Sick Among the Pure

Just read a review of The Hungry Ghost CD on Sick Among The Pure, which I found interesting. It always makes me glad, and proud, when a publication I dig chooses to write about my work. SATP contains well-written articles on a variety of 'alternative' subjects. For instance, in the current issue there's a fascinating piece on the incomparable Alan Moore focusing on his Promethea comic which I'm a big fan of.

Anyways, I appreciated the CD review for its honesty and, at the same time, sensitivity. The reviewer spelled out quite clearly what he liked and disliked about the album. The main reason I'm writing is to address his concerns about my being, as he puts it, "fixated upon vampires, ghosts, and werewolves". While I'd argue that there were only, perhaps, three songs on the CD in which this was explicit, I do know what he means. I never intended this to be a "concept album", but I can understand the listener having that impression. I had the same concerns when I listened to the finished recording, and I attribute it to the fact that a lot of feedback I received on my last album appeared to say that it lacked focus and cohesion. So maybe this was a backlash... I was subconsciously thinking, "OK, you want cohesion? I'm going to make an album so focused it'll make you claustrophobic!"

I'm not saying it's good or bad that it turned out that way, just my attempt at rationalizing my creative process. I've heard from folks who love the CD for the very reason others may have been put off by it. Ultimately, I follow my muse, wherever it takes me. Or at least I think I do. Perhaps I'm more affected by the opinions of others than I'd like to think I am. But aren't we all?