Metafilter Compilation Album is nigh!

November 8, 2006 1:23 PM

Metafiler Compilation Album is nigh! Official website totally revamped! Details within!
posted by cortex (staff) to MetaFilter Music at 1:23 PM (51 comments total)

It's been a while since we kicked this thing off, but it's finally on the last lap and closing on the finish line: I should have 1000 CDs showing up in Portland around Thanksgiving, and thus expect to be mailing out orders by the last week of November.

(If you haven't ordered, and would like to, proceed to the (pre-)order page.)

Mostly we've had radio silence for the last few months—I've exchanged comments with folks in this or that MeTa thread and done a lot of communication via email, but there hasn't been much news other than "still working on it". I'm glad to say that's done with.

I've rebuilt the official website of the project, meficomp.com, on a Wordpress install, and it now features (a) a fully functional RSS feed, (b) an (easy for me to update) blog-style front page for news as it happens and various color commentary, and (c) a bunch more content, including artist profiles with liners, mp3 samples, and more.

The site is still a work in progress—I will probably continue to tweak the CSS, but more importantly I've got a number of other pages and minor features that I'll add incrementally as time goes by. Background on our non-music helpers (interrobang, turtlegirl, anathema, and others), a rolling summary of money in and out, etc.

I am very excited to have this project coming to fruition. I've done it before and I'll do it again, but I want to thank everyone who has been involved in making this happen. It's been a heck of a ride for me, educational and stressful and fantastic, but for most of you it's been an exercise in patience, and I thank you for extending me that.
posted by cortex at 1:28 PM on November 8, 2006

One of the things on the site that may be thin and out-of-date at this point is the FAQ page. If there are any good (or even frequently asked) questions that come up here or elsewhere in the next few days/weeks, I'll aim to get that updated accordingly.
posted by cortex at 1:30 PM on November 8, 2006

woo! Thanks cortex.
posted by Humpable Prose at 1:35 PM on November 8, 2006

I am now internet famous. This really is the best day ever. Thanks for rocking cortex.
posted by ND¢ at 1:55 PM on November 8, 2006

Thanks to cortex for all of his work making the compilation happen.

To celebrate the imminent completition of the album, I'm getting together with the rest of the Track 13'ers (aka The Bosch) and we're going to have a meficomp completion celebration this Friday (aka the show we're playing at Crash Mansion in Manhattan at 9pm. It's free with rsvp and there's an open bar while we're on. (rsvp here). < /shamelessselfpromotionfilter> Come by and say hi!
posted by andrewraff at 2:24 PM on November 8, 2006

The artwork is very cool, interrobang.
posted by smackfu at 2:27 PM on November 8, 2006

Bring a laptop, set it up as a public terminal, and encourage people to order the album. Bam!
posted by cortex at 2:28 PM on November 8, 2006

Lookin good!

And in the spirit of andrewraff's post, Derailleur will be playing track 10-- along with our other hits-- at one of our extremely rare, once-or-twice-a-year shows at the Guthrie Theater this Friday night. Also free. Wear MeFi blue and I'll personally call you out for being awesome.
posted by COBRA! at 2:42 PM on November 8, 2006

the Guthrie Theater being in Minneapolis, of course...
posted by COBRA! at 2:43 PM on November 8, 2006

If any of you crazy kids elects to, say, get some live audio or even some video shakycam footage of a performance of your respective tracks, I would be happy to blog that puppy on the site. Interactive webspace! Woo!
posted by cortex at 2:47 PM on November 8, 2006

Nice work, cortex, interrobang, and everyone else involved. I'm excited to be part of this!

Andrewraff: Cool. I was going to suggest an official MeFiComp release party here in NYC, once actual physical copies of the CD are on hand. I'd be happy to come out and perform "Italian Ice" w/ my backing vocalist/bassist.

Of course, there could be MeFiComp release parties in other places, too. Cortex might want to put a west coast shindig together.

Do we have a "street date" yet?
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 3:00 PM on November 8, 2006

Great work. Thanks for including me.
posted by frenetic at 3:03 PM on November 8, 2006

Ooh, yeah! I'm having a release party, right... Now!

Anybody got a cigarette?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:04 PM on November 8, 2006

Oh, I see my question about the release date was answered in cortex's initial post.

Anyway, I don't know where all the various MeFiComp artists reside, but if anyone in the vicinity of NYC wants to perform at a release party, give a holler. I know of one or two places where I could probably set something up in December.

I've never been to an NYC MeFi get-together, but I assume local MeFites might be interested in coming out for this.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 3:06 PM on November 8, 2006

It's called Chinese Democracy, right?
posted by bardic at 3:43 PM on November 8, 2006

Yay! As someone who has heard the whole CD (turtlegirl's me wife) I must say the compilation really is worth the every penny (and the wait). Add the AMAZING art and I imagine it is even more worthy of your hard-earned money. The holiday season really did come early. Stuff the stockings of those you love with MetaFilter Compilation CDs!

Thanks cortex, interobang, turtlegirl and all the talented artists!
posted by terrapin at 4:02 PM on November 8, 2006

OMIGOD, I think I just peed a little in my pants. This is so exciting. The new and revamped website is awesome, and the artists page complete with cover art, notes, and lyrics is absolutely phenomenal. It's damn good foreplay, and I am so sure the CD is going to follow through admirably.
posted by arcticwoman at 4:15 PM on November 8, 2006

Oh, hooray, I'm so looking forward to this!
posted by annieb at 4:56 PM on November 8, 2006

The website looks great. I can't wait for the cd!
posted by OmieWise at 6:59 PM on November 8, 2006

interrobang totally nailed that angle on my nose that I hate the most. You don't notice in the original because your eye is drawn by the adorable three and a half pound infant slumbering on my chest (he's all BIG now!)

