(Off-topic for this blog, but I want people to know about this album.)

There are filk albums that excite me with their stories, impress me with their musicianship and technical skill, or make me laugh at their humor. Not many, though, grab me from the inside the way Gray Rinehart’s “Taking You Out to See the Stars.” The songs touch on hope for the future, love, painful loss, facing adversity, mortality, and more. It’s billed as a “pre-order,” but don’t be fooled; it’s got thirteen fully-realized songs.

Gray’s vocals give a convincing simplicity to the songs. Mark Minervino’s instrumental arrangements nicely complement them, providing a broad palette of colors without overwhelming the vocal line.

If this is the pre-order, I’m really looking forward to the complete album. This is one of the best filk releases I’ve heard in recent years. I hope the final version has program notes to go with the songs.

Update: As far as I can tell, the only difference in the final album is a new cover. That’s fine. Nothing was lacking before.