WRECKLESS ERIC AND AMY RIGBY
S/T CD
Stiff Records 2008
www.wrecklesseric.com
It’s been a few years, but it’s great to have Wreckless Eric back as his raspy, crackly, wiseacre voice cuts through on the opening track. Like a breath of fresh air, as his hit “The Whole Wild World” was back in 1977, the opener, “Here Comes My Ship,” sounds like it could have easily come from that era. Now joined by his wife, Amy Rigby (who has had her own solo career for many years) the pair has formed a duo, playing all of the instruments, producing and arranging themselves on this true DIY project. There’s a variety of sounds here, but all of the songs have been recorded such that the duo can perform them live with only the occasional backing tape. My fave track is the self reflective tune “The Downside Of Being A Fuck-Up” that has just the perfect catchy chorus and strummy psychedelic guitar sounds in the background that drills itself into your brain. A perfect pop song, but due to the title and lyrics will never make it onto radio where it belongs. But it plays in my head all of the time, cause I can’t get the sucker out of there! Lots of other neat songs on here too, like “Men In Sandals” where Amy laments on her pet peeve and suggests that Hank Williams wouldn’t have looked cool on stage with bare toes. How true! Or The Flamin’ Groovies like “Please Be Nice To Her” with it’s wonderfully jangly intertwining guitars. This is a great album that I can’t seem to get out of my player. Live, this duo is even better! (Dave O’Halloran)
