(reprinted from John’s post to Facebook – cause sometimes you’ve got to save the nice things someplace where you can read’em later)
Hey Rob, just wanted to stop by and leave you a brief review of “… St. Cecelia”.
(thank you!) – r
Fantastic work, man… First time hearing it was like a familiar thing, but a surprise nonetheless. Loaded with what I think of as the “ilyAIMY sound” from the first track–with lots of hammer-ons, pull-offs and full throttle tempo in the first few bars. “Slight Departure” really benefits from the sustained keyboard chords in the background.
(be grateful it evolved from it’s initial form, the scratch recording involved the sound of a dog first eating underwear and then throwing up underwear!) – r
Intrigued by “Protest Song”, which sounds almost like something written by Ani DiFranco, but with the lyrics could actually be about her, which would be a clever twist of satire. However, the reference to midichlorians makes me wonder if this is connected to the Star Wars saga somehow, but I have no clue. Far be it from me to be able to solve that which was probably meant to remain cryptic. Still, I may just be missing the point. With your penchant for sci-fi, the Star Wars guess isn’t too much of a stretch, even if only for the fact that “midichlorians” is a cool, scientific-sounding word to use in a song. There were no individual songwriting credits on the CD jacket, and not much in the way of liner notes (unlike The Fifth Circle in that respect), but I’d have to say that this was a Rob song.
(ha – you’re dead on. I’ve had plenty of offended individuals write to me assuming the song was about them, but alas, Ani, who is one of the inspirations, never did get wind. Primarily this was written about watching people get upset, offended, but everything BUT what seemed important to me – right up to and including the fact that my first brush with spirituality – the Force in Star Wars – had been ret-conned into a bacterial infection. It’s a tangle of a song that I’ve actually been rewriting a little bit because – we very legitimately have things to protest at the moment – oh, and yes – if I sing lead on a song it’s “mine”, if Heather sings lead SHE wrote it, so yes – this one’s mine ) – r
While I could go on about every track, I’ll just focus in mostly on a few favorites. The first of what I assume are the Heather songs is “Oklahoma Festival”, which to me creates an image of a couple finding one another again in a cellar during a storm in the dust bowl. Amazing vocal interplay between you two on that one. This one is definitely in the folk tradition, as it’s got all the hard times, tragic desperation, and romance of the best of all that.
(Inspired by a song prompt at my old Java Mammas open mic – Heather wrote this song in answer to the phrase “sandstorm Love affair”, which was the same origin point for my song “Baliset” ) – r
“Trouble” is powerful, with a chord progression that pulls at the emotions with all the piano, harmonizing vocals, percussive guitar working together to create a sort of quiet serenity around talk of being made crazy.
My favorite of what I figure to be the Rob songs is “Hands”. Another one that features the full throttle tempo and buzz saw rhythm guitar that makes me wonder how long I’ve been hearing this one from you guys. I hear the neck flex after an artfully placed harmonic, and wonder if this is the tune that was the demise of the Seagull guitar you used to play back when we first met (like about 17 years ago now)–which I seem to remember years ago had its neck broken by such a maneuver. Anyway, great energy from everyone on this one. The bass line adds some real impact, and the clackity-clack of the bones really drives the whole thing where that appears.
(thank you! the Seagull was actually snapped by a song called “Will”, but yeah – same maneuuuuver) – r
Excellent treatment of The Beatles’ “We Can Work It Out” as well. Very unique, with the band’s signature sound underlying a very true to the original version. Love how you guys ended it.
(if you don’t know what John’s talking about here it’s because the digital version of the album does NOT have this cover tune included) – r
The Heather song that’s my favorite is “Ask For Me”, for its really great guitar sound which hints at a low-pitch altered tuning, with percussive body thumps and some nice string bending lead work from you thrown in to enhance the package. This is a reeally nice tune, as is her “No Blue Left” (which is really beautiful with the cello added).
(this was the EXACT moment Kristen got yoinked into the band!) – r
I also note that this is the first appearance of Kristen, as guest performer. I imagine the tension and haunting orchestral effect of cello added on “Baliset” was a turning point for the band–prompting you to bring her into the fold permanently. (As it turned out, in more than one way, in fact.)
For sheer energy and intricate vocal interplay, “LooseN” may be the best tune on the record. This one emphasizes what I think of as the ilyAIMY sound–with a blistering tempo and flurries of 16th note pull-offs with maybe a few 32nd notes in there as well.
I assume that the wrap-up is one penned by you as well. “Rearview” has an alternative vibe which for me tends to bring Foo Fighters to mind. Again, amazing sound on this one. Great way to exit this one–though the first track fits perfectly afterward in repeated replays.
Anyway, can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed hearing these records over the last few weeks, but it’s been a lot. Of all the people that I’ve met in my travels that write, perform and produce their own their own material, you guys have to be at the top somewhere very near to number one in my book. But it’s not a competition, and I can say that while I’ve heard and acquired music from a lot of the folks I knew or met in Maryland, Delaware, here in Virginia or Tennessee–of all those, there are a just select few that I always crave to hear again after a while. You guys are definitely in that group of artists.
So anyway, just wanted y’all to know. After this, I’m anxious to see what “Cicada” holds in store for me. Will be ordering that one soon.
Later!
(thank you again – we Love you and We Miss You – it’s been too long since we’ve crossed paths!) – r