New Smashing Pumpkins song--listen here

Yes, the Smashing Pumpkins are my favorite band. It's interesting that they still make and release music--on the one hand, their heyday is most definitely over. On the other hand, they're giving their music away for free, so who am I to complain?

The model they're following actually seems to be gaining some traction: release your stuff online for free, but offer a super-deluxe collectors' edition of the same stuff for an equally deluxe price (like $40-50). You get a bonus song, maybe, plus some really nice artwork and a ridiculously nice package. Great for the superfan. The rest of us get it for free. Radiohead did something similar with "In Rainbows," I think. Kinda cool.

In any case, enjoy the new song(s) below. The newest is called "Lightning Strikes." Rock. Not sure how I feel about it yet.

-Dean

Live at Haus Mitt, and a free download

I didn't get one of the coolest things about music until I saw the Smashing Pumpkins live a few years ago. They're my favorite band, and I know every song by heart, but they played a version of this song called "Shame" that I had never heard before. "Shame" is actually one of my least favorite Pumpkins songs, but they totally re-did it sometime in the last decade or so, and it was awesome.

I have a point, I promise! We played the Beer and Pretzels party at Haus Mitt at Stanford the other night. First off, it was awesome--I haven't had that much fun at a show in a really long time. Second, it struck me how much "Can't Let You Go" has changed since we released it on the album.

On the album, it's actually Sarah on the drums, vocals, and guitar, since she recorded it before the band really got off the ground. But last year we took it on with a fresh start and made it even better. Every time we play it, it develops just a little bit more, and it's been really fun.

Check out the latest incarnation by downloading this recording of us playing "Can't Let You Go" live at Haus Mitt the other day. Download here.


Enjoy the song!

Dean