QUAINT EPICNESS There's a few records in my collection that manage to continually inspire me. They do not feature huge, lavish studio production and polish. They are not the product of an extaordinary budget and years of meticulous studio dissection. These albums are small. Understated and perhaps upon first listen, underwhelming. I sometimes refer to these oft-forgotten albums as 'bedroom recordings'. Often because they are precisely that; small albums recorded in one's bedroom. Quaint music of epic grandeur. Here are a few I would recommend checking out if the mood strikes you... Lisa Germano "Geek the Girl" People here in Bloomington know Lisa, or know someone here who knows Lisa. I'd say in the circles our band runs in she is much more famous than local rock god Johnny Cougar. Certainly more respected artistically anyway. Many of us have been trying to figure out which house on Washington St she recorded this gut wrenching classic in. Apparently it was done with an SM57 mic and an ADAT. Very minimal set up. The music within is personal beyond belief. Real skid row stuff and absolutely genuine. Cyrus Rego "Cyrus Rego" So many Texans have mastered the art of blissed-out drone. Here's another one for you. Emperor Jones quietly released this gem back in 1999. Whenever I hear this record I think of massive, all day long tropical rain showers in Mobile. Belong "October Language" This record is so aptly titled. Much sonic treatment that in turn creates un-premeditated melody. These guys are from New Orleans and I know I'm mostly alone on this one...but this sounds so much more to me like the city's soundtrack than say The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. It's all where you are coming from I guess. (more to come) Posted by Dan, Thursday, June 28, 2007

BENEATH THE HOUSE, PLANS ARE MADE We've been weaving through schedules, attempting to play as a seven piece band at the same time, in the same room. All involved are busy, motivated individuals and yet somehow we make it happen. We are good. Donnie and Shelly drove down from Chicago over the weekend and were a joy to share Tibetan meals and 911 calls with. There was a disturbance at the apartment complex o'er the way. Shots were fired and 15 police cruisers appeared, lights ablaze minutes later. Would it be such a bad idea to share some of these fellas with the New Orleans Police Department? I'm happy they show, but do all of them need to be there? Alas. The band: Mark Rice - drums/percussion Daniel Burton - guitar/voice Daun Fields - keyboard/voice John Dawson - guitar Don Mahlmeister - bass Marty Sprowles - guitar/drums Heath Byers - video I think we're ready. The practices have been involved. We are prepared to introduce you to some new music. Posted by Dan, Sunday, January 7, 2007

RABBITS http://www.inlandempirecinema.com/ Posted by Dan, Thursday, December 21, 2006

EUROPE: JAN/FEB 2007 01/16/07 Cremona, Italy - Teatro Monteverdi 01/17/07 Firenze, Italy - Sintetika 01/18/07 Rome, Italy - Circolo degli Artisti 01/20/07 Ravenna, Italy - Bronson 01/23/07 Lyon, France - Le Sirus 01/24/07 Zurich, Switzerland - Ziegel-Oh-Lac 01/25/07 Lausanne, Switzerland - Le Romandie 01/26/07 Paris, France - La Fleche D'Or 01/27/07 Darmstadt, Germany - Oetinger Villa 01/28/07 Berlin, Germany - NBI 01/29/07 Leipzig, Germany - UT Connewitz 01/30/07 Hamburg, Germany - Haus 73 01/31/07 Groningen, Netherlands - Vera 02/02/07 Rouen, France - Emporium Galorium 02/03/07 Utrecht, Netherlands - Ekko 02/04/07 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgigue Posted by Dan, Friday, December 8, 2006

BELONG Go here and buy this album (copy and paste it, alright?) http://www.carparkrecords.com/october.html Posted by Dan, Thursday, November 9, 2006

YEP. That photo didn't work. Maybe next time. Posted by Dan, Thursday, October 26, 2006

MIAMI Posted by Dan, Wednesday, August 30, 2006

A LIGHT OVER A BED Ann Stautberg is gracious. We'd like to thank her for allowing her work, "Bedroom, Houston" to grace the cover of our new album, "Offshore". Check out more equally excellent work by Ann here: www.annstautberg.com Posted by Dan, Friday, June 30, 2006

BECLOUD haze and sun and nowhere left to go. adrift in cycles. the car keeps breaking down so my bike and i cruise through vacant neighborhoods and student ghettos. nowhere left to go in a city of children with no art. Posted by Dan, Tuesday, June 13, 2006

