I've been thinking about David's 50 songs he could release publically. What I think I miss most is the concept disc like "TRIAGE" which remains to be David's finest hour for me. The dark corrupt seediness which somehow blends, twists and twirls to end on a curiously hopeful note, the hand of Bill Bottrell, Ricketts, Kevin Gilbert, sublime.

A Fine Mess is a Great collection, alot of David and Will Sexton's compositions are still on rotaion on the hardrives of my Work and Home since 1998. There was a lot of it, thank god, after the serious drought and utter denial of Baerwald solo material post Triage. I miss "the book","the novel", the obvious attemp of Lost Highway's "Here Comes The New Folk Underground", but to me it was AFM, You never forget where you heard it first. I'd like to hear it work in the reverse this time around.

David Is your noire apparent? I always loved the Chandler, Elroy, Michener and Bukowski comparisons, the shadows and fleshed-out characters lurking in them. Secret Silken World, Silver or Lead, All for You, A Friend like our Dear Stranger, Playground in The Park, Liberty Lies, Bitter Tree, Nobody, Wild West, Sirens in the City.these all fall into that category for me. That's the genre and eloquence I'm drawn to with your art.

I'd like to see HCTNFU before AFM this time around. But how could I complain if I didn't get my way? 50 tracks? who the F do you think you are? Prince?

Patience for what you have in store for us. May I have a peek? Are you back in L.A.?

Jeff Wells

P.S. "If Only" is a delight.

"If Only, If Only" the woodpecker sighs the bark on the tree was as soft as the skies...

The wicked would tremble and humbly they'd sing "If only, If only, If only.