The Thin Man: Spectres
©2008 Thin Man
Purchase CD/MP3s at CD Baby. Purchase MP3s at iTunes

I sang backups on “The Last Dance” and “Don’t Look Back”

I sang lead on one song (“Songs from a Hotel Bar”) and did backups / extra vocals on two others.

Watch the video for “Sugar Waltz” on YouTube… I sing, but I’m not in the video. But’s it’s a great video. :-)

Description
(which I totally ripped off from Amazon!)

Morning Recordings returns with its second full-length, The Welcome Kinetic, which finds the Pramod Tummala-led ensemble (now including The Coctails’ Barry Phipps as vocalist and multi-instrumentalist) eschewing the intimate monotones of the first record in favor of a broader aural palette. Dub-inflected Latin, underwater Bachrach-ian pop, waltz-time sound collage, and warped ’70s funk are all rendered with a balladeer’s touch. Drag City artist Edith Frost joins the group to sing on three of the tracks, including the bewitching lead vocal on “Songs from a Hotel Bar.” Utilizing a talented group of musicians and eclectic instrumentation (vibraphone, pianos, cellos, horns, tape machine, acoustic and electric bowed metal, upright bass, Japanese table harp, and field recordings), Morning Recordings has created a work that is sonically bold and sweepingly cinematic.

“A time machine to 1975 AM-radio-pop nirvana. Pramod Tummala has a honeyed drawl that’s an ethereal instrument all its own.” — Magnet

“A warm base of guitars, bass, and slowly clocking drums is fleshed out with airy touches of piano, vibraphone, Rhodes, and strings … the result is a gentle lushness. Tummala’s vocals are welcoming and soothing, a match for the Sunday evening serenity of the album’s mood.” — Punk Planet

“Mellow music for laid-back lovers.” — Insound

“With sparse, gentle vocal melodies that evoke the ghost of Elliott Smith on top of intricate but subdued instrumental arrangements, Tummala succeeds in creating a record that is both relaxing and compelling, sort of like Iron & Wine but with organs and harmonium instead of acoustic guitars.” — Pop Culture Press

“Another notable chapter in Chicago’s post-rock scene opus.” — Chicago Free Press

I sang backups (along with Kelly Hogan and Nora O’Connor) on the song “Day in the Life of a Heel”.

More info at Sonny’s…

I sang backups on the songs “Hamstrung and Juvenile”, “Rice Scars” and “Lost Solid Colours”.

I sang backups on the song “Just a Star”.

A very limited edition 180-gsm 12" EP featuring 5 alternate vocal versions of songs that appeared on Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories. I’m doing vocals on Haiku 11 this time, alongside other contributions by Mark Mulcahy, Carla Torgerson and James William Hindle.

SIGMATROPIC: Sixteen Haiku & Other Stories
©2003 Hitch-Hyke (Greece) / Tongue Master (U.K.)
More info • Purchase at Amazon

I did vocals on the track “Haiku 8″. I also sang on “Haiku 1″ which is included on the limited edition bonus disc. Also, my version of “Haiku 4″ is included in the #13 issue of Comes With A Smile magazine (more info). AND, there’s a limited edition 12″ single with yet another track of mine! :-)

Other featured singers include Robert Wyatt, Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab), Alejandro Escovedo, Mark Eitzel, Cat Power, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth), Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate) and many, many more…

The Greek-vocals version of this album was released in 2001 on the Hitch-Hyke label. The international version was released in September 2003 on Hitch-Hyke, and on October 6th on the Tongue Master label (U.K.).

