Wooden Shield by Brinker James
Two friends. Ten songs. One story.
Wooden Shield is the debut album from Pittsburgh indie folk duo Brinker James, the musical collaboration of Andrew Glaser and Ben Saunders with major contributions from Francis DiDiano.
The album is built around themes of innocence, love, grief, memory, hope, and renewal. While the tracks are strong on their own, the album was designed to unfold as a connected journey. The hero on this journey is you, me, and all who have lived the human experience. The innocence of childhood gradually gives way to experience. The changing seasons become metaphors for personal growth. Hearts are broken, lives lost, addictions take hold, and the monotony of living becomes inescapable. But to live is to be resilient, and Wooden Shield recognizes this as it invites listeners to recognize an ending as an opportunity to begin again.
Every aspect of Wooden Shield was approached as part of that larger story. The songwriting, arrangements, recording, mixing, visual artwork, and design were all created to support a single artistic vision. The album's cover painting reflects the same themes found throughout the music, incorporating symbolic imagery that rewards listeners who return to it again and again, discovering new details with each visit.
Recorded with Frown Sound Inc., and mixed and mastered by Francis DiDiano, Wooden Shield represents the combined efforts to create an album that invites listeners to slow down, reflect, and experience the music as a complete work rather than a series of individual tracks.
Listen to Wooden Shield at:
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0HBQGYMWD
Bandcamp: [pending]
Vinyl Record: [pending]
Compact Disc (CD): [pending]
Follow Brinker James at:
Website: https://www.brinkerjames.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brinkerjamesmusic/
More about Brinker James at:
Bold Journey Interview: https://boldjourney.com/meet-andrew-glaser
We've Got the Day: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2026/08/wandering-wednesday-weve-got-day.html
What happens when two friends decide to make music together?: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2026/08/wandering-wednesday-what-happens-when.htmlWandering Wednesday: Did You Notice The Creek Hidden In This Album's Story?: https://mikekraus.blogspot.com/2026/08/wandering-wednesday-did-you-notice.html
Album Cover Concept
Created in 2018, this album cover concept explores the relationship between music, atmosphere, and landscape.
The design features the Great Lakes beneath a dramatic sky filled with towering clouds. Rather than illustrating a specific story, the artwork was created to evoke a mood. The expansive horizon, shifting light, and restless water suggest reflection, movement, uncertainty, and possibility.
Placeholder typography is incorporated directly into the composition to demonstrate how artist and album information was to be integrated into the artwork. The concept was developed as part of an exploration of visual identity for a potential music release.
Although the project was never released, it remains an important example of my approach to album artwork. My goal is not simply to create an image, but to create a visual experience that complements the emotional world of the music and invites listeners to spend time with both.
J.T. Law
Created in 1998, this album cover was designed for J.T. Law, a West Michigan punk band in which I performed as guitarist and vocalist. The project was released on cassette and sold through independent distributors, local shows, and my own zine. The initial pressing sold out within a month and helped fund the band's next release.
The artwork reflects the DIY spirit of the late 1990s punk scene. A collage of photographs featuring the band, local police encounters, and Fat Mike of NOFX was transformed using high contrast digital techniques in Adobe Photoshop. Deep shadows became solid black, lighter tones shifted to yellow, and a layer of digital grain unified the composition. The hand drawn band logo and distressed edges further reinforced the raw, photocopied aesthetic common to independent punk releases of the era.
Like many young punk bands, J.T. Law tackled a wide range of subjects including friendship, betrayal, relationships, artistic struggle, social commentary, and life in small town America. The police imagery on the cover also reflected a reality familiar to many teenagers in West Michigan during the 1990s, where interactions with law enforcement were a regular part of daily life.
Beyond performing and creating the artwork, I was also involved in producing shows, publishing a zine, distributing releases, and helping build opportunities for independent artists. Those experiences continue to influence how I approach artwork today. Having worked as both a musician and visual artist, I understand the importance of creating artwork that supports an artist's identity, audience, and story.
Looking back, this project represents an early example of combining music, visual art, promotion, and community building into a single creative effort.
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