Album Notes

I wrote these songs as I was going through a period of isolation. The stories that started coming out were not autobiographical but all of them dealt with the issues that I was dealing with: Death, dirty love, discouragement, disillusionment, and failure. Realizing how sad all those things are, I tried to add a sharp, dark sense of humor to a few of the songs. For example, " A Drunkard's Holiday" is about how an abusive alcoholic spends his Christmas, but people seem to smile every-time I play the song. ( Not funny subject matter, but the imagery lightens the mood a bit). I wanted to make a record that dealt with intense stories, but I also wanted the listener to feel the urge to sing along during the choruses. I think the humor and pretty melodies make the character's burdens a little more bearable. Recording these songs in the studio was a joy, but preparing this album has taken a piece out of me. ( I think that's appropriate, as records should be extremely personal things for the artist) My part is done, and I hope my work is enough to make you satisfied for an hour or so. Thanks for your time, and I hope you enjoy my album. - Mark Bates