To celebrate my album Cottonwood, I have created excellent, limited-edition scarves for fans of my music. The scarves feature the album cover art - check them out in my shop here: https://www.abadthink.com/shop/cottonwood-limited-edition-scarf
Hope you like them!
My big thanks to Dean Wolfe for checking out my track, “Without You”, from Cottonwood. Glad you enjoyed the song!
Reaction to "Without You" from Cottonwood
I’m partnering with Immersive Audio Album to give away a free download of my album, along with a free limited-edition square scarf in honor of Cottonwood.
Check out the rules and terms of the giveaway here: https://gleam.io/jah1h/a-bad-think-giveaway-cottonwood-album-merch.
Sign up and see if you can win!
“Bucket List” is my single from the new album, Cottonwood.
Enjoy this new lyric video for the song based on the album’s cover art!
Check out this review of by a great indie music blog, Last Day Deaf: “Without You by A Bad Think, led by Grammy-nominated Michael Marquart, is a captivating single from the just released album Cottonwood… A Bad Think explores alt/indie rock with this track, blending introspective lyrics and rich melodies via an anthemic, progressive rock prism.”
“Without You” is one of my favorite tracks on the album, I’m happy others are enjoying it. Check it out yourself here.
This track is a snippet of “Bucket List,” off the new album. Stream it now everywhere you get your streaming, and download on ImmersiveAudioAlbum.com.
Excited to announce Cottonwood is officially out now! You can find the album on streaming platforms everywhere, and as a download in Dolby Atmos on ImmersiveAudioAlbum.com.
As I worked on this new album, there are three main themes that kept coming up in the songs. These ideas were really at the heart of what I wanted to explore on this record.
The struggle to find meaning and purpose: A lot of the tracks on Cottonwood are about trying to figure out your place in the world and what you're meant to be doing. In songs like "10,000 Hours" and "Bucket List," I'm grappling with that feeling of putting in all this time and effort, but still searching for that sense of fulfillment or direction. There's this line in "10,000 Hours" that sums it up: Why is it taking so long? I should have had everything by now.
Isolation and loneliness: Another big theme on the album is this sense of being alone and cut off from other people. You can hear it in tracks like "Am I Ok" and "Don't Say a Word," where I'm talking about being trapped in your own head and feeling like you can't connect with anyone. There's a line in "Am I Ok" that really captures it: It's been so long since I've talked to a human being, forgot what it's like.
The danger of lies and deception: Throughout the album, there's also this recurring idea of being misled or deceived by others. In the title track "Cottonwood," I mention this drifter who comes to town "selling lies" and claiming "truth is everything." And in "Devil in Disguise," I'm talking about being taken advantage of by someone you trusted. It's all about how easy it is to be led astray when you're vulnerable.
These themes of searching for purpose, dealing with isolation, and being wary of deception are all central to Cottonwood. I think they're struggles and experiences that a lot of people go through, especially in tough times.
My hope is that by exploring these ideas in my music, it might help folks feel less alone and more understood.
That's the power of songwriting, isn’t it? To connect us through our shared human experiences.
Hope you enjoy the album.
You can find the album on streaming platforms everywhere on May 10, but it’s already out now as an early release download in Dolby Atmos on ImmersiveAudioAlbum.com! I’m incredibly proud of this album and the unique story it tells, and I wanted to share some thoughts on the title track "Cottonwood” in particular.
The lyrics are about a guy stuck in this cemetery in a small Arizona desert town. It starts with this drifter showing up, talking about truth and selling lies. That's kind of the vibe of the whole place - not much good news or future to look forward to.
The key line in the song is Cottonwood is where I'm from, I can't escape my fate. This guy is trapped by his circumstances and the whole legacy of his family. His parents were born there, he was born there, and now he's just following in their footsteps without any real way out.
I tried to paint a picture of how stagnant and hopeless everything feels for him. His truck is broken down and rusting, the girl next door keeps getting married and divorced. He's just holding on until he can drink the day away and forget about it all for a while.
Musically, I wanted the song to have this gritty, desert rock feel to match the dusty, barren setting. The acoustic and electric guitars kind of blend together to create this raw sound. And the melody and chords have this really melancholic, introspective vibe that fits the hopelessness of the lyrics.
At the end of the day, "Cottonwood" is a song about feeling trapped and weighed down by your roots and your family's past. I think that's something a lot of people can relate to, no matter where they're from. It's about that struggle to break free and find your own path.
