Almost a month since I blogged. No real reason, just travel, work and life. Have still been listeneing to music though, that will never change.
Here's my take on Over The Rhine's latest CD:-
Starts engagingly with a New Orleans funeral type band which feels like it's hanging around on the corner, then the piano comes in with the same melody then a female voice sings; 'I don't wanna waste your time with music you don't need'. Which this fab album by husband and wife team Linford Deitweiler and Karen Bergquist certainly does not do - waste your time that is. Don't Wanna Waste Your Time is a come-on song of a lovers declaration that she's in it for the long haul.
Trouble - the track which got me into the album - is divine, catchy, part bar room song, part kitsch with an echo of tango and fun lyrics .. 'if you came to make trouble, make mine a double honey. I think it's fine." Easily the sort of song you imagine you could sing if you had the same guitar and skittle board backing.
The voice turns the simple songs into small theatre with twists on the lyrics where needed, sweetness where necessary and a sliver of a lazy, sexy drawl where most important. A steel guitar introduces Nothing Is Innocent and it's the first track with grown up lyrics and a hint of a Middle Eastern refrain. This isn't a song of love but of government lies and our own complacency. A small, gentle statement of America's changing place in the world. After a couple of listens the refrain makes sense. Strangely compelling to have a gentle, swingy song making a political message.
Into the title track, subdued but builds into an echo of the previous track. A kinf of late night, protest, blues song.
Back to fun with Entertaining Thoughts though it's too catchy and a little bland. They get back on track with their funky and slighty out-of-fashion-but-it-works sound with Who Am I Kiddin' But Me. "..rest your lovely bones and let's just stay at home.." lures us into Let's Spend The Day In Bed. Images of picnics on the sheets, a pyjama holiday and no work only play rhythm, seductive and playable over and over .... 'getting stoned on love', makes this my favourite track.
Desperate For Love takes us back to the baroom/kitsch sound, music that would be playing in the background of a 30's bar but just that little bit too good to not take notice of, it has a cabaret feel to it which is carried over in Don't Wait For Tom - a story spoken by a male voice with Bergquists' singing voice floating in the background, then they meld. Have to be honest I'm not quite sure what this song is about but it's intriguing like a very short novella put to music. Amazing lyrics which beg a few listens.
Then it's all wrapped up with If A Song Could Be President, a song yearning for simplicity and the truth in everyday life with the line 'We'll make Neil Young a Senator, even though he came from Canada'.
An engaging album, deceptive in it's ease but lurking underneath are messages loud and clear but not too pompous to drown out the effective and strangely 'out there' music.
