A Stroke Of Cheap Genius

This is the first of a series of 14 short posts which illustrate the tracks from the forthcoming album The Mint Hotel. The songs on the album are inspired by the 'Beat' generation of writers, artists and revolutionaries working from the 1950s to the early 1970s, providing an alternative view of the 'wholesome' American society advertisers and politicians wanted you to see. Each post features a piece of artwork related to the song, created using Artificial Intelligence software; and also an explanation of the inspiration for that song.

Hunter S Thomson's book The Great Shark Hunt covers the U.S election of a 1968. This period marks the end of the 'hippie' age and a new period of darkness in which America descends into the twin hells of Vietnam and Watergate, at war as much with itself as everyone else.

Richard M. Nixon, running for President Of The United States in this election, is known as maybe the dirtiest political operator of them all. He aligns himself with the religious right to make him look morally wholesome, but really he’s a sleazeball, mired in lies and corruption - a direct inspiration to Donald J. Trump four decades later.

In this song he’s having his moment of 'cheap genius,' divesting himself of anyone who might, later in his political life, be a ‘problem’ to him and setting himself up as morally unimpeachable. These people include girlfriends who he might have picked up along the way, and who might engage in ‘pillow talk.’ This song is written from the point of view of one of them.

Vocals by Wolfe.