Smooth

OTGDY

Yet another song about alienation and the search for meaning.  This one was a little more light-hearted, but I think I needed to lighten up.

Purpose

Not really about anything in particular - I just thought the piano part was cool.

Shake!

Written by Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello, this great tune first appeared on Costello's ARMED FORCES in a heavier, more upbeat form.  I would close shows live with it just with piano and voice and people liked it, so I juiced it up with some background vocals and put it on the album.

What's So Funny (About Peace, Love,

Written on the sail dock at about 2AM in 1987, this is the original version, which sounds a little slower than I wanted, but it sure did its thing.  There's nothing like a chorus of 400 singing a song that you wrote.  Thanks Howie and Kathie for the summers.

(I Wanna Go Back To) Tamarack

Asserting my views against pretty much everything mainstream and overly moral.  Ahhh, to be young and naive again.

Bad Is Best

I think this one is a underrated gem.  Contains the most innovative chord progression I ever tried and some pretty great lyrics about crap on TV.

Closer To Prime Time

My nemesis.  This was the most popular and requested song I ever wrote and I never liked it that much.  But then, I was never a very good judge of anything I'd written, so eventually it grew on me.  Duets are always fun.  Thanks to BB (now BD!) for the vocals.

Shael Risman

Popular tracks