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Elly Roberts reviews
Measured Records
- Cat.no: MRBOB001
- Released: March 2006
- Rating: 4/10
Having failed miserably to make an impressionwith former bands Ugly Americans, Joe Rockhead and The Scabs, Bob Schneiderreleases his 2004 USA album I’m Good Now, now with two bonus tracks.
The Texan based singer-songwriter, (originally from Ypsilanti Michigan)Schneider hopes to make a big impression with an American heartland offeringhere in the UK: his chances are realistically slim. When I first played itI thought it was ok – several listens on, it remains ok. When it’s all over,you think you’ve heard it all before, and you probably have through otherartists: Elvis Costello, Anthony Keidis (Chili Peppers), Bruce Springsteenspring to mind. And that’s the album’s downfall – it lacks ‘original’identity and individuality.
Desperate to make his mark, he confesses to be “playing it by the rules” -which is the net result. Had he taken risks, there’s a distinct possibilityhe could have pulled it off, instead we’re actually left with a ubiquitousresult, where he seems to have been picking other people’s brains.
This type of music is over the radio like a rash in the States, which isultimately where it will remain. Cracking the UK is a different ball game.Schneider has few musical opportunities to follow Jack Johnson’s wishy washyformat, as the single Captain Kirk testifies. Generations of Americans havefailed to impress over here, despite their credibility, such as the talentedDan Fogelberg (Longer).
Swinging from gentle ballads: tracks 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 13, to ballsy rock –C’mon Baby, and teetering on the folkie angle – A Long Way. More upbeat andinteresting, we get a jaunty title track, and the power ballad The BridgeBuilders. By the time he’s reached Getting Better, he’s getting lost, withan aimlessly meandering filler song. Last of the regular songs, Love IsEverywhere with its sweeping string arrangements is the best of the bunch.It has a quaint beauty which none of the others possess.
The bonus tracks just prolong the lacklustre repertoire.
UK potential – poor.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Come With Me Tonight
2. Medicine
3. A Long Way To Get
4. The Way Life Is Supposed To Be
5. I’m Good Now
6. God Is My Friend
7. C’mon Baby
8. The Bridge Builders
9. Captain Kirk
10. Gold In The Sunset
11. Piggyback
12. Getting Better
13. Love Is Everywhere
14. Lovely (bonus track)
15. Honeybomb (bonus track)
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.