Brian Andrew Marek - American Debris (CD)

"For the last several years, St. Louis native Brian Andrew Marek has put out one or two or even three album projects per annum. This year, he’s already delivered three full length CDs – one from his prog/psych rock band the Vertigo Swirl, one from Angus Tweed, the band he was in a while back and which got together for some new recordings, and this fountain of melodic pop/rock solo record. He plays almost all the instruments here, with two guitar solos and one keyboard part contributed by others. Marek is an astoundingly prolific purveyor of tunefulness. The fourteen songs here are all tightly constructed, full of smartly catchy hooks, and a lot of inspiration. The lyrics are no slouch, either, though I concentrate so much on the music that it takes me a while to notice how clever he is." - Steve Pick, KDHX 88.1 FM, 3/1/22

This album should've been released some time ago. You can blame COVID. I do, anyway. Some things were delayed, others simply didn't happen and I had to accept and adapt. But now that it's all been said and done, I'm very proud of this collection.

I find myself thinking of it as the culmination of a trilogy beginning with Far & Away (More or Less). I'm not even sure why, beyond the human tendency to think in threes. Perhaps you can work it out. Maybe I already suspect the next solo album will be... different?

The title track was inspired by a contemplative trip on an Amtrak train bound for Chicago, watching the small town world pass by while considering my place in this big, confusing country. There may be a whiff of that sentiment elsewhere, but it's not a concept album by any means. Some songs are about the larger world, some are personal, and a few I'm not even sure I fully understand.

I did all the vocals, and played all the instruments. The exceptions this time are Lyla Turner, who presented me with some lovely symphonic keyboard parts which I chopped up and embellished to bring you "Electric Womb", and the ever-reliable Michael Thompson, who provided some guitar and bass. Darren Snow took the perfect cover photograph I'd been envisioning, and had a couple others up his sleeve that worked thematically.

Sorry for the almost three year wait, but hopefully the results are at least somewhat worth it. Stay safe out there, BaM