An Important Announcement

After much thought, I have decided to no longer continue The Blue Rhonda. Since early high school, I have had a blast writing and performing catchy pop songs under that moniker, and have played with some really great musicians. Yet for a number of reasons, I can't continue the band.

I started the band in high school with my best friend Pat. The two of us played a lot of shows, and really had a strong fanbase. At first we were an acoustic duo, but then expanded to a full band, playing larger clubs and venues. After several failed attempts at releasing an album, college came. We found ourselves in two different cities, and unable to continue playing together. Wanting to continue playing the songs I had written and grown attached to, I continued playing under the name, both solo and with a full band. I continued writing new music in the same style and approach, and has set on continuing what Pat and I had started in high school.

After meeting Noah, Rodney, and Joe at Berklee, we realized that we had a great chemistry playing the songs, and I felt The Blue Rhonda could continue as that band. We played great shows, shot a music video, and were offered a record contract to record an album. Over the course of nearly a year, we recorded the album that would be called, "Black Marigolds." Unwilling to part with the songs I had written in high school, the album only featured 3 songs I had written in college. The rest dated far earlier, even as far back as when I was 13. We released the album online, and it saw steady downloads and slight buzz while I was living in Los Angeles.

However, as a writer, I no longer write or produce in that style. My tendencies have developed into other styles. I cannot continue to pursue something that was started in high school. Honestly, it has never felt right since the core duo of Pat and myself went our separate ways. The Blue Rhonda should have ended then, but I was too attached to the songs.

I am in no way finished with music. I'm halfway finished recording an album of new material. It will be released under a new name, and I'm extremely proud of it. I'm also producing records for other artists, and well as composing for businesses.

You can hear one of the songs from the upcoming album on my website:

www.crookedwords.com

I sincerely thank you for the support you have given The Blue Rhonda, and truly appreciate all of the great people with were able to play for over the years. Thank you for listening.

Love, Among Other Things,

Glenn

Copeland - "Eat, Sleep, Repeat"

Someone recently asked me what my favorite album of all time was. I think its an awesome question. While its often difficult to pick just one band or artist to call your favorite, an album has the ability to influence and inspire you in a personal way, without its creator necessarily earning the title of favorite band as well. For me, the requirements I had were that a) I had to grow up in the time when the album was released, enabling me to be a part of the cultural climate in which the album was both created and released amid, and b) the album had to be perfectly crafted, not having any songs I would skip, and being cohesive the entire way through.

With that said, my favorite album of all time is Copeland's "Eat, Sleep, Repeat." Their major-label debut on Columbia before its collapse, Copeland released this album in October of 2006, on the heels of their successful album, "In Motion." For Copeland, "Eat, Sleep, Repeat," was a departure from their forward, alternative pop rock sound that brought them notoriety. The album features lush string arrangement, ethereal production, and many studio-based elements such as a mellotron (the haunting instrument in the background of The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever") and piano reversals (done by digitally reversing a section of a recording to create an unnatural sound pattern).

From the first ghostly xylophone notes of the opening track, Copeland creates a beautiful listening experience. The songwriting is their strongest yet, and frontman Aaron Marsh's voice settles into a sweeping high range that maintains a forlorn, wistful tone. The band's arrangements are stunning: the drum parts are creative and driving, the lead guitar is piercing and expressive, and the string, horn, and effects arrangements are sonic gold.

This is not an album to miss. From start to finish, Copeland's "Eat, Sleep, Repeat," is an incredible testament to the seemingly lost art of creating a cohesive, great album.

Here is the single from the album, titled 'Control Freak.'

-Glenn

What's your favorite album?

Introducing: "Black Marigolds" The Debut Album

The day is here: Black Marigolds is finished!!

I can't tell you how excited and proud I am. So many people worked extremely hard to make this album possible, and I'm humbled by all of their talent and drive. We began recording this album in August of 2009, and finished recording in June of 2010. It was mixed and mastered over the last several months.

These songs were written over a period of 7 years, and I am blessed to finally be able to release them.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this album, as well as everyone who continues to listen. You mean the world to me.

Love,
Glenn


You can pick up the album on iTunes or name your price (including Free) on Bandcamp.

Specific Thanks in No Particular Order: Mike Moschetto, Rodney Bush, Noah Bartfield, Joe Welch, David B. Weaver, Will Van Beckum, Tom Kendzia,Pat Swoboda, DJ Emoh Bettah, Joseph Hebert, Nils Montan, Mary Carol Kendzia, Paula Wolak, Graham Goldman, Sydney Manning, Wax on Felt, WERS, Lily Jeong, and so many more. (If I have forgotten a specific name, you reserve the right to forgive me and hit me with a bowstaff.)

NEW ALBUM PREVIEW!

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Black Marigold's Production Snippet