Well, well, well. Look what we have here. I just added a few songs to the mix that I had originally recorded way back in February as part of the 2007 RPM Challenge that I so boldly accepted. After finishing the recordings at the time, I could tell that some sounded clearer than others. My best guess is that the difference is due to the use of a new and better mic on the last four tracks that I recorded. Either that or I was playing my guitar backwards again. But seeing as how February is the shortest month of the year, I just plain ran out of time to do anything about it then.

But then May came. And with it came the end of a two-year joyride that I call grad school, which was totally worth it. But I can now strum my guitar a little easier knowing there is not a substantial research paper I have to get back to. Yes, there's a little job search that's on my mind these days, which is all kinds of fun. But there's also music. And since I'm not really playing out and about right now, it feels like a good time to put back on my recording hat and my adventure socks.

First on my to-do list: re-record four of those "terrible" February tracks. Yes, from scratch. Considering I know oh so little about this recording thang, I didn't have much of a choice. But what I do have is a mighty cajon. Yes, a cajon (pronounced "ka-hown", I think). You can probably find a description on wikipedia, but basically it's a wooden box that you can sit on and slap/smack/pound with your two hands. Is it better than the phone book and wooden stool that I was using on those February recordings? Yes, indeed. Muchisimo. I've just got to learn how to play it, since I ain't no drummer. So I'm just going to go for it like I did in the old days. If you listen carefully, you just might find some of that mighty cajon-thumpin in a few of these re-recorded tracks.

So enjoy: if you were an oatmeal cream pie, lookout mtn burns, dear hiro and save my life. They are just a bunch of rough demos, but that's pretty much just how I roll. But at least they sound better than the songs I recorded on a little boombox in high school. Those early tapes, which include me belting out lots of killer pearl jam songs, hopefully will soon appear on ebay to be auctioned off for a lofty sum so that I can help pay for my new M.A. degree. Start saving now to make your bid. They, like my mighty cajon, are truly precious treasures.