A lot of you have been writing in or asking at concerts," When is the next album coming out?" The big news of the day is (drum roll, please)... the new album is coming out on November 11! It is called Firecracker. Many people have told me that they have heard the first single, "I Do" on the radio.. This is a very exciting fact!

I used to call radio stations to request Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" when I was a child. Now it's your turn, but try my song " I Do" instead. That would be really cool.

It was great to see so many of you at the Lilith Fair this summer. Sarah McLachlan set up an amazing musical experience with all of the gals: Shawn Colvin, Emmylou Harris, Indigo Girls, Paula Cole, Jewel, Sheryl Crow, and the list goes on and on. - On the first night that I was a part of the tour, Emmylou Harris told me that she really liked the the sad waltz that I was singing- I was very flattered, and I asked her to join me on stage to sing some harmonies- she graced the stage every night until her leg of the tour was up. Shawn Colvin originated the harmony on the new album, so it
was perfect that Shawn joined me in singing the song "Falling in Love" when
Emmylou left.

It was also great to see some new faces in Europe when I played with the Counting Crows. When Fran Dresher (of The Nanny) showed up in Barcelona to see the show, I let her know how much I loved her portrayal of Bobbie Fleckman, a record company executive in the movie This is Spinal Tap . She told me that she was bringing the character Bobbie onto her TV show, and I told her that I had been doing some acting, and she invited me to be Bobbie's assistant on The Nanny. I also acted in an independent film called, Serial Killing for Dummies. a black comedy filmed in Los Angeles.

Also, I went down to Austin for the Film Festival, where I spoke in a panel discussion with Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez, and Mike Judge. We all talked about music in film. While I was there, I ate a really good shrimp cocktail with a lot of cilantro and some avocado.mmmm. I also got to see the film, Plastic Utopia that my younger brother Phillip worked on. It was hilarious.

I think that I missed out on the summer, and as a result, I am still painting my nails with colors that look like the insides of seashells. I spent the non-touring part of the summer with Juan in Los Angeles, mixing the album with Bob Clearmountain. I must also mention that before the mix, I spent days, weeks, and months recording Firecracker with Juan Patino in his NYC apartment. We even recorded an orchestra for the album ( not I Juan's apartment!) I want to tell you about the album and the sound of it, and the stories included on it, but I think that it is a better idea that you listen to it yourself. I hate when people tell me about the album, or the book, or the film before I experience it myself.- you know?

Check out the album cover on Firecracker, it was painted by Mark Miller, an illustrator for stories in magazines like Look and MCalls in the 1950's and 60's. One weekend, last autumn, Juan and I discovered Mr. Miller when we visited the Benmarl Vineyard in Marlboro, NY. After tasting the wine and checking out the picturesque views, we wandered into a back room labeled, "Gallery." When I looked up, there was a large painting of this postcard that I bought in Amsterdam a few years ago during a tour. When I looked around the room, it was filled with tons of paintings in this really sexy, impressionist portrait style. And as a bonus, we found out that the painter was the man standing in the middle of the museum giving tours -- Mark
Miller, the owner of the vineyard. Not only were there painted illustrations up on the walls, but also paintings of musicians like the Beatles. So our minds were racing. Would he be interested in painting me in this style for the cover of my new album? The answer was No, no, no, no, until finally after some begging, and honest flattery, he agreed to think about it. A few days later, he agreed. We decided to alter a painting that already existed ( the cat theme continues.... the title of the painting, "Kitten"). Check it out. Go to a record store and ask if you can have the poster on the wall. I think that is what I am going to do.

So, that's it, check out the new single and request request it. I hope to see you at a concert or on-line, or something. We have worked very hard on the album, and I hope that you listen to it. I know you will. Also, check out the new slidey pen things. I collect them from all over the world. Now you can too. Take care, and I'll see you somewhere -- I'll be looking out for you- Lisa Loeb.