tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80154308227216598352023-11-15T22:30:44.492-08:00black tape for a blue girlThe blog for Sam Rosenthal of the band Black tape for a blue girl. https://www.facebook.com/SamProjektSam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-5038208075699906182019-10-04T07:58:00.001-07:002019-10-04T07:58:13.872-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ashes in the brittle air - 2CD/LP 30th anniversary expanded edition</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Check out <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girls-ashes-in-the-brittle-air-30th?ref=1r66la" target="_blank">the Kickstarter</a> for the remastered expanded edition of 1989's <b>Ashes in the brittle air</b>. The remastering sounds amazing! Oscar and Sue’s vocals are much more present, you can hear elements in the music once lost in the reverb — yet it retains that dreamy, romantic quality I remember from the 80’s. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Your pledges are the lifeblood that funds this release. Every contribution is important — whether you give $3 or $299! Kickstarter is all or nothing; we need to pass the $9000 goal for the campaign to succeed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The album is available as an immediate free download at Bandcamp.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The CD and digital version include 21 bonus tracks. People often email me and mention that <b>Ashes</b> was the first time they heard my band. I love reading those stories of your emotional and personal connection to these tracks and those times; how the music was there for you during a crisis, or break up, or loss. I’m really happy that I can give you 6 additional never-before-heard songs from the era. The bonus tracks are a time capsule of that specific 80s lush, ethereal BlackTape sound.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I cannot go back to 1989 to write more pieces like I would have written them then. However I can bring these songs out of obscurity, pulling them off the 8-track multi-track tape for you! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you can spare it, please <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girls-ashes-in-the-brittle-air-30th?ref=1r66la" target="_blank">visit the Kickstarter crowdfunding page</a> and make a pledge. Thanks so much.</span></div>
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Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-10162508968422738522019-02-22T16:19:00.000-08:002019-02-22T16:25:58.486-08:00The Gesture of History | Sam with Nick Shadow & Steve Roach<img src="http://www.blacktapeforabluegirl.com/wp-content/uploads/KICK-TOPL.jpg" width="500" />
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<strong>The Gesture of History</strong> draws upon introspective passages where the organic texture and emotions of the viola play out over an atmosphere of engulfing mournful beauty. Delicate strings float upon shimmering, forever changing expressionistic backgrounds of processed viola, synth, and harmonium – sensitive and deeply moving. The modernist ambient compositions balance on the precipice, looking back in moments of reflection and rumination, while delicately holding the future in our hands.
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There’s 2 weeks to go on my crowdfunding campaign for <strong><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/the-gesture-of-history-cd-lp?ref=bq307m" target="blank">The Gesture of History</a></strong>, an ambient collaboration I created with violist Nick Shadow and synthesist Steve Roach. You can pledge to make this CD/LP exist. Backing there is sort of like preOrdering, it’s a lot like being a patron of the art. Your contribution goes to manufacture the LP (black or gold), the CD, a royalty for Steve and Shadow, mastering costs, shipping supplies, the fees, etc.
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<i>Hi Sam, I pledged <strong><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/the-gesture-of-history-cd-lp?ref=bq307m" target="blank">The Gesture of History</a></strong>. It's not much, but you and your projects have given me a lot of pleasure over the years. So this was a no-brainer and the right thing to do. Good luck from New Zealand, Paul </i>
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Hey Paul, $20 is still $20! It moves the campaign closer to the goal, so it's very helpful. Best, - Sam
<i><br /><br />I’ve been following your work and your Projekt roster since the late 80s. The music world is in such disarray at the minute – it’s all image over substance and production over talent. We need you now more than ever! - Paul
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Ha! I think there's always been a faction of the music world that was image over substance (ie: much of MTV in the 80s, all the bad California bands in the 70s). But I know what you mean, and I appreciate it. - Sam
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Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-34084604881507932002018-06-05T12:52:00.000-07:002018-06-05T12:52:43.624-07:00Crowdfunding final hours. Thanks for your interest in my workThere's 7+ hours to go in <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-to-touch-the-milky-way?ref=15x510" rel="noopener" target="_blank">the crowdfunding campaign</a> for Black Tape For A Blue Girl's <strong>To touch the milky way</strong>. 238 amazing people have said, "Yeah, I like the music Sam creates. I wanna be part of the team that makes this new album happen!" That's remarkable! I'm very grateful.
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I posted <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-to-touch-the-milky-way/posts/2205185" rel="noopener" target="_blank">an update yesterday</a> — "Connection + Gender" — replying to messages from two backers. David spoke about my music being part of his life during High School in the 90s. He wrote, "Black Tape’s music was different, but fit right in and helped during those moments of loneliness I felt regularly."
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I'm so glad that the music was there for you, David.
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Sometimes, when I'm down, I grumble about life, the universe and everything. Just today, Mercy reminded me, "You create music that people around the world connect to! You're doing something, you're making a positive difference. That's not something a lot of people can say."
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Reading your messages — and seeing that my music was there for you when you needed it, that it's made a positive difference — that's really special to me. And now we create a cycle: you come back and pledge some of your scarce resources to help me make more of the music. Wow! Gotta say it can be a great world, when people work towards enriching and positive ends.
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1lgUaU7rOp6ne_kYsYRYnI0LnM17ayTifz-Btw4ZPVY0xwtAtfTNnNeCf76TvqRjAt4r-BnFpvBnmpp51_IruntYRrzLnY6gPCQDvXtNZFQuPRUXLQqIQ1gEGBbJLdn7EvUJkCQLoYaf/s320/_8854.jpg" width="600" data-original-width="1000" data-original-height="667" />
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The <strong>To touch the milky way</strong> <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-to-touch-the-milky-way?ref=15x510" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> has 7+ hours left to go. 3 more pledges for the CD DELUXE or LP DELUXE package, and we've made it! We can do it. You can do it! Thanks to everyone so much for caring.
Sam
Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-20966316492525760352018-05-29T21:19:00.002-07:002018-05-29T21:24:42.864-07:00Black Tape For A Blue Girl: To touch the milky way<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1527653644609_1499" style="color: #a9a6a7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, san-serif, Roboto; font-size: 13px; padding: 0px;">
<span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1527653644609_1498">Hello! There's a new Black Tape For A Blue Girl album in the works, and you can be one of the people that make it exist! <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-to-touch-the-milky-way?ref=15x510">https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-to-touch-the-milky-way?ref=15x510</a> There's a wealth of information about the album, the concept, the artwork, and updates from the road where I've been out shooting the images for the packaging.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeco5Fh55EiiZJwMr0jAcoJbJzCgEf4IGIExlGyemfH__Iuz3z2QGtPWeohUmQ7CHKe_d43-9iudOBs3kZw2wi8KEibEOhW8PZ9o4z3E3HjUBrhJm4J18peQl8Tx9AHlYkZyCZEoruEZ2V/s1600/Cover-square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeco5Fh55EiiZJwMr0jAcoJbJzCgEf4IGIExlGyemfH__Iuz3z2QGtPWeohUmQ7CHKe_d43-9iudOBs3kZw2wi8KEibEOhW8PZ9o4z3E3HjUBrhJm4J18peQl8Tx9AHlYkZyCZEoruEZ2V/s320/Cover-square.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div id="yui_3_15_0_2_1527653644609_1499" style="color: #a9a6a7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, san-serif, Roboto; font-size: 13px; padding: 0px;"><B>To touch the milky way</B>'s seven tracks span styles ranging from ethereal darkwave to dream-pop to austere textural ambient passages accompanied by wonderful vocals from Danielle and Michael. <span id="yui_3_15_0_2_1527653644609_1503" style="word-spacing: normal;">The lyrical themes and stories emerge from the depths of the psyche, unflinchingly addressing a desire to feel truly alive by facing self-created boundaries. They are first-person narratives at the edge where something has to give, something has to change, as the characters strive to take hold of the life they have left unlived. <BR><BR>If you have a little cash to spare, please consider pledging your support, as every pledge helps. There's a week to go and we're 69% of the way to the goal. Support <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-to-touch-the-milky-way?ref=15x510" target="_blank">at Kickstarter</a>.<BR><BR>
Sam</div>
Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-19028656729840790842017-12-28T10:13:00.001-08:002017-12-28T10:13:20.153-08:0050% Discount on bandcamp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaSXbPfankEeAkphO1GqxQ7qhlVqY4FQxt9Xv_6aOEEW-CavpeD8_MRkwTFttB74eZsceKTT7jDrWxjNule00rajxMQ1tad4W5VD4PkPybAcpyuYNQHbdTITo0zGZCi-piq0EYqTo2hxV/s1600/JoinUsPatrons%2528L%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaSXbPfankEeAkphO1GqxQ7qhlVqY4FQxt9Xv_6aOEEW-CavpeD8_MRkwTFttB74eZsceKTT7jDrWxjNule00rajxMQ1tad4W5VD4PkPybAcpyuYNQHbdTITo0zGZCi-piq0EYqTo2hxV/s320/JoinUsPatrons%2528L%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have to be honest. I was sitting here for five minutes, trying to remember this blog. "Um, I know I used to blog somewhere, in an earlier version of the Black Tape For A Blue Girl website, now what was that site called?" Ah yes, Blogger! That's it. Well, this is definitely <u>not</u> how I keep in touch with those of you interested in my art, these days. If you'd like to be on my real email list, and get 50% off t<a href="http://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">he Black Tape For A Blue Girl page on Bandcamp</a>, send me an email at sr.projekt@gmail.com -- and I'll get that right over to you. I hope you have a great 2018! Sam
</span>Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-26390476273621744472015-10-27T11:11:00.000-07:002015-10-27T11:12:20.485-07:0012 hours to go @ Kickstarter / Across a thousand blades (demos) Download<h2> The Kickstarter for the "Bike Shop" vinyl ep ends tonight</h2>
A backer from Brazil upgraded to $250 Yellow Jersey. Just $109 from reaching the goal, with 9 hours to go. Pledge at <A HREF=http://kck.st/1Fkr0T1 TARGET=BLANK>http://kck.st/1Fkr0T1</A> Kickstarter. And when we hit the goal, there will still be some great premiums left. Test Pressings, signed lyrics, and two more Yellow Jersey Executive Producers.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-e62vxXrEvaEX9Bf3MFA5HtbeYzX3u4oQCE4zpZE0XrL4f5UonYbrQs6aprhVgkfuB3FQXuKwnuCHEsPApDEqzJoZD9QlUXjK_6yv441E7BHdBY531WULc2NbBwUI2WO6_azJC3UVU5R/s1600/Across1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-e62vxXrEvaEX9Bf3MFA5HtbeYzX3u4oQCE4zpZE0XrL4f5UonYbrQs6aprhVgkfuB3FQXuKwnuCHEsPApDEqzJoZD9QlUXjK_6yv441E7BHdBY531WULc2NbBwUI2WO6_azJC3UVU5R/s320/Across1000.jpg" /></a>
<h2>Across a thousand blades (demos+live)</h2>
FROM THE VAULTS --- "Across a thousand blades" is the best known track from Black Tape For A Blue Girl's first decade. It was released on 1989's <b>Ashes in the brittle air</b> CD, the band's third release. I've unearthed six never before heard demos and live tracks. <a href="https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/across-a-thousand-blades-demos-live" TARGET=BLANK>Free Bandcamp download</a> give them a listen.Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-27945013292798766772015-10-13T08:48:00.001-07:002015-10-13T08:49:59.362-07:00Interviewed: Michael Plaster & Sam Rosenthal <img alt="Box-InterviewCats" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-InterviewCats.jpg" width="600" />
<h2>Michael Plaster and I discuss the Black Tape For A Blue Girl "Bike Shop" Kickstarter and cats (of course!)</H2>
<BR>(listen to the music while you read the interview:)
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=690710365/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/the-bike-shop-vinyl-ep">the "Bike Shop" vinyl EP by black tape for a blue girl (featuring Michael Plaster of Soul Whirling Somewhere)</a></iframe>
<BR><BR><span style="color: #e5b882;"><b>Sam:</b></span> How does it feel, singing on new songs after being out of the public eye for a while?