Rather than try to explain the album any further, I’ll copy something from Sigmatropic’s website…

Back in 2001 SIGMATROPIC had the idea to create a sprawling and magical musical trip: a musical accompaniment to an imaginary journey. The album “16 Haiku & Other Stories” is based on the Japanese chopped up poetry style Haiku. But this isn”t just any poetry. This music is based on the work of the great Nobel laureate GEORGE SEFERIS. His Haiku poetry, in which he had adopted in his early life, was an ideal inspiration to a musical adventure that involves all the elements of nature. The wisdom & simplicity of these short poems float around the embracing music in a carefree manner. Anyone that has travelled through the majestic Aegean and experienced the sea and stars will clearly identify with SEFERIS”S colourful observations. AKIS BOYATZIS is the nucleus of SIGMATROPIC and has created an atmospheric musical odyssey that invites this poetry wordplay. His programming skills weave an ethereal spell full of Spartan peaks and bleak terrains. The voiceovers float around like a magic wand spelling out stories about colours, nature and the seasons. The soundtrack “feel” quality of this recording is grainy and mystical and ideally compliments the masterful poetry.

After this album was released in its original format in Greek, early 2002, spurred on with its success, AKIS BOYATZIS stuck his neck out enough to boldly extend an invitation to overseas musicians: to recreate the spirit of this album, retaining the same music with the same poetry translated into English. And thus here is the English version of his original dream. Eighteen vocalists from diverse musical backgrounds and from far flung cities, each choosing and singing their favourite Haiku. Each individual vocal is a sparkling testament that has enriched this international project, which features an outstanding and diverse range of cult alternative vocalists from both sides of the Atlantic, instantly making this one of the greatest albums ever to come out of Greece.

Together with SIGMATROPIC & AKIS BOYATZIS the full guest vocal line up for “16 Haiku & Other Stories” is a truly awesome musical motley crew.

Click here for a full list of invited artists, plus music samples.

Each song has a different guest singer. I sang backups for Sally Timms on the song "Long Black Veil".

All artists’ proceeds benefit the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

Also featuring songs by Tim Rutili (Califone), Dave Alvin (Blasters, Knitters), Kurt Wagner (Lambchop), Otis Clay (smoooth soul singin’ legend), Kelly Hogan, Rico Bell, Chris Mills, Deano (Waco Brothers), English folk heroine Charlotte Greig, Alejandro Escovedo, Rebecca Gates (Spinanes), Rhett Miller (Old 97′s), Rex Hobart, Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), Gurf Morlix, The Meat Purveyors, English folk-rock weirdo genius Kevin Coyne, Jon Rauhouse, a classic track from The Sundowners, and much more.

Kelly Hogan and I did backup vocals all over this record. But there are a LOT of vocals happening, so I’m still trying to figure out exactly which songs I’m on.

Jon Langford and the gang consign songs of murder, mob law, and cruel, cruel punishment to the realm of myth, memory and history.  All artists’ proceeds go to the Illinois Death Penalty Moratorium Project.

Each song has a different guest singer. I did vocals on "Sing Me Back Home," written by Merle Haggard.  Other singers include Steve Earle, Brett Sparks of the Handsome Family, Rosie Flores, Janet Bean of Freakwater, Neko Case, Diane Izzo, Devil In A Woodpile, Sally Timms and Paul Burch.

I did backup vocals on the songs "Gratitude" and "It Could Happen Again"

This is Birddog’s third album.  I sang backups on the song "Rattlesnakes".

Jenny Toomey is the executive director of the Future of Music Coalition.  You’ll also remember her from the band Tsunami, and the label Simple Machines.  This is her first solo record; one disc was recorded in Chicago and the other in Nashville.  I sang backups on some of the Chicago tracks: "Patsy Cline", "Baby Would It Matter", "Word Traffic", "Clear Cut", and "Breezewood, PA".

Featuring original songs and covers performed by Neil Michael Hagerty (Royal Trux), Bill Callahan (Smog) and Edith Frost.

