Shiva
Ruby Ray Records (www.rubyrayrecords.com)
We had the good fortune of seeing Kathleen Wilhoite perform at Mint in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago, and she was every bit as good as we'd imagined from listening to Pitch Like a Girl , her previous record (reviewed by House of Chicken a few months, okay, years, ago). It's always nice to see someone live and they're actually better than their recordings, rather than worse (think "Redd Kross" then think "Bananarama"). She peppered the performance with little explanations about the songs, like "Safari Song", about a kid in her neighborhood whose dad had disappeared and rather than face this ugly little detail of life, the kid made up tales about his dad being on a safari in Africa. The lyrics touch that part of you that cringes when you think of little puppies at the animal shelter, yet the music has you dancing and bobbing your head like a love-struck teenager….and then leaves you feeling guilty when you remember what the song's about:
Where were you when I learned to ride a two-wheeler?
Where were you on my first day of school?
I finally found you lost inside the stories
I'd tell when asked about you:
On a SAFARI in Africa, fighting off the lions,
On a ship to Cambodia, riding the high seas,
In a phone book by some names my mom found out in California.
Have you ever wondered about me?
Once in awhile, living in Lost Angeles redeems itself in such a simple pleasure as seeing Kathleen Wilhoite at a little club where if you want a table you have to order chicken fingers, and tell them who you're there to see 'cos that band gets your cover charge. Just for the record, however, usually Lost Angeles is just Calcutta filled with breast implants and better cars.
This record has a Lucinda Williams-esque quality, with chanteuse Wilhoite's raspy and heartfelt, then suddenly tender and lyrical voice belting out the best lyrics I've heard in awhile. Think Cheryl Crowe with more imagination and verve, Bonnie Raitt with more interesting lyrics and less twang.
Our favorite song from the record is "Bad Old Days," about the ghosts of girlfriends past who haunt the girlfriend-of-late:
I promise I won't hurt you just as much as I am able,
But all your dirty laundry's cluttering up our kitchen table.
I wasn't there in the BAD OL' DAYS
The reckless driving, random bullet holes,
I swear I didn't see it,
But I'm getting raked over the coals.
One caveat: don't listen to Shiva right after listening to Pitch Like a Girl if you liked the clarity of the production values on Pitch Like a Girl (which I adored). This one's much grittier and less slick. The musicianship is professional, don't get us wrong, just less bells and whistles. - Miss Di
Shiva is available from LAMA
Pitch Like A Girl is available at Amazon.com