Yeah, weird, right...
Yes, well it's back to business. Working on "The Green Thing" epic again and having a blast. But first!... it's off to New York we go for some fun & adventure! And then, it's back to business. But seriously, the coolest series of events unfolded with that project recently. First; ever since I started this little station over here on the internet I've wanted to be featured on Kids Music That Rocks - and guess what? It turns out that last week I was featured and didn't even know it! It was for the first song I've released from this little "The Green Thing" project. He gave it the title: "If The Flaming Lips Made a Kids Album"... Isn't that the coolest thing?! Now if that weren't enough, the #2 pick for his favorite album of 2008 emails me and tells me how much she digs "Call Me They". Her name is Nancy Falkow and her newest record is a collaboration with Fran King. It's called Sunflow (awesome video/song here). You've got to listen to this record. It's absolutely beautiful. If you like my music you're going to love this. They site Harry Nilsson and Paul McCartney as influences (which most of you know are my very favorites). She's toured with Daniel Lanois as a vocalist and he's worked with George Martin and opened for Tears For Fears.
This "Hit Record" song was my final contribution to the Nur Ein project/contest. The only specifications were that "Song must include at least one distinct change in musical genre." The overall consensus I think was that I changed genre's a lot but that it was from one Todd McHatton song to another Todd McHatton song, and so on. Needless to say, my ride ended at the final four. However, a most deserving artist took top honors. His name is Frankie Big Face and he too has some outstanding music.
And, one more thing, Grass Stained Twilight is now up on Bandcamp in it's entirety with pictures from the cd and everything... check it out.
Thank you all for the comments and emails. I really do enjoy the feedback.

There's a lot going on here. Give it a couple of listens. I made it to the "Final Four" in the "Nur Ein" song contest with this one (so far). The garden is going crazy, the kids are happy, my wife is amazing, life is glorious, and you've got to see UP!
And, I'm really enjoying this guys twitters!

Like some surrealist invented this...
Here's hoping that everyone finds their True Love.

What Once Was Grand
We traced a million stars into pictures above - Neither one of us knowing who the other was - And all the space and time between us wasn't enough - To keep me from finding you and that's because - When you exhale on a wish then it takes your breath - Like a passenger aboard a soaring dream - Set sail on a search for a wordless yes - And other warm, familiar, unspoken things - The dandelions dreamers blow upon fill the sky - They dart and drift along in shallow loops - Like pieces of a puzzle drift between you and I - Drawing lines connecting stars that brought me to you - And all the things we said about what once was grand - Have come along even better then we'd planned

You know how when you get a couple of hippos together with hover-crafts and they get a hankerin' for some noodles how they can get a little obnoxious? Yeah, I know, you've heard it all before... wiseacre giraffes and such. But do me a solid and give it a listen anyhow.

Hey, check it out... Cooper threw down a little Mario Jam for you!

What is this?! This is another tune for the Nur Ein "Olympics Of Song Fight" competition. You can't vote for it but you can download it and let me know what you think here or by email.
Don't be alarmed, I haven't abandoned the family-friendly, all ages theme... I'm just easily distracted. Oh hey! What's that...?

Dad's visiting from out of town so this is a quick little one-off unrelated to any current projects. Discovered a side contest on Song Fight called Nur Ein IV yesterday and put this together for it in between trips to the farmers market and the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival.

Okay, so this one's a little different. You'll have to let me know what you think.
It'll be my last Song Fight entry for awhile. Should be up there in a couple of days. Go give it a vote if you like it.

Thinkin' About The Old Days
There seems to be time when you're thinkin' about the old days - There seems to be a time when you stop thinkin' about the old days - Thinkin' about the old days - Thinkin' about the old days - Thinkin' about - Thinkin' about - Remember - When you start thinkin' things were better you get caught up in the waves - Set sail on a little pail overflowin' with cliches - And everything'll be all right - Just take it down to the sea and throw it into the high tide - There seems to be time when you're thinkin' about the old days - There seems to be a time when you stop thinkin' about the old days - Thinkin' about the old days - Thinkin' about the old days - Thinkin' about - Thinkin' about - Remember - When you start thinkin' things were better you get caught up in the waves - Set sail on a little pail overflowin' with brighter days - And everything'll be all right - If you think you've got that much to loose then baby just hold tight - And then just maybe - We'll thank everyone - For this amazing dream - We've rode upon - We've sung a million songs - And it's been fun - And now this one is done

Green Eleven

Hazel likes the way it is - Arms straight up in a green eleven - She opens up her fists - And spreads her seeds into the wind - She's wearing her favorite flowered dress - Makin' a wish they'll someday be - Two tall trees droppin' colored leaves down from the heavens - Just like a green eleven-She takes out her watering can - Like a teapot she pours two drops in - And she opens up her fists - And spreads her seeds into the wind - She's wearing her favorite flowered dress - Makin' a wish they'll someday be - Two tall trees droppin' colored leaves down from the heavens - Just like a green eleven- People stop and wonder why - Those two tall trees seem to scrape the sky - And they open up their fists - Like they're spreading their seeds into the wind - They raise their arms just like this - Makin' a wish there'll someday be - Two tall trees droppin' colored leaves down from the heavens - Just like a green eleven

So, that's a new one. Let me know what you think. I really like it. Even though I had to slam it out really fast because of technical problems and a Song Fight deadline I think it came out really nice. I also did my first online song collaboration ever with someone that goes by the name "Howl Down the Chimney"... in fact, come to think of it, it's the first song I've written with anyone else in years - Cheer's to you Mr Howl! It was quite fun despite the maddening series of blue-screen errors I battled. Here it is...
howldownthechimneywithtoddmchatton_ge.mp3.URL
The lyrics and main melody are all his. I contributed the mellotron flute, cellos, background vocals, guitar (although that's him ripping on the sitar), and some of the chorus "It's the Green Eleven" thing.
Go give us a vote over at Song Fight if you like it.
Thank You!