Produced by Neil Michael Hagerty

Band:
Bill Callahan; Edith Frost; Neil Michael Hagerty; Tara Key; Brendan Murphy; Rian Murphy; Jim O’Rourke

With:
Matt Bauder; Jessica Billey; Mark Greenberg; Azita Youssefi

Songs:
Zero Degrees; Charley’s Girl; Texas Dogleg; The Girl on the Billboard; Leaving the Army; Everyday; Nothing Rises to Meet Me; Old Man; N.I.B.; One-Chord Complaint

I sang and wrote two of the original songs on this record, "Leaving The Army" and "One-Chord Complaint", and sang lead on two cover songs, "Charley’s Girl" (a Lou Reed tune) and "Old Man" (by Randy Newman).  I also played acoustic guitar on "The Girl On The Billboard" and "One-Chord Complaint", and did backup vocals on "Texas Dogleg", "Everyday", and "Nothing Rises To Meet Me"

A review by Brian Mock that appeared in the Tucson Weekly on 10/11/2001…

I did backups, along with Carla Torgerson of the Walkabouts, on almost all the songs.  A slightly different version was released in Europe on Glitterhouse, on September 25, 2000.

Reviews:

"With last year’s Mojave, Willard Grant Conspiracy solidified its reputation as one of the major comers in a second wave of alt-country that champions story and literate wit in song as much as it does straw cowboy hats and Tecate. On Everything’s Fine, the Conspiracy continues with an 11-song steamroller of confused hearts, pretty guitars and the kind of bittersweet jubilance that has already made the band such a critic’s favorite. Here the group makes the most of its expanded lineup, for a lushness that rivals even that of Lampchop, and anchored, as always, by Robert Fisher’s husky reveries. (Edith Frost fans listen close: She’s in there, too.) With just a few albums under their belt, the members of Willard Grant Conspiracy come off with the weary charm of old pros as they quietly but self-assuredly build a catalog of unbelievably honest American music." (CMJ)

"�’Everything’s Fine" is a majestic affair, the first WGC album where Fisher and guitarist Paul Austin’s frequently epic vision fully translates into a concrete song-cycle, a holistic masterpiece as opposed to the episodic collected sketches comprising its predecessors." (Uncut)

I did backup vocals on the songs "Breakout", "For a Friend", "Elephant Candy", and "What Do You Want The Girl To Do".  I may be on others as well. The lead singer of Chestnut Station is my old friend Rian Murphy, who also produced my records Calling Over Time, Love is Real and Wonder Wonder.

I did backups, along with Carla Torgerson of the Walkabouts, on almost all the songs.  This is the European version — a slightly different version was released in the U.S. on February 20, 2001 on Slow River / Rykodisc.

Reviews:

"With last year’s Mojave, Willard Grant Conspiracy solidified its reputation as one of the major comers in a second wave of alt-country that champions story and literate wit in song as much as it does straw cowboy hats and Tecate. On Everything’s Fine, the Conspiracy continues with an 11-song steamroller of confused hearts, pretty guitars and the kind of bittersweet jubilance that has already made the band such a critic’s favorite. Here the group makes the most of its expanded lineup, for a lushness that rivals even that of Lampchop, and anchored, as always, by Robert Fisher’s husky reveries. (Edith Frost fans listen close: She’s in there, too.) With just a few albums under their belt, the members of Willard Grant Conspiracy come off with the weary charm of old pros as they quietly but self-assuredly build a catalog of unbelievably honest American music." (CMJ)

"Everything’s Fine" is a majestic affair, the first WGC album where Fisher and guitarist Paul Austin’s frequently epic vision fully translates into a concrete song-cycle, a holistic masterpiece as opposed to the episodic collected sketches comprising its predecessors." (Uncut)

This is a four-song 12" EP / CD-EP.  I did backups on all 4 songs, along with a whole bunch of other singers like Bill Callahan (Smog), Kelly Hogan, Archer Prewitt, and Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab).

A review by Jeff DeRoche which appeared in the 9/14/2000 issue of The Stranger (Seattle, WA)…

I did backup vocals on the songs "Papa Was A Rodeo" and "Whispering Pines"

I did some backup vocals, along with Neko Case and Kelly Hogan, on the following songs (I think!): "Myth", "City of London", "Cast No Shadows", "Something to be Scared Of" and "Last Night on Earth," which is available as an MP3 on Epitonic.