Robert McCreedy - Streamline

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 28 / 3 / 2002

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Formally with country rock band The Volebeats, this is Robert McCreedy’s first solo effort since he left that band. For those unfamiliar with the work of The Volebeats then maybe the fact that Mike Daly, formally with Whiskeytown, produced and plays guitars, mandolin and pedal and lap steel will give some idea of what to expect on this collection, which is an outstanding alt country album. Another indication of the quality to expect is the inclusion of Laura Cantrell on backing vocals. Laura covered Robert’s song, ‘Two Seconds’ on her own ‘Not The Tremblin’ Kind’ album a while back. McCreedy's vocals are clear , but have a lived-in feel to them and are ideally suited to these songs about the normal alt country themes of heartbreak, looking to the future and relationships. Nothing much new, exciting or outstanding there then but where this collection of songs does shine is in the way in which McCreedy, on his own or with co-writers Daly and James Reynolds, wraps his stories in melodies which are by turns heartbreaking or zestful. Track ten, for example, ‘Too Much Love’, an acoustic ballad, seems a simple, catchy, country tinged song on first listen ,but repeated plays reveal that the touches of organ by Andrew Hollander come in at just the right place and fill the song out and the backing vocals by Laura Cantrell lift it above being just another good country song. And that’s one of the main attractions here, without diminishing the vocal talents of the other backing vocalists, Claudine Langille (Touchstone and Gypsy Reel vocalist) and Zoe Shnieder, when Laura and Robert sing together, it is something really special. Although track two, ‘Down’ would be much less of a pleasure to hear without Zoe’s backing vocals, which take it up a level, it’s the tracks with Laura on that really lift the album up to great heights. Laura’s first heard on track three, ‘Gone Again’, an outstanding ballad anyway with mandolin and lap steel by Mike Daly, not to mention a splendid guitar solo, but her vocals make the track exceptional. A good comparison would be the work Gram Parsons did with Emmylou Harris. Robert and Laura's vocals compliment each other and work well together that the listener gets the feeling that they were made to sing together. The new Gram and Emmylou then ? Strong praise indeed, but which is more than justified by the strength of the songs played here. A whole album of duets between the two singers would be something to relish for the future. Who knows it may just happen ? The song ‘Emily’ is the next time we get to hear Laura and Robert together. It is a stripped down ballad in which Robert’s acoustic guitar is the only instrument and those two voices sound like angels. The only fault is that the song is only just over 2 minutes long and ends far too soon. It’s not all ballads though. The opening track, the upbeat ‘Diana’ is driven along with some fine mandolin playing by Mike Daly who also gives the track it’s ‘once heard never forgotten’ guitar lines. The closing track, which sounds like it was recorded in a bedroom somewhere is a (tongue in cheek?) good way to bring the album to a close. Again, too short by far at just over a minute long, its lyrics inlcude the lines “My friends and my family they often ask me when I’m gonna finally settle down, get me a real job with benefits and security join the rest of the clowns”. Ring any bells? Despite my praising of the tracks featuring Laura Cantrell, maybe the best track after repeated playings is ‘Down’. Offering something different with wurlitzer and chamberlin to the fore in the instrumental parts, it opens with the aforementioned instruments and Robert singing, “What do you look for when you’re looking at me, do you find out we’re not meant to be, and do you tell me or just keep it all to yourself? A fine example of the man’s talent when it comes to writing simple but honest lyrics. Of course, the next track is ‘Gone Again’ the first one to feature Laura so the cycle begins again with that song taking the honours of being the favourite. And so it goes on. From the first play of the opening track, this album sounds like a good alt country album. By the end of the first listen it has risen to an above average album and after a few more plays it shows itself in its full colours to be an exceptional record showcasing the outstanding talents of all those involved in it’s making.

Track Listing:-

1 Diana
2 Down
3 Gone Again
4 Dreams
5 Holding On Love
6 Love Without Shame
7 Emily
8 Float Away
9 Somethings Wrong
10 Too Much Love
11 Wong Side of Anything

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