<BR><BR><span style="color: #e5b882;"><b>Michael:</b></span> Actually it was a really good experience. I have had the songs for my own upcoming album churning around in my head for over a decade, so to be able to work on someone else’s songs was pretty neat.
<BR><BR><span style="color: #e5b882;"><b>Michael:</b></span> So tell me about the subject of the songs on the “Bike Shop” EP. Are they all based around one person?
<BR><BR><span style="color: #e5b882;"><b>Sam:</b></span> No, actually they are about the last three relationships, merged into one person for the sake of the story. Reflecting on the feelings after a break up, going back to old memories, remembering little sweet things that happened, and then feeling sad that they’re not going to happen anymore. The funny thing is that I don’t even own a bike, but I was seeing somebody who repairs at a bike shop, and I liked having a physical location in the song, a place I’d want to go back to as an excuse to talk with her again. When I was writing “Vega,” I wanted to come up with a name for this romantic partner, and it needed to start with “V” to make the little joke in the lyrics work. I was running through all sorts of names that started with ‘V’ – and I came upon Vega and I thought...
<BR><BR>Read the full interview <A HREF= http://www.projekt.com/store/?p=9602 Target=Blank>at the Projekt website</A>Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-50753371881920146822015-10-05T14:08:00.001-07:002015-10-05T14:15:44.046-07:00Blacktape's new vinyl release (needs your support)<a href="http://www.projekt.com/store/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-michael-plaster-of-soulwhirlingsomewhere/box-blacktape-bike-kickstarter/" rel="attachment wp-att-9467"><img alt="Box-Blacktape-Bike-Kickstarter" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-9467" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-Blacktape-Bike-Kickstarter.jpg" width="600" /></a>
<h2>Support the "Bike Shop" limited edition 12” vinyl EP (featuring Michael Plaster of SoulWhirlingSomewhere). Free download for all!</h2>
<P>Watch the video and learn more about the EP <a href="http://kck.st/1Fkr0T1" Target=BLANK>at Kickstarter</a>
<BR>Download the mixes of the tracks <a href="https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/the-bike-shop-vinyl-ep" Target=BLANK>at Bandcamp</a>
<P>The first week of the Kickstarter got us over 50% of the way to the goal. Fantastic! Thank you so much, everyone. You're backing a 12" release on yellow and black vinyl, with four new songs. I need your help to make it happen. Your support goes to the cost of mastering, pressing, and paying Michael for his amazing vocal involvement!
<P>I have to say that this is something about the new record business that I really enjoy: I can write & record songs in September. And make them available for you to hear in September! In the old days, there was such a long delay between the creative spark and when the CD finally came out. Now I can put the songs up on Bandcamp for you to hear immediately, while they still feel amazingly fresh to me... and then in early 2016 you can get the vinyl. That's very cool, if you ask me!
<P>I'm also excited about recording with a first generation Projekt artist, Michael Plaster. We've been friends for 20 years, we've worked together on all his Projekt releases. It's been forever since he's had new music for all of you. <b>Please Sennd Help</b> came out in 2001, it was PRO121. This EP comes out 200 releases later, PRO321!
<P>Ok, so let me tell you a little bit about the recording.
<P>I’ve been working on the new Black Tape For A Blue Girl album (<b>these fleeting moments</b>) and I'm about two-thirds through writing it. Last Christmas I recorded guitar parts for a new song; about a month ago I wrote the lyrics and that became “bike shop/absolute zero." I was reflecting back on my last few relationships: thinking about the good parts but also kind of wondering how they fell apart, and how it took so long to recognize they were over.
<P>I've always loved Michael Plaster's voice and emotional delivery. As I was writing "bike shop," I kept thinking, "Damn, this would be a great song for Michael to sing." It has a similar quality to his lyrics: looking back on a past relationship with some joy and a bunch of sadness. I waited until I recorded my guide vocals, and then presented it to him ready to go. "Here, this is happening! Would you like to be the singer?" Michael said, "Yes," which was very exciting to me!
<P>I had the idea of doing it as a vinyl single and we talked about what might go on the B-side. Maybe a new version of an old Blacktape track? But knowing Michael was the vocalist inspired me to write three more songs really fast — like in a week! These songs sprung from little bittersweet memories.
<P>For the most part, things didn't happen exactly the way it goes in these songs. Yes, there's a real bike shop and a real cabin. And I did get dumped on the phone (ouch!). But there's nobody named "Vega," and there's no real canoe, and I wasn't getting relationship advice from Dennis Hopper! : ) Yet the songs capture intimate and personal stories about relationships and love.
<P>The three additional tracks give you the back story on "bike shop." Think of it as diving deeper and hearing more about a character you will meet in a song on the upcoming album.
<P>While I was in Brooklyn a few weeks ago. I recorded drums for two of the tracks with Brian Viglione (of Violent Femmes and The Dresden Dolls). I love how quickly the "Bike Shop" vinyl EP has gone from idea to something you can listen to!
<P>I'd like you to hear my new music, that's why I've put it up so you can download the ep for free <a href="https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/the-bike-shop-vinyl-ep" Target=BLANK>at Bandcamp</a>! I hope you'll like the tracks and go to <a href="http://kck.st/1Fkr0T1" Target=BLANK>the Kickstarter page</a> to chip in three dollars. Or even more, 'cause there are some sweet premiums that you can pledge for.
<P>Whatever you give, you're supporting art -- and that's super-cool of you!
<P>SamSam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-57295635852884514032015-06-19T22:35:00.000-07:002015-06-19T22:39:19.470-07:00MONOLITH in the mail
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbGEKHXGWHdrrE1GmJYUrJGTGMWSPRaXgtpRaj986C-4UL_GCLuYKWB6y0kH82XWF1HIxMCeiInG4r1dZPGiVKabDBXfECq-kbE2Vqagpm6jSar8TnnvIl3GR8SPvcPb4Oh3wEEgNvWYK/s1600/BIG_2401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbGEKHXGWHdrrE1GmJYUrJGTGMWSPRaXgtpRaj986C-4UL_GCLuYKWB6y0kH82XWF1HIxMCeiInG4r1dZPGiVKabDBXfECq-kbE2Vqagpm6jSar8TnnvIl3GR8SPvcPb4Oh3wEEgNvWYK/s320/BIG_2401.jpg" width="520" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxLOWHMOfL2JfZXtydQv1Tlx2bkPTTy7Sz_7-259PV2Uz7C7hziCJ7X1Wpw4Ms5VYekqvCR5nVrOVwkx9B02Odw0W6ip91F7F62mGraMk-EWqWq_JMskriLZGMM0KCtA7XK0MNz4RDZOY/s1600/BIG_2402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxLOWHMOfL2JfZXtydQv1Tlx2bkPTTy7Sz_7-259PV2Uz7C7hziCJ7X1Wpw4Ms5VYekqvCR5nVrOVwkx9B02Odw0W6ip91F7F62mGraMk-EWqWq_JMskriLZGMM0KCtA7XK0MNz4RDZOY/s320/BIG_2402.jpg" width="520" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoojiAKkJUznS6d_slEu85W0KYDdmr66qyDGXPatn_7127DHjOw1aVV5c9EPzySQgdhE4Z-CEWRqvI3e8Li30ot7UT6AXKKzRFxBGJUvrz2xcFjLPzPtr750FQEkpj-Tb_drI2cq-5nM2/s1600/BIG%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoojiAKkJUznS6d_slEu85W0KYDdmr66qyDGXPatn_7127DHjOw1aVV5c9EPzySQgdhE4Z-CEWRqvI3e8Li30ot7UT6AXKKzRFxBGJUvrz2xcFjLPzPtr750FQEkpj-Tb_drI2cq-5nM2/s320/BIG%25232.jpg" width="520" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG6c5xkFGvijmcaVuNugEHbtu30uk83NiqhhAzbKdaOZHoI2bhXJ8NirAvJkU_a-6_KYZVBxpb8oMnjdK_kbL4rQHmrgauS-kz_48J_2j635fcxefI-964ih6WYKYNTKwgm2kPIe4oF7j/s1600/BIG%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG6c5xkFGvijmcaVuNugEHbtu30uk83NiqhhAzbKdaOZHoI2bhXJ8NirAvJkU_a-6_KYZVBxpb8oMnjdK_kbL4rQHmrgauS-kz_48J_2j635fcxefI-964ih6WYKYNTKwgm2kPIe4oF7j/s320/BIG%25233.jpg" width="520" /></a>
<BR>I've begun shipping <b>MONOLITH</b> to the Kickstarter backers. Thanks to those of you who pledged for the physical edition. If you haven't grabbed your free download, it's still available, now at $1:
<BR><a href="https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/monolith" style="color: #6d8ab6; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/monolith</a><BR><BR>The next Livestream will be Sunday the 28th at Noon, Pacific Time. Send me your questions, and I'll answer them on the stream. Message me or post as a reply.<BR><BR>There's a 9 minute video at youTube, an excerpt where I answer some questions from the previous Livestream: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKalWJJMxTs" style="color: #6d8ab6; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKalWJJMxTs</a><BR><BR>I've started 4 new songs in the last couple weeks, and i've been thinking about what the lyrics should be.<BR><BR>
Sam Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-76947251091671375772015-06-10T10:11:00.000-07:002015-06-10T10:11:06.342-07:00Black Tape For A Blue Girl June update - 15 unreleased tracks !<img alt="Box-SamPortland" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8151" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-SamPortland.jpg" height="44" width="160" /><br />
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Hi there. An update from Black Tape For A Blue Girl:<br />
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<img alt="Logo-Patreon" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8439" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Logo-Patreon.png" width="200" /><br />
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As you might know, I have <a href="https://www.patreon.com/blacktapeforabluegirl" target="Blank">a Patreon page for my music</a>. Patreon is a crowdfunding site where you can pledge monthly support. To date, 96 patrons are donating $683 to assist my creations.<br />
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In emails back and forth with patrons, I often see comments like, "Just wanted to say I'm here mostly to support you and the music you make, rather than the goodies, but they're definitely a plus." Or "I honestly support just because I want to, as a thank you for the music that I have loved for years, and as an investment in future music from you." <br />
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It is so cool that you like what I do and want to be there for me. Thanks. <br />
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There is stuff you get in exchange for your support. At the $5 level, you get two free download albums from the band's catalog. At $10, you also get a hand-written lyric. And all patrons have exclusive access to my music as I'm creating it. <br />
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This month, I've uploaded a 15 track collection of out-takes from the last year in the studio. It's doubtful any of it will make it to the new album, but perhaps you'll find a hidden gem that you love! (The 2nd half of this message is more information on the download).<br />
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If you'd like to hear this music, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/Blacktapeforabluegirl" target="BLANK">join my Patreon</a>. Everyone who joins this week will get the <b>June 2015 package</b>, even though you haven't been charged anything. Patreon charges your credit card once a month around the first. <br />
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I'll also throw in the May package with the first draft of the new album in progress<br />
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<img alt="Logo-Kickstarter" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8438" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Logo-Kickstarter.png" width="200" /><br />
