What Was Me is the first solo record by K Records

K Records

K Records is an independent record label in Olympia, Washington, co-founded, owned, and operated by Calvin Johnson, formerly of the bands Cool Rays, Beat Happening, The Go Team, The Halo Benders and presently in the bands Dub Narcotic Sound System and The Hive Dwellers...

 founder and Beat Happening

Beat Happening

Beat Happening is an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis and Bret Lunsford have been the band's continual members...

 member Calvin Johnson. It is a sparse record with most of the tracks containing only voice and guitar

Guitar

The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...

. A few tracks are a cappella

A cappella

A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...

. Calvin duets with fellow Pacific Northwestern musician Mirah

Mirah

Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn , is an American musician based in San Francisco California. She has released five albums under the K Records label.- Background :...

 on "Ode To St. Valentine" and Beth Ditto

Beth Ditto

Mary Beth Patterson, known by her stage name Beth Ditto , is an American singer-songwriter, most famous for her work with the indie rock band Gossip.-Personal life:...

, the lead singer of The Gossip

The Gossip

Gossip is a three-piece American indie rock band formed in 1999. The band consists of singer Beth Ditto, guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie. After releasing several recordings, the band broke through with their 2006 studio album, Standing in the Way of Control . A follow-up, Music for...

, on "Lightnin' Rod for Jesus." What Was Me is much darker than his 2005 follow-up record, Before the Dream Faded...

Before the Dream Faded...

Before the Dream Faded... is the second album of DIY guru Calvin Johnson. It features production and instrumentation from such K Records regulars as Phil Elverum, Mirah, Khaela Maricich, Adam Forkner and Jona Bechtolt...

.

Track listing

1. The Past Comes Back to Haunt Me – 4:26
2. Can We Kiss? – 4:10
3. Love Will Come Back Again – 4:04
4. Ode to St. Valentine – 1:28
5. Palriga – 6:14
6. Nothing to Hold Us Here – 2:17
7. Warm Days – 4:27
8. Lies Goodbye – 3:33
9. Lightnin' Rod for Jesus – 2:57
10. What Was Me – 3:26