Album Notes

“Window Seat” explores themes such as time and memory, growing up while trying to stay young, recognizing the extraordinary within the ordinary, the privileging of emotion over reason, the struggle to rise above cliché, and loss and longing for a sense of home. “Window Seat” encourages us to express ourselves unselfconsciously. It reminds us that time passing means less than how we spend that time. The album’s flow is alternately exhilarating and dreamy, joyful and introspective. Each song maintains a balance of loose buoyancy with structured and delicate nuance. While the songs stand alone as complete works, they also gain in interest and power as a result of their placement within a carefully designed and compelling sequence. McGrath’s words are wise, moving and clever without being pretentious or sentimental. His singing is sincere and expressive, conveying the meaning of the lyrics with sensitivity and conviction. On "Window Seat," McGrath is telling his favorite stories and listeners have the best seat in the house. The album was produced by William Berlind and the cast of talented musicians and friends who play on it include: William Berlind (who’s song, “Sleeping With the Fan On” is currently rocking the AM airwaves)- Wurlitzer, piano (prepared, toy and otherwise), organ Aaron Thurston (The French Kicks)-drums Ian Riggs (Howard Fishman, Ethan Lipton)-bass Rob Moose (Sufjan Stevens, Antony and the Johnsons)-violin Diana Kazakova-background vocals Reid Maclean- background vocals Justin Hines-percussion Henry Hample-fiddle Katy Kresek-violin Wendy Law-cello Jacob Wick-trumpet About Colin McGrath: Colin McGrath began performing original songs when he was 18 while busking across Europe. He studied music at Oberlin College in Ohio, but the Irish, bluegrass, funk and improv bands he played with fueled his creativity as much or more than the classical music that he studied. After college, at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, McGrath became inspired by a straightforward and honest style of modern folk. He released his first, self-titled folk album while living in San Francisco. McGrath is as at home composing instrumental music as he is writing songs. He was the musical director of the Killing My Lobster Orchestra in San Francisco when he released “Allegro Con Chutzpah,” an album of quirky and comical instrumentals influenced by Latin, Klezmer and classical music. Since relocating to his native New York City, McGrath’s music has been heard in theaters, in documentaries (including a Bill Moyers film) and in ads on your TV. At last, with “Window Seat,” Colin McGrath returns to an old love, song writing, but with the background of an orchestrator and composer, influenced by years of music making.