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The Kickstarter for <b>MONOLITH </b>(the electronic space-music album from my solo-project As Lonely As Dave Bowman) was a success; it reached 150% of the goal. It is now in production at the 3 different plants involved. The plan is to be complete in time or earlier than the July release date. There will be some additional copies available from the Projekt webstore.<br />
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<img alt="Logo-Bandcamp" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8437" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Logo-Bandcamp.png" width="200" /><br />
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The <a href="https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/monolith" target="BLANK">Blacktape Bandcamp page</a> has all our albums and my side projects available. Some as low as free, few as expensive as iTunes. Give it a listen, you can stream most tracks. Or purchase something.<br />
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I've mentioned that 2015 is the year I get back to making music; I'm really active with that and I appreciate that you help make it happen.<br />
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Sam<br />
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<span style="font-size: 11px;">PS: I shot the photo on the cover of the June package this weekend. Check out more from the set <a href="http://sam-r.com/Shoot20.html">here on my photo website</a>. These are glamour / portrait shots - nothing naked on this page. But be warned that some of the links on the page goes to NOT SAFE FOR WORK images. Be careful with the clicky-click at work or if your partner doesn't care for that kind of thing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11px;"><em><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Information on the download:</span></em></span><br />
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<img alt="Bandcamp-2015_06(L)" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Bandcamp-2015_06L.jpg" style="float: left; padding: 14px;" width="282" /><br />
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<img src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Logo-Patreon.png" width="250/" /><br />
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<h2>
June 2015 - Album Deitrus</h2>
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<br />
I was asking myself, "What is the most embarrassing thing for me as a songwriter and artist?" I think the answer is, "my failures." Which is to say, all the little bits of <strong>Black tape for a blue girl </strong>music I try to create, don't like and discard. <br />
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Honestly, the <em>really really bad stuff</em> never even gets recorded. I'll play around with an idea for 30 minutes and then go, "Nope, that's awful!" and move on to something else.<br />
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Last weekend I saw Paul Barker (ex-Ministry) record a live podcast interview (at a theatre here in Portland, following <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IndustrialSoundtrackForTheUrbanDecay">a movie about the early UK industrial music scene</a>.) Paul said something I've also expressed: when you're working on music, you get really focused on what you need the piece to achieve; if it's not up to that high level, you toss it. But sometimes you come back years later and realize it wasn't as bad as you thought it was.<br />
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I would add that artists get overly obsessive-compulsive during this process, a bit manic or depressive (based on their personality), and we lose sight of the trees for the forest. Making art is a lot like falling in love: it’s irrational. You don’t see reality, you begin to see what you want to – and need to – see. Perhaps when there are bandmates with equal creative control, you have others to balance the obsession? Working on your own, it’s just your own irrationality & obsession to base these decisions on.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Of </span></span>course, this also explains bands that break-up over "creative differences." If four or five people all start getting obsessed on different aspects of a song, it's no wonder songwriting teams almost always explode. How long would you put up with Lou Reed, if you were John Cale? : ) <br />
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Ok. Did I get off topic. I think I got off topic.... rewind...<br />
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I have 15 failures for you this month. Well, ok, I'm being melodramatic, maybe they aren’t <em>that</em> bad… but they are all bits of <strong>deitritus</strong> from the last year in the studio. Most of this music is listenable at least once. Some of it is repetitive because it's backing instrumental tracks that would have had more added as time went on. <br />
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And who knows? You might absolutely love one of the pieces and find your own buried treasure within these 30 minutes of remains, remnants, fragments and scraps.<br />
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I am sure <strong>Ashes</strong> fans will enjoy the first track. I was trying to see if I could figure out the sequence from "I wish you could smile." My notes from the 80s recording were rather cryptic. But I got it.<br />
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“2014_09 Icy Drone” could have been a track for the As Lonely As Dave Bowman <strong>Monuments (addendum) </strong>release. I forgot completely that I had recorded it; When I was compiling the bonus release, I kept thinking to myself, "Wasn't there another song I planned to include?" Ooops!<br />
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I can't say for sure that this stuff will never see the light of day, there's always a possibility that something will re-spark my imagination and make it's way onto the album. But my feeling is this all goes onto the rubbish heap of history.<br />
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<h2>
Do you have a favorite?</h2>
Post your comments and impressions <a href="https://www.patreon.com/creation?hid=2586672">on this Patreon post. </a><br />
Sam<br />
Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-38094340009028280792015-05-25T15:12:00.000-07:002015-05-25T15:12:00.692-07:00radikaliai.lt - February 2015 interview for LithuaniaThis interview with Mindaugas Peleckis appeared at <a href="http://radikaliai.lt/radikaliai/2425-sam-rosenthal-i-think-people-are-generally-very-isolated-and-rather-sad-and-that-is-something-that-i-wish-i-could-overcome-video">radikaliai.lt</a>. I'm posting it here for archival purposes as well.
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1. You worked with a plethora of artists over the years. What collaborations were/are the most interesting and important to You and why?
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The most important collaboration is whichever is the recent one I am working on, because it's the most immediate and the most exciting. I moved to Portland, OR, a bit over a year ago; and I've started working on new Black Tape For A Blue Girl music. I plan to work again with the vocalists from the last album - Athan and Laurie. But I'm also excited about working with some local players I have met, to bring back the strings!
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2. Can You tell me, in short the main ideas are behind Your music? Could You name Your favorite Your compositions / albums / collaborations? What about the new album? [Besides, could i ask a copy for a review with autographs?]
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With my music, it's always been about creating the sounds I want to hear, that nobody else has created. So for me, it's about making interesting music that I enjoy. I imagine the new album will be more ethereal and darkAmbient; it will be different from the Dark Cabaret / Rock sound of the last couple of albums. I feel 10 Neurotics was really successful in that sound, and I'm never interested in making the same album twice. I want to explore emotional and more textural sides of what I do.
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3. The sound is magic. You‘ve proved it. But, what ends, when there‘s no sound?
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Well, it sounds like this question is about the meaning of life? What is there when there is no sound? I think there are the memories of sound, and the anticipation of the future sounds. But if we are no longer of this life, then will there be sounds when we return to being part of the energy of the universe? That is a good question, but I don't know if I have a very good answer to that.
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4. What is and what is not a Sound Art?
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For me personally, I am interested in melody. I am not so excited by noise or music that has nothing that my brain can latch on to. That said, something like Fripp & Eno is very melodic and catchy, so you can tell my opinion is not within the mainstream. Then again, I don't assume that my opinion is very important, or should have any influence on the what is / what is not art discussion.
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5. What do You think about relations between the old art and computer art? Are they compatible?
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Yes, they are compatible. Computers are a tool. And like any tool, it is a question of the quality of the person who uses the tool. I love recording with a computer, because it opens up so many more possibilities; I can do thing I could never do on my analog 1/2" 8-track. So for me, the computer is a great tool to help me better realize my art.
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6. What do You think about thousands of neofolk/industrial/ambient/tribal/electroacoustic/avangarde etc. bands/projects? Is it a kind of trend, o just a tendency forwards better music?
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Well, that must be a European-based question. I don't know about thousands of bands like that here in America. Is it a problem for you?
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7. What do You know about Lithuania? How and when did You come to it? What Lithuanian and foreign musicians do You value most?
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I am not very familiar with musicians from Lithuania. Of course I know Lithuania is one of the Baltic countries, and returned to independence after long-time Russian rule. I guess I would say that I worry for all the countries in your region. I worry if Russia has ideas about those free countries. I don't have a lot to go by, to make any educated comment on this topic.
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8. Could You tell, please, some words about my initiative to print the first book about experimental music / Sound Art (i call it postmusic) of Lithuania (and, at least, Eastern Europe)?
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This is an exciting idea. It is good that there are still people who want to communicate and educate through physical objects, such as books. There is more than the internet!
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<b>9,What inspires You most?
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In the early days, my art was inspired by angst, and longing, and passion. I think I have less angst these days; my son gives me a lot of excitement and happiness. But there's definitely still longing and passion. I think people are generally very isolated, and rather sad. And that is something that I wish I could overcome. For people in general, and for myself in specific.
