THE WORD IS "OTHERNESS" AND IT HAS BEEN IN TARNISHED VOGUE FOR SOME TIME NOW

To all potential houserobbers, there are four apartments in the greater Chicago area that now hold within their confines the first two tracks (entirely mixed!) of the new (as of yet unnamed) Anathallo record. Cool, right? Eight more to go, a week with The New Amsterdams, a visit to the wonderful world of CMJ, and then back home (with a sporadic Michigan show or two in the future). And that's just the rest of the month!. We officially have our mastering date - December 7th - and then the whole thing will be done. Finally, finally, finally. That's the news, my you-me-go friends.

Whew.

There's a question waiting for us, though (and one we can finally answer):

"HOW IN THE WORLD DID YOU GUYS PAY TO RECORD YOUR ALBUM AT ENGINE STUDIOS?"

Hmmm... well, Floating World was recorded (mainly) in Danny's basement. Hymns was recorded in a Lansing, Michigan apartment. Luminous, Sparrows, and Holiday at the Sea were all put together in a trailer in the middle-of-nowhere Indiana. This was a pretty different experience, huh?

We don't have a label. Tour proceeds turn into rent checks We didn't necessarily want to go to a bank and enter into five figure debt. How DID this happen?

The answer:


I haven't seen the finished commercial yet! But I hear it's running now which means I can tell you about it. We received a phone call in late July with an offer from Vicks. I'm not even sure if the advertisement is for Vaporub or NyQuil... but one of those!... and they asked if we would be willing to let them use 30 seconds from "Yuki, Yuki, Yuki."

I just posted this over at the myspace (it's this new website - have you heard?) but I thought it fit over here, too:

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"There's not too much to say except 'how wonderful,' 'how bizarre,' 'think of Vicks during the upcoming flu season,' and 'in our label-less universe, this one commercial paid for our entire recording.' For real.

No bank loans, no going into debt, no signing with a label we didn't believe in. Instead, cough medicine. The world is full of surprises."

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I really think that's it... I'm still a little burnt out from talking money (anonymous adsense advice will do that) but this is a great thing. A really great thing. We were able to make the record we've always wanted to. There's no pressure that these songs have to sell at all. We could make exactly what we wanted. Again... cough medicine. Who would've thought?

Also: if anyone can somehow capture the commercial to their computer, I know the seven of us would all love to see it. We have the stripped down video but without any music added to it. And if we get a copy, we'll be sure to share it with you.

OKAY! To end with:

WEIRD, WEIRD VIDEOS AND PICTURES. I HOPE THIS IS NOT THE EXPLOITATION OF CULTURES I DON'T UNDERSTAND! BUT HERE GOES.


(on par with the Phil Collins Cadbury Gorilla video, I feel)


(Seth sent this to me)


(thank you, ebay)


(no, really - I am an internet auction KING)

I think that's all! Thanks again for all your recommendations a week back... here is what's still on my list:
Heroes
Top Chef Finale Part 2 (when I can find it on replay SO DON'T RUIN IT FOR ME IN THE COMMENTS!)
The Office
Grey's Anatomy (it was strangely affecting... or I have a convincing lady friend)
Private Practice (never again)
Pushing Daisies (I'm going to watch it tonight!)

I think that's it.

Later alligators.