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Bill Santen:
In the Night Kitchen
I was truly disappointed and seriously heartbroken by this album. After my first listen, I was driven to tears. I mean, how could I be given such an album, only to realize that it has a mere eight tracks? How could someone be so cruel? Alright, so perhaps Ive gone a little overboard but I had a bad day, and good music has a way of bringing out my emotional side. Bill Santens voice really hits home with his dark, haunting vocals and clever, moody lyrics. One of my favorite excerpts is If youve come to work for us this you must agree/If youre gonna die please do it during tea from Gold Watch Blues. What makes this a particularly standout album is that you feel like you are in an intimate little room with Bill and his guitar as he performs each of the album tracks. As he starts off with the harmonica-filled Hustler, you might as well be sitting on the couch right across from him, drinking a beer. The folksy, alt-country frontman of the band Birddog seems to do just fine out on his own. Sometimes when band members go solo, they like to pack their debut albums with a smattering of guest artists, but Bill keeps the focus on himself with the exception of the last track. On Cincinnati Sings, he introduces two guests that provide the lead guitar and a viola, which not only add some depth to the album but helps to create a beautiful, heartbreaking album closer. Even if you have never heard of his previous efforts, or even if you have, Bill Santen gives a brilliant performance on his debut solo album thats worth everyones attention. Somewhere in between Iron & Wine and Elliot Smith, his emotional singer-songwriter tracks shine. Lets hope he gets the credit he most certainly deserves this time around.
This album can be purchased at the Sweatin' Betty Records About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content © LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
