Marjorie's comment / Letter to the editor: To whom it may concern: I co-produced and edited the "Voices in the Wilderness: Dissenting Soundscapes and Songs of G.W.'s America" CD, and it saddens me to read a review (The Wire 256) of it so off-based. The purpose of art criticism is multi-faceted, and I believe strongly in the analysis, insight and role it plays as part of the cultural conversation. But it takes time and reflection. Brian Marley, if you are going to pan an artist, please at least get the song they contributed to right. Otherwise, your feedback can't be considered with any due respect. (Ernesto Diaz-Infante sang vocals on The Neshama Alma Band's "Soldiers' Hearts" and not Slow Poisoner's "The Red Eyed Agents of Satan Have the Upper Hand.") As well, if you think the American Christian Right could use the Bush quotes on some of the tracks as 'booster material' within the context of an album with this title, . . . well, that would be a most fascinating modern appropriation for us to witness. The concept that seemed to fly right over your head is that the tracks on this CD are laid out as a composition or a "song cycle," and are to be interpreted collectively and not solely on individual merit. Whether any single track reaches your standard of "a social or musical ideal" or whether it will later be assimilated into "the canon" reflects more about the shortsightedness of your personality than anything else. Hopefully, we are all still around in the year 2012 to gain pleasure in the "canon" as opposed to being bombed to ashes. You clearly chose to miss our intention, and for what aim I do not know. The "point of view" that you felt "needs to be introduced," we couldn't have laid out more clearly in the liner notes as a: "document of dissent, a plea for peace, a push against complacency, and a reminder to not be silent during these times." A reviewer certainly has the prerogative to not like what he or she is reviewing, but when reviews are done hastily (perhaps to meet a deadline?) or with premeditated biases, they reflect only a disheartening "sign of the times" for those of us who us who aren't cynical about the power of art to effect consciousness. Marjorie Sturm, Pax Recordings, San Francisco USA back