An eerie likeness, right down to the ratty neck stubble. You guys have done an amazing job.
posted by nanojath at 7:33 PM on November 8, 2006

I figured that was $12 I'd never see again.
posted by Balisong at 8:29 PM on November 8, 2006

Hurrah!

Out of curiousity, can one play tunes from the compilation on a RadioMecha or Radio Free MoFirc-stylee station without running afoul of LoudCity's DMCA-enforced rules?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:41 PM on November 8, 2006

I figured that was $12 I'd never see again.

Actually, there's a Balisong exclusion clause in the fine print on the paypal page. I've used your money for one fifth of a hooker.

Out of curiousity, can one play tunes from the compilation...

I have no idea what issues would be involved. I doubt you'd get much objection from the artists, but I have no specific licensed authority to distribute (or approve the distribution of) any of this music except via the magical CDs I'm pressing.
posted by cortex at 8:48 PM on November 8, 2006

I've used your money for one fifth of a hooker.

I hope it was for the left leg, that's the best part!

And thanks for the quick response. I think the rules are there for royalty distribution (Which isn't an issue anyhow), but frankly I'm terrified of entertainment lawyers.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 8:51 PM on November 8, 2006

Thanks cortex, turtlegirl, and interrobang. Everything looks and sounds wonderful. Oh, and we should also mention that cortex has recently become a Harvey Girl so that means that there are now three mefites within the band, fulfilling the three-mefite minimum established with interrobang. Our dream is now to find a drumming Portland mefite so we can be the mefitiest band on the planet.
posted by sleepy pete at 8:58 PM on November 8, 2006

I just now saw this thread. Thanks, everyone!
posted by interrobang at 9:31 PM on November 8, 2006

That artwork is amazing.
posted by greycap at 11:56 PM on November 8, 2006

Yay to everyone involved, and woo! I might be gonna have to actually order one of these (and I never buy nuthin')!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 1:33 AM on November 9, 2006

I meant to say, the art work is fabulous. Good job interrobang!
posted by OmieWise at 6:45 AM on November 9, 2006

cortex has recently become a Harvey Girl

Seriously? 'Cause the Harvey Girls and cortex are a couple of my favorite MeFenomena, and the thought of them getting together... well, it makes me all trembly!
posted by languagehat at 7:54 AM on November 9, 2006

languagehat: as I pointed out on Metachat the other day, there was a small earthquake in Portland on Sunday that occurred right about the precise moment we finished running through our current set. The world may be doomed, but it'll sound good burning down.
posted by cortex at 8:00 AM on November 9, 2006

"Oh, and we should also mention that cortex has recently become a Harvey Girl..."

Wow, cortex. Your wife must be really understanding!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:41 AM on November 9, 2006

Hey, my girlfriend was totally okay with it...
posted by interrobang at 9:43 AM on November 9, 2006

How the hell did that hack cortex end up on an album?

Err, I mean, yay. And stuff.

Congrats, all! ;)
posted by loquacious at 9:54 AM on November 9, 2006

Wait, now I'm confused. Are you now a Harvey Girl, too? Wouldn't that make 4 MeFites? Is this condition contagious? And if so, where can I catch it?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:59 AM on November 9, 2006

Meant that for interrobang.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 9:59 AM on November 9, 2006

I played bass, trumpet, and mandolin with the Harvey Girls for awhile, IRFH. And I did their album cover.
posted by interrobang at 10:02 AM on November 9, 2006

Sweet! I missed that info, somehow. Didn't think your stock could go up much, yet there it goes!"
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:11 AM on November 9, 2006

Closing small tag.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:11 AM on November 9, 2006

And if so, where can I catch it?

Holy god, come to Portland and play, dude. Instant disease.

We are looking for a drummer and a bassist would be nice, too. Trumpet, mandolin, sax. And a DJ. And a choir. Fire-eaters. Armpit farters. A human beatbox! Portland mefites or friends of same preferred.

Or interrobang could just move and bring SybiL with him.
posted by melissa may at 10:43 AM on November 9, 2006

Portland's a little too arid for my tastes.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:44 AM on November 9, 2006

Note: I can armpit fart pretty well myself, so no slackers on that front.
posted by cortex at 11:05 AM on November 9, 2006

I'll have you know that my four-piece submitted an excellent track that by all rights should be headlining that album.
posted by Jennifer Leigh DeHoyt-Hysignell at 4:32 PM on November 9, 2006

Oh, shove off, you.
posted by cortex at 4:33 PM on November 9, 2006

"Offstage, The Jennifer Leigh DeHoyt-Hysignell Smiletime Band were closer than ever, with morale and good vibes at an all-time high."

"Onstage, things were falling apart, since they were actually just one fucking asshole."
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 4:41 PM on November 9, 2006

I'm kind of sad that I missed the boat on this whole thing.
posted by chococat at 2:49 PM on November 14, 2006

I'm kind of sad that you haven't posted any new songs to Mefi Music since August.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:10 PM on November 14, 2006

I'm kind of sad that I spent five bucks on that sockpuppet. And that thing that IRFH said, chococat.
posted by cortex at 3:16 PM on November 14, 2006

ouch.
posted by chococat at 5:14 PM on November 14, 2006

seriously though man get yer post on
posted by cortex at 6:36 PM on November 14, 2006

Holy crap, I'll probably have the CDs by the end of the week!
posted by cortex at 3:57 PM on November 15, 2006