 7, 2007 at 12:40 p.m.
I found out just a couple of days ago that The Today Show used "Fondue" (from 2002's A Bunch of Songs) during a segment on...fondue. It was broadcast on February 28, but I just found out about it (from my ASCAP statement). I can't believe AL ROKER has heard my velvety 19-year-old vocals! I've really made it now. I should be touring with FEIST.
So the lesson to be learned is: write songs about obscure nouns.
Well, actually, fondue isn't even that obscure. I don't know why no one else has written songs about it. It's freaking delicious.
Noisily,
Alex
The art of sight.
September 27, 2007 at 11:59 a.m.
Missing Briefcase is FINISHED. It is being mastered as I type this, by Tom Durack in New York, who has mixed records for such bands as They Might Be Giants (Half of Factory Showroom and "Dr. Worm") and The B-52's ("Love Shack"--need I provide more examples?). He's been a great guy to work with, and completely invaluable to the project. I'm really glad I didn't go with mastering the album myself this time.
Now that the album is all but finished, I need to figure out the album art/layout, as well as the BORING stuff like publicity. I also need to save up more money for this stuff, so it may be a few more months before MB actually comes out. And I'd like to save myself postage and the long post office lines and say this to all you indie labels who no doubt refresh this page all day waiting for an update: Wanna release my album? There, I said it. Now let the emails rollll in!
Oh, speaking of TMBG, I'm going to see them tonight at the Roseland. It'll be my 8th time seeing them. I'm excited as bunt cake.
Bon Jovially,
Alex
What if there is nowhere over the rainbow?
September 18, 2007 at 11:55 a.m.
I've started mixing Missing Briefcase in earnest! It's gotten to the point where it feels complete, and all the songs are there. In fact, if anything, I could cut another song. I'm really trying hard to keep the album concise and lean. I think Applewine definitely could have had three or four songs cut from it, but you know, it's hard to kill your babies and everything. I've been practicing infanticide quite intensely with MB, though. In any case, I'm hoping to get it all wrapped up and mixed in two or three weeks (which may be optimistic), and then I'm considering getting it mastered somewhere. I usually do that myself, but I'm starting to feel the limitations in my own mastering powers, so I would like to hand that off to someone else who actually knows what they're doing. Once that's done, then I'll be on track to finishing the packaging and getting it manufactured. But even then, that's ONLY THE BEGINNING, as I have yet to figure out my publicity plan (as well as a possible tour). Missing Briefcase should be available by the New Year though, hopefully. It'll be worth it; it's been a year in the works, which is longer than I've ever spent writing/recording an album, and I'm really happy with how it's turned out. It is musical flapjacks.
"BOMB IRAN" HIT WATCH: I just noticed that "Bomb Iran" broke 15,000 views a day or two ago. Man, it sure is the life being a minor YouTube celebrity (Willamette Week's words, not mine).
Perversely,
Alex
An adverb for every situation.
August 26, 2007 at 12:19 a.m.
APPLEWINE REVIEW WATCH: The music blog Grave Concerns reviewed Applewine a couple of weeks ago, and I just stumbled across it. It's a really good one too--insightful, interesting, and the reviewer (Matthew Johnson) seems to have really gotten it. Gaggles of thanks to Grave Concerns for that luverly piece of press! Here's an excerpt:
"Arrowsmith would be easy to write off as a silly song kind of guy, but he's got a strong enough pop sensibility that even blatantly comical offerings like "I Hope You're Never Crushed by Something Heavy" and "Coldplay Got Eaten by Piranhas" will get stuck in your head, but not in an irritating way like "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer." No, you'll be happy when they get stuck in there, like Beatles songs. Geeky, geeky Beatles songs."
Read the rest here.
In other news, I'm itching to play some shows. Care to scratch my itch? Maybe put some aloe on it...?
Whirly,
Alex
What if there is no potato unfried?
August 20, 2007 at 12:10 a.m.
Well I just stumbled across this while ruthlessly googling myself: a review of my June show at the Main St. Ale House opening for Jackie Swift! A website called Positively Entertainment wrote about it. Pretty cool--I don't think I've really had a show review yet. Here's an excerpt:
"During his rendition of Missing Briefcase ['Nuke Song' actually --Alex], he laid on the floor still playing his guitar holding it above his chest, while kicking his feet like he was doing the dying cockroach. A couple of his other tunes are Welcome to the Jungle and Shark Shrapnel, equally ludicrous, yet hilarious."
I WISH I could say that "Welcome to the Jungle" was written by me, but unfortunately, it wasn't (it was actually Piston Tulip or something...don't remember). But I'm taking the song back. In any case, I thought it was worth mentioning. Click here to read it on your WebTV.
Sorry for the lack of updates lately--I've been very busy with moving and serving jojos for The Man. But as usual, I'm not lying dormant; I'm a musical Mt. St. Helens [10 points for regional reference --Ed.]. In album news, I've been hatching a few more musical eggs for Missing Briefcase ("Hoes," "There May Be A Place," "Waiting While Sleeping," y mas), and I had Mayhaw Hoons finally record his raps on the new age hip-hop tour de force "Still Pushin." In fact, I liked his parts so much that I had to re-record all of my own vocals to rise to the occasion. If there's anything Mayhaw Hoons knows, it's upping the ante. If there's anything he knows even more, it's uppercutting an anteater.
Tritely,
Alex
Shovel these peas up.
July 6, 2007 at 8:08 p.m.
