Elly Roberts reviews
Bob Schneider: I'm Good Now
Distributed by
Measured Records
- Cat.no: MRBOB001
- Released: March 2006
- Rating: 4/10
Having failed miserably to make an impression
with former bands Ugly Americans, Joe Rockhead and The Scabs, Bob Schneider
releases 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 offering
here in the UK: his chances are realistically slim. When I first played it
I 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 other
artists: Elvis Costello, Anthony Keidis (Chili Peppers), Bruce Springsteen
spring 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 possibility
he could have pulled it off, instead we're actually left with a ubiquitous
result, 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 is
ultimately where it will remain. Cracking the UK is a different ball game.
Schneider has few musical opportunities to follow Jack Johnson's wishy washy
format, as the single Captain Kirk testifies. Generations of Americans have
failed to impress over here, despite their credibility, such as the talented
Dan 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 and
interesting, we get a jaunty title track, and the power ballad The Bridge
Builders. By the time he's reached Getting Better, he's getting lost, with
an aimlessly meandering filler song. Last of the regular songs, Love Is
Everywhere 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 :
DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TXW32R4 32" widescreen TV
connected to either a Creative Dxr2 DVD-ROM player or Microsoft Xbox and
played through a Sony STR-DB930 amplifier.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2008.
