One year ago, if you had told me I would release a CD in 2005, I never would have believed it. But on New Year’s Eve 2004 I joined an online music community, www.macjams.com, and began posting original songs. I also began composing and recording music using GarageBand, computer software that makes high quality home studios possible. During the past year I have posted more than 50 songs. Some of them are included on this CD.

American Plain, the orchestral suite written over a period of four months, was inspired by the broad, almost endless landscape of the Midwest. I also chose that title because I believe the symphony (and the rest of the music on this CD) is very plain. In fact, its composer is, too. As “American plain” as they come. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing?

I would like to thank several people who helped me produce this CD. Mystified, who urged me to write American Plain; Al Ligammari II, who lent his technical and musical expertise; and Sally, Riley and Ellen, who always knew where they could find me this year: in the basement, on the computer, making music.

— Tom Atwood, December 2005