Waller is lead singer and a principal songwriter of the 'cosmic' alt.country band 'I See Hawks In L.A', a professor of writing at USC, a playwright, a mystic, a semi-public intellectual and a father of three.
Phew!
To unwind and feel more footloose he records cover songs. There are thirteen of these on his first solo album - Fancy Free; an eclectic mix of major and minor classics and a handful of obscurities.
The tone alternates restlessly between sombre and chirpy.
Waller's mature country music baritone is immediately to the fore on Utah Phillips’ sorrowful Walking Through Your Town In The Snow’. This is the tale of a lonely hobo who is reduced to musing grimly "I can see my golden years, shining through these frozen tears". Jazz violinist Nora Germain helps bring out the wistful tone of this song.
Neil Young’s Albuquerque (from Tonight's The Night) is another song in this low key vein.
In contrast, the title track is a kitschy take on The Oak Ridge Boys’ I'm Settin' Fancy Free and a jollied up, slightly rowdy version of Daniel Johnston’s whimsical Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances further lightens the tone.
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The latter has his wife Katie joining in on the harmonies and the family connection is also a feature of an abbreviated version of Amazing Grace where his Pa plays piano.
Waller's lonesome drawl is well suited to the Americana tunes such as Willie Nelson’s Me and Paul but sounds off key for the English standards:The Kinks’ Waterloo Sunset and The Hollies’ The Air That I Breathe.
Another misstep is an ill-judged rocking rendition of Bob Dylan’s She Belongs to Me and he transforms The Doors‘ The Crystal Ship into a sinking vessel.
Aided by comrades from I See Hawks in L.A. and other guests, there are some nice things here but the unpredictable mood swings make this album a mixed bag at best.
Robert Rex Waller Jr's website
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