Bob Hillman
Welcome to My Century
Brave New Records BNR81742
There was some talk in September about the death of irony; most of it knowingly arch, fully
aware that no amount of tragedy will prevent those who are most capable of dark humor in
excercising their right to laugh in the face of pain -- including their own.
Enter, once again, Bob Hillman, the People's Champion for the skewering of outsized egos.
Case in point, the initial, title track of Welcome to My Century. The bouncy, jangly rock piece
pounds home our exasperation with the self-absorbed pleasures of the moneyed class.
The protagonist clearly has too much money and time on his hands, as Bob sees it:
Welcome to my century… I'll tell you how to make it
Dish it out, twist and shout… But never, ever take it
I can dish it pretty good… House arrest for seven months but it was worth it
Damn my father's drinking… I should leave him sad and lonely
That's a dream cuz I can't seem…To do without his money
Maybe you will see my face on television… Sunday down at the country club
With the evil face-lift mothers…
I might never go away… Eighteen holes, I know exactly what I'm doing
They hate me triumphantly… Their children don't make trouble
I might never go away…Eighteen holes, I know exactly what I'm doing…
Welcome to my century… You are ancient history
Bob's well-rounded talent, both lyrical and melodic, gets in your face with
"Valentine's Day." How to express heartbreak, but not be maudlin about it? Here's how--
Take an achingly sad melody, repeat it over and over, with exquisite harmonies, and back
it up with some great lead guitar work. Also, use some short, analytical sentences, deliberately
choppy to show a man determined to avoid his desperation:
Here we go again, Valentine's Day…Mighty big hurt…Put it away
Put it away… Heart-on-your-sleeve …Take it downtown…Where it can breathe
Where it can breathe… Smoky perfume… Comforting scent… Of a dark room
This is how it is…Me and my, my accomplices
Here is everything… Broken-down bars… Circle of friends… Rock and roll stars
Rock and roll stars… Where are they now… Here in this room… All over town
All over town… Other folks too… But I can't stop… Wishing for you
Who has had to bear… Heaviest blow… Devil may care… God only knows
God only knows… Some of us guess… We could be wrong… Nevertheless
Nevertheless… We are here now… Speaking in tongues… Sorting it out
This is how it is…Me and my, my accomplices
Sound easy? It isn't, of course. Original language combined with just the right meter and
melody are what makes Bob Hillman one of the most respected among other knowing
singer/songwriters. Suzanne Vega among them, she's invited Bob along on her latest tour
as her opener. The listening public has been given notice and will just have to catch up.
To help them along, Bob has provided here, another of our favorites, "The Late Night."
Again, with a heart-rending melody combined with words that cast an over-the-shoulder
glance at life-defining hurts, he sings:
I was up til seven thirty… Getting down and talking dirty
Nothing in the world could hurt me… Some crazy scene
She got up and sent me packing… Sadly I was sorely lacking
Sense and sound financial backing… Goodnight Irene…
It's gone…
The late night is gone
The late night is gone
And I don't know why
You who wish to overthrow… Counter-punch, run the sideshow
Put it off until tomorrow… Don't even try…
You should never have to worry… Drink whenever you are thirsty
Stay up late and get up early… Sleep when you die…
It's gone…
The late night is gone
The late night is gone
And I don't know why
This one, for me, wakes up all those old memories kicking around the dark corner of the
cerebral closet. All those lost things… wishes, promises, friends, lovers…
Some of Bob's work is cryptic for me, but I'm drawn in nevertheless, by the melody and
all the possibilities for interpretation. One that I like to savor, like a glass of smoky Cabernet
is "I Need You:"
Take a number, Jack I'd like to pay you back but… Money's for the petty bourgeoisie
Sorry, that's a joke… I could never be broke
Trimming an invaluable family tree… Feeling pretty good… Just in time…
Brother, would you extend me a credit line?
I need you… Sober as a judge… Wink, wink and nudge, nudge
Sorry, my attorney drinks for me
Speaking of the truth… Have you any real proofof What I am or what I'd like to be?
I know what you see… What you get… Hasn't been officially determined yet
I need you…
Do you like my act?… Find it at all attractive? …Brought to you by my insecurities
In and out of love… Any questions? …Is there anything I forgot to mention?
I need you
Hillman wields the verbal scalpel exceptionally well. Speculation occurs, kind of like what always
happened with that other Bob …Dylan
One of the fun things about Welcome to my Century is that it contains the still-cheeky, unapologetic,
arrogant, swaggering, New York City rant, "Bolted Down."
Yes I live in New York City… Do you have a problem, man?
We use drugs and beat our children… These and other evil plans
Who the hell are you and… What gives you the right to speak to me?
I had better run upstairs cuz… I can smell conspiracy
I don't care how you're doing out there… I don't care how you're doing out there
I am safe in my apartment… Where my things are bolted down
Not just paintings and… Everything is bolted down…
Ask me how I drink my coffee… When the mug is bolted down
It's a special apparatus… I will sell you one right now
I don't care how you're doing out there… I don't care how you're doing out there
Some other favorites on the CD are the great singalong-inducing "Anywhere,"
Fighting for her life in Iowa… With the future legends typing club
They were reading Faulkner but it was not hard enough
They were thinking carefully and writing down their thoughts to please us
She can go anywhere she wants to… Anywhere she wants to… She wants to be here
as well as the cranky, self-lacerating "Too Bad for You," and the wistful, aching "Secret Masterpieces:"
We'll be alone tonight… Painting secret masterpieces…
Turn out the lights… Turn out the lights… Turn out the lights…
Bob Hillman is a formidable talent. Here's hoping that Welcome to My Century is the second (Playing God being the first)
of many albums to come.
If you have any trouble locating the CD, order it from Bob at http://bobhillman.net/buy.html
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