"Bomb Iran" just broke 10,000 views on YouTube! And with 135 comments to date, along with its presence on various political blogs, it has become the stuff of LEGEND. Basically like John Wayne.
In album news, I started recording a song called "Waiting While Sleeping" a few days ago. It is popamatic. Bubble. It features a heaping pile of fuzz bass and Solina. It's the recipe for beautiful mustiness.
Legendarily,
Alex
I see the zombie act you got and how it's messing you up.
July 4, 2007 at 10:36 p.m.
Everything's big in Texas.
June 28, 2007 at 11:01 p.m.
The illustrious and lusterous Casey Jarman at the Willamette Week was apparently so moved by my new video and song "Going Insane For The McCain Campain" that he posted an open letter to me on the WW website. "Listening to it," Casey writes, "was the most painful two minutes and fifty-eight seconds of my life (except that time I sprained my ankle after letting go of a rope swing)." What I find amazing about that is that he was in pain for two minutes and fifty-eight seconds after he sprained his ankle! What are the chances? I think we need to address the synchronicity of that coincidence.
Anyway, thanks to Casey for posting about my song. It seems that "McCain Campaign" accomplished exactly what it set out to do, and for that I giggle maniacally. So if YOU haven't seen that geniusly annoying (or annoyingly genius?) video, please do so now. It's your homework. And today's good deed.
Adam Taylor has a posse!
Frothily,
Alex
I'm chewin' chow mein.
June 23, 2007 at 1:52 p.m.
I made a video for the future Missing Briefcase song "Going Insane For The McCain Campaign." It's kind of a video b-side to "Bomb Iran." Cheggit:
I know it doesn't beat the prairie dog video, but I guess I have to have realistic expectations of myself. AND DON'T FORGET I'm playing at the Main St. Ale House in Gresham tonight at 8 pm. It's 21+. Attend.
~~Alex~~
Don't make me sick while I'm dreaming of hell.
June 22, 2007 at 12:35 a.m.
No spots seen, but the surface lacks luster.
June 18, 2007 at 12:14 a.m.
I've been kind of quiet here the last couple months, but don't think I've been inactive! Noooo! I've been recording constantly, and come up with a few works of genius in the process. This month has seen the recording of "Secret Catastrophe," "Going Insane For The McCain Campaign" and "Pass By Palestine." And also general fine tuning on everything else. I'm really excited for Missing Briefcase. It feels like a leap into the abyss of adventures. Also, don't forget that I'm playing at the Main St. Ale House this Saturday the 23rd! I'm opening for Jackie Swift, and it sounds like it'll be a super duper show. I'm going to jump through flaming portals.
Come.
Fort-like,
Alex
I misheard your inauguration speech.
May 27, 2007 at 8:35 p.m.
Well, there isn't much to update about right now, but I did see Ron Wyden at Fred Meyer today. I figured I should let you know.
Oh, yeah, there's that album thing too. I'm still working on it. So far this month, I've recorded "Still Pushin'" and started "Secret Catastrophe" yesterday. It is starting to feel complete...I feel it in my phalanges.
You gave him ten for two.
May 7, 2007 at 8:35 p.m.
Last month I recorded an in-studio interview and some songs at KPSU for Dave Cusick's Post Modern Rock Show (or, as I like to call it, PO-MO-RO-SHO). Well it was broadcast last Friday and is available NOW as an mp3 at postmodernrock.com. Download it to hear me babble about the late 90s and how I used to try to sing like Robert Smith. It's a stone cold JOY. Thanks to Dave for having me on there--it was rad, as going on KPSU always is.
Aridly,
Alex
If only I could remember anything at all.
May 6, 2007 at 11:00 p.m.
Well! I have yet another review to report, this one for Applewine (remember that, 2006?). The fine folks at music-reviewer.com gave me a great, thoughtful review and a 7/10 rating. Here is a taster:
"This diverse mix of songs proves Arrowsmith is an eclectic songwriter that refuses to be pigeonholed . . . The songwriting is genius."
Click here to read the whole review, then have some crackers and clam dip. Please?
Adverbly,
Alex
Maybe all I wanna do is meet Jeff Gianola.
May 6, 2007 at 9:40 p.m.
A couple of older songs by me (Alien Jump Rope Party and Surgeon) were featured as the Tastes of the Day over at Eartaste. Here's a taster (of the Eartaste):
These two songs do not remind me of zappa except in the aspect that to describe the songs will not ever do them justice. Even sharing the lyrics could give away the whole party. Okay, I'll share a bit – Alien Jump Rope Party begins with a warning of "Siesta and a fiesta on an alien mother ship."
Go to the Eartaste realm to read the rest for yourself. Thanks to Rich at Eartaste for delving into the 2002 me to share some tasty Arrowsmithian morsels for the rest of humanity (except the scientists stationed in Antarctica).
Shirley,
Alex
This lemur is completely out of its mind.
May 4, 2007 at 9:04 p.m.
The Willamette Week's website featured myself today for their "Cut Of The Day"! Not only did Mr. Casey Jarman review "Nuke Song" from my forthcoming album, but he also made mention of my latest YouTube sensation "Bomb Iran." Awwwwwesome! Much thanks to Casey and the Willy Week for the kind words, prepositions, adjectives, sentences and paragraphs! Click here to read.
In Missing Briefcase news, I now have nine songs done. I wrote a couple more in the last week ("Still Pushin'" and "Secret Catastrophe") that I may end up recording. I plan on using my magical musical funnel to tame and temper them onto a hard disk recording machine soon. I may wear elf ears while doing so.
