TIM O'BRIEN

Chameleon

2008-03-18

Tim O’Brien writes, “My songs mostly start with me and an instrument, and I perform that way about half the time. So last summer I loaded all my hillbilly apparatus—guitars, mandolins, banjos, etc.—into Gary Paczosa’s garage and played this batch of songs until I was finished.” O’Brien can make you think you’re listening to a band when he’s picking at his guitar strings or playing the fiddle. In Chameleon, he sings about ordinary life, relationships, and politics. “Megna’s” is a story about man who sells produce and is an exercise in exploring the ordinary through art. (A track for O’Brien fans but probably not for radio.) “The Only Way to Never Hurt” is lyrically one of the better songs on the album. O’Brien picks up the fiddle for “Phantom Phone Call” and quietly plays during “Safe in Your Arms” after a minute-long a cappella opening. He delves into politics in “When in Rome,” “World of Trouble,” and “This World Was Made for Everyone.” The latter track is a tongue-in-cheek look at America’s history, manifest destiny, and an ongoing sense of entitlement. But O’Brien’s sings, “If we follow our hearts, we can fix up this world.” A few songs seem to be crafted especially for entertaining live shows, like “Get Out There and Dance” and a perfect show-ender, “Nothing to Say (That Hasn’t Been Said).” The rest of the songs on this disc are just as noteworthy. --MLG

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 03/2014

    CHARLIE PARR
    Hollandale

  • reviewed 06/2005

    Erin McKeown
    We Will Become Like Birds

  • reviewed 10/2006

    DIRTY MARTINI
    Tea and Revenge

  • reviewed 11/2009

    TUNE-YARDS
    Bird-Brains

  • reviewed 10/2008

    Lambchop
    OH (ohio)

  • reviewed 01/2012

    MATT WOODS
    Matt Woods Manifesto

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.