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Thanks for the interview. Music can be streamed here:
https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/
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and I'm doing this, to: https://www.patreon.com/samrosenthal<br />
<br />Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-16287532575406994712015-05-22T11:18:00.001-07:002015-05-22T11:19:43.045-07:00We did it! MONOLITH was a success!<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgCvMLie8twvBOREvrEtul20z1yYUQCMYfscLPN8o8x8RB6Y2VcobVaD1SaXfKtaLB8AwnqqPQ9FMTHFsHYxHLXkmMjJ8IQzePSFAYksfVZOh3XAtjvXjuR9hEsMd8ZfjwpB2kvKIOIxt/s1600/Kick-finale2.jpg" width="600/" />
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<h3>
A gigantic planetary-sized thank you for your support! I appreciate your pledges that made MONOLITH a success. </h3>
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Well, that was fun! We reached 145% of the goal. As with each previous Kickstarter, I learned many new things about how to run a Kickstarter! It was fun, though I'm also glad it's done, so I can go back to my life of NOT promoting a Kickstarter! : )
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I loved being able to give you the music (546 downloads at Bandcamp) at the same time as the CD funded. You might ask what's the difference between giving the music away on Bandcamp versus it streaming for almost-free on Spotify (or free at a torrent). The difference is that we make a connection via Bandcamp and Kickstarter; it's just a cold anonymous play on Spotify. I like the connection. Going all the way back to "we return" on <b>the rope</b>, it's always been about connection.
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Now the next phase begins, getting the pieces into production. The scheduled ship date is July, but I do expect it will be done before then. All pieces will ship at the same time.
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Thanks again,
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SamSam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-13602373276557077492015-05-18T09:17:00.002-07:002015-05-18T09:22:17.375-07:0035 hours remain to support at Kickstarter // L'odissea nello spazio di Sam Rosenthal <p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">I've been extremely busy the last few days with musical-related work, both with BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL and AS LONELY AS DAVE BOWMAN. In the past two days, the <a href="http://kck.st/1aWKvCr" target="Blank">DAVE BOWMAN <b>MONOLITH</b> Kickstarter</a> has received new CD pledges from Australia, Germany, Italy, (another) Australia, the United States, and the Netherlands. Plus a Tshirt-only backer right around the corner in Eugene, Oregon. 35 hours to go!<br />
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On Facebook, Adam wrote, "Hopin’ for a standard-edition CD, which I will cop ASAP!" Oh, come to think of it, I didn't make this clear anywhere: there will <b>not</b> be a standard-edition CD on <b>MONOLITH</b>. The $20 CD-in-DVD-sized digipak is as "standard" as it will get; the entire run is limited to 300 copies. Yes, there will be leftovers after the Kickstarter ends, and they will be available from Projekt's website. But it is not an unlimited supply. </span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Here's a round-up:</span></span></p>
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<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-201505-OndaRock.jpg"/></p>
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<strong><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Sam Rosenthal's odyssey through space<br />
L'odissea nello spazio di Sam Rosenthal</span></span> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Italy's OndaRock website posted an interview in both <a href="http://www.ondarock.it/interviste/aslonelyasdavebowman.htm"target="Blank">Italian</a> and <a href="http://www.ondarock.it/interviews/aslonelyasdavebowman.htm"target="Blank">English</a>. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, I discuss <strong>MONOLITH</strong>, creating music, how things have changed for artists in the last decade, and being motivated by your support. I think it's a very honest interview that's a great read.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">(Hmmm? I don't actually reference the year 2001 as when things started changing for artists, but that's something I need to think about some more.)</span></span></p>
<strong><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Almost to the Star Gate</span></span></strong>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">The <ahref="http://kck.st/1aWKvCr" target="Blank">Kickstarter campaign</a> ends Tuesday at 9pm Portland Time. We've almost done it! It's going to be exciting to see how things end up; we're at 131% of the goal as I write this (on the verge of breaking $4000!)</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">If you’ve backed<strong>MONOLITH</strong> and want to add on a shirt, Kickstarter makes it easy to <ahref="https://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq/backer+questions#faq_41767" target="Blank">change your pledge</a>. I'm not suggesting you need to change anything, I just want to be sure you know you can. On the <strong>Remnants</strong>Viinyl Kickstarter, some people learned about upgrades after the campaign ended, and I don't want anyone to miss out.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">If you don’t want to add the shirt, or get the PlexiBox, don’t do anything. You’re really wonderful for backing in the first place!</span></span></p>
<p>
<strong><span style="font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Why is Dave so lonely?</span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Somebody posted on Facebook that they thought AS LONELY AS DAVE BOWMAN wasn't the best name for a musical project. Ok, well, I'm the guy with BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL. I guess I'm accustomed to long names! :-)</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">There's a good reason why Dave is lonely.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">I recently reread the novel <b>2001: A Space Odyssey</b> (the last time I read it was in the mid-90s, when I lived in Chicago). Arthur C. Clarke uses "lonely" multiple times to describe Dave's situation. And you can imagine why!</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">In the book, Dave's trip is to Saturn (not Jupiter); Saturn lies between 746 million and just over a billion miles from Earth. That's between 8 and 11 AU (AU = the approximate distance from the Earth to the Sun). And Dave is the only one left after HAL is shut off (and I'd speculate it was never completely clear whether Discovery 2 was going to be built and sent to bring him home. Seems to me the mission was to get information about the Monolith, and the crew was expendable.)</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">From that many million miles away, the political and personal squabbles on Earth must seem rather inconsequential. Just a bunch of bickering on a distant ball obscured by the glare of the Sun.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">I'm glad I'm here on the earth with my family and friends and cat. Hey? Why didn't they get to take a cat on Discovery 1? That would have been comforting. (The best I could <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPqWGoQOlLw" target="Blank">find on YouTube</a> is a cat named Misha checking out the Moon-Watcher scene).</span></span></p>
<p>
<img alt="" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-201505-H3000.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">100% Failure of the H3000-D/SX unit. 'It does seem strange, Dave. But I can assure you there is a fault in the unit. ' My Eventide HS3000-D/SX was used throughout the recording of MONOLITH, now it's dead. Very strange.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Fortunately I have a great gear repair guy here in Portland.</span></span></p>
<p>
<img alt="" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-201505-Edward.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">This weekend I stopped by a few coffee shops and record stores to drop off cards for my June 12th showing of Edward Sissorhands at Portland's Hollywood Theatre. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1601445096759986/" target="Blank"> Facebook Events Page</a></span></span></p>
<p>
<img alt="Box-201505-Remnants" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-201505-Remnants.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">Hand-written lyrics for Marcos in Brazil. This is one of the benefits of being a patron at my <ahref="https://www.patreon.com/blacktapeforabluegirl">Patreon</a>.</span></span></p>
<p>
<strong><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Yes, there's really a new album in the works!</span></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">One of the questions in Matteo's <a href="http://www.ondarock.it/interviste/aslonelyasdavebowman.htm" target="Blank">OndaRock interview</a> involved a bit of disbelief on whether I was working on a new album. Here's that exchange for you:</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;"><b>And... what about Black Tape? I read about new stuff coming soon, but I finally missed it. And 6 years have already passed from<b>10 Neurotics</b>! Are you really working on something new to be published soon?</b> </span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">Sam: Ha yes, of course! I just sent out a download of 14 songs to the <a href="https://www.patreon.com/blacktapeforabluegirl"target="Blank">patrons on Patreon</a>. Every month they get music, and they got demos of new songs; none have vocals, three have viola. I don't expect all of them will make it to the album, they're work in progress. I have an idea for the new album, part of the concept is a double-lp (as well as a CD). It will be conceived around the idea of 4-sides (two darkAmbient and two more song-oriented). Ideally it will be out in the fall of 2015, but I don't know if I will have the lyrics written and recorded in time for that. We'll see what happens. But yes, I'm really working on new music.</span></span></p>
<p>
<strong><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Next Livestream Q&A Video Chat is Sun May 24</span></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">The next BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL Patreon video chat will be open to my $10+ Patrons as well as everyone else. Why not! The more people interacting and asking questions <a href="https://livestream.com/accounts/12292130/SamChat3" target="Blank">on the Livestream</a>, the more fun for everyone. Mark your calendar: Sunday May 24, 5pm in Portland / 8pm east coast. *I* will be on the video, you won't appear in the video. You submit questions in the text-chat window. The video chat will be one hour long, you can drop in whenever you like.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif;">Lucas asked, "This might be a silly question, but is the stream mobile friendly? I'm working that night, and won't be able to get to a computer."</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">Sam: Yes, I think it looks really sharp on the iPhone, actually. It's impossible to read the text-chat in the unchangeable font size, but if you're just listening and watching then it should be fine!"</span></span></p>
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<br />
<img alt="" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-201505-Harley.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-size:13px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Harley Q & the tomato plants. Watch this completely pointless <a href="https://instagram.com/p/2zSTmRPNGW/?taken-by=blacktapeforabluegirl" target="Blank">video on my Instagram</a>.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<strong><strong><span style="font-size:18px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Join me on TSU</span></span></strong><br />
</strong><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">I've <ahref="http://www.tsu.co/SamRosenthal" target="Blank">begun a profile on TSU</a>. TSU is a new social networking site, that I'd love to see replace Facebook. The main advantage is your feed shows every post from people you've friended; they are not limited what you see, based on algorithms, like Facebook.</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif;">Some say, "Not a lot of people are on TSU, so what good is it?" Well, what good is having 6000+ followers on the Blacktape Facebook page, and less than 300 of you see what I post?</span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">You can join by clicking on <a href="http://www.tsu.co/SamRosenthal" target="Blank">my page</a>.</span></span></p>
<p>
<strong><img alt="" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-201505-2001book.jpg"/> <br />
<span style="font-size:18px;"><strong><span style="font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif;">My god, it's full of words!</span></strong></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">The five amazing people who backed the top two tiers of my AS LONELY AS DAVE BOWMAN campaign get"The 2001: A Space Odyssey novel bought at the local Goodwill, signed on the cover by Sam." I found the first one: a 1968 fourth printing in really great shape (looks unread, just some edgewear, and yellowed pages)! I love reading paper books, what about you?</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">There are just 35 hours <a href="http://kck.st/1aWKvCr" target="Blank">left in the campaign</a>; you can get yourself a limited edition CD, or one of the March of Progress T-shirts!</span></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">Best,</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">Zero-five-one-eight, transmission concluded.</span></span></p>
<p>
<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:13px;">Sam</span></span></p>
Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-73894567336048574862015-05-11T21:08:00.001-07:002015-05-11T21:24:56.310-07:00MONOLITH: the March of Progress<h2><b>MONOLITH</b> is my new CD of electronic space music. This 73-minute album has been funded at <a href="http://kck.st/1aWKvCr" TARGET=BLANK>Kickstarter</a> and will exist as a 300-piece limited edition; you can pre-order your copy through: <a href="http://kck.st/1aWKvCr" TARGET=BLANK>http://kck.st/1aWKvCr</A>.
