| CD REVIEW |
| It takes a lot of courage for someone to "spill their guts" in such a non-intimate setting as a recording studio, but with friends like Ray Materick, Jamie Oakes, and renowned musicians Paul Intson (Bounce, Exotica and Girl Interrupted soundtracks, Jewel and Fred Eaglesmith) and Danny Lockwood (Powerhouse, Stompin' Tom Connors, Carlos Del Junco) offering mutual support and encouragement to each other, Rob offers a sincerely touching performance on this, his 4th solo CD to date (and that's not including the multitude of other CDs he has played on/produced or written songs for)! And speaking of courage, he has already released a more current 4-song EP entitled "Brave Enough". Although I was not previously familiar with his name or music, being a former Torontonian, I intend to look deeper into his personal encyclopedia of songwriting credits. For that matter, there are still a few people in Hamilton who seem to have overlooked his music, too, which will not do at all! I listened to this CD for the first time while on a GO bus trip to Toronto, and on the return-trip to Hamilton, I was hooked. Rob has an extremely listenable and dynamic voice topped only by his insightful and emotionally-compelling lyrics dealing with poverty, integrity, government bureaucracy, midlife crises, and his "shiny daughter" (he also has three sons). In the emotionally-charged "train song", he sings of being haunted by "pregnant women, stupid, skinny junkies, girls in polyester and my lack of money", risking his life for nothing, as well as righteously plugging Jamie Oakes' CD, Shadows in Dreams. This song actually had me in tears with its melancholy air of futility. When I heard Rob's version of Ray Materick's "melting pot", I gained a new appreciation for Ray himself and regret having missed his recent gig here in Hamilton, at which show Rob shared the billing. Another favourite set of lyrics was in "my Achilles Heart" - "I've been walking on a wire, so close to crossing a very thin line, just me and my midlife crisis and we are taking our time". "Raymond", the only other non-original song, written by Michael J. Birthelmer, tells a tale of witnessing a crime committed by a friend and feeling the guilt of keeping quiet about it. ""Edge of the World", co-written by and featuring Paul Intson, Jamie Oakes and Danny Lockwood, as are several of the tracks, is a spacey little ballad that echoes in the ears long after it's over. But make no mistake, Rob Lamothe is a formidable songwriter on his own, equally as entertaining as Bruce Cockburn, with his melodic guitar-picking, romantic lyrics and smooth-as-calfskin vocals. Born in La Jolla, California, and taking roots in Hamilton a number of years ago, Rob has been performing and recording since he was a teenager ("with a criminal mind"). Formerly with the Riverdogs for several years, as a solo performer he has certainly made an impression internationally, having toured successfully in the United States and Europe. At the time of this writing, he has just returned from jamming in San Francisco and is leaving shortly for a return European tour (Germany, Holland and Belgium) with Craig Erickson's band. He is currently mixing a CD for the Catfish Blues Band from Toronto, whom I had the good fortune and pleasure of hearing last year. If there's one time you can drag your butt out of the house this year to hear some "live" music, make sure it's a Rob Lamothe show - you won't be sorry! Better yet, pick up at least two or three of his CDs and put Hamilton on the "musical" map of the world! For more information on this fascinating and prolific singer/songwriter/guitarist, go to www.roblamothe.com. |
| WISHING WELL MOTEL - ROB LAMOTHE |
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