Ghostly,
Alex
You got me hiding in my bunker.
April 21, 2007 at 1:02 p.m.
Yesterday I recorded "Bomb Iran," based on John McCain's recent joke of singing "bomb Iran" to the tune of The Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann." I figured a full version was just begging to be done. I tried to get McCain himself to sing the vocals for me, but he made up some excuse about having to raise money or something for being president...I don't remember exactly, but he was obviously just blowing me off. Whatever; I told him what time it was. Anyway, here's the video on YouTube (click here for the lyrics):
So yeah, do that thing where you tell all your friends and enemies about it. If you have an account on YouTube, please rate it. I wanna be the next Star Wars Kid.
Prehumously,
Alex
He's standing by the peas and carrots.
April 19, 2007 at 9:35 p.m.
I made a flicker show! It's a video for an acoustic version of a new song called "High Speed Chase":
There's an abominable snowman in the market.
April 9, 2007 at 11:28 p.m.
I recorded an in-studio interview and performance for Dave Cusick's Post Modern Rock Show today. It was lots of fun. We bonded over They Might Be Giants. It should be broadcast soon, possibly Friday of next week. It will also be avilable to download as a podcast on his website.
Don't forget to appear at my show at Lewis and Clark College this Thursday! It's at the co-op there. It's cozy times twelve. Come and spread your wild oatmeal.
Alex
You said that irony was the shackles of youth.
April 5, 2007 at 11:11 a.m.
Hey sirs and girls, the PDX Pop Now fest is taking requests for people to play this summer. You should request myself as well as any other favorites (The Shaky Hands, Mondo Hollywood maybe?). Click here to make it happen. I will promise insane tambourine action. Pleeze and thanks you!
In other news, I'm still slowly recording the next record. I have almost 7 songs done. No hurries man, let's just go catch a gnarly curl instead. Oh, and don't forget that I'm playing at the Lewis & Clark College Co-op next Thursday, the 12th. I hope to have Mayhaw Hoons covering the kunga factor again. Last week's show at the Holocene was tons of fun with my backing band, The Rocky Balboa Constrictor (Mayhaw & Osha).
Girly,
Alex
I'll never see that recipe again.
March 23, 2007 at 2:51 p.m.
I have some pretty cool news to report: Sonicbids is featuring me as a Sonicbids Spotlight artist starting next Monday! That means a photo and a link to my EPK will be on their front page for a week. How rad is that? Ten times rad I would say. Or maybe ten to the power of rad? Something...involving math...probably wasn't the best analogy...math isn't my subject...Anyway, it's great exposure, and many thanks to the folks at Sonicbids for choosing me! That's a great site, and indispensible for any independent artist or band or sea mammal.
And don't forget! I'm playing at the Holocene on March 28, next Wednesday!
Superbly,
Alex
Be my flash drive.
March 22, 2007 at 12:51 a.m.
Not too much to update with, but I do have one dripping morsel. I'm playing at the Holocene next Wednesday the 28th. It's somewhat short notice, and I don't know the finer details yet, but it should be a rad show. It's a really cool venue, and it'll be my first time playing there. I'm totally excited. Come and watch me perform capo tricks.
Alex
Busted through you.
March 13, 2007 at 1:36 a.m.
Okay, first things first: I'm excited because my jury duty for tomorrow has been canceled. I know, can you believe it? They DARE summon the great Alex Arrowsmith to sit in a room all day and do crosswords (oh and maybe serve on a jury for a DUI case or something). Believe me, I tried to explain this to them, but apparently being a magical genius isn't good enough. In any case, it was canceled for a lesser reason.
Secondly, I'm (mostly) done recording six songs for Missing Briefcase: "Nuke Song," "The Zaps," "Just Like That," "The Last Generation," "Eternal Return," and "Choke." They're all really solid tunes. Admittedly, I don't actually HAVE a full album's worth of songs yet (good ones anyway), but I only need two or three more and I can totally swing that in the indeterminable amount of time between now and when the album comes out. Next on my list are "Going Insane For The McCain Campaign," "Booby Trap," and mayyyybe "I Am Whelmed." Trust me, wizards and warlocks.
Conversely,
Alex
Low, low, low.
February 24, 2007 at 12:09 a.m.
I'm basically done with three songs for the next album now: "Nuke Song," "The Zaps" and "Just Like That." That album is going to be a musical Subway party platter.
Don't forget, I'm playing at Music Millennium on Sat. March 3!! Come and watch me deliver a 15-piece order of musical chicken.
And if you haven't gotten your filthy hands on a copy of Applewine yet, YOU MUST.
Alex
What's a swimmer?
February 7, 2007 at 11:20 a.m.
Pucknation.com asked me to contribute a list for their The List feature, which can be read here: Top Five Songs Most Often Confused For Love Songs Ever! They're doing a Valentine's Day theme with the lists now, and I'm always game for some rock and roll list-making, so it was pretty much meant to be. Which reminds me...I should probably update my top five albums list one of these days, as I haven't done that for a while. BUT IT'S A SECRET LIST, I'LL NEVER TELL. Unless you give me your after dinner mints.
I don't remember if I mentioned this yet, but I've started recording my next album already. Its tentative title is Missing Briefcase, although that could totally change by the time it comes out (probably sometime in 2008). I have mostly finished "Nuke Song" and am currently working on "The Zaps." I decided to do the album one song at a time this time instead of the assembly line method of the past, since I'm in no hurry to finish it.
