Regarded as on of the surprising career direction changes in rock history, after the breakup of her Frisco punk band The Avengers, Penelope Houston left the former band’s attitude behind, for the sake of folk rocking melodies, now offering what may be her best release to date.
According to the album concept, the title, some of the songs themselves (the title song, Privilege + Gold, Walnut …), as well as her looks, this could’ve easily been the best Nico album she’s never made.
Therefore, I guess the cover of John Cale’s Buffalo Ballet isn’t a complete accident and Miss Houston has her own Cale/Reed figure, in the shape of another West Coast beatster, Pat Johnson (lately of The Maydays, whose single The Very Last Time is another piece of vintage sounding folk rock worth checking out).
On most of the album, they stay within the mentioned folk-rocking vibe, be it in the more melodic (Aviatrix, Flight 609) or even bluesy-psych vein (Soul Redeemer + a nod to Sonny & Cher).
But there’s also a coupla digressions like the opening Take My Hand, which is like Suzanne Vega fronting the ‘70s Who, Hole, with it’s Cosmic American touch by way of the Burritos and Neil Young and there’s Bottom Line, which wouldn’t sound out of place on Odessey & Oracle.
The album cover says that it’s actually an “Original music inspired by the film”, which makes me wish I could see the movie in question… seems like a thriller/drama thing.
[Released by DBK Works 2004]
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