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Elly Roberts reviews

Vic Chesnutt: North Star Deserter

Distributed by
Constellation

September 2007

Rating: 2/10

Confined to a wheelchair aged 18 after a car crash, this paraplegic singer/songwriter remains one of the most engimatic artists of his generation.

He writes in a mostly sparse style, though he does venture into occasional rock blasts. His voice is thin with a southern accent, with shades of early Peter Gabriel (Genesis). This combination of rootsy poetry and poetic forms of expression are probably more relevant to southern America, and unlike his fellow countryman Devendra Banhart et al, he will have little affect on the British music scene.

His opening track, Warm, is a stripped-back acoustic rambler, with gentle strums and the slightly warbled singing make it quite attractive, sharply contrasted by the doom-filled music of Glossolalia. It’s a steady and slow opening on Everything I Say which preceeds some chrunching chords only to drift back to a plodding pace, reverting back to the chrunchy and dirty chords once more.

Thankfully a bit of sunshine emerges through the dark clouds. Wallace Stevens is the most accessible so far, but only just. Song seven, Splendid, begins with a sonic effect, slowly opening with some steadfast singing, but doesn’t break into a sweat, and seems to have little direction. Things get a bit tedious by the time you’ve reached snoozy Rustic City Fathers. After the initial F/X sequence, Debriefing laps into a grungy over stretched ballad.

Chesnutt is considered lyrically clever with unique phrasing. Unfortunately, there’s nothing remotely interesting or memorable on offer.

File under, unusual.

Overall, North Star Deserter is a pretty drab and depressing affair.

Weblinks: southern.net / vicchesnutt.com

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The full list of tracks included are :

1. Warm 2. Glossolalia 3. Everything I Say 4. Wallace Stevens 5. You Are Never Alone 6. Fodder On Her Wings 7. Splendid 8. Rustic City Fathers 9. Over 10. Debriefing 11. Marathon 12. Rattle

Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.

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