Jim Hoehn has done it again.

The Brookfield-based singer-songwriter, whose "day" job is producing news for the Journal Sentinel's Web site, has released "Thongs in the Key of Life, Volume IV," a collection of 17 "trop-rock" songs from a variety of artists (including a 2010 Grammy nominee) that conjures images of palm trees, gentle breezes and umbrella drinks.

We caught up with Hoehn this week to talk about the project.

OnMilwaukee.com: This is the fourth volume of "Thongs in the Key of Life." When you undertook the original and then Volume 2, did you ever think it would become a cottage industry?

Jim Hoehn: No. My biggest goal was to stay out of divorce court over another hare-brained music scheme. The sole intent of Volume I was to give some regional songwriters and artists a bit more exposure. The first volume did really well, at least by local record standards. MTV picked up a song for use in a video project and Disneyland called and got two dozen copies for use at the park. There was never a plan for a second volume, much less three and four. As I kept listening to more music by independent songwriters and bands, I finally thought there was enough for Volume II. I still never actually plan on doing another one, but there seems to be audience interest and I keep finding new artists, new songs that I like.

OMC: How is this CD different than the previous three?

JH: It's got some different writers/performers who were not on any of the previous three, including a 2010 Grammy nominee as a songwriter (I'll let readers Google to find the answer). Another one of the first-timers is a former member of Gaelic Storm. I think the song with most "rock" edge to it is the only woman songwriter on the disc, Lauren Adams from L.A., whom I met several years ago when we both did a songwriters night at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. I've always liked her writing and always kept in touch with her.

In addition to different artists, I try and find songs that have different rhythms, different instrumentation, different tempos and a different overall "feel." Nobody, including me, wants to listen to 17 songs that all sound the same. I'm sure I'm biased, but I like the lineup on this one a lot. Two of the artists -- including my friend Kevin Mulvenna -- were kind enough to let me use songs that have not even been released yet on their own CDs. Overall, I think it's a good listen.

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