Album Notes

Three completes a trilogy (Over and Over Again 2003, Guinea Pigs on a Scaffold 2005) that tells a story with heart-rending honesty, intimacy, and humor. The songs speak of the loss and redemption, the abyss and the summit, the rise, fall, and resurrection of love. Three songs on the album that capture this idea best are Hey Venus(5), Winter is Fading(6) and Change(11). Is Anybody Comin’ Around? (1) is a song of leaving home and When I was a Kid(7) is a reflection that looks back on growing up and the intricacies of how one’s perspective changes. Breakdown(2) is a thought-provoking commentary on the state of things. Hipsterese(13) balances this commentary with a few quirky pokes at modern culture and the realization of how pop music, it’s promotion and appreciation, is saturated with superficial “cheese”. Mumblin’ and Bumblin’(12) describes, with good humor, Munhall’s seemingly endless grappling with God. In Three Days from Today/Too Close for Comfort(3), the storyteller seems to split himself in two and answers himself with his alter ego. The depth of the writing can easily be missed on the faster songs, but Munhall’s delivery is clear and distinct on this record. Throughout Three, Munhall uses the buzz word “change” in such a way that is more personal than the way we’ve been accustomed to hearing it. For Munhall, what’s on the outside reflects what’s on the inside.

This album includes the work of many musicians including Jon Fintel (owner/engineer) at Relay Recording, Matt Paetsch (OSU jazz Alum) on bass, Jack Knuttila on drums, Larry Cook (JAG) co-arranger, Stan Smith (faculty Capital) Classical Guitar, Jim Powell (CJO) on Flugelhorn, Erin Gilliland (CSO) on Violin, Peter Case on Cello, Kevin Bourassa (Capital Con. Alum) on Trumpet, Heather Beers (Capital Con. Alum) on Contrabass, Tom LoSchiavo (Otterbein alum, NYC, back-up vocals).