Constructive Criticism

The following is based on a response I recently gave (in private) to some constructive criticism from a visitor to my website. The listener called some of my music "strange" and "dreary." I was grateful for this observation. Those comments, and some others, generated this response:

One of the things that I continue to struggle with is that my web site does not, and has not ever, really been able to give the best and most complete picture of what I do musically. The other thing you should know is that an album is a snapshot in time. The frame of mind and state of affairs of that moment carry over to the album, but may not remain true for the length of someone's career. With those caveats, let me address some of your very welcome constructive criticism...

Strange - Yes, and only getting stranger. I do not usually write for top 40 radio and the mainstream market. I've got my share of poppy anthems, but that's not where my heart is, and I can't pretend it is. Wait until you hear the next CD out in May. I think it is a good mix of strange and somewhat "normal" (whatever the heck that is!)

Dreary - Yes, many times. Not always. I am inspired by dark topics. Winter/Fall lasts what, like 9 our of 12 months here? That has always had an impact. I also work through metaphor a lot, and the meaning you take away is often your own. I've given up on trying to explain songs to people because I think it does them and the music a disservice. Also, a large part of my inspiration/influence comes from Blues, which is often (but not always) somewhat dreary, if you will... That's what makes it the blues.

To sum up what I do ... is very hard to do sometimes because I operate in a number of genres. I wish more people actually listened critically, not just to my stuff, but to everything. Perhaps then we can get to some of the really good stuff!

To this I think I need to add that while posting this I am listening to Bjork. You don't get much stranger than that, and yet, she sells millions of records. The problem is one of access to new sounds, which the Internet promises to solve. But as long as the gatekeepers (mainstraim media) remain in power, many everyday people visiting my site will remain in the dark about the wonderful worlds of musical possibility awaiting them if they would just look elsewhere on the dial, or on the web.