(Sunday Paper, Year IV, Issue 10)

I really wanted to tell you about my office.

It’s coming along wonderfully, it’s almost 100% complete, and it’s complete enough that I was able to work in it all week.

But something even more exciting that I like even more came along this week and, well, telling you about my office is just going to have to wait.

Because this week my brother put out his new album.

And we’re going to have to talk about it.

I hope maybe you’ve given the album a listen by now.

Or at least a song or two.

Goodness knows, if you follow my brother on social media at all, you’ve certainly had your share of opportunities.

See, with this album he released a couple of songs at a time for the past few months…and then on Tuesday he dropped the rest of it. (I know. I don’t love that I just used the word ‘dropped’ either. But that’s what happened. I am not even trying to be hip.) (Oof. I know. I did it again with ‘hip.’)

His strategy, which he’s talked about in interviews and in person when I pester him about his strategies, is that people’s listening habits are changing and it was an effort to help get his songs to listeners. I think that captures the spirit of what he was trying to do.

But, other than a listen here or there from Kathy’s downloads (and having heard live performances of some of the songs), I didn’t dive in to the songs with that strategy. My listening habits, like so much else in my life, don’t change. You’re putting out an album? I will listen to the album.

So Tuesday was cool because I listened to everything together.

And it was so good.

Here’s an annoying thing about me and pieces of art. Sometimes I’ll look at something or hear something or watch a performance and think, “Eh. I could probably do that.” And that’s a (maybe stupid) way I can tell if I’m impressed by something or not.

Not the only way, mind you. But it’s something.

Often music impresses me because I know I probably couldn’t do that. (I can’t sing. I play one instrument and don’t play it particularly well. And I don’t have a great sense of rhythm. But enough about me.)

With this album I was simply blown away by how Matt did that.

Sure, I was impressed with the music. But I was also impressed by the writing.

I used to fancy myself a poetic wordsmith…but I think I’ve lost all poetic abilities.

The writing on Thousand Dollar Dinners is just so clever and beautiful and every time I listen I pick up on something and can’t wait to pester Matt about it.

(I’ve already texted to ask if he meant to sound like Tom Petty on a particular song and I was proud that I identified it when he confirmed that was the case. And I told him I was happy I could make his album about me…which apparently I’m continuing to do today.)

I just think it’s such a great work of art and if you visit his website you can find all the information you need about how to get the album.

I can’t recommend it highly enough.

I used to think, every time Matt put out new music, “This has to get on the radio! He needs to be famous!” I still feel that way, truth be told - I just want this music to be heard by as many people as possible. So I try to tell as many people as possible about the music, because I do believe it is that good and it’s not just me thinking that as his brother.

I don’t get so hung up on the radio thing anymore because he’s never been hung up on that. He always talks about how happy he is just playing his songs to appreciative audiences.

And I’m happy with that because I just want him to be happy.

Even though I sure do love the music he writes when he’s sad.

Notes

*Since that was all about ‘What I’ve Been Enjoying’ we’re going to break format this week and jump right into the Notes. (I touched on the writing - used the office, complimented my brother’s writing - and Kathy was away so there was hardly any comedy to speak of but I’ll touch on what happened and what’s coming up further down in the Notes here.)

*I learned this week that the NCAA Tournament starts insanely late this year - Selection Sunday is on Saint Patrick’s Day. I can’t ever remember it being that late and I have yet to figure out why…and it doesn’t seem like the tournament ends much later than it usually does and I can’t figure out what makes this calendar year different and it’s kind of driving me nuts. But it’s been so busy lately and the weeks are just flying by so it’ll be here before you know it so I guess it doesn’t make much of a difference.

*Matt’s album kicked off a great few months of releases by artists I love: Him, Sara Bareilles in April, and Vampire Weekend in May.

*Are the weeks flying by for you too? I can’t believe how fast one Sunday comes after the next. I guess I’ll be telling you about the office next week…and still to come in March are a TBD topic and THE CRAZIEST THING I‘VE DONE AS A PARENT TO DATE! That one will be fun to write about.

*If you want to keep tabs on me on social media (and maybe catch wind of the exciting stuff I’m hinting at above before I write about it here) you can Like the Facebook page or follow me on Twitter.

*Last night was the latest installment of Comedy Night at Exhibit ‘A’. It was another sellout, another funny lineup. These shows are so much fun for me and it gives me a reason to look forward to the second Saturday of every month….not that I wouldn’t otherwise, I guess. But it gives me more of a reason to look forward to the second Saturday of every month, I guess.

*Tickets for the April show are on sale as of today (though I’ve been wrong about that before). Here’s the link if you want to buy tickets now…not a bad idea if you want to see the show. They just keep selling out. I’ve put your first look at this month’s poster below too.

*Fun week ahead - Tuesday is McGreevy’s, I’m at Osaka in Brookline on Thursday, then The Comedy Studio all weekend. There’s two shows Friday and two shows Saturday - both days 7pm and 9:30pm. This is my first weekend at the new place and I can’t wait. They should be great shows and if you’ve been wondering where to come out and see me….those are great ones to come out to. Ticket info at the ‘Comedy Shows’ link at the top of the page.

*Here’s the poster for the next show…remember these are done by my friend who works as ‘Still Dead Illustrations’ and I love how she works in the Exhibit ‘A’ beers with the comedy show info. We might be switching things up as the show continues but I always look forward to what the next month brings: