Like one of those 3D paintings
by Patrick Reilly
The first thing I kept asking myself upon listening to this record was “where have I heard this voice?” Unlike other recordings that reveal their secrets upon further listenings, one gets the impression of less familiarity-- that this is a fresh voice, a unique voice. Ok, Obviously, it’s an unabashed nod to the days of Bobby Darin and Irving Berlin, and admittedly so: the last song on the album being one of the best covers of the late Berlin’s “Blue Skies” I have ever heard. Von Kneip’s lazy, smoke-and-whiskey imbibed voice drips with both the pain of experience and the sincerity of youth; it has that quality that can lull you to sleep... just before it kills you.
On “Love is Menacing”, the album’s first track, is a railing indictment of the virtues of love(with a wink) that promises: “...you’ll be lying in the shallows of an unmarked grave on the outskirts of your town” should you fail to heed the warning. “Elegant and Graceful” is an apt description of the use of vibraphone and double bass- not plucked but bowed, thank you- on this song. But The real ready-for-radio hit is “Lovely Secrets”, which is just good old fashioned pop songwriting.
While the recording itself is not impressive, I think this is intentional. It has a transparency to it, like they didn’t want the recording to get in the way of the real strength of the record: which is the songs. Good Choice. Well worth the time and the money.