<P>
For this campaign, I've tried something different. I am giving away free downloads of the album at the same time as I'm raising funds for the physical CD. You can get your copy right now <a href="https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/monolith" TARGET=BLANK>at Bandcamp</a>. Hopefully you'll drop by the Kickstarter page to donate.</h2>
<br /><P>I've added a new item to the Kickstarter for As Lonely As Dave Bowman's MONOLITH limited edition CD.<P>
Eight days to go. This is the point in the crowdfunding campaign when things get mellow and we wait for the rush to the end. Of course, there are new pledges coming in every day, we're up to 114 supporters. <a href="http://kck.st/1aWKvCr" target="BLANK">Kickstarter is now the place</a> to pre-order the <strong>MONOLITH</strong> limited edition CD release; there are still copies available.
<P>
A few days ago I was having breakfast with my son and a friend; we were joking about this and joking about that. I was thinking about a shirt I saw at a chess tournament my son was in. The shirt had the "march of progress" graphic on it: charting evolution from monkey to ape to man, but there was a Chess King as the finally figure.
<P>
Hardly even pausing to think, I said: "Ape, Moon-Watcher, astronaut, Star Child! Hey, I've never seen a shirt like that before."
<P>
Ooooooh, I had "an idea" !
<P>
Immediately I started imagining what the shirt would look like. I came up with this:
<br /><img alt="Progress-Tshirt" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Progress-Tshirt.jpg" width="400" />
<P>
Even before we reached the $3000 funding goal (thank you for that!) I was thinking about what new item to add to the campaign. Some of you missed out on the top two tiers, yet still showed your support by over-funding the $50 plexibox. That was super nice and I want to give you a new premium to apply that pledge towards.
<P>
So now there's the shirt on it's own, the shirt with the CD-in-DVD, and the shirt with the Plexibox. Three new tiers to chose from.
<P>
Kickstarter makes it easy to change your pledge if you'd like to get a shirt. Details are <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq/backer+questions#faq_41767">here on their FAQ</a>.
<P>
The Tshirt will be included at no extra charge in the top-2 tiers.
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After the Kickstarter is over, I will email to get your Tshirt size. I print on American Apparel Ts which are custom fitted shirts; these are not the massive 90s-styled T. The shirt will ship at the same time as the CDs.
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Enjoy!
<br />Sam<br /> Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-69276716213676016102015-04-24T12:07:00.002-07:002015-04-24T12:08:50.643-07:00Monolith -- Free Download & crowdfunding for your copy of the limited edition release.<iframe frameborder="0" height="420" scrolling="no" src="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/as-lonely-as-dave-bowman-monolith-limited-edition/widget/card.html?v=2" width="220"></iframe>
<P>Free download of the electronic, space-music album from my solo side projekt AS LONELY AS DAVE BOWMAN on Bandcamp and if you like what you hear, maybe you'll support <A HREF=http://kck.st/1aWKvCr TARGET=BLANK>at Kickstarter</A>.
<P>This is amazing and awesome! Four days in and <B>MONOLITH</B> is 80% to the goal!!! You all are amazing! But don't worry, there are still copies available of the limited edition release. The $3000 goal is the point at which I can fund the manufacturing of the CD-release and the first 50 Plexiboxes. There are additional copies available from the 300-edition run. So if you want a copy, do go visit and pledge.
<P>And also, my unusual strategy seems to be working. I am giving away the entire album for free <A HREF=https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/monolith TARGET=BLANK>on Bandcamp</A>, and yet you care about my work enough to become part of the group that makes the physical edition possible. That feels really great!
<HR>
<I>Unlike my work in Black Tape For A Blue Girl, Dave Bowman is full-on electronic music: droning space, wordless drift with long suspended passages. Covering Bowman’s journey to the Monolith near Jupiter, the album touches the edges of isolation and glacial solitude, with a discernible warm human core. MONOLITH‘s epic expanses, asteroid flybys, serene ambient moments, vast open textures, and warmer hues of sparse remoteness are barren, yet without leaving the listener abandoned. Think of it as drone insulation rather than drone isolation.</I>
<HR>
An <A HREF=http://ow.ly/LRrDY TARGET=BLANK>interview at MusicTap</A> where I talk about As Lonely As Dave Bowman, sharing my music on Patreon before it's "finished," crowdfunding, and changes in the industry. Good read.
<P>Interesting theory that HAL was cheating at chess in Stanley Kubrick's <B>2001: A Space Odyssey</B>!
Summary <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poole_versus_HAL_9000 TARGET=BLANK>At Wikipedia</A>. And more <A HREF=http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/amk/doc/0095.html TARGET=BLANK>in-depth details</A> about Hal's sanity.Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-20969540162778174052015-01-30T11:37:00.000-08:002015-01-30T11:44:34.719-08:00Pledge! How to make a difference in 2015.<img alt="Black Tape For A Blue Girl's Patreon" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Box-BlackTape-Patreon2.jpg" width="660" />
<BR><BR><b>Pledge your support <a href="https://www.patreon.com/blacktapeforabluegirl">at Patreon</a>, get all access to new music as I create it.
</b>
<BR><BR>We had a great first week at Patreon, meeting the ÜBER EARLY ADOPTERS Milestone goal of $300 pledged per month. Forty-two incredibly cool people pledged to help support me get back to being an artist. I wrote a <a href="http://www.projekt.com/store/projektlist20150127-how-to-make-a-difference-in-2015/">blog earlier in the week</a> about the changes in the music industry and how crowdfunding is a potential solution to compensate artists for their creation.
<BR><BR>Of course, I'm not talking "artists" in the abstract, I'm specifically talking about my music as Black Tape For A Blue Girl.
<BR><BR>Something I love about crowdfunding is meeting fans of my music, fans I didn't know were out there. <strong>Antony</strong> is a graphic artist; I happened upon him this week when he tweeted about listening to one of my songs. I got in touch and learned about his decades-spanning love of my music. It feels great to read that. Antony wrote something, which I'd love to share with you:
<BR><BR> <span style="font-size:16px;"> <strong><em>The music you made with BlackTape, especially in the 'classic' Chaos / Garden / Remnants era, has been part of the soundtrack to my life for the past 20 years. As a creator myself, I know how hard the current climate can be, so it's my pleasure to support the Patreon campaign. The new music excerpt 'Please Don't Go' is lovely — more of that, please! Reminds me of dark nights, driving home from those early Whitby goth weekends in the late '90s..."</em></strong></span>
<BR>-- Antony Johnston (writer of Umbral, Spooked, and Dead Space)
<BR><BR>Support us in creating passionate, introspective music. Watch the video and pledge <a href="https://www.patreon.com/blacktapeforabluegirl">at Patreon</a>.
Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-27593593740949725942014-04-14T12:54:00.001-07:002014-04-14T12:58:29.481-07:00Remnants of a deeper purity available on Vinyl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/PRO00302c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/PRO00302c.jpg" /></a></div>
Tomorrow, across the land, it is Record Store Day. Where the brave remaining Record Stores entice you into their shops with exciting vinyl releases you can find nowhere else. Well, unfortunately, a lot of those Record Stores aren't as cool as they want you to think they are, and they really want you to buy the new U2 or KISS or Beatles, or whatever major label releases they are stocked up on. Yeah, ok!
But what about Black Tape For A Blue Girl?
Well, only 26 copies of the beautiful <b>Remnants of a deeper purity</b> 2-LP release was ordered by Record Stores. Because, ya know, they're just toooooooo cool for this kind of music. So, you get to be uber exclusive and underground and go directly to the source. If you'd like to get your copy of this deluxe exclusive vinyl release, order it from <a href="http://www.projekt.com/store/product/pro00301/" Target=Blank>my Projekt webstore</a>.
Copies are shipping this week.
Thanks for your support.
