I alternate between acoustic and electric albums. The latest, “Yellow House,” is the scaled-down sort. And it’s being called my best. In 2005 I made my last electric album (for the time being). John Shipe & The Blue Rebekahs, with a cadre of Oregon Indie scenesters from Dan Jones & The Squids, Eleven Eyes, and Salt Lick.

The Rebekahs enhanced my eerie tension between the unusual and the familiar–a synthesis of seasoned songwriting and sonic intrigue. Back in the late 80’s, no one said out loud that I sucked, when 40 ounces of Pabst whispered in my ear that I had a future in this Biz. And boy did I suck, with great sucking enthusiasm. (I got tapes to prove it.) Thought I was vintage Eric Clapton re-incarnate. Tried to sing like him, tried to play like him.