"Countdown to Apostasy" was one of the working titles for my album "Rough Cut Love." I decided not to use it, to the disappointment of some and the relief of others.

One day as I'd been putting in some pretty heavy time on overdubs and mixing for "Rough Cut," I hit a saturation point, where I could not process how to continue and finish the album. I needed a brain-break, something to help me clear the muck out.

I spent a long weekend recording quick and dirty alternate versions of the songs, re-imagining them and trying things I probably wouldn't otherwise if locked into some imagined set of "rules" for a "good album" or some perceived preciousness of the material. It was lots of fun. I got to know some of the songs in ways I hadn't experienced them before, and the exercise gave me much-needed perspective on the album.

None of these re-imagined recordings were deemed appropriate to replace the album versions, but not because they weren't good; they just weren't right for the album.

So, just for the hell