tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3339264925177116817.post-42820598437909392008-12-26T12:39:00.000-05:002008-12-26T12:37:14.986-05:00<blockquote>put a quarter in the telescope and you can almost make it out<br />the artspace that they're opening right outside downtown<br />it's going to be our hearts, it's going to be our souls,<br />it's going to take the place of work and church and school<br />if it doesn't get shut down by city council</blockquote><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.craftyrecords.net/stillatwar.cfm">Endless Mike and The Beagle Club - The Incline of Western Civilization</a></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wealsoran.com/music/uploaded_images/emmett-and-mary-709146.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 187px; height: 192px;" src="http://wealsoran.com/music/uploaded_images/emmett-and-mary-709141.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Got a tip the other day to check out one of the newest releases from <a href="http://www.myideaoffun.org/myideaoffun.html">My Idea of Fun</a> records: <a href="http://www.myideaoffun.org/emmettandmary/st.html">S/T by Emmet and Mary</a>. It's...well...it's sort of a post-apocalyptic rock opera. Or at least part of one. It looks like there'll be more to come, if one inspects MIoF's releases page. There's a lyrics transcription that clarifies which character (or group of characters) is singing any given line, which is an absolute must-have if you're to have any chance of following the plot. Even with it, you've got an uphill climb. But, no complaints. It's a fun little record, and if you're looking for something off the beaten path to check out, it might be perfect for you. There are sample mp3's at the link above, if you'd like a taste.<br /><br />What's really striking to me about the project (and many like it coming out of Johnstown) is its ambition. The sheer magnitude of people who were involved in bringing it from concept to reality. My Idea of Fun is, as advertised, an artist collective. If you take a look at the cast, band, cult members (really), etc that put time into making this thing happen, and you happen to also know the names of the people in bands like <a href="http://wealsoran.com/music/labels/Endless_Mike_and_The_Beagle_Club.php">Endless Mike and The Beagle Club</a> and <a href="http://wealsoran.com/music/labels/Elementary_Thought_Process.php">Elementary Thought Process</a>, you'll see familiar names, among a host of others. All of whom, as the name of the label suggests, participate in huge, ambitious projects like this because it is their idea of fun.<br /><br />All these people hang out at <a href="http://www.myideaoffun.org/709/">709 Railroad Street</a>, an art space in Johnstown. From the looks of things from afar, it's really becoming quite a happening. Keep an eye on it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3339264925177116817-4282059843790939?l=wealsoran.com%2Fmusic%2Findex.php'/></div>Mike McClenathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06628601293985540599noreply@blogger.com1