The album will be officially available on Tuesday, December 18. I'm still waiting to see exactly which online retailers will carry it -- so far, eMusic is definitely on board. In the meantime, you can download or order a CD from the MySpace page.
The PR campaign is also in full swing. My favorite music magazine, The Big Takeover, got a copy several months ago, so they are the first to review it. The following review is published in Big Takeover's issue #61, which comes out this week:
"If New Jersey’s Nutley Brass can give The Ramones and Misfits the horns & brass treatment, and if U2 hits can be “lullabized,” why not compose a cello album comprised of… Jawbox songs? Enter Withers (AKA Trisloth). A few years ago, a smattering of his cello-jacked Jawbox covers made the rounds on the Internet. At the beginning of 2007, Withers re-cut many of the tracks for this collection as a benefit release for Jawbox frontman, J. Robbins, whose infant son Cal was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Even for the most ardent aficionado of classical and/or chamber music, familiarity with the original Jawbox incarnations of these 12 songs (which by the way, span the group’s four albums) is a prerequisite for any genuine appreciation. That aside, this thoughtfully crafted, D.C. punk-related oddity is ultimately for a good cause."
(Definitely check out The Big Takeover -- it's the only magazine I subscribe to and has hundreds of informative reviews and stories in every issue)
Also, look for mini-interviews coming soon in the Washington City Paper, the Boston Phoenix, and BostonNow.
The show at Brooklyn's Union Pool on November 2nd was a blast. It was the first time i had ever played any of the Jawbox cello arrangements with other cellists. Somehow, through the Cello Mafia GrapevineTM, I was hooked up with Brooklynites Isabel Castellvi and Seth Woods, and I also recruited old friend (and former roommate) Jonah Sacks (Chris Brokaw, Dresden Dolls, etc) for the fourth slot. I spent countless nights struggling with Finale music software, and finally sent everyone parts for seven songs at nearly the last minute.
It actually was the last minute when we all met up at Isabel's apartment for the one and only rehearsal. Due entirely to the amazing musicianship and awesome attitudes of my fellow cellists, everything came together perfectly. At Union Pool itself, we were blessed with The Best (and most accommodating) Soundman Ever, who ran around for 45 minutes straight to ensure that four cellists, each with a different amplification style, all sounded great in the small rock club.
The show itself was awesome, and the crowd's response was incredible, especially considering we were the opening act. There is nothing quite like the sound of a live cello ensemble -- so much power and soul all at once. I can't wait to do it again.
The stage was really small, but we all fit! (Photo by J. Nordberg)
l to r: jonah sacks, isabel castellvi, seth woods, gordon withers