Sam
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Katie-9704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/Katie-9704.jpg" /></a></div><CENTER>
Sam & Mera, back in the day. By e. katie holm</CENTER>Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-60924856309624741712014-03-11T09:47:00.002-07:002014-03-11T09:51:48.361-07:00Free 10 Neurotics download + videoBlog update
<span style="color:#999999;"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">from Sam Rosenthal:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family:georgia,serif;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="color:#fa3808;"><strong><span style="font-size:42px;">test pressings</span></strong></span></span></span><br />
<img border="2" src="https://staticapp.icpsc.com/icp/loadimage.php/mogile/167840/8e9c68120a2ffebd75c22d759d54d62d/image/jpeg" width="670" /><br />
Watch the new <a href="http://youtu.be/v3QN7Vv0DEg" TARGET=BLANK>youTube videoBlog</a> about the test pressings of the deluxe 2-LP vinyl edition of Black Tape For A Blue Girl's <strong>Remnants of a deeper purity </strong>album. You can <a href="http://www.projekt.com/store/product/pro00301/" TARGET=BLANK>pre-order your copy</a> of the vinyl for $50. Limited edition of 300. Swirled 140 gram. Or download the remastered deluxe edition for $10 from <a href="https://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/remnants-of-a-deeper-purity-2014-remastered-edition" TARGET=BLANK>our Bandcamp page</a>. </span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:27px;"><b>Partners In Passion: A Guide to Great Sex, Emotional Intimacy and Long-term Love</b></span><br />
I created the long-form ambient piece "The Passage" for the wonderful tantric meditation CD <strong>Ananda Nidra</strong> by Mark A Michaels & Patricia Johnson (2-CD on sale for <a href="http://www.projekt.com/store/product/pro00261/" TARGET=BLANK>$10 at the webstore</a>.) </p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
Mark & Patricia's new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Partners-In-Passion-Emotional-Long-term/dp/1627780289" TARGET=BLANK>Partners in Passion</a> is out, and I have to say it is amazing. I'm on page 100, and I'm impressed with how much good advice they have packed into these pages. This is a book about communication, intimacy, keeping your relationships (and sex life) alive and full of excitement. I'm really loving this. And yes I will admit that I'm a bit of a communication freak! : ) </p>
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<b style="color: rgb(250, 56, 8); font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 35px;">Share the music with 10 friends.</b><br />
<font face="georgia, serif"><img border="1" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/PRO00229.jpg" width="220" /></font><br />
I still love <b>10 Neurotics</b>, the 2009 album from Black tape for a blue girl. I think it was a departure, and listening to it right now, I think it has amazing performances by Athan, Brian, Laurie, Nicki & myself. But, I think a lot of people missed it, or didn't get it, or both. Either because it came out during that death-of-cds-era, or they were put off by the naked girly and the themes of dramatic personal revelation. How about you give it another chance?<a href="http://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/10-neurotics-name-your-price" TARGET=BLANK> I put it up for name-your-price at Bandcamp</a>. If you toss in two or three bucks, that would be really sweet of you; but more than the money, what I would love for you to do is give the album a listen. If you like it, please share the Bandcamp link on your facebook page. </span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
There is a lot to love here. "Inch Worm" is the stylistic follow-up to "Knock There Times." "Marmalade Cat" is a swirly, guitar-based ethereal song. "Curious yet Ashamed" is sort of Philip Glass meets cabaret, with wonderful guest vocals by Lucas Lanthier of The Deadfly Ensemble. "Tell Me You've Taken Another" is brilliant alt-pop, thank to Brian Viglione (of Dresden Dolls) playing most of the instruments, and helped me with the production. And p</span></span><span style="font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ersonally, I think "Love of the Father" is one of the best songs I've written; Athan approaches it with a heart-breaking mix of strength and sensitivity. There's so much I like about <strong>10 Neurotics</strong>. Plus two bonus tracks; new versions of "Halo Star" and "Memory, Uncaring Friend." </p>
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Download for <a href="http://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/10-neurotics-name-your-price" TARGET=BLANK>Name-your-price at Bandcamp.</a></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
Go get it, and please be so kind as to share the link with 10 of your friends. It's kinda like my child who nobody wants to play with. And I keep saying he's a smart boy, and he's a good boy, just give him a chance and you'll see there's lots to love about him. </p>
<p style="text-align: left;">
Thanks,<BR> Sam</span></span></span></p>
Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-62407863267283138572014-02-26T23:41:00.000-08:002014-02-26T23:42:14.921-08:00Remnants of a deeper purity update (video!)<img src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/2014_0223-blacktape-booklet.jpg"/ width=670>
<BR>watch a 2 minute videoblog update on the deluxe 2-lp vinyl edition of <b>remnants of a deeper purity</b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkcs1c7esxE&feature=youtu.be" target=blank>at youtube</a>. or read the text <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-remnants-2-lp-vinyl-edi/posts" target=blank>at kickstarter</a>.
<BR><BR>did you miss out on getting involved in the kickstarter? don't worry, we have some copies of the <a href="http://www.projekt.com/store/product/pro00301/" target=blank>vinyl available for pre-order</a> at the projekt webstore. and <a href="http://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/remnants-of-a-deeper-purity-2014-remastered-edition" target=blank>the bandcamp page</a> has been updated with the remastered version of disc one. it sounds really warm and rich; quite a bit nicer than the original mastering i did back in 1996. Thanks for your support. - Sam
<BR><BR>Here's the text:
<i><BR><BR>I'd say if all goes well, we're six weeks out from having the finished vinyl in our hands and ready to send out to you. I've sent in all the audio files, the cover files, the label files, the stickers that go on the outside. And I already have back the CD that's going inside it, which is the remastered version. So you can listen to the CD if you don't have the ability to play the records.
<BR><BR>I have back the booklets too. And here it is, the booklet that's going inside the jacket. It's massive. It's really cool. Let me show you one page here. That's the inside cover spread, you probably remember it from the CD, but now it's eleven inches square. These are done and look really nice (sniff sniff), and they smell really good because they have a ton of ink on them because the coverage is really solid.
<BR><BR>On the vinyl itself, I've received one set of test pressings, but they had some technical problems so they have to redo them. I'm getting another set next week and hopefully those will be cool so they can begin the actual pressing on the colored vinyl.
<BR><BR>Then all the pieces come to me and I'm going to put them together and then we're going to ship them out to you. And if it all goes well, like I said six weeks, that would be wonderful: to get this all to you.
<BR><BR><img border="1" src="http://www.projekt.com/store/wp-content/uploads/PRO00300.jpg" width=300/>
<BR>There's also this cool CD coming up, it's Projekt's three hundredth release, called redefine my pure faith, which is All my faith lost… doing covers of Black Tape For A Blue Girl's songs. They're an Italian band, sort of ethereal, heavenly voices; they've chosen six songs to cover, two of which are off Remnants of a deeper purity. And it's going to be available at the same time (early Aprili-sh), so you'll be hearing more about that really soon.
<BR><BR>I guess that's where we're at right now, that's a really quick update. I want to thank you all for having Kickstarted the release, for making it happen. And for keeping up on what's going on. Thank you so much for your support in all of this. Bye Bye…
<BR><BR>Sam</i>Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-79958314065433081392014-01-03T01:01:00.002-08:002014-01-03T01:01:48.118-08:00Success!The <b>Remnants of a deeper purity</b> 2-LP vinyl <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-remnants-2-lp-vinyl-edi">Kickstarter</a> was a total success! 145 amazing backers got behind the idea and pushed us over the $7000 goal. Now I am beginning the production process, with a planned April release. I will have additional copies available, so it's not too late to reserve yourself a copy. Please send me an email -- sr.projekt@gmail --- and I will message you with more information. Let me know what country your vinyl will ship to.
I'm so grateful for the very cool backers. It's nice knowing people love Black tape for a blue girl enough to get behind what we do.
Thanks, and happy 2014.
SamSam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-91813342971305215942013-11-26T09:31:00.000-08:002013-11-26T10:53:52.285-08:00Kickstart a vinyl edition of "Remnants of a deeper purity"<b>Remnants of a deeper purity</b> turns 18 with a deluxe 2-LP swirled vinyl edition that the band's fans are funding <a href="http://kck.st/18k4zNd">on Kickstarter</a> / http://kck.st/18k4zNd.
<BR><iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samrosenthal/black-tape-for-a-blue-girl-remnants-2-lp-vinyl-edi/widget/video.html" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"> </iframe>
<P>People often ask if I am going to put out something from Black tape for a blue girl on vinyl. In fact, there was vinyl years ago for the first two albums. But that was a different era, and now it's time for us to put out vinyl again. When I say "us," I mean you and me; because together, we can make <b>Remnants of a deeper purity</b> exist on vinyl. It's your support through the pledges at <a href="http://kck.st/18k4zNd" target="BLANK">Kickstarter</a> that will raise the money so this project can happen.
<P>Blacktape's 1996 <B>Remnants</B> album is the best seller for the band; and not only that, recently on Facebook the fans voted it their favorite album. It's the perfect release to put out on vinyl. Keep in mind that the Kickstarter only works when we hit our $7000 goal. So it's your support, and spreading the word, that is going to get the album funded.
<P><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyfDAmA3bL6dTJ0MM-jeBo2Pz-TA1PkYK4mGjWQ7B-rrUVedyvjT7KLsVmb4nhx4ijrAG0fMIyQIwSTS76LeUNy3YR2v46488YlXu8nQF2mCDzOMq1PkOVNuR5gCYGUythSe9OjZnuAwL/s1600/Sam-Web1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDyfDAmA3bL6dTJ0MM-jeBo2Pz-TA1PkYK4mGjWQ7B-rrUVedyvjT7KLsVmb4nhx4ijrAG0fMIyQIwSTS76LeUNy3YR2v46488YlXu8nQF2mCDzOMq1PkOVNuR5gCYGUythSe9OjZnuAwL/s320/Sam-Web1.jpg" /></a>
<P>The music business has changed drastically in the 17 years since the release of Remnants. The way I see it, (for underground artists) the music business is now a patronage system. Instead of Kings supporting the arts, you - the fans - are the patrons of the art you love. I have created three Kickstarters - all of which have funded - and I am amazed and thankful to have fans like you who care enough about what I do to support my art.
<P>Back in 1996 when I recorded <B>Remnants</B> with Oscar, Lucian, Vicki and Mera, we had no idea the album would touch so many people and have such a lasting impact. It feels really great to be here, almost 18 years later, getting ready to celebrate <B>Remnants</B> again. Join us at <a href="http://kck.st/18k4zNd">Kickstarter</a> / http://kck.st/18k4zNd .
<P>Thank you so much for your support.
Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-50215586063660953242013-01-05T17:02:00.002-08:002013-01-05T19:58:33.029-08:00Your Questions for Sam<table border="0" cellpadding="33" style="width: 650px;">
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: 33px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Your Questions#1</span></span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hi all. Sam from Black tape for a blue girl here. A week ago, I posted on Facebook: "Hey…. ask me some questions, so I have something to write my next blog about!" And here we are! You can email me your questions and I'll put them in the folder for next time….</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Xerzzel Uln'Xeresy: what will it take for you to come to Denver? </span></span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: A promoter with money! :) We live in Brooklyn. We need three plane tickets, a van, a hotel room, food, and a little something in our pockets. That quickly adds up. We can't pay for it out-of-pocket, which is why we need a local promoter who can find a venue, promote the show, and pay the expenses. I often get variations of this question, and the answer is the same. It's fantastic that you want us to come to your town, but we cannot pay our own way. There needs to be somebody local who is organized and can put it together.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Violet Karriker: When are you going to work with Nicki Jaine again?</span></span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: Nicki no longer makes music, so (unfortunately) I fear the answer is, "never." If Nicki wants to make music again, then the answer will be "now." I love Nicki's voice and songwriting. She's one of my best friends, so I totally respect her decision to do what is best for herself. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Jack Champagne: Early black tape studio setups?</span></span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: <strong>The Rope</strong> was recorded on a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UititRWiPIk">Tascam Portastudio</a>. The gear was a K<a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/poly61.php">org Poly-61</a>, a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1_RWnG43q4">Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-110</a> (and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moog_Concertmate_MG-1">Moog Concertmate MG-1</a> on "Memory, Uncaring Friend). I had one Boss delay/sampler foot-pedal at that time. For <strong>Mesmerized, Ashes, Lush Garden </strong>& <strong>Remnants</strong>, I used a Teac 1/2" 8-track, the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQT9O1_2Cng">80-8</a> (it weighed about a ton!). Midi on track 8 controlled the synths. Which included the Poly-61, an <a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/ensoniq/ens_esq1.php">ESQ1</a>, and an <a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/emu/emax.php">EMU</a>, the model of which improved over the course of time. Nowadays, I record on the computer with Sony Vegas, and my synth is an <a href="http://www.vintagesynth.com/emu/esi4000.php">ESI4000 Turbo</a> (which I've just learned hasn't been made in 13 years!). I don't use Midi, anymore. It's too big of a pain in the ass. I just play my synths live, and synch it up in the computer. I have an amazing microphone recommended to me by Byron Metcalf. I used it on <strong>10 Neurotics</strong>, and the vocals sound like the singer is right there next to you in the room. If you make music, buy one: <a href="http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-MAS-MXLV69ME-LIST">Mogami MXL V69</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;"> Robski Eindhoven: Just a big thank you for Remnants of a deeper purity Playing it a lot lately.</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: Thanks for that.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> It's nice to be appreciated. </span><strong style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Remnants</strong><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> was the best-selling Blacktape album, and it's still the one that sells the most.I will be repressing the CD soon, and I am thinking of adding a new 30-minute mix of "With my Sorrows" to disc 2. For those of you who already own the album, you'll be able to get the new mix for free at Bandcamp. There is currently an <a href="http://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/with-my-sorrows-2012">8-minute test mix</a> available.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Oc Iel Mora: When are you coming to Mexico? </span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: See earlier answer: When a promoter contacts me! :) We played once in Mexico City (October 25 1997 at Salon Mexico), and it was a wonderful experience. I would love to go again. But somebody has to make it happen. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Dave Peterson: Really enjoyed the Remnants reissue from a few years ago and wondered if there are any thoughts on doing the same for other albums. Chaos of Desire, Lush Garden, and maybe As One Aflame, for example.</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: No, I don't have plans for that. There's not a lot of extra material (and by that, I mean none, really) to go on a 2nd disc. Last year, I released the 25th anniversary <a href="http://projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00020">2-CD version of <strong>The Rope</strong></a>. If you don't have that, you might want to grab it. It is remastered and includes other artists performing the album on disc 2.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">On the otherhand, there is a completely different mix of the <strong>Ashes in the brittle air</strong> album, which has a number of tracks that were cut and replaced, as well as different versions (you can hear "You tangle within me (original recording)" <a href="http://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/archive-01-free-download">here</a>). One very loyal fan has been trying to convince me to do a Kickstarter to raise the money to do a proper high quality transfer of the masters, remaster it, and put out a 2-CD deluxe edition. I dunno. Do you think I should do that? Input always appreciated.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;"> Matilda Israel: Is your music inspired by life or vice versa? (Quite a philosophical question) </span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: The music is inspired by life, definitely. I often create horrific fictional stories, that I'd never actually want to happen in real life. I've always thought of the lyrics as freeze-framing life, and then analyzing one detail a bit obsessively, and expanding on it, and trying to figure it out. But it does go to serious and painful places, and life doesn't need to be that way. My life is way less stressful and chaotic than my lyrics! Times change. Life is good.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Jeremy Alisauskas: Do you need a guitar player ever? </span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: Yes, maybe. We should talk. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Jeremy Alisauskas: (I'm kidding... But only kinda) </span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Brian Viglione played the electric guitar on <strong>10 Neurotics</strong>, and Valerie Gentile is my live electric and acoustic guitarist. But there's always special situations where I need a certain style that maybe someone new could provide.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Shush De Oso: "I wish you could smile." A favorite of mine, who was that for, or how did it come to you. That song is beyond amazing.</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: Ok. I am playing that song on my iTunes, right now, as it's been years since I've listened to it......... Let's see if I can remember… Ok, I'm sure that was written for Robin, who's on the cover of<strong> The rope</strong> and <strong>Chaos</strong>. I had dinner with her last month, when I was out in San Francisco reading from my novel, <a href="http://ryethenovel.com/">Rye</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Kristin Norman: What inspired the text included in the liner notes for Ashes in the Brittle Air for the instrumental songs?</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: Oh, no. Now I have to get the CD off the shelf… (walks back from the shelf, a second later) Oh, now I have to get out a magnifying glass, because that type is so small (laughs)… Ok… I just read it and ...... Hell if I know what that's about! (laughs). It feels familiar. And yet, I have no recollection of writing it. I have a special skill at blurring and forgetting things like that. Too much has happened in my life, since that time. I hope you weren't hoping for a more profound answer?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;"> Glen Eisenhuth: Are you coming to Australia anytime soon? Also, what has been your worst eating experience?</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: Yeah, see earlier answer: When a promoter contacts me, and can cover our costs, then we will come to Australia! :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Hmmm, worst eating experience? I cannot remember one, really. I seem pretty lucky to have picked totally fine places to eat. Though it was probably somewhere in the middle of America, where the food had absolutely no flavor at all. Like a Mexican place in Kansas City in 1989, or something. The oddest eating experience was a taco salad in the Czech Republic in around 2002. It was a salad, and when I dug down through all the lettuce and vegetables, there were completely made tacos laying on their sides under there. Like a prize for you, after all your work! The tacos had massive chunks of uncooked garlic, which came as a surprise. Fun! </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">William Kilby: What bands inspire you nowadays? What do you like about living in Brooklyn? If you weren't living in Brooklyn where could you see yourself living?</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: I have friends down in Baltimore & Washington D.C., it seems more friendly and liberal and interwoven down there. At least to me, as an outsider. Bands that inspire me? I don't know. I don't really think </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">I listen to music for inspiration. What do I like about Brooklyn? I like that I can walk everywhere. It's 1.2 miles to Projekt from my apartment, and my son's school is halfway there. I walk him to school and then continue to work. That's nice. And healthy. And I see my neighborhood changing. There almost done rebuilding the playground we walk past. They've done a lot of work this winter! We have a lot of time to talk about dragons and come up with jokes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;"> Arr Cee: What made you go from purely ethereal/ambient music to cabaret. </span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: It's fun to do different things.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Gemini Reich: What are u dreaming today?</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">I will cheat and use a dream from a few days ago: My music dreams are always about being on stage after not performing for a year, and not remembering any of my pieces, and then realizing I don't even have the right keyboard in front of me. In the most recent one, David Bowie was showing me how to use some old synthie; it was 1977, and we were about to perform the L<strong>ow</strong> album!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;"> Asgath Uá Niáll: What do you see your music as accomplishing to you in your personal walk of life? Also, how connected or disconnected do you see yourself to the "music community" as your project gains a wide audience? </span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: I don't honestly know if I feel my music has much to do with my personal life. If you mean, "what does your music do for you, personally?" In the old days, it served as a release valve, a way to deal with stress, desire, pain, confusion. It was a needed outlet. I think that changed at some point, when I started working out my shit in my head... And them music became something I sort of enjoy doing, that I am sort of good at. Really, it's a bit obsessive making art. Sometimes I feel like I don't have the need for it, as I feel pretty good in myself about myself. And where I am. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as the music community, I am in touch with many many people via email, but we don't see each other very often. So I don't know if I feel very connected to the music community, in that way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;"> Pam Bernecker Kennedy: Why "10" Neurotics when there are 13 of them on the album? I've been tortured by that since the day it was released! </span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: That is absolutely perfect, Pam! :) Tortured by my intentional inaccuracy. The "10" comes from it being the 10th Black Tape For A Blue Girl studio album. And I think it sounds better than "Thirteen Neurotics." There is also a possibility that some of the characters occur more than once, so there might be a sort of overlap. But I'd have to pull the album out and re-read the lyrics to see if that's true. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Vasco Paiva: What are the albums that changed your life, and how did your taste change as time went by?</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: I really don't think there's an album that changed my life. There are albums I loved... In 1979, my faves were <strong>No Pussy Footing</strong> by Fripp & Eno, <strong>Songs From the Wood</strong> by Jethro Tull and <strong>Q: Are We Not Men</strong> by Devo. What a weirdo, huh? (laughs) In 1986, it was probably <strong>Victorialand</strong> by Cocteau Twins, <strong>It'll End in Tears</strong> by This Mortal Coil and <strong>Torment & Toreros</strong> by Marc Almond. Man, it could take a long time to remember all of this, huh? Let's jump to today. (Favorite albums, not on Projekt:) <strong>Q: Are we Not Men</strong>, DEVO. <strong>( )</strong> or <strong>Takk</strong> by Sigor Ros. <strong>Hunky Dory</strong> by David Bowie. I honestly don't listen to that much "new music" that's not somehow related to Projekt. But I did love Marc Almond's <strong>Varieté</strong>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Christopher C. Wingate: Why are the gods so capricious? </span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam: The gods are not capricious. The universe (which is god, if you ask me) is about love. The problem is us humans getting in the way of love with our ego and need to control things. Don't blame the gods for man's folly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b800f5;"><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;">Sam R: Hey, Sam, what else would you like to link to?</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sam: There are stlll some tshirts left on <a href="http://projekt.com/TSHIRTS/Tshirts.html">my Tshirt sale</a> (a few 90s shirts from Blacktape), and you can download <strong>Mesmerized by the sirens</strong> for free <a href="http://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/album/mesmerized-by-the-sirens-free-download">at Bandcamp</a>. And in the next few weeks, I am going to be taking pre-orders on the <a href="http://projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00288">TENDEROTICS</a> album, which will be available February 12.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Let's do this again, soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sam</span><br />
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Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-2092583133392713232012-11-22T19:29:00.000-08:002012-11-22T19:39:23.243-08:00The novel has arrived<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXAkpN0TeP_oaZ37_3CBuRk14YXCdmZ4-ZFJEHZ3l1mnHAbpJOtvVFm4xctOA1dEr7Wzm8aIddN-UNx-FYVsnXiC-pO6XgQM2di-LjcBHQ-C-iiXqKbViPhUQ8vsAE47KOBAXhVRQcs3i/s1600/RyeBooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXAkpN0TeP_oaZ37_3CBuRk14YXCdmZ4-ZFJEHZ3l1mnHAbpJOtvVFm4xctOA1dEr7Wzm8aIddN-UNx-FYVsnXiC-pO6XgQM2di-LjcBHQ-C-iiXqKbViPhUQ8vsAE47KOBAXhVRQcs3i/s320/RyeBooks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;"> Over the course of the last year, I've put al my creative efforts into writing a novel. It's something that Blacktape fans will enjoy, if they like my writing, my insight, the mood of my work. But I'll be honest with you, the book is erotica. It's a love story. It's got a lot of sex and "bad words." But also a plot and really cool characters who are funny, and sensitive, and passionate.