RED RATTLESNAKE Tony, I dreamed the band was practicing and the metal band next door interrupted us with an old Ativin song called "Fish and Potatoes". I was annoyed by the noise and flabbergasted how they even knew the song. It had never been released...and why would they care to even learn it? This gutter punk friend named Nicole was hanging out at practice, and she introduced us to her red rattlesnake. It was striking; stop-sign red with a gap between its human-like teeth. He played his rattle along with our beat like a cocktail shaker (perfectly in time) and we soon fell in love with the little fella. Red rattlesnake joined the band and went on tour. Everyone quickly fell in love with our new identity and 'genre-bending' take on pop music. Later Kim Gordon looked at our new album and said Ann Stautberg's photo was 'new classical'. I was nervous that maybe she was not complimenting us. Any good BBQ in Topeka? Be well, Dan Posted by Dan, Sunday, May 14, 2006

1 OBSERVATION, 1 GENERALIZATION. Observation: In my travels, I have noticed a particular conversational difference that exists between Europeans and Americans. It rears its head when meeting strangers for the first time. Inevitably Americans ask "what do you do for a living?" shortly after introductions are made. Certainly within the first five minutes of conversation. Europeans don't ask. I often wonder if the work I do defines who I am in the eyes of others. I suspect it does in the eyes of most Americans. We love our work. Generalization: To generalize, Americans love the grid system except where suburbs are concerned. I contradict myself; I dislike winding suburbs yet love confusing urban centers. Ultimately I sympathize with Timothy Speed Levitch, tour guide star of the documentary film "The Cruise". "The grid plan emanates from our weaknesses. This layout of avenues and streets in NYC...this system of 90 degree angles is homogenous and puritan in a city where there is only total existence, total cacophony, total flowing of human ethnicities and tribes and beings and gradations of awareness." Posted by Dan, Wednesday, April 5, 2006

THIRTEEN OVENS 1. Site: urbanconservancy.com 2. Record: Glenn Kotche - Mobile (Nonesuch) 3. Cinema: The Sheltering Sky 4. Weather: Snow 5. Book: Train Whistle Guitar 6. Drink: Old Fashioned 7. Band: The Teardrop Explodes 8. Event: The Kentucky Derby 9. Actor: Ed Harris 10. Lunch: One Dozen Louisiana Oysters (raw) 11. Plant: Palmetto 12. City: Barcelona 13. Television: J&B on the Rox (rox.com) Posted by Le Roy, Monday, March 20, 2006

REIGNING MARCH Seven days of hard rain. Basement studio flooded. Smells better down there now. Job application on the kitchen table. Spring break folk left town. Soaking in the calm, enjoying the humid. 70 degree midwestern March eases in and I ponder, will there ever be cold winters 'round here or do we have here a new reality? Posted by Dan, Sunday, March 12, 2006

I, BLOOMINGTONIAN Just returned to Bloomington from my 'sabbatical' in New Orleans. It is cold, grey and slow. Slower than New Orleans. For once I love these qualities. Posted by Dan, Monday, March 6, 2006

PALS I'm lonely. After two weeks of rambling shotgun solitude...Jackie, Mike and Sara drop in and save me. I plan on buying my pals drinks at Pal's. It will be a blessed weekend full of decidedly non-blessed activity. One day I will get the technical prowess to post photos here. I wish I had it now, cause my neighbor just tore his entire house down and put the remains in the street for someone else (city, FEMA?) to pick up. Toilets, wood, walls, shelves, posts, porch in the street. My other neighbor looks at me and says reluctantly.. only in New Orleans, right? Not much music made with all the banging going on.. Posted by Dan, Friday, February 17, 2006

SAZERAC 1 teaspoon of simple syrup (or 1 sugar cube or 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar) 3 - 4 dashes Peychaud's bitters 2 ounces rye whiskey (most New Orleans bars use Old Overholt) 1/4 teaspoon Herbsaint, a New Orleans brand of anise liqueur         (You may use Pernod, or some other pastis or absinthe substitute) Strip of lemon peel Posted by Le Roy, Thursday, February 16, 2006

STATUS UPDATE It's been some time now since I've lived in a place where flowers bloom year-round. It really has been a joy to witness this strange occurance. I holed myself up all day here at the 'hideout' in New Orleans. Put some 'sketches' to tape. The record is coming together in a pleasantly haphazard manner. I've always wanted to make music under these conditions and it is nice to see a few songs take shape. I think a couple of creatively productive weeks lie ahead. An upcoming album, 'Offshore', is slated for a September 2006 release on Secretly Canadian...the project has a few loose ends yet to wrap up, but it's right on schedule which I should say is a nice change of pace for EDM. Essentially we've chosen to re-record, augment, and embellish 'Offshore', a song which appeared on our 2002 album "Let Us Garlands Bring". It's 30 minutes longer now. Posted by Dan, Saturday, February 4, 2006