If you want to preview "Nuke Song," you can watch a very lo-fi video I made for it on YouTube here. It is a poorly made video, make no mistake about it. But the song is good!
Oozing,
Alex
The singing coffee mug?
January 26, 2007 at 1:54 p.m.
WORD: Pucknation.com just posted their review of Applewine, and they gave it an 8/10 rating! I quoth: "A fun, well-done album from a quirky (possibly genius) pop singer-songwriter." Click here to read the full review. Thanks all y'all at pucknation dot com!
Usually,
Alex
There's a vortex in the place of my throat.
January 26, 2007 at 11:34 a.m.
NEWSHONK: KINK (102 FM) is featuring myself and music from Applewine on their nightly Local Music Spotlight on Monday February 5. They run the segment at 9:20 PM so be near a radio or at least carry some tin foil, so you can hear me ooze out of your speakers and into your ears and cerebral cortex. It is imperitive.
Sometimes,
Alex
I'm keeping an eye on the sun.
January 22, 2007 at 10:09 p.m.
ANOTHER SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm playing at the Lewis & Clark College Co-op on April 12! It's at 8 PM, and it's free. Those shows are always super hot, so don't miss it. And then once you've seen that show, go back in time to March 3 and go to my show at Music Millennium.
The one-two knock out of Borders show last weekend were quite excellent. There was an older fellow named John who couldn't help but dance, all while his wife got her nails done down the way. Alyssa uploaded some videos from her camera of the Eugene show on Friday to YouTube. For some reason, the audio and video get out of sync on a couple of the songs (they weren't like that before she uploaded them), but I'm gonna try some more to fix it.
Alex
Fun likes candy.
January 17, 2007 at 2:50 p.m.
SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT: I'm playing at the NW 23rd Music Millennium on March 3 at 5 PM. Come and watch me summon some unicorns with my songs. You will also be able to buy my new record Applewine if you are totally not hip to it yet. And you want to be if you like musical mazes. Not that Applewine is a musical maze or anything, I'm just saying. And you can browse for box sets of old bluesmen while I play too--how often can you do THAT?
Come.
Mostly,
Alex
Don't need another satellite.
January 5, 2007 at 1:50 a.m.
Ya'll! I just created a new section featuring reviews of my music! Go and read what they're saying about me in the history books. I won't be a comma.
I started recording the next album today. I figure I might as well start now, but I'm not in any kind of hurry. But of course, by the time it actually comes out, I'm going to be even more sick of the songs than I would if I recorded it really quickly. Oh well. I mean sick of it in a weird proud perfectionist sort of way. If that makes any sense (it doesn't). The song I started is "Nuke Song," which I guarantee will be a bona fide HIT for 2008. And if the recent news about North Korea performing another nuclear bomb test soon turns out to be right, there could be "Another Nuke Song." You know you're on thin ice when your muses are CNN and Dr. Phil.
Time to dust the Oscars on my mantle.
Mustily,
Alex
And I dont want to see your mooney mooney face.
January 4, 2007 at 12:01 a.m.
Hey, sorry for the wonkiness that made the site not work here today. Turned out to be something very minor, but you know how those things are. They are headache inducing. Anyway, things should be back to normal now.
And course, the downtime just had to happen on the day that 94.7 FM features me on their weekly Get Local segment! But yes, Squid (sitting in for Jaime Cooley) played "Coldplay Got Eaten By Piranhas" earlier, along with two other Portland area bands. That's super awesome, thanks guys, and especially to Jaime Cooley! Grass-ee-us!
Alex
Liberty Devitto's revenge.
January 2, 2007 at 12:52 a.m.
The indie review site Eartaste just posted their review of "Update Your Blog" from Applewine! And what else? They're posting a couple more reviews of Applewine songs throughout the rest of the week.
Click here to let the prose melt your rusty joints.
Thanks to Eartaste for the support! That's a rad site; it's hard to find an indie review site that prolific.
Alex
Flash boredom.
January 1, 2007 at 5:40 p.m.
Yet another review to kick off the newest of years. Smother.net just posted their review of Applewine (and it's the editor's PICK!). They must be insanely efficient, because I just sent it to them last week. I love them with all of my tooth hairs. Here's a snippet:
"As catchy as the common cold, Alex Arrowsmith reminds you of They Might Be Giants especially on songs like 'Coldplay Got Eaten By Piranhas', which would be wonderful especially if you have to listen to any modern rock radio for more than six hours."
Read the rest here!
Annually,
Alex
And Tony Danza agrees.
December 31, 2006 at 12:23 p.m.
The indie review site Babysue just posted their Applewine review:
Alex Arrowsmith - Applewine (CD, Ectoplasmic, Pop)
Alex Arrowsmith is a man with enormous talent and potential. Currently one of the thousands upon thousands of obscure home recording artists toiling away in obscurity, this man's music stands out because there is substance in his recordings. Instead of merely throwing junk together and calling it music (which is what many underground artists are guilty of doing), Alex has a wonderful sense of melody, is astutely tight on the instruments he plays, and has a great voice. This is the fifth album that Alex has recorded and released. Applewine is full of nice, breezy, smart pop with a definite sense of humor. Although not a perfect album, listening to this CD is like watching a photograph develop...Alex may very well still be searching for his own unique sound and voice. But our instincts tell us that...if he keeps heading in the direction that this album hints at...he will very soon find himself a favorite with fans and reviewers. Our favorite tracks are "Land of Dainty Wonder" and "Corn Dog Shaped Like California." Our hope is that Mr. Arrowsmith will be encouraged...rather than discouraged...by a rating of four plus plus plus...because in creating this month's reviews we tossed quite a large number of CDs while opting to spin and absorb Applewine. Good stuff, well done. (Rating: 4+++)
Sweetness! Thanks Babysue. (I hope they don't mind me reprinting their review here...I'm not quite sure what the etiquette for that kind of thing is? I think it's okay as long as I link back to them?)
