This is an album for people who have fondness for the flawed, who find intrigue in imperfections and seek magic in the mundane. Stylistically, it weaves from rock to folk to ambient. Lyrically, it is like overhearing a conversation between old friends telling stories, sharing snippets of dreams and whispering secrets softly into the darkest night.

This is an album for people who have fondness for the flawed, who find intrigue in imperfections and seek magic in the mundane. Stylistically, it weaves from rock to folk to ambient. Lyrically, it is like overhearing a conversation between old friends telling stories, sharing snippets of dreams and whispering secrets softly into the darkest night.

These songs were all written and recorded in the moments between being a “learning coach” for remote school, teaching online music lessons, shoveling snow and making lunch for my family. A small group of very talented musicians recorded additional parts for the project remotely.

The topics range from life/death, the creative/recording process and many fictional short stories. Check out the song notes for lyrics, musician credits and notes about what sparked the song.

My introduction to recording was sitting in my parent's basement breaking down songs and punching play/record, experimenting and listening back to the tapes with friends. I am still chasing moments of inspiration and sharing songs with my friends.

Favorite Imperfections is a collection of songs that I wrote and recorded for a songwriting challenge called February Album Writing Month. FAWM 2021 was my 14th year participating in this challenge and these songs would not exist if not for the love and support of the wonderful people of this beautiful songwriting community.

About the Album:
This album is a collection of songs written and recorded in February 2013 as part of FAWM (February Album Writing Month). Dan plays all of the instruments on the album, even the ones that he doesn't really know how to play. Stylistically, the album weaves and bobs in and out of many genres. Lyrically, the songs cover diverse

About the Album:
This album is a collection of songs written and recorded in February 2013 as part of FAWM (February Album Writing Month). Dan plays all of the instruments on the album, even the ones that he doesn't really know how to play. Stylistically, the album weaves and bobs in and out of many genres. Lyrically, the songs cover diverse topics, including love, death, infomercials, gardening, the music industry and fatherhood.

Dan's Thoughts on Writing and Recording This Collection of Songs:
I was recently thinking about what connects much of the music that I've enjoyed throughout my life from The Beatles and Bob Dylan to Ben Harper and Paul Simon to Bela Fleck and Chris Thile. It begins with a good song, but I was pondering why I like certain recordings. Most of my favorite music has one or both of these characteristics: 1. A person (or people) playing music live in a room so that the recordings have a feeling of spontaneity and interaction and 2. Parts of songs or instrumentation being written in the studio or improvised.

There was a time, not long ago, when recording an album began as soon as the lights came on and the tape began rolling. During such sessions, something real happens in the room, real people creating and playing music. In that same spirit, all of the lead vocals on this album were recorded live, while the main instrument in the song was being played. The editing on each song has been very minimal. All of the songs and accompaniment were recorded in February and mixed in March 2013.

There is a certain excitement, immediacy and spontaneity that I feel when I first play through a song that I write. The versions of the songs recorded for this album are often one of the first times that I played through each song. These songs will continue to change and evolve as time goes on, but this is a record of what happens when the lights come on.

I feel that different instruments have different stories to tell, especially old instruments. Several of the instruments that I used for these recordings are over twice as old as I am and many have been glued back together, repaired and/or set-up by B's Music in Mount Pleasant, MI. Only three of these songs were written on a standard flattop acoustic guitar. For the rest, I opted for various other guitars (classical guitar, electric, archtop, 4-string tenor guitar, square-neck slide guitar, etc.) as well as a banjo and mandolin.

I've always had a love affair with recording music. It started in the mid-90s when I began recording songs on handheld and 4-track cassette recorders. I have been lucky enough to get to record at a handful of professional studios with engineers who I've been able to watch and learn from. In 2004, I built my first recording computer and borrowed a decent microphone. I have continued to upgrade my recording gear and have recorded hundreds of demos as well as a good portion of the instruments/vocals on my studio albums and albums for a couple of other bands. This album is the first album for which I have recorded and mixed all of the songs.

Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy the songs.

- Dan

[Many thanks to all of the FAWMers and 50/90ers! You are the best songwriting community, ever.]