Richard McGraw - "Her Sacred Status, My Militant Needs" @ Score! Music Magazine

	Richard McGraw - Her Sacred Status, My Militant Needs
	Location	Queens, NY
	Initial Impression	His press kit describes the album as "a detailed portrait of mans struggle with love and loss" – I expected love ballads, and gut-wrenching "I hate you" songs. Not exactly what I got.
Notable Lyric	"There's no love for the man with the cock in his hand as he bathes in the light of a girl such a simple world" from "Sympathy for the Pervert".
Factoid	Not only is Richard McGraw a talented lyricist, he apparently has also learned a bit of Italian, along with Zen training, and handgun safety training. Interesting combo, don't you think?
Serve With	Perhaps some counseling. Seems to have a preoccupation with sex, lust, orgies, and sex. Also has a weird way of turning sexual subjects into Christian-related ones.
Comments	Great voice. Interesting subject matter and lyrics. McGraw uses a lot of imagery from the Bible – for example, the track named "Judas Disguise". He also takes his love subject matter, as well as his sex subject matter, and turns it into a prophecy of sorts. Alludes to sex as "gifts that I give (that) are not mine", as well as calling her the Mary Magdalene in search of a Jesus that she cannot win (all from track 15, "Prophet Song"). Certainly unusual musical mastery at work, just not my cup of tea.
URL	www.richardmcgraw.com
Reviewer	Amy (3/03)