Crushed Stars Frontman Deals With Unemployment, Recognition

Gossamer Days is a lush and intricate record—music best suited for rainy days and out of the hands of manic-depressives. It features a fascinating dance of dynamics that requires, perhaps, a little more listener participation than can normally be expected from a local performer.

"My music is stuff you listen to late at night, in your house, with your headphones," Gautreau says.

Likewise, Gautreau hopes the new CD will be successful enough for him to be able to stay at home full time, instead of forcing him to continue along the endless series of temporary jobs he's had to take since being laid off last month. Still, he's remaining somewhat afloat as is, thanks to the royalty checks he receives from two unlikely sources: MTV and VH-1.

"On the show Total Request Live, MTV uses an old song, 'Exit Wounds', as their outro music," Gautreau says, almost embarrassed. "And now VH-1's Celebrity Rehab is using 'Disbelief Shop Windows' from my last record, [Obsolescence]."

Ironically, "Exit Wounds," one of Crushed Stars' most atypically upbeat songs, has provided Gautreau with his biggest exposure. But in classic slacker fashion, Gautreau finds a black cloud looming over the success.

"I've made more money from a song that I don't even like than from anything else I've ever done," he says. "I'll take the money, but I kind of wish I'd never written that song."