• Jim Roll     Inhabiting the Ball Inhabiting the Ball is acclaimed Ann Arbor, Michigan singer songwriter Jim Roll''s eagerly anticiped third record, and his first for Telegraph. It was built upon home recorded demos, embroidered with contributions by Chuck Prophet (ex Green on Red), Brian Deck (Red Red Meat), and Jon Williams. In addition, it features lyrics on 3 tracks by incomparable short story writer/novelist Rick Moody (author of Demonology and The Ice Storm (the latter of which became a 1997 Kevin Kline film), lyrics on 5 more by peerless novelist/poet  Denis Johnson (The Name of the World and Jesus’ Son) Inhabiting the Ball is being with the hearty support of the esteemed literary journal McSweeney's, (edited by Dave Eggers, author of the bestseller A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius) whose Neal Pollack contributed liner notes. The literary world’s buzz about Jim Roll started more than a year ago. Denis Johnson was actually the first author Jim enlisted. Then came novelist Rick Moody, who called Jim’s 2000 CD, Lunette, “one of the best singer-songwriter albums of the last five years.” The fruits of their collaborations appear on Inhabiting the Ball …and yet Jim’s own lyrical acuity is hardly overshadowed. From the plaintive story-song, “Eddie Rode the Orphan Train,” to the affably off-the-wall “Curious One,” Jim’s words are just as memorable. And all of the lyrics are ingeniously served by a characteristically offbeat blend of hook-filled rock, folk and alt-country music. The sonic palette ranges from the antique lament of "Handsome Daniel" to the 21st century schiziod transmission of "Killjoy," encompassing along the way clarion clear power pop ("Bonnie and Clyde") and heartbreaking acoustic balladry ("You.") In all ways, Inhabiting the Ball promises to be a genre-shattering surprise.