Read it on their site here.
Have a good New Year my children.
Yearly,
Alex
Minty oysters.
December 21, 2006 at 10:34 p.m.
I promised some YouTube action, and I have brought it. Mr. Michael Hurd posted the first several songs of the party we played a couple weeks ago. It's not perfect (I blew my voice out from too much singing/yelling before we played...oops!), but it's really rad to see the songs with a three piece rock band. Continuing the band motif is something I hope to do from now on, if only I can get Billy Ocean to sing backup. Click here to see the videos!
Freshly,
Alex
It was worth dealing with customs.
December 10, 2006 at 10:04 p.m.
APPLEWINE REVIEW WATCH: The online music zine CD Reviews By You posted their review of Applewine and gave it a 5/5 rating! Cool stuff. Click here to read it!
Last night I played Naterageous' birthday party, which I normally wouldn't mention here because it was a birthday party and not a public show, but I played a full rock set with Michael Hurd on drums and Tristan Tower on bass, and it ruled. It was great to get away from the acoustic thing for a change. But anyway, the show was videotaped, and will be on Youtube at some point, so keep on eye out for that. Or just check here 10 times a day.
Benfoldsly,
Alex
Where I am essential.
December 6, 2006 at 11:21 a.m.
Applewine is now available on iTunes! Click here to open it in your iTunes program. If you don't have iTunes, you can join the 21st century by downloading it for free from Apple's site. So if you don't want a full CD and just want the "hits" (even though EVERY song on Applewine is a hit), your wishes have now been granted by the Steve Jobs Fairy. All other wishes will be granted by the Bono Fairy.
Futuristically,
Alex
Who is that pear shaped shadow?
December 2, 2006 at 2:50 p.m.
APPLEWINE REVIEW WATCH: Today indie-music.com posted their review of Applewine! It's a good review too. I quoth: "Alex Arrowsmith is quirky, intelligent, and fun, writing playful and often childlike melodies surrounded by jangly guitars and sophisticated pop." Thanks guys!
Click here to read the review!
Superfluously,
Alex
--------------
AFTERNOON UPDATE: Well, when it rains it snows! The Chickenfish Speaks posted their review of Applewine as well:
Alex Arrowsmith - Applewine - CD
(Ectoplasmic Records) Alex Arrowsmith is a singer / songwriter in the vein of Ben Folds, with a very quirky way with lyrics. I guess you could say he even has a touch of Weird Al, which in my opinion is a positive thing. Nice, laid-back college rock with a sense of humour and effortless talent. One of the funniest/quirkiest songs is "Coldplay Got Eaten By Piranhas", which is the singer's bad day made worse when he found out the news that Coldplay got eaten by piranhas. Most of the songs continue on this route, with a few clunkers along the way, but nothing to make me avoid this release. A nice refreshing blast of fun.
-- Grog Mutant (2006)
Click here to read it on the page.
Thanks Grog, wherever you may be!
Not today.
December 1, 2006 at 1:23 p.m.
Last night was the Lewis & Clark show. It was pretty good, but my voice decided to not work very well at all. I don't know what the deal was. Well, "Hold On To The Wolves" was good. That song is always pretty mind-imploding. Here's the set:
Choke, Welcome To The Jungle, Coldplay Got Eaten By Piranhas, Engulf The Manatee, I Am The Ice Age, Nuke Song, New Times And Fire Road, I Can Kill My Enemies With My Mind, Under Your Spell, Hold On To The Wolves, We Didn't Start The Fire, The Shark, Break My Back, All I Have To Do Is Hurt You, Surgeon, Going Insane For The McCain Campaign
More show news: I'm playing at Borders in Eugene on January 19 and Borders in Gresham on January 20. It's a one-two Borders KNOCKOUT. It's going to be more than you can handle.
Alex
Who's that green man.
November 29, 2006 at 12:23 p.m.
Reminder! I'm playing at the Lewis & Clark College Co-op tomorrow at 8pm. It's frrrrree! I've been engineering my set to have the maximum amount of pie filling. You'll love it. Come and experience my musical eggnog.
Alex
The most succinct summary of the human condition: "These go to 11."
November 20, 2006 at 2:53 p.m.
My freaking recording computer is on the fritz! Still! Oh it is times like this that I wish I had a Mac. But instead I get to reinstall windows. I have demos to record already! Jeepers.
In case you haven't noticed, Applewine is waiting for you to pick him up. Please. He can't walk home by himself! Not in this neighborhood! He might get devoured by a cougar...or worse, a disco remix DJ!
Alex
Wake up to a game of Candyland
November 9, 2006 at 5:53 p.m.
The first show of the Get Out The Applewine Blitz is ON! I'm playing at the Lewis & Clark Co-op on Nov. 30 at 8 pm. Last time I played there, it was great. Really cool vibe, good sound, good folken, and coffee to boot. So I will be there with Applewines in hand, playing new hits like "Coldplay Got Eaten By Piranhas," "I Hope You're Never Crushed By Something Heavy," "Under Your Spell" and also "Welcome To The Jungle." And some old songs too. Come and watch me be magical!
Alex
We've gone full rhombus.
