The Wackness Soundtrack CD

'" --Alex de GrassiI began recording 'Scenes from the Observation Car' in the fall of 2006. Earlier that year I had released my first CD, 'Ooboo's Pancake,' and was eager to start another project. After recording about 10 tracks, I took a break. Several weeks later, I listened to the songs with a critical ear and realized that quite a few needed tweaking: some needed a better performance, others needed to grow a bit more with changes to the arrangements or melodies. Some just didn't 'cut it.

' Over the next year I wrote new tunes and honed the best ones from the initial recordings, coming up with a mix of 13 compositions that would eventually become 'Scenes.

' Two years in the making, this project combines stories, sketches and music to deliver a mood that will hopefully take listeners to a peaceful placeâ€"one of respite from fast lanes, cell phones, text paging, and the daily grind of survival. I've wanted to produce a project such as this since I fell in love with Harry Chapin's 'Sniper,' an album from the 70s which combined music, lyrics and illustrations. Each song had an associated sketch beside the words, providing another dimension, taking one deeper into the track with each listen. Although the music on 'Scenes' is instrumental, hopefully the short stories, sketches and melodies will provide an effect similar to Chapin's. From the poignant recollection in 'Jamestown Train' to the quirky sentiment of 'Fake Presents,' 'Scenes from the Observation Car' represents special moments in my life's journeyâ€"from childhood to 50. I hope you will enjoy listening and reading.