Juliana Hatfield announces new album, sings about Evan Dando, appoints a new Phoenix music editor

We were surprised to learn that JULIANA HATFIELD has completed a new album called Peace and Love, which she produced, performed and recorded entirely on her own on an eight-track in her Cambridge apartment. 

We were even more surprised, however, to learn that the liner notes to Peace and Love were written by "Boston Phoenix music editor James Parker." Our beloved Mr. Parker, who continues to contribute to our hallowed pages but spends most of his hours these days toiling for the Atlantic Monthly, could not immediately be reached for comment on his sudden promotion. So we went in search of Michael Brodeur, who's been cashing the music-editor paychecks around here. He responded, "I was wondering why my chair felt a little tight." 

While we sort out our chain-of-command issues, we might as well pass along what Parker said about the record, since he's the only one of us who's heard it. From the press release:

In the liner notes, Boston Phoenix music editor James Parker gives [Hatfield's music] a name: "Survivor-music - because even at their most palpitatingly fragile, your songs have always been built to last. Well-made, strong-boned, fit to be played on streetcorners and station platforms."

We suppose that means he won't be writing about this one for us. What we really want to know, though, is the scoop on a new song called "Evan," in which, we're told, "Hatfield gains fresh perspective on her complex relationship with longtime friend Evan Dando." We'll get an answer closer to the release date, which is currently pegged to February 16.