If Bill Janovitz ever decides to make his own variation
on the Beach Boys' Stack-O-Tracks, he'd be smart to include all the sounds contained
Up Here. The music behind each track is gorgeous, sometimes even to the point
where you wish his great voice didn't boom so loudly in the mix. On the disc's
title track, Janovitz's guitar work peppers the same Spanish path as Willie
Nelson's Spirit, while his touch with the piano is like sweat slithering down
the back of every melody; each time he hits a key, the truth behind the tracks
seems to hit more deeply, revealing another facet to the song.
The album itself is something of a throwback. It contains only slow songs, and
as such seems like a good model for future Paul Westerberg records. The settings
are spare, and could easily work against a lesser lyricist, but Janovitz is
full of domestic heroism ("No one understands/You are in my hands/I will
carry you/It's what I'm here to do") that's a rare joy to hear from a rock
singer. As suggested throughout his days with Buffalo Tom, all of Janovitz's
talents seem to be on an upward spiral; his gift for arrangements is particularly
impressive this time around. His choruses will pull you in with the same intensity
as Shaver's recent Earth Rolls On, despite possessing far less dramatic or harrowing
emotions. I think the beautiful supporting voice of Chris Toppin deserves some
of the kudos here.
It's definitely a sign of Janovitz's success that I could not fit this record
within any broad genre. You have not only some modern folk and country, but
the rootsiness of a Scott Kempner and the charm of a Jimmie Driftwood. The quickest
way to explain it would be to call Up Here the type of record I hope Del Shannon
now makes in Rock 'n' Roll Heaven. I mention Del Shannon in part because Janovitz's
piano sounds like the same instrument used in "Runaway", and also
because songs like "Half a Heart", "Your Stranger's Face"
and "Best Kept Secret" are simply wonderful vehicles for great singers
-- particularly those who can be confident, then fragile in the space of seconds.
Del Shannon always could, and so can Janovitz. He can offer you hope, contentment
and horror in the space of a few seconds -- fitting for a Boston Red Sox fan,
and for the man I consider to be the Dwight Evans of indie rock.
If you have any interest in CDs you can actually play a lot, I highly recommend
Janovitz. I also recommend a visit to his website, where you can download a
few MP3s, including a "live" cover of the Replacements' "Here
Comes a Regular". Janovitz's own entertaining thoughts on music can also
found there, as well as a few jabs at Yankees fans.
-- Theodore Defosse