|
|
|
|
|
 |
||
|
||
|
 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
There always seems to be a paradox underlying Bob McCluskey's music. With so many downer, dart-through-the-heart lyrics, why do I feel so good when I listen to his songs like "Unforgiving Hands" or "You Got Me" or "Two Fallen Angels"? Somehow no matter how down and poor-pitiful-me McCluskey's lyrics are, once they sink in there is such a slyness and astute cleverness to his observations and rhymes that it's hard to do anything but smile and agree and listen for the next brain-teasing line. Filled with doubt, hurt, and uncertainty, the lyrics reveal a lovable vulnerability in McCluskey's way of expressing feelings that wins a listener over to his side, that makes the listener want to offer protection or solace because anyone who sees things in these terms and sings them in this wavering, whipped-pup voice can't be all bad no matter what mess he's in or what a mess he is. To quote Steed, "Bob has this wonderful ability to paint his own little world which I really like." "Unforgiving Hands" offers a fine example. With nothing to do except to get over you I want to hold you in my loving arms And how can a listener not sympathize with a guy who sees himself in these terms? Some times I feel like last summer's folding chair With its surf-jangle rock and fuzzy guitar solo, "Two Fallen Angels" shows its direct connection with the Taoist Cowboy sound. It also harkens back to the quirky, skewed, psychically unsure viewpoints of much of McCluskey's Taoist Cowboy work. Take me out of my hell and into your heaven tonight Much of McCluskey's work comes from the point of view of the anti-ladies man, of the unsure guy who doubts his social skills, his likeability, who has no doubt as to his lack of suave or cool. Revealing these traits the way he does makes us empathize with McCluskey in ways we could never empathize with, say, Mick Jagger. Eyes like distant stars You got a boyfriend? On "If I Was You," McCluskey delves deeply into self-esteem issues and self-destructive traits that create tension in and tear at his relationships. McCluskey knows his traits stand a good chance of wrecking the best thing he's got going, but he's unable to restrain himself, change his dangerous behavior. You never complain about my constant complaining At the movies we leave this world through the stars There is also a Del Shannon side to McCluskey's vocals that is extremely endearing. On the sad and utterly hip "This Town," McCluskey's Del Shannon vocal coupled with Goldman's clean, California picking gives this downer lyric an appealing, uplifting spin. Out in the night
Recorded at the Superdrag studio in Knoxville, The Estadas' Last Summer's Folding Chair is easy on the ear and stimulating for the brain, filled with jangly guitars, punchy rhythms, a laconic Neil Young deep-thinker's angst, and McCluskey's always inventive lyrical wordplay. While the music is friendly and approachable and achingly honest, the album is probably much too smart lyrically for commercial radio. Fortunately it fits the sophisticated Americana, collegiate and public radio audience like a glove. But, as with Emergency Lunch Box, the most likely place you'll hear Last Summer's Folding Chair is your own CD player. Over and over again. * The Estradas Last Summer's Folding Chair is available at
http://www.lynnpoint.com/ |
On The Estradas' Last Summer's
Folding Chair, Bob McCluskey extends the brilliant lyricism of
his minimalist solo Emergency Lunch Box project, but this
time he does it in a very Knoxvillian jangly pop rock format with
Estadas' guitarist Michael "Ponch" Goldman and two of Knoxville's
top rhythm players, bassist Paxton Sellers (V-Roys, The Faults) and
drummer Jason Peters (The Faults). The Estradas was McCluskey's band
after the breakup of Taoist Cowboys (and prior to the recording of
Emergency Lunch Box). Cowboys' fans will find the album to be
a logical musical extension and, since The Estadas broke up without
issuing a recording, their fans will find this album to be a must.
According to Todd Steed, the engineer on the sessions, "This is the
only official Estradas' recording. They never got in the studio when
they were together, but they did play a wedding once and some girls
took their clothes off!"
|
|
||
|
 |
|
|
|
|