I just updated the reviews page with a couple of reviews for “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” one from the Portland Mercury and another from Rich at Eartaste. Consider this the overture for the shot heard ’round the world called Public Domain Rainbow, coming out in 2009.

I wrote back in August that I was going to spend all of my caloric intake on writing and recording ONE SONG. Well, I did just that (yet somehow a bunch of those calories still managed to find their way to my midriff). It’s called “Bad Vibrations” (haha!) and it will definitely end up on Public Domain Rainbow. It will blow y’all away. I am always hesitant to make such claims, but I really think it’s a good song. I have spent way more time on this song than pretty much any other song I’ve recorded, and I’ve made sure that every second of it is engaging and radical. It’s not 100% finished yet, but even in its 90% finished state, it pleases me, and I hope you too eventually. Again, I don’t want to set expectations too high, but I just want to say YES, it’s as good as I was hoping for. It should end up being a highlight on PDR.

Parfly,
Alex

I learned today something of grave importance. A new review was posted for Missing Briefcase. I haven’t seen any new reviews of it for a while, so I thought this warranted an otherwise completely unnecessary update.

Read it here and wonder how you ever missed it before.

–Alex

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

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

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

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

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

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