Hole of Burning Alms

Liner Notes: Before there was Papa M there was Aerial M. And before that was M is the Thirteenth Letter. And even before that shit there was M. This collection compiles vinyl singles, limited CD singles, and a couple unreleased tracks, from 1995-2000. Tracks 1 and 2: M 7" single on Palace Records. The first two songs by M. Recorded in my basement (where I still record) in 1995. My heart was bound at the time, and this froggy went a-courtin'. Track 3: M is the Thirteenth Letter / Monade, 7" single on All City Records. Also engineered at a poorly designed studio. Laetitia Sadier named it for me. I had just met a life-partner and this was all I could offer, although neither of us realized it at the time. Track 4: 168451 CD single on Drag City. The first and last multi-track recording of a live band that I ever did on my own. The sound quality is suspect but I didn't know any better; I was too hopeful to care. Track 5: M is... CD single on Drag CIty. Going down for the electric brain massage. Track 6: October CD single on Drag City. 'October' was meant to complete the sentence 'M is October." The fragmented text on the 'M is..." CD face matches up with the fragments on the 'October' disc, making it a Mad Libs style poem. Track 7: October CD single on Drag City. Maurice (pre-Slint) covered this song even when we toured with Samhain in 1985. Danzig showed me the correct way to play the chord progression. This is the first time I ever sang on tape and I got lucky. Track 8: Travels in Constants Vol. 5 CD EP on Temporary Residence. This was done for a series based on people who travel extensively. I really didn't want to do loopy guitar noodles (even though I ended up doing that) so I opted for an un-danceable, non-4/4 techno song. The cover of the single (as well as the '1999 Tour Single' cover) is a photo of the Jeep Cherokee that I built a bed in. I drove out west for three weeks and didn't tell friends or family where I was going, no stereo, no radio, no smokes, and the Jeep couldn't drive over 55. Tracks 9 and 10: 1999 Tour Single CD single on Velvetone Music System. The first and last release on my own "label." Oh yeah, the Jeep broke down when I got back home. Track 11: Drag City CD Xmas card 2000. Organ - Some guy who did a great job. Everyone slept on the floor of a recording studio in Portland, Oregon. I stayed up all night partying with locals and doing Mexican speed. At 8am I woke everyone up so we could record turnx3. The only rule was, play until the tape runs out. Track 12: This forgotten song was recorded as an audio xmas card for the folks at Drag City; there was decent snowfall that year as I recall. Mastering at Colossal Mastering, Chicago, Illinois © 2004 Bearded Music (BMI) ©&℗ 2004 Drag City Incorporated For DK Christa & Will On sticker: Aerial M/Papa M Singles Collection 1995-2000 On CD: Promo Only