Album Notes

The songs tell a story of moving from middle America to the Big Apple less than a year after Sept 11th.

The album was recorded and mixed on the circus train between 2007 and 2009, in dozens of U.S. train yards and on dozens of train runs. All of the Bill Leary sax sessions were recorded on the train in Lexington Kentucky. All horns and guitars were recorded on the train on "Never Forget". The strings were recorded at Berklee Boston. Most of the guitars and drums were recorded "online". The nearly two dozen musicians were made up of friends and strangers found via google. Ten of the musicians have the circus on their resume, but you won't hear any polkas or music for aerialists.

The down-tempo music is primarily guitar driven, but you'll also hear piano, horn section and solo sax. Influences range from European pop to American southern rock (The Eagles, Ben Folds Five, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, The Beatles).

The 'out' lyrics paired with the 1980s sound fill a void for anyone who grew up at a time when gay music was very closeted.

"Planet Earth" contains religious imagery of the Millennium, a time of peace preceding Judgement Day. This is not a religious record but "Planet Earth" reflects States' former faith. There are songs of hope, such as "I Will Find My Way" which was written a few months into States' two-year LDS mission.

"I'll Give You (What You Want)" is about getting hit on by married men. "Better When You're Older" is a coming out song. "I Won't Walk Away" is a pledge never to leave NYC.