12 Questions with Michael Penn

Posted by Spencer on Apr 26, 2007 in Music | 5658 commentshttp://www.iamspencer.com/2007/04/26/12-questions-with-michael-penn/12+Questions+with+Michael+Penn2007-04-26+18%3A57%3A38Spencer

With acclaimed singer/songwriters Michael Penn currently touring (at the World Cafe on Friday, April 27) to support his new album Palms and Runes, Tarot and Tea: A Michael Penn Collection., Michael gladly answered a few of my silly questions.

What are you reading, listening to, and watching these days
I just re-read Alan Moore’s “From Hell”, listening to a lot of tango, watching Intervention.

Cat person or dog person?
Dogs are great pets. It’s as if they are programmed to show unconditional love, like they have little to no free will of their own. I’m a cat person.

What about the music industry excites you?

First is that the music industry is in such a massive tumble that I think it is bound to crush all the people doing it just for dough. No dough no more.

And the other thing is that some of the same technology that has contributed to the tumble is a godsend, the corporations don’t have the only printing press. So I am attracted to all the creative potential that provides.

A few years ago you said that any musician going into the music industry should learn HTML – care to revise?

Only to say that I would add Flash and any other protocol used on the internet. My point was “learn the tools”…that if you got creative with your website, or using mySpace or whatever…it was no different hat designing one’s own album cover.

But the main dilemma remains for people who do what I do for a living. We don’t make things anymore. We used to lock our waveforms inside something.

If I forced you to listen to one of your albums – which would you choose?
It will always be the last one.

Coffee or Tea?
One very large iced coffee in the morning. Black tea the rest of the day. Usually.

What should someone expect from seeing you live?
Me doing my best…getting along. Trying to stay out of trouble, trying to make a bit of a difference, quit smoking…oh…LIVE….

What’s it like being married to another musician/songwriter?
Wonderful.

East coast or West coast?
Only one of those two choices is the home of The Museum Of Jurassic Technology

We win.

What’s the hardest thing for you to do or accept as a musician?
Hmmm. I’m not sure. I wish I was more prolific, I wish the things I hear in my head could translate to my fingers with less effort, but acceptance of the things I can’t change is getting easier.

Sushi or Pizza?
either/or

What should we expect from you next?
Another bunch of songs, probably another score this year. But in the shorter term I want to keep the new web site active and get out and play live as much as I can.

Michael Penn will be playing at World Cafe Live on Friday, April 27 with The Last Town Chorus.

Michael Penn Interview

Posted by Spencer on Apr 14, 2007 in Music | 5621 commenthttp://www.iamspencer.com/2007/04/14/michael-penn-interview/Michael+Penn+Interview2007-04-14+04%3A01%3A40Spencer

Here’s a great interview of Michael Penn on Bloc Critics in advance of Palms and Runes, Tarot and Tea: A Michael Penn Collection and Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947 released this coming Tuesday.

 Interview with Michael Penn

Michael Penn update: Palms & Runes; MH 1947; new website; touring

Posted by Spencer on Mar 8, 2007 in Music | 5431 commenthttp://www.iamspencer.com/2007/03/08/michael-penn-update-palms-mh-1947-new-website-touring/Michael+Penn+update%3A+Palms+%26+Runes%3B+MH+1947%3B+new+website%3B+touring2007-03-09+00%3A02%3A20Spencer

The album will be available on April 17 and is already available on Amazon. I just got a copy of the artwork which you can see here. On the same day Sony/Legacy will be releasing a remastered version of Michael Penn’s 2005 release Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947. I’m hearing that the remastering is amazing – so add that to your shopping list too.

Couple of other notes:

• Michael is currently on tour. Keep an eye at his website or on Last.fm for tour info
• Michael’s website has been updated and is brand spankin’ new – keep coming back, there’ll be changes

Palms & Runes Tarot & Tea: Michael Penn Collection

Michael Penn Greatest Hits – Palms and Runes, Tarot and Tea

Posted by Spencer on Jan 23, 2007 in Music | 5107 commentshttp://www.iamspencer.com/2007/01/23/michael-penn-greatest-hits-palms-and-runes-tarot-and-tea/Michael+Penn+Greatest+Hits+-+Palms+and+Runes%2C+Tarot+and+Tea2007-01-24+03%3A48%3A56Spencer

Breaking news

There will be a new collection of Michael Penn music tentatively scheduled for release 3/27/2007 4/17/2007 on Sony/BMG labels. I’ve been fortunate enough to hear the CD and will say that it is worth buying these songs again even if you have all of Michael’s work. The reworked tracks are worth the price – and since all of the tracks have been remastered, the old songs sound new and vibrant.

And for the most of you that don’t know who Michael Penn is, this is an excellent chance to find out about one of the best singer songwriters around today.

Here is track listing:

Lucky One (Version One) (Previously Unreleased)
Bunker Hill (New Version) (Previously Unreleased)
Out Of My Hands
Cupid’s Got A Brand New Gun (New Vers.) (Previously Unreleased)
Coal
Try (Alt. Vers.) (Previously Unreleased)
No Myth
Barely A Sound (Instrumental) (Previously Unreleased)
Don’t Let Me Go
All That That Implies
Whole Truth
Brave New World
Me Around (Demo) (Previously Unreleased)
Long Way Down (Look What The Cat Drug In) (New Version) (Previously
Unreleased)
Macy Day Parade
Figment
Bucket Brigade
I Can Tell
Walter Reed
Opening (From The Film, “Melvin Goes To Dinner) (Previously Unreleased)

Michael Penn song on House tonight

Posted by Spencer on Oct 31, 2006 in Music | 4211 commenthttp://www.iamspencer.com/2006/10/31/michael-penn-song-on-house-tonight/Michael+Penn+song+on+House+tonight2006-10-31+13%3A00%3A09Spencer

On tonight’s episode of House on Fox look for the song “Walter Reed” from Michael Penn’s fifth album Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947.

Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947 (Amazon)