Just listened to Gene's songs at his myspace website. For about 15 seconds I was put off by the 'quasi-Elizabethan-madrigal-middle ages-Chaucerian-affectation' in his singing and then was awash in self-embarassment for being such a self-important, jaded fuckhead. He's brilliant, obviously. One can't ignore the subtle interplay between the guitar and vocal on 'If'. There's a truthfulness in his delivery that can't be manufactered. 2 mics and a touch of reverb don't lie. 'Local Girls' is another very nice track seeming to scratch a little deeper than he intended to go and there were some moments I'm sure were uncomfortable for him to reveal, but that's what makes it such a great song. My hope for him is that he remain true to his vision and not get caught up in the 'industry' of 'moving product'. It'll be a slow build , but better in all ways in the long run. He's doing fine. It's going to be fun watching his growth as an artist. Thanks to the OP for being such a thorn as I ignored this thread for days and now I'm glad I took the plunge.

BTW, my nephew's name is Landon Pigg and he had a recent major label release called 'This is a Pigg'. He's got a myspace site and all that, but my point is that what the product turned out to be has absolutely nothing to do with what he actually is as an artist. The A&R people burned through all the money by hiring 'big gun' producers trying to make him into a 'rock star' when he could've done what Gene is doing and been much better off.

Sorry, to have gone on for so long, but's it's invigorating to hear genuine, original talent in the infancy of it's bloom.