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1. Back to Back
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Title cut detailing the story of a young, idealistic couple seemingly toiling in perpetuity. The tune cuts an optimistic tone towards the last verse. |
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2. When I Finally Find My Way
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Will I ever really get it together? If so, I bet that you can hardly wait. And, if you’re so arrogant as to think you’ve really got it, the “witch on the wall” is there to tell you no way. |
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3. My Heart on a Sleeve
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About the “perilous journey” you encounter when you put yourself out there. The song features tight two-part vocal harmonies which were a Renee Douglas staple. |
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4. Part-Time Lover
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Twisted relationship lament about only being willing to commit halfway. |
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5. Half Crazy
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Another relationship song combining everything from country to pop with a dash of hip-hop (hi-hat rhythms). Nice textural build up towards the end. |
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6. Moods of Monday
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Latin-jazz tune that again predominantly features Renee Douglas vocal harmonies. |
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7. I Would Die For
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Jazz-reggae inspired tune about things not to die for, and there’s a big, long list (can’t those guys figure out how to end a song?) |
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8. Hard Times
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A classically-inspired tune. Despite the title, it’s a hopeful song. Oboe by Daniel Celidore and cello by Gwynneth Davis. |
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9. Hurry Home
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About a treacherous path of highway linking Fort Bragg to Willets, California. Please, just let me be home (and don’t let be misunderstood). |
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10. As Good As I Used To Be
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Baby Boomer anthem paying homage to the fact that things just seem to be getting better (at least personally), after a rather inauspicious start. |
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11. A Musical Start
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R&B tune about a musical family. Bobby Lee provides the great pedal steel work. |
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12. A Shell of a Man
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True story about a rather despicable dude. Musically, the song travels a divergent path through several styles. Alistair Ingram does the tasty tenor sax work. |
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13. Nothing Has Changed
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Love song about a difficult ending to a relationship. Not for the faint-hearted. |
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14. Eye to Eye
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Are we ever going to drop the rhetoric and shed the smokescreens? |
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1. Speak to the Madness
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Title song inspired by the state of the world. Actually, we’re in better shape than we sometimes think, given that our species is “only” about 200 years old (although I think we still do genital mutilation in some regions, and I know that most folks globally still think that the church and state should still be the standard political unit – oh well, go figure). Check out the nice lead guitar playing by Mike Robertson. |
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2. Fallin’ Back in Love
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Backwards relationship song detailing getting back together rather than breaking up; do you think it has a future on CMT ? Check out the hip-hop drum groove and the trumpet playing by the Swiss trumpeter Eric Schlaeppi. |
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3. As We Dance
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Now this one’s for CMT. Penned with Peggy Day. The beautiful female vocal is by Kat Burgess of Fort Bragg, California. Gus Garelick (Hot Frittatas) does the fine fiddle work. |
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4. Can’t Find a Way to Let You Go
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Ever lose someone to a cult, religious or otherwise? This one’s for you. Check out the soulful tenor sax playing by Ari Camarota. |
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5. So Laid Back
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Really, everything is better when you’re not around. Subtle reggae beat with nice harmonica playing by Tim Leon and tasty guitar fills by Gary Sugiyama. |
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6. Sunshine Dancer
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Jazz-inspired track with nice guitar work by Ian Scherer. |
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7. Den of the Devil
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Edgy tune about what happens when you cross the devil. Mike Adams (Fargo) provides the guitar work. |
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8. Maria Says
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Here’s a young girl in trouble but her family pulls her through. Gus Garelick on fiddle and mandolin. |
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9. Sometimes I Don’t Know
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Sometimes you REALLY don’t know (despite what you think). |
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10. Why’d You Pull the Rug Out
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Offbeat lover’s lament. Dave Onstad does the nice guitar work. |
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11. Help Me Feel Free
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Originally inspired by Paul McCartney; Ian Scherer is once again on guitar. |
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12. Got to Face
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Ballad about losing a close friend (warning: it was a complicated relationship). |