I'm really proud of all the tracks in this album, but hope you enjoy reading a bit more about this song in particular. I can't wait for everyone to hear it on the new album. I hope it resonates with folks and makes them feel something real. Get the Dolby Atmos download now in IAA here.
As a musician, one of the greatest joys is finding people who truly understand and share your vision, and have the raw talent to help bring it to life. Over the years, I've been incredibly fortunate to work with some of the most talented individuals in the music industry, but my partnership with Dave Way stands out as a defining force in my creative journey.
Dave and I first crossed paths when we worked together on my album The Tragic End of a Dreamer - and then again on The Savior, which went on to earn a GRAMMY nomination for Best Immersive Audio Album in 2019. From the moment we stepped into the studio, there was an undeniable synergy between us. Dave's keen ear, technical prowess, and innate understanding of my musical style made him the perfect co-pilot for this project.
Since that first album together, Dave has been an integral part of my creative process, co-producing and engineering my subsequent albums, including Lifelike, X, Short St., and most recently, Cottonwood, coming out this May. Our collaboration has become a well-oiled machine, with each project building upon the foundation of trust, respect, and shared passion for pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the studio.
When we set out to create Short St last year., Dave and I knew we wanted to capture something special. We began, as we always do, by reviewing my bare-bones demos and mining my vault of unfinished gems, looking for the songs that would form the heart of the album. Once we had our roadmap, we dove headfirst into the recording process, laying down tracks at my private studios in Virginia Beach and Malibu.
One of the things I love most about working with Dave is his ability to assemble a dream team of musicians who can bring our vision to life. For Short St., we were joined by some of the industry's most talented players, including Matt Chamberlain on drums, Dan Rothchild on bass, Kirk Hellie on guitars, and Phil Shenale on keys, among others. With Dave at the helm, we were able to create a sonic landscape that was both intimate and expansive, capturing the raw emotion and vulnerability at the core of the album.
Of course, no discussion of my collaborations with Dave would be complete without mentioning Bob Clearmountain, who has mixed four of my albums, including Short St. Bob's ability to craft mixes that are both technically flawless and emotionally resonant is truly unparalleled, and his work on Short St. in Dolby Atmos elevated the album to new heights.
As I reflect on my journey as a musician, I am filled with gratitude for the incredible team of collaborators who consistently help bring my deeply personal work to life. At the center of it all is Dave Way, whose passion, dedication, and unwavering belief in my music has been a constant source of inspiration. Together, we've created some things that I believe will stand the test of time.
As a lifelong fan of music, I've experienced countless live shows that have shaped my perspective and influenced my songwriting. However, one concert in particular stands out as a pivotal moment for me – a Jellyfish performance in a small, nearly empty bar in Virginia Beach back in 1990.
I remember walking into that venue, not knowing what to expect. The room was eerily quiet, with only a handful of people. As Jellyfish took the stage, I was immediately struck by their unique presence and style. Their sound was a perfect blend of power pop, psychedelic rock, and indie rock, reminiscent of the British bands I had grown up listening to.
What I especially loved was their debut album, Bellybutton. When they performed that, it was as if the record had come to life right before my eyes. The attention to detail and the musicianship were awe-inspiring.
As I watched Andy Sturmer and Roger Manning trade vocal harmonies, I found myself drawn to their clever lyrics, infectious melodies, and lush soundscapes. It was a revelation to see how a band could translate their studio sound to the stage without losing any of its essence.
That night, I walked away with a fresh perspective on my own music. That concert had shown me the power of crafting songs that could stand the test of time. It inspired me to dive deeper into the art of songwriting, paying closer attention to what makes a song resonate and touch people’s souls.
Looking back, I can trace a direct line from that small Jellyfish concert to the music I create today. It taught me the value of staying true to my vision, even in the face of changing trends and commercial pressures. It showed me that there is still a place for well-crafted, intelligent music that dares to be different.
Short Street is an emotionally-charged musical odyssey through the childhood memories of Michael Marquart. With 12 beautiful tracks, Marquart’s poetic lyrics evoke a sense of longing, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, there is a glimmer of hope that can guide us through.
We’re excited to launch a brand new website dedicated to my new album “X,” which features immersive art and puzzles/games for fans of my music and immersive audio. Check it out at xmarksthe.site!