November 7, 2006 at 10:41 a.m.
Hello friends and neighbors! Applewine is now out and available on CD Baby for you to cradle and caress in your arms. You can listen to high quality 2-minute samples on the page, so I won't tire my brain trying to think of another pitch line. I do think it's the best thing I've done yet. I'm quite proud of it. It's a great pop album, and I am all about the pop. But it's not boring top 40 pop or anything--it's got some bite. It's fizzy. It has carbonation.
It is only obtainable through CD Baby at the moment, but it will be on iTunes and other download stores in a week or two.
Click here to read more. Please give it an inspection.
Wonderfully,
Alex
P.S. Please vote today! It's kind of really important.
Wait a minute UPS man!
November 2, 2006 at 12:10 a.m.
I received the finished Applewine today! I'm sending them off to CD Baby tomorrow, so they will be available in a few days. I will update as soon as they are. It's a beautiful CD; a far cry from the photocopy art days of yore. I can't wait to spread its wild oats.
--Alex
The Mystic chord.
October 25, 2006 at 1:48 a.m.
If you ever watch the PBS kids' program DragonflyTV, you may want to keep an ear out for my song "I Am The Ice Age"! I learned today that it was briefly featured in an episode called "Los Angeles" last April. The show is not shown in all PBS markets, but I'm sure it's still being played here and there. It seems rather ZOOM-like, which is always a good thing. Are YOU a member of the ZOOM team??
--Alex
Times thine inequity.
October 19, 2006 at 6:48 p.m.
Applewine is currently in the process of having its packaging printed and its master stamp made at the factory in Jersey. Yes, I know this. I've been checking the status online several times a day. I should have the CDs at my doorstep a week from today. Hopefully neither a hobo nor a white baseball-hat wearing jock get to them at my doorstep before I do.
I forgot to mention that you can download "Engulf The Manatee" from Applewine on this very website! It's been over in the free songs box there for a couple weeks now. Maybe you noticed. Please imbibe that with your ears and get ready for the whole pancake, coming so soon.
Alex
Showtime now is getting nearer.
October 18, 2006 at 8:20 p.m.
Hey, I made an RSS feed. There's a live bookmark icon up in the URL box there for you Firefox users. The actual feed is here for those of you that use other methods to read them. Now you can keep up with my updates without leaving your bookmarks! Whoa. Martinis for everyone.
--Alex
Why do they want to see my spine, mommy?
October 17, 2006 at 8:43 p.m.
While I've been waiting for Applewine to be created from things I'll never know, I wrote and recorded demos to eight (8) songs. At least two of them are hits: "Nuke Song" (written while watching too much CNN after North Korea tested their first nuke) and "Love Working Over Time." Good musical notes, you see. But yeah, I should be getting the CDs in my grubby little mitts about a week from tomorrow. And shortly after that, Applewine will be available to order online.
Also, I will be co-recording the second Shaky Hands album along with Nathan Delffs, who has also recorded and played with The Castanets. That will be a fun album to make, like a unicorn party. I swear, homebrewed recordings are the best. WE'RE TAKING THE POWER BACK.
My next album is going to be called Missing Briefcase.
--Alex
Be gentle, Mr. Postman
October 7, 2006 at 11:13 a.m.
Whoa! Complete makeover! Alyssa worked until the wee hours of the morn last night on finishing the new look, and I do think it's aces! Thanks, Wissa. That old design was sooo pre-Katrina. Also, we added Applewine to the catalog, so you can get your first look at it there. You can also download "Engulf The Manatee" from Applewine. It has been rerecorded for the new album, so it is different from the somewhat passed around demo I recorded in spring 2005.
Just last Thursday, I sent everything off to New Jersey for Applewine to be made into a real boy. I should get the CDs back in two or three weeks. And then after that, it is only a matter of days before it is available to the pooblic. Everybody say "wicker basket!" I'm not sure why!
Luverly,
Alex
Finality is good
September 18, 2006 at 11:23 a.m.
Hey. Hello. Hey. Here is the final track listing for Applewine:
1. Plains Of Mostly Still Life
2. Coldplay Got Eaten By Piranhas
3. Fearful Symmetry
4. I Can Kill My Enemies With My Mind
5. Engulf The Manatee
6. Under Your Spell
7. Hills Of The Mind
8. Land Of Dainty Wonder
9. I Hope You're Never Crushed By Something Heavy
10. I Wasn't Meant To Be
11. The Bevel Collector
12. Bugs
13. Update Your Blog
14. Corn Dog Shaped Like California
15. All I Have To Do Is Hurt You
16. Elysium
September 17, 2006 at 8:31 p.m.
Applewine is getting closer and closer to becoming a real boy. But right now Alex is working all angles to make this a release unlike any previous. There's the matter of just getting the artwork squared away, getting everything ready for the factory, promo, various administrative errands, etc. The mixing is pretty much all done though, at least. The finished product should be available in a month or two. You will be the second to know. The first will be the UPS man.
There is a rapper dude called Spuyten Duyvil from the LA area who did a remix/reworking of Alex's song "Rap How I Wanna Rap"! It's called "Gift Rap" and it's on his Myspace site here: myspace.com/spuyten. When you've got not one but TWO dudes who be gotten down on their rap skillz, it makes for some serious West Coast bizniz.
Do ya listen to Ween? That band is fantastic. Alex and I have been listening to them like mad lately. We're finally catching on to them after years of fairweather likingness. The Mollusk is a revolution of the spleen.
Soupily,
The Albatross
August 27, 2006 at 3:18 p.m.