<br /> Matt, Rye and Rain are the sort of people you want to stay up late with, drinking, flirting and joking. And then, when the candle flickers out: the bedroom!<br />
Sex, snark, & seduction.<br />
Passion, pain, & processing.<br />
It’s all there in <b>Rye</b>.
<br /><br /> It is pretty amazing to hold a physical book in my hand, after a year of <strong>Rye</strong> being an idea in my head and words on a screen. It is real. It is a book. I am a novelist. It is accomplished.<br />
<br /> A very happy day!<br />
<br /> The paperback novel is available <a href="http://ryethenovel.com/" TARGET=BLANK>at my Rye website </a>for $9.99. Or for Kindle <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2F1VS8" TARGET=BLANK>at Amazon</a> for $4.99.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 17px;"><span style="color: #491f85;"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><em>A money-shot across the bow of outdated sensibilities, <strong>Rye</strong> takes a sexual somersault through the complexities of desire in a penetrating portrayal of twenty-first century intimacy.</em></span></strong></span></span>
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<td><img alt="" border="0" height="60/" src="http://www.ryethenovel.com/images/Amazon_Kindle2.png" style="float: right;" /> <span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And look! The first review at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2F1VS8" TARGET=BLANK>Amazon</a>, from Sex Educator Lauren Goodnight:</span>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">5.0 out of 5 stars Poetic, authentic genderqueer romance! </span></span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 13px;">One of the most raw and original pieces of literature to come out of the underground scene in years, Rye is an absolute must-read for anyone ready for a romance that's more than a little 'out of the ordinary'. At turns both erotic and tender, delightfully explicit and gritty-realistic, this is not a book to miss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">The book opens like a dream sequence set in the absolute NOW, but then it unfolds into a more linear narrative and every character, especially the narrator, becomes someone you want to meet and talk with and wish the best. Its not a -long- book, but its beauty and evocative language remind me of Francesca Lia Block at times: Mr. Rosenthal doesn't need to write an encyclopaedia to immerse you in his world.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">In short? Recommended for everyone. Absolutely EVERYONE. This is a poet's ode to prose and lust, and I'm constantly surprised by the unflinching narrative.</span></span></td>
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READING FROM RYE<br />
<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I am reading from <b>Rye</b> in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles in early December. Hear me read (with all the naughty words included), then hang out, ask questions, have me sign your CDs, buy a book. <a href="http://ryethenovel.com/?page_id=302" TARGET=BLANK>Calendar of readings</a>.</span></span></span></span>
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MIX TAPE 4 MATT<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">This is a download of my music, created by Rye for Matt. Everyone can have it, it’s free at <a href="http://samrosenthal.bandcamp.com/album/mix-tape-4-matt">Bandcamp</a>. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 17px;"><em><span style="color: #8f3e14; font-family: georgia, serif;">Get <b>Rye </b>for your Kindle for $4.99 at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A2F1VS8" TARGET=BLANK>Amazon</a>,<br />
or pre-order the signed 268-page paperback for $9.99 at <a href="http://ryethenovel.com/?page_id=131" TARGET=BLANK>ryethenovel.com</a></span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Please share on Facebook: amazon.com/dp/B00A2F1VS8 or ryethenovel.com</span></span>
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Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-19559549639430033072012-10-22T08:56:00.000-07:002012-10-22T09:03:52.950-07:00Free Blacktape download ep & Tanzmusik Vinyl. At Bandcamp.<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><img border="1" src="http://www.projekt.com/projekt/assets/product_images/ARC00079.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><span style="color: #570930;"><span style="font-size: 26px;"><strong>Black Tape For A Blue Girl: Archive 01</strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><b>Free 4-song download EP @ <a href="http://blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com/" TARGET=BLANK>Bandcamp</a></ahref></b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><em><br /></em></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><em><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif;">An idea popped into my head last weekend. I was playing a song in my iTunes and when it ended, the Blacktape track "Caught by a stranger" started. But it wasn't the album version. It was different. I opened iTunes and realized it was a demo Laurie sent me. Wow, I forgot this even existed! And it was very cool. I have lots of Black Tape For A Blue Girl out-takes, live recordings, and demos you've never heard. You really should hear them. <strong>Archive 01</strong> is the first installment of this idea. Putting these up is not about making money, but about sharing the music with you. Get your free 4-song download EP at <ahref blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com="blacktapeforabluegirl.bandcamp.com" http:="http:">Bandcamp</ahref></span></span></span></em></span></span></span><br />
, with tracks spanning Blacktape's career.<br />
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Please share the link on your Facebook and Twitter. Tell your friends.
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<img border="1" src="http://www.projekt.com/projekt/assets/product_images/MMQ00029.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 33px;"><span style="color: #b49e6d;"><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><strong>SAM ROSENTHAL: TANZMUSIK</strong></span></span></span><br />
<b>Limited Vinyl edition, with signed cover.</b><br />
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><b>Listen to tracks at <a href="http://projektrecords.bandcamp.com/album/tanzmusik-remixed-and-remastered" TARGET=BLANK>Bandcamp</a> and purchase the vinyl for $25 + shipping. Or purchase just the download for $9.</B></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Back in 1985, after three cassette-only releases of my solo electronic music, I released <strong>TANZMUSIK</strong>. It was my first and only solo vinyl release (this was before <strong>THE ROPE</strong>came out from Black Tape For A Blue Girl). As far as I can recall, I made 250 copies. I glued pieces of card stock to the front and the back of a blank LP jacket. In fact, I'm pretty sure I remember using spray mount (on my parents front porch) to affix them all.<br /> <br /> Well, fast forward about 25 years, and I was contacted by Alessandro Adriani at Italy's Mannequin Records. He was telling me <strong>TANZMUSIK</strong> is a classic release in the Minimal Synth genre. And he wanted to reissue <strong>TANZMUSIK</strong> on vinyl.<br /> <br /> Well wow, that sounded exciting!<br /> <br /> I decided to remaster the album for this release. After getting the digitized tracks back from my mastering guy in Canada, I discovered it wasn't the 2-track mix, but the 4-track multi-track recording. Wow! I thought the multis were long gone, but here they were, in pristine digital form! I remixed the album in my studio, staying true to the original. Though, sonically, the new mixes sound even more incredible than back in 1984!<br /> <br /> The vinyl edition on Mannequin is 500 units. 100 were recreated to look like the original, with the card affixed to an LP jacket. I just got an email from Alessandro that he only has 50 copies left from the entire edition!<br /> <br /> We have a box in the mail to Projekt with my copies. 15 of which are the limited edition version. Order fast and you can get one of those, and I'm signing them.<<br /> <br /> We are selling <strong>TANZMUSIK </strong>via <a href="http://projektrecords.bandcamp.com/" TARGET=BLANK>Bandcamp</a>. This gives you to an immediate digital download in whatever format you chose. The vinyl will be shipped from our office in Brooklyn as soon as they arrive, like always.<br /> Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8015430822721659835.post-17983535257375868102012-10-05T11:32:00.001-07:002012-10-05T11:33:12.522-07:00October 5th: Forbidden Colours<span style="font-size: 15px;"><em><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><span style="color: #ad1006;">10.5.12 update</span> | What has Black Tape For A Blue Girl been up to the last 10 months? I've been slowly working on the video for the track "Marmalade Cat (Milly Mix)." Mostly, I've been busy with other things: designing and releasing a lot of other great artists at Projekt, hanging out with my son, and a new secret project that I will announce soon.<br />
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However, there's a new song out! I finished Black Tape For A Blue Girl's contribution to the 2012 Projekt Holiday CD, <a href="http://projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00285" target="BLANK"><b>Ornamental</b></a>. It's a cover of "Forbidden Colours" by David Sylvian / Ryuichi Sakamoto. Remember that one? (watch the original video at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1YkHJJi-tc">youTube</a>) <em><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">"Forbidden Colours" is</span></em> the closing theme from the 1985 David Bowie</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">/ Ryuichi Sakamoto </span></em><em><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">film, <u>Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence</u>.</span></em></span>
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<td align="top"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><em><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Our song is a lush, neo-classical track in the vein of the <b>Remnants of a Deeper Purity</b> album, with cello from Unwoman and vocals by Athan Maroulis. It's quite different from our recent <b>10 Neurotics</b> album, I think this will be a pleasant surprise for fans of the mid-era albums.<br />
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Projekt's 2-CD <a href="http://projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00285" target="BLANK"><b>Ornamental</b></a> Xmas album is available and will soon be out on iTunes as well.</span></em></span></td>
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<em><span style="font-size: 15px;"><em><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">The most recent track in the vein of <strong>10 Neurotics</strong> can be found on <a href="http://www.projekt.com/therope25"><strong>The Rope 25</strong></a>, the 2-cd re-release of the our debut. We re-recorded "Memory, Uncaring Friend" with Athan on vocals, and Brian on guitar and drums. It is a great version. You can buy this song on it's own at iTunes, it's the the first song <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-rope-25/id475538388?ign-mpt=uo%3D45">here</a>.<br />
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My 1985 vinyl solo release <a href="http://projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00006"><strong>Tanzmusik</strong></a>, got a vinyl re-release in September on Italy's Mannequin Records. I am told this album is a classic in the Minimal Synth genre. Who knew!!! I re-mixed the album, re-created the cover, and put together a great reissue. There will be a limited edition vinyl version (with glued cards like the original release), and a digital version, and eventually a CD-version as well. Exciting stuff! </span></em></span></em>
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<em><span style="font-size: 15px;"><em><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">My copies of <b>Tanzmusik</b> are "in the mail." Which means whenever they get here, I will put them on sale at the Projekt website.</span></em></span></em><br />
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<em>Talk with you soon, Sam</em><br />
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<br />Sam Rosenthalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13552860969650338556noreply@blogger.com0