Greg Madden: Press

'TIME TO TAKE SOME KIND OF STAND,' SONGWRITER SAYS
BY DON THRASHER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Greg Madden has always considered himself apolitical, but the more he saw and read about the war in Iraq, the more incensed he became. The Middletown musician began to write and soon had enough songs about the negative aspects of the war for an album.
"I've always been fairly liberal, but I've never voted a one-party ticket or campaigned for anybody," said Madden, who plays guitar for the Vista Cruisers. "I've never done anything political, but it just seemed like it was
the right time to take some kind of stand."
The result of this stand is There But For Fortune, an impassioned collection of country-rock songs that fall somewhere between Steve Earle and Toad the Wet Sprocket. For the most part, Madden's first solo album avoids overt political declarations and finger-pointing in favor of emotional tales of the individuals affected by the war.
"Most of the songs are based on true stories," Madden said. "I tried to make them more about the people than some type of political statement. I hope it comes out that way."
Play the Hero is based on a Nation article about Pat Tillman. One Day in a Different World was inspired by the documentary Gunner Palace. Last Letter Home is based on a letter written by a soldier who had a premonition of death.
"I'm the type of songwriter that I can only write about things that inspire me," Madden said. "I always tell people if I could write sweet country love songs I'd be living in Nashville. Unfortunately, I'm not. There's a lot of news out there and it just became inspirational and one song led to another."

Radio promotions company Acoustic Rainbow will be working the song Last Letter Home to a number of radio stations in the United States and Europe. Madden's group, The Vista Cruisers, recently signed a similar deal with Comstock Records, which will be promoting the quartet's album Driving Around. There But For Fortune is available at www.cdbaby.com and www.cdfreedom.com. For information, visit www.gregmaddenonline.com.