Early in 2006, I kind of discovered Jonathan Coulton and he is what I would call the quintessential indie Internet rock success story. He left a software job a year earlier to pursue music full time releasing a song a week on his website. Some became big Internet hits including his biggest hit “Code Monkey” which became a TV show. Now between the internet sales and live performances, he is able to make a living at it. He’s been compared to They Might Be Giants, Barenaked Ladies, Loudon Wainwright III, and other “Geek” musicians, because… well he’s a geek. And he writes damn catchy stuff too. This release goes over all the songs he’s done and like TMBG, it’s mostly short 2 minutes tunes that get to the point. Highlights here include, “Tom Cruise Crazy” which looks back on the celeb’s couch jumping days, and the brilliantly melodic “Skullcrusher Mountain” about a mad scientists passion. With 20 tracks there is a lot of good material here.
Jonathan’s Website | CD Baby