MARK THOMAS DEMING: DAVID BILBREY AND MIKE COOPER: SMARTER THAN THE AVERAGE BEAR ... AND THE MAJOR LABELS >>>

The cover of Canon Canyon’s 10-inch vinyl release Sit Down and Listen (October, 2008) shows a torn, empty couch flanked on both sides by guitar amps.  A picture of John Wayne hangs on the wall beside a stuffed, crazed-looking bear.  A guitar, a small lamp, a model sailboat and a beer bottle complete, but somehow don’t complete, the scene.  A weird yellow light pervades. 

On the insert is the same picture, only now with two guys on the couch.  They are David Bilbrey and Mike Cooper, members of Canon Canyon and founders of Rural Wolf Records, a Tacoma indie label that does what the majors just can’t seem to â€" advance the sanctity of the hardcopy album while embracing the digital future. Read how they do it here.