Quite a crazy couple of months I've had. The next few months are looking to be equally busy. So here's an update on things Mailbox and me.

I have a bunch of songs I'd like to record. Many are very old Back To The Zoo tracks. I only have 2 or 3 new songs written that are actually itchin' to be recorded. I'd love to sit down and write a whole new album of material but the time just isn't available at the moment. Also, I don't know what I'd write about or what kind of songs I want to write. I know I need some fresh inspiration and I've taken steps to find that new perspective.

To my surpsise, I'm playing in a 1980s cover band that Jeff Margolis started up a while ago. I'm getting a big kick out of Hot Neon Magic and we played a huge gig the other week. We have some great (and some not-so-great) clips up on the site. Check out me belting out some Human League. Priceless. Aside from having fun reliving my childhood I'm working with new musicians and getting to know intimately the song structures and styles of other artists' work. It is proving very rewarding and educational. Who knew "The Safety Dance" had so much to teach us?

I also have a pending gig with another band. A friend of mine has put together a four-piece act with me on keys. We haven't actually played together yet but he has a gig lined up for June. We're looking to do mostly originals and a few choice covers. We'd have three songwriters in the band which would be first for me (if you exclude HCR). As with Hot Neon Magic, I look forward to getting into the heads of some other songwriters. I don't know what to expect from this outfit but it could be a great excuse for me to get writing and find my present voice.

I don't think I'll be working on any new recordings for a while. When we returned to Vermont in December, we moved into a short-lease rental. We're planning on moving into a permanent home in a couple months which means I have to break down all my gear here in a few weeks. So it goes.

If you want to keep up with my various projects, you can subscribe to this blog for Mailbox info or become a Mailbox fan on Facebook. Also check out the Hot Neon Magic Facebook page. If anything takes hold with the "other band" I will provide a link to it from imadeitup.com and the Mailbox Facebook page.

Two little releases for old skool Mailbox fans. Spuds Pickles Bananas compiles non-album tracks that were released on several since-deleted albums. You got yer "Spuds" and yer "Mama's Got Something" and yer "Keep Sharp Objects Away From Children" here. It is, perhaps, my kids album in that the songs show very little sign of maturity.

Fortune Cookies and The Meaning of Life is now available in the Stuff & Things section. This collection of naughty songs could also be considered a kids album in that you really wouldn't want to play it for your parents. One previously unreleased highlight of this album is "The Meaning of Life" of which I'm particularly fond.

I spent about five hours today laying down basic tracks for "Endless" for one of the next Mailbox albums. The drums, bass guitar and a scratch vocal/acoustic guitar track are down. I've been working on this song, which might not even been called "Endless," for a dozen years so it's nice to finally hear it from front to back even if it's rough in places.

Next step is to think about what instruments to try on top of this basic arrangements. Electric guitar, for sure, and perhaps a Mellotron or pad synth.