Victor Krummenacher, Saint John's Mercy - 50m 52s

Tracks & Durations

1. Tear Stained Road	2:31
2. Nothing Outside	3:55
3. Now That You're Gone	3:23
4. Dreams Die Hard	4:43
5. No Sin to Wandering	4:06
6. Tierra O'Muerte	5:35
7. The Expanse	5:07
8. Thunderhead	5:07
9. Questa Sunset	3:20
10. Raven	4:46
11. Saint John's Mercy	4:26
12. Long Way Home	3:45

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Review

Forge the anything-goes attitude of postpunk, the instrumental variety of country-rock, and great songwriting and you have Victor Krummenacher's Saint John's Mercy. Immediately noticeable here is the similarity of Krummenacher's wistful, velvety voice to that of John Cale. Like Cale with the Velvet Underground, Krummenacher carries with him the legacy of an innovative former band--in this case the glorious mid-'80s-American-meets-ethnic-music train wreck known as Camper Van Beethoven. Krummenacher draws from a stable of great players for this outing that includes former members of Camper, the Monks of Doom, and American Music Club. Of note is the crisp attack and groove of Chris Pedersen's drumming, the articulate guitar technique of Greg Lisher, and the outright passionate guitar playing of the ubiquitous David "Herr" Immergluck. On "Thunderhead" and "Questa Sunset," ensemble playing weaves together to create moods and aural landscapes that recall Ennio Morricone's Western soundtracks. The title track opens with a quirky guitar intro that grows into an accessible pop arrangement only to finish on an ambient, sound-effect-laden note. The result is eerie and so is the subject of the song--written after a near-fatal accident while on tour. The album ends with the undeniably catchy country-rocker "Long Way Home"--with this CD in the car stereo and a full tank of gas, that's the only way to go. --Michael Wells Victor Krummenacher Saint Johns Mercy

Saint Johns Mercy is the second solo release from former Monks of Doom and Camper Van Beethoven bassist Victor Krummenacher. His followup to 1995s acclaimed Out in the Heat, Saint Johns Mercy features Krummenacher reuniting with the talents of fellow CVB/Monks alumni Chris Pedersen, David Immerglck, and Greg Lisher, as well as appearances by steel player Bruce Kaphan (David Byrne, American Music Club, Chris Isaak) and Mommyhead bassist Jeff Palmer. The recording was produced by former King Missile keyboardist/bassist Chris Xefos.

Revolving around the title track, Saint Johns Mercy features a series of songs written following the demise of Krummenachers touring band, A Great Laugh. That band was waylaid in 1996 following a disastrous tour during which drummer John Nelson was struck and seriously injured by a car in St. Louis, Mo. He was taken to Saint Johns Mercy Medical Center. The dramatic events of that tour led Victor to take some time off from playing live to focus on writing. The results are a series of songs reflective of Krummenachers diverse influences. From the opening salvo of the garage-rock-meets-Richard Thompson Tear Stained Road to the psychedelic country strains of Questa Sunset to the neo-Creedence overtones of Long Way Home, Krummenacher achieves the envious balance of paying homage to influences without losing his own focus as a songwriter. Intimate, passionate, and literate, Victor unleashes a trained poetic eye upon the world, keeping the focus on the song, and providing a smooth, complex, enjoyable listen. Not particularly alternative, not country, not roots rock, not punk, Krummenachers music inhabits the space most writers hope to achieve: its own.

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