Yesterday Alex played a show in downtown Gresham at the Main St. Ale House. It was a KUPL (yes, the country station) sponsored benefit event. He played a good solid set consisting of flounders, trout and belugas. Here is what was played:
Engulf The Manatee, Coldplay Got Eaten By Piranhas, I Am The Ice Age, Under Your Spell, Real Love, I Can Kill My Enemies With My Mind, Plains Of Mostly Still Life, Break My Back, Bail, Soldier Down, Hold On To The Wolves, Welcome To The Jungle (bit), The Shark, All I Have To Do Is Hurt You
Meanwhile, Alex is still honing the finer points of Applewine, trying out different mastering methods, etc. It's almost done, but in my plumaged opinion, it won't be out for another couple months or so because he is going to get them pressed after all. We will attack any CD that is colored on the bottom. With a rolling pin.
Stubbornly,
The Albatross
August 18, 2006 at 10:58 p.m.
Want a free CD? All you have to do is create an iMix in the iTunes music store with two or more of my songs, and at least 20 votes of 4 stars or more. That's it! It's frigging easy.
If you accomplish this, then just send me the URL of the iMix to thekneebiter@hotmail.com and if it's looking good, I'll send you in the mail one of the four of my albums available on iTunes (your choice, if you have a preference) in all its glory for free. That's it! Just click on the iTunes link in this page to get started.
In other news, I'm almost done with my new album Applewine. It should be available by September or October. I'm not so sure about doing pressed CDs right now though. I crunched the numbers with a large "rock" and concocted all sorts of business "models" and "graphs" and crap with some "flamingos," and it's just not "feasible." Oh well. But who knows, "anything" can still "happen."
Positively,
Alex
No More CD-Rs for You
August 8, 2006 at 11:10 p.m.
The new album is in the mixing stage now! And, well, since I've been informally calling it Applewine since the beginning of the summer and I haven't thought of anything else I like better, it looks like that's the title. It may change though, who knows. Also, Madeline Stevens will be doing the album art. Her style is very homegrown, collagey and mossy, and I think it will be a totally different look from what I usually do.
And that brings up another subject: Not only will the album art be in color this time, but the CDs will be ACTUAL CDs, not CD-Rs. So, if everything goes according to plan, it will be indistinguishable from an actual commercial CD. I've always liked the homemade feel of my products, but I think it's time to take the pro factor up a notch, so more people will actually take it seriously. (What, you mean black and white photocopies of a poorly drawn avian tombstone don't get Jann Wenner begging for more? What about the WHITE ALBUM huh?!) That's the hope anyway. The only problem is that this takes money! Donate to the cause by buying my CDs and songs!! Just pretend I'm a wild-eyed hobo downtown asking for money and a guinea pig. So while the speech part of Applewine is wrapping up fairly soon, the visual aide part of this musical science presentation might take a while longer to get done. Hopefully it'll be out by the end of the year.
Finally, Alyssa has started working on a total redesign of this site. So far it looks super aces, now she just needs to make everything functional. The plan is for the unveiling to coincide with the album release. Woof!
Universally,
Alex
July 18, 2006 at 12:25 a.m.
Dude. The new album is a-coming along. It's happenin. I've been working on vocals intensely the past couple weeks, and so far two or three songs are almost done. But there's still much to do. It is sort of intimidating actually. But luckily, I don't have any sort of deadline or anything, although I would like to have it done by September. I want to do my press kit sending routine while the weather is still nice out, since I have to walk to the post office. But if it's not finished until the winter, then that's just aces. If it does take that long though, I'm going to destroy all igloos. Just saying.
Alex
June 26, 2006 at 9:25 p.m.
It's like freaking 140 degrees here. Al Gore, please help my apartment cool down to a normal temperature. So it's the hottest days of the year so far, and what do I do? Stay in and record the new album. Mostly guitars lately. And tambourine. There's still a lot of work to do, but the songs are starting to sound like songs, so that's always exciting. I hate it when they sound like shovels. But yeah, I've been doing a lot more solos than on past albums it seems, which I totally didn't expect. I kind of blindsided me. The "Under Your Spell" solo is mind-blowing in its torrential downpour. It's like being sucked into a wind tunnel/slip 'n' slide. Wind tunnel...that sounds pretty good right now.
I have a couple of ideas for album titles, including The Earth's Temperature Is Increasing And We Are All Going To Die. I'm not going to tell you the good one yet.
Hot flash: The Upbeat Cafe's podcast is featuring "I Am The Ice Age" this week. I am downloading it right now...you should too (it's on Show 8). They're a venue in Georgetown, Kentucky that likes their indie music, of all types (seems kind of like their version of Portland's Mississippi Pizza). It seems like a pretty super place. If I'm ever in Kentucky, I'm there.
Alex
June 12, 2006 at 1:07 p.m.
What news! The new album recording has begun in earnest. Yesterday I spent all day recording mostly bass, and some acoustic guitar. It's all still very skeletal, but the most developed songs at this point are "Under Your Spell" and "Plains Of Mostly Still Life," because I'm excited about them. I'm going to record more today, with some intense shaker and tambourine action in addition to more guitars. I'm also trying to think of an album title. How about Cousin Larry, Don't Be Ridiculous?
