The New Now Sounds of Today! is a CD compilation of songpoems written by contemporary visual artists. They composed the lyrics, and specified the musical genre and vocal style in which they wanted to hear them performed. A professional songwriting company then wrote the songs, thereby allowing contemporary visual artists to test the unfamiliar waters of consensual ersatz glamour. In giving up creative control in order to become a star, the song-poet enters into a collusion with the musician/producer to construct an alternate, democratic version of celebrity culture. Highlights include John Baldessari's new-age "Learn to Draw" and Mike Kelley's pop-folk tune "Anal Sadistic". Other lyrics were provided by Alexis Smith, Jim Shaw, Rev. & Mrs. Ethan Acres, Stephen Prina, Pae White, Rubén Ortiz Torres, Martin Kersels, Tamara Fites, Sharon Ellis, Judy Fiskin, Steven Hull, Doug Harvey, Jeffrey Vallance, Museum of Jurassic Technology, Joe Scanlan, Dave Muller, Eleanor Antin, Gary Simmons, and Robert Heinecken.

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