SHOOT ME OUT THE SKY Everyone should own a copy of Rodan's 'Rusty'. It's the kind of record that makes me proud to be an American. Today, while driving around it dawned on me; 'Rusty' is the perfect soundtrack for this city right now. Angry and beautiful with lots of doom in the air. Rodan were from Louisville. I always say Louisville and New Orleans have a lot in common (I don't think anyone's agreed with me YET on that point but I'm sticking to it). Old and southern, French roots, Derby, Mardi Gras, a slight alcohol problem...I guess it's a discussion for another time. Anyway, 'Rodan' - maybe give 'em a listen sometime if your looking for new tunes. Posted by Le Roy, Monday, January 30, 2006

A SOMA, A TUNDRA, A BROKA Just got back to New Orleans from Chicago. Mixed a new EDM record with John McEntire at his place. To say John did a great job would be quite an understatement. He did a great job. I was able to catch Donny and Shelly's new band, A Tundra at the bottle. They were amazing. Donny's got a great vocal delivery, Shelly rocks the guitar and keys. I can't really tell you what they sound like, it's all very original. And then there was yet another show. Our friend Chris Brokaw fell into town and played an impromptu show with Doug McCombs and Elliot Dicks. Two guitars and a drum set. Solos, rock beats and Dan Armstrong guitars. For a moment it felt like all was right with the world and rock and roll had come back to stay for awhile. Nice dream. Posted by Dan, Thursday, January 26, 2006

NOLA TO CHICAGO IN 2 SECONDS Today I fly to Chicago to mix our upcoming full-length, "Offshore". It's essentially one 40 minute piece. A more succinct, structured and coherent version appears on our 2002 album, "Let Us Garlands Bring". This version on the other hand is completely incoherent and more akin to the numerous arrangements we've performed live over the years. I've always been fond of the song's subject matter... oddly enough the recent number of natural disasters in the Gulf have made the piece fairly relevant these days. For better or worse. Posted by Dan, Friday, January 20, 2006

SLIVER BY THE RIVER So I've moved into my temporary home here in New Orleans. It's in the Riverbend/Uptown/Carrollton part of town. This area, along with the rest of the city that forms the 'crescent' following nearest to the river was recently referred to as the 'sliver by the river' by a local DJ. The rest was fairly devastated by the storm. Sometimes driving around I'm not sure if an area was underwater or not - then a water line appears on a building and you know inside it can't be good. From the interstate East New Orleans is apocalyptic in scope, in appearance. But then you already know all of this. Posted by Dan, Sunday, January 15, 2006

LIME, JALAPENO AND MINT CAIPIRINHA This drink is the best. It's a good summer style drink, perfect for dreary winter months. I'd tell you where I got the recipe but then I'd have to kill you. Cause I'd be embarrased see. Lime, Jalapeno and Mint Caipirinha INGREDIENTS ¥ 1/2 lime ¥ 5 mint leaves ¥ Touch chopped jalapeno ¥ 1-1/2 tablespoons sugar ¥ Ice cubes ¥ Cachaca (sugar cane alcohol) DIRECTIONS Cut lime in slices and place in a large glass.Add mint leaf, jalapeno and sugar. Press well to take out the juice. Add ice and cover with cachaca. Mix well with a spoon, and drink. Posted by Dan, Sunday, January 8, 2006

PACKING FOR NEW ORLEANS Hello, pleased to meet you. My name is Daniel Burton. I'm currently packing, preparing to head down to New Orleans for 2 months to work on some music for the Early Day Miners. I'm essentially packing a studio's worth of gear/equipment into my car, and the process has been arduous. Here's a few verbal snapshot's that hit me while packing up: "Do I take the vent organ?" "I'm leaving the keyboards, I rely on them too much." "This monitor is heavy and big - why don't I have a flatscreen by now?" "Is it bad to dust the inside of my computer?" "Heavy things are funny." "Am I crazy to take all this stuff?" It's been a pretty uneventful day really. Much less hectic than I thought it would be. Probably because I'm procrastinating- tomorrow will be wild I bet. The Bloomington folk gave me an excellent send-off last night. Jackie organized an impromptu get-together at Mark Pi's. We drank quite a bit of their signature drink, "The Scorpion". It's full of rum, brandy, and I guess a citrus juice of some kind - they serve it on fire, one serves four! Posted by Dan, Saturday, January 7, 2006

FLOAT WITH A MASCOT light dances in the leaves pollen on the window laughing, face obscured pavement mask in my hands new paint on the walls tonight i sleep through squalls Posted by Dan,