Much like American Bandwagon in 2001 was what came through me living and breathing the back-to-the-land chapter in Texas, here comes What a Time It’s Been. A hopeful celebration of loss and springtime in the fall. It’s what came through me living and breathing the settling in of a new season in life over the past year.

It is dedicated to two friends, Todd and Kent, who I met many years ago and that changed my life and path. Todd died a year ago today, and that’s when these songs started pouring out of me. But it’s a beautiful late fall here in rural northern NY state, the old homestead that’s my new sanctuary is warm and endlessly inspiring, and these songs were recorded in the old farmhouse.

I call the place New Shanti (“New peace”) and somehow the acoustic guitars practically play themselves in here. That’s what this album is mainly, a couple of acoustics and a couple of voices. If it sounds like a couple of songwriters trading songs and playing along, that’s the vibe I was going for because that’s what feels like home no matter where I am or what else I’m going. The wood box, the words out of a notebook, maybe something to sip on.

Like anything I do and put out, I hope it brings something good to your world.

AVAILABLE HERE

What a Time It's Been
I wrote to my friend about the passing of yet another from our old circle of songwriters. “If I sang a song for all our friends, I’d be out there all night” I said. He wrote back “What a time it’s been. We’re starting to fall.” And a month later I was singing one for him. But he’d be the first to say it was worth it to get a song out of it, so here it is!

Find Me in The Song
Where do songwriters go when they die? And the artists and craftsfolk… are we ever really gone? And the ripples of a life lived, of a song sung, find us there.

Goodbye Now
Is it better to say goodbye now or farewell later? I don’t know.

You May Think
All the confidence and bravado in the world doesn’t change that little bit of everything fate takes its way with. And it may only be a part of it - but you don’t know which part of it it’s gonna be. Kinda like hey, 9 out of 10 times it works just fine… but they don’t happen in order.

I'd Rather Slam My Dick In a Window (Than Open The Door For You)
That smarmy old Fuch McCluskie classic, a real masterpiece here given the reverence such a pinnacle of a life’s work so richly deserves.

Good Times
This one’s not from the farmhouse but recorded a long time ago and included here because I sang it for my friend in a shitty apartment in San Marcos, TX years before we were anybody and the dreams worked out different than we’d planned.

Smartass' Lament
You know, it does pose a legitimate question. It used to be so easy to be a little edgy, these days you just about have to be a sociopath.

Heroes and Hometowns

Keep It To Yourself
You want to make your life easier?

Think I'll Aim My Rearview Mirror To The Sky

Time To Go (into Paul's Tune)
A salute to all formerly familiar to me as I age onward trying to patch the holes. I knew I wanted a separate piece of music on the end (what I call to “Layla” a song) so I stitched on a piece that was likely the last music heard by a great man from Oswego. I had written and played it for him in his final hours, and when I recorded it I rolled it ‘til the tape ran out. Because that’s how we fucking ride it in.