Notes From A Strange Mailbag - Doy - 1986
from the Deep South Records release "If I Was A Russian I'd Be A Czar"

Notes from a Strange Mailbag had a sound. What that sound was exactly, I can't really define...but it was their sound. The band was a amalgam of each members prevailing tastes: Norwood's hip-hop influence, Evan's hard rock riffage, Jeffs pop-rock songcraftand Eddie's jazz-school percussion. And the common denominator between all four band members was punk rock. Wherein most bands these contrasting influences would cause conflict, in Notes it spurred creativity.

Originally formed as a three piece by high-school friends Eddie, Evan and Norwood, things kicked into high-gear when the founding members asked college bud Jeff Carroll to join on second guitar. Adrenaline flowing, Notes: Mach II headed out for world domination (or at least a good support gig at Cat's Cradle). In turn, this CD is not a comprehensive take of the bands career but rather a snapshot of this period, the most creative of the band.

Although "Fight for Your Right to Party" and "Walk this Way" were dominating the radio charts, no one was combining rock and rap in a live element. Fact is Notes from a Strange Mailbag were blending components of rock/rap/metal before most people would admit to liking more than one of these genres. After all, this was 1986. It wasn't until years later that bands like Urban Dance Squad made a splash and much later before Beck mastered the still-fledgling 'genre'. Notes were ahead of their time, way ahead of their time.

This CD is combination of recording sessions from '86-'87. Although a nice reminder of what was, these low-budget recordings do not fully capture the dynamics of each individual song. Nor the brilliance of the bands performances. Live is where the band really propelled...from the 'Face Dancing/Bass Scratching' of 'Doy' Jo the full-metal blast of "Call the Maker" (Look, every good southern boy owns a copy of "Back in Black", okay?). And the band never recorded their array of covers: from Disco ("I Love the Nightlife") to New Wave ("Rio" complete w/kazoo solo)...and again, before it was deemed fashionable to delve into these musical era's.

If a band this creative and talented started today, they'd be signed in a second and you'd have Kennedy or Tabitha spelling about the group, not me. I was the defacto manager mainly due to my 'music industry experience' (I had read a few issues of CMJ and attended the New Music Seminar...). Well, of course I wasn't ready for the gig but that's not the point. The two years I spent working with the band was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Whether this is your inaugural experience or a walk through memory lane, I hope this disc moves you as much as it does me. Well, just Evan play, play, play, play

Glenn Boothe

Band Members:
Evan Olson - Guitar, Vocals
Eddie Walker - Drums, Vocals
Norwood Cheek - Bass, Vocals
Jeff Carroll - Guitar, Vocals