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

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

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

“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’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

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.