The Death of Finbar McGrath -- Laramie Crocker

The Death of Finbar McGrath follows Redemption, Stereoville, 5Koans, and Happier Days in the Finbar McGrath years. In this rare, late collection of raw studio takes and laptop recording sessions, we can hear Finbar and Laramie sing together, and put together the songs. Even in the limited material we can hear the gift of Finbar, that was so tragically taken from us. This album chronicles the joy Finbar experienced creating his distinctive music, not only live, but in the studio, shown to you through finished and raw takes and demo tracks. But it also chronicles the descent into disbelief of the world, and belief in a higher game, which he perhaps tried to reach. Whether he was successful, we don't know. We just know he disappears from this plane of existence.

There's also a growing trove of ephemera from Finbar's estate, which he had willed to Open Source with a CC license: studio files, album artwork, photos, and hand-lettered song sheets.

The track Cheesecake and Apple Pie is a spoken word piece by Wend Elsen. Finbar built up some loops, then played bass while Wend performed her piece.

There was also an opera made about Finbar's earlier life, written by Laramie Crocker, also in the Finbar Years series. Go to the homepage of Redemption, the Acid Gospel Tarot Opera to find album tracks and opera production dates and cast.

Now from the curator's blog ::

Jan 30, 2012 DeConstruction Begins! We begin the end for Finbar. The new album, The Death of Finbar McGrath, is begun. Above are tracks as they exist for each song, most of these are demos--which is to say, placeholders for people to learn parts until a recording is done with a live band and choir. But, in this digital age, as the album is un-earthed, Finbar lives! So check back every once in a while to see the progress on the tracks. Currently, all but two songs have some kind of recording, and a few are real performances, even if recorded on Android or GarageBand. All the tracks for It's Time will be rolled into one monster acid-gospel pop hit. It's not easy saying goodbye to your alter-ego, but he always said he was just in it for the fame. Time will tell if he lives or if he will come back to us.

Here are the Fragments we have so far, for the monster hit, It's Time. Mid-deconstruction, it's still too early to say with any clarity what Finbar will ultimately cook up from the Fragments. We will keep you posted as we un-earth more of these "garage tapes..."

It's Time intro
It's Time Guitar
It's Time
It's Time harmony
It's Time worshiping
It's Time-finale