Time for a hipster cool dude moment. I saw a heckubba good band last night. They're called The Waxfire. I went to see my friends The Shaky Hands at the Towne Lounge last night, and these people from Olympia opened. They're just girl vocals, acoustic guitar, cello, piano and drums. They were super tight and at near virtuoso level on their instruments. Good songs too (that's the important part). Their set was...thunderous (hire me, Pitchfork). Definitely not your usual indie band. Especially considering they're from Olympia, home of all your favorite four-track raggedy twee bands.
You know what's way better than air guitar? Air shakers.
--Alex
June 10, 2006 at 5:49 p.m.
Hey, it looks like the guestbook site that supplied my guestbook went belly up. So if you got words (punk), then just send an email to thekneebiter@hotmail.com. No more beer-guzzling emoticons for you.
The Albatross
June 4, 2006 at 7:42 p.m.
The Albatross here with a morsel. Mr. Arrowsmith's musical notes made an appearance on a nationally and internationally syndicated radio show called "A World Of Possibilities." It's a topical program, the current one on oil in West Africa. Well, they played a good chunk of his song "The Oil Fields" from his most recent album The History Of Fishes. This is why it's a good idea to google yourself (Alex in particular)--you find weird tidbits like this. Click here to listen to it--it's at 29:00 into the program.
Alex is again featured in this year's MHCC literary journal, Perceptions. His songs "Engulf The Manatee" and "New Times And Fire Road" are on the accompanying CD. He also played a short set at the reception at the Edgefield last Thursday. Here's what went down:
Engulf The Manatee, I Am The Ice Age, Coldplay Got Eaten By Piranhas, I Can Kill My Enemies With My Mind
Alex has started programming the tubs for the new album, too. Boy, are those some hot MIDI tracks. Blazin. Oh oops you're not supposed to know that the drums are fake. Don't worry, the tambo-urines are real.
Allergic,
The Albatross
May 25, 2006 at 9:36 p.m.
Hey. I'm going to start working on the new album in earnest pretty soon. Who is Earnest anyway? I bet he's pretty important. Well, I have decided on 15 songs that I will record, so there should be that many at the most (one or two might not make the cut). And I'll probably write a good hit or two before it's done too, so there's that factor too. It should be really good. I'm really excited about it. I think it's going to be the best yet, but try telling that to the people who still buy A Bunch Of Songs like it's going out of style (it is). Well, if I'd never heard "The Shark Was Coming At Me But Then It Blew Up" before, I'd nab it right quick too.
I'm still hashing out arrangement and form details right now (and finally nailing down a decent bridge for "Plains Of Mostly Still Life"), but I should start recording next month I'd say. Oh, I'm also playing three songs at the Edgefield McMenamins in Troutdale next Thursday (June 1). It's a reception for the MHCC arts journal thing. I'm on the CD again this year. I think it's free, too. COME.
Alex
May 6, 2006 at 12:49 a.m.
Sorry dudes for the infrequent updates the past couple months. There really hasn't been much in the way of breaking hard news though. I've just been writing and demoing a hell of a lot. I want to make sure that the next album is the best one yet, so I'm writing a huge gaggle of songs and using the best of the best. So it might be a while before the next album comes out...like later on this year. However, I have been thinking of releasing an EP in the meantime, just because it doesn't feel right going so long between albums, and I have a handful of good songs to use for one. The History Of Fishes only came out six months ago, but I already feel like I'm taking too long. But it's for good reason--the next album is gonna be super.
And a vigorous reminder: Wharfless, The Albatross Project, The History Of Fishes and A Bunch of Songs are all available on iTunes now.
--Alex
April 15, 2006 at 4:55 p.m.
Hey, Alex's latest album The History Of Fishes is now on iTunes! Click here to open it in yer iTunes program. Now you can download four freaking albums by this maestro of sound. You can also review them if you have an iTunes account.
Also, Alex has been writing like crazy lately. Lots of hitz being churned out like taffy. The next album is gonna be the burrito.
Really,
The Albatross
March 30, 2006 at 11:38 a.m.
Hey it looks like iTunes just added my A Bunch Of Songs album! Click here to open it in your iTunes program, ace. The History Of Fishes should be added one of these days, too.
Alex
March 22, 2006 at 12:58 p.m.
You all everybody!! I have a treat for yous. I remixed "New Times And Fire Road" today so that it would be a little more polished. It's mostly for my press kit and whatnot. The big difference is in the drums. I also fixed a few other small things here and there, but I doubt anyone would notice any of it but me. It's just that after listening to it for a year or so now, there are those things that annoy the blazes out of me. Anyway, here it is: New Times And Fire Road (New Mix).
Peaches,
Alex
March 15, 2006 at 4:24 p.m.
Looking for a press kit? Click here!!
March 9, 2006 at 10:44 p.m.
Alex Arrowsmith songwriting tip #311: Israeli prime ministers (past and present)--FUNNY.
March 9, 2006 at 9:50 p.m.
The ghost of a new album is starting appear on the horizon, believe it or not. Alex has been recording two full production demos a day for the past several days, including "Coldplay Got Eaten By Piranhas," "Update Your Blog" and "Corn Dog Shaped Like California." So far, the new songs sound like Huey Lewis being tortured in Gitmo with an electric accordion and a feather duster. Everything is sounding especially rad.
We at the HQ are thinking of starting a Podcast. Would there be interest in this? Apparently it's harder than it seems to do everything to the technical specs that iTunes requires for the file formats and everything. Sounds like it would be pretty fun though eh? Let us know what you think on the message board.
Also, if you want Alex to come play in your city, drop us a note so Alex can see if it would be feasible to do a solo tour sometime. The power is in your paws! And your proboscis!!
Squawk,
The Albatross