[there's a logo with a boombox here]
November 2005 was, of course, NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month, Chris Baty's brilliant project in which participants write a 50,000-word novel in the space of a month. It was also, as it happens, National Solo Album Month, or NaSoAlMo; those brave souls who were up for it wrote and recorded an entire solo album in the course of its 30 days.

THIS YEAR'S PARTICIPANTS:
Philip Alderman WINNER!
Sam Amidon WINNER!
Padgett Arango
Pete Bradwell
Susan Broyles
Michael Bulanti
Andrew C. Bulhak WINNER!
Liz Bustamante WINNER!
Neven J. Carswell (a.k.a. the Claudes)
Kinsley Castle (a.k.a. King o' the Concrete Jungle) WINNER!
The Claps WINNER!
Crescent Electric
Adam Cummins
Darezzo
DJ I Am Cuter Than You
Double J (Ed Leheny Jr.)
Pat Feghali a.k.a. The Modern Ache WINNER!
Ferguson
Zach Forsberg-Lary
Jay Friedman
Todd Gehman (Speler) WINNER!
Lisa Gidley
Jennifer Hart
Jeff Hinton
Impudence
K. Thor Jensen
jonbro
Christopher Keyes
J. Kim WINNER!
Tal M. Klein WINNER!
Kristin Lepionka
The Linger Effect (Kent Burt)
Lola
Lotus Wire WINNER!
lowbot
Tyson Lynn
Torin Macbeth
Mark Maloof
Scott McDowell
Charles Michelet WINNER!
Russell Mirabelli
Dennis Moser WINNER!
Katie Mourning
Muller of The Felony College of the Streets WINNER!
Martin Mushrush
David Nagler WINNER!
Ernest Paik WINNER!
Holly Pants
Robert Parker
Ian Piirtola
John Rose WINNER!
Penny Royalty WINNER!
Jodi Shapiro WINNER!
Matthew N. Sharp WINNER!
John Shaw WINNER!
Larry Sheradon WINNER!
Kate Silver
Matt Slack
Jane Srisarakorn
Kate St. Claire
Katy Stephan WINNER!
Sloan Stewart
Derik Stiller
Havilah Tower
Jason Verlinde
Walkathon
Britton Ware
Jodi Warren
Rob Weddle
Tyler Wilcox
Caleb A. Winter

FAQ (for amusement/historical purposes):

So, for the purposes of NaSoAlMo, what exactly is a solo album?
An album of music you have written, played and recorded entirely by yourself*. The shortest inarguably awesome album that a lot of people have heard** is the first Ramones album, which is 29:09 long, so your solo album must be at least that long. Beyond that, its form and content are up to you.

*Since Ramones includes a cover of "Let's Dance," your NaSoAlMo album may, if you wish, include one cover of somebody else's song.

**It has been pointed out to the administrators that Slayer's Reign In Blood is 29:03 and that Nick Drake's Pink Moon--which actually is a solo album--is a mere  28:22. You may set your personal goals accordingly, if you wish. You're welcome.

So is this a competition? Who's judging it? What do I win? What if it's not good enough? Do I have to send it in? Do I have to play it for anyone? Help!
No. This isn't a competition: this is a challenge. The winners are everyone who completes a solo album by November 30; what you will have won is that you will have made an album by yourself. You needn't play it for anyone else, and you certainly don't have to send it in, although I will probably listen to any you feel like sending me. It doesn't have to please anyone but yourself, if that; you are going for your own personal best here. The point is actually doing the work, starting and finishing the project. The deadline makes it easy!

Does it have to be professional-sounding?
Of course not. It doesn't have to be professional-anything; the point is the fun of making it. I encourage you to record with whatever you've got around the house.

How do I sign up for NaSoAlMo? And then what do I do?
Sign up by the end of October (as in: it's too late for this year) by sending an email to signup [at-sign] nasoalmo.org, to let me know that you're in. Unless you indicate otherwise, I'll post your name and (if you have one) web site here. At 12:01 AM November 1, as you're noshing your Halloween candy, you can start work on your solo album. If you've finished by the end of November--when you've finished, rather, let's think positive here!--let me know that you've won, and I'll post a winner's hall of fame here. (And, if you like, a link to your finished album; totally up to you.)

Aren't you just ripping off Chris Baty and NaNoWriMo?
Yes. Yes, I am. Totally. Thank you for the inspiration, Chris.

Spread the word, and let me know if you have any other questions!