Vic Chesnutt: West of Rome

As any artist with any breadth to their career does, Vic Chesnutt has his eras; this record, 1994's West of Rome, is an early peak -- it is only his second record, but considered by many to be his best. The second of two records produced (and bullied into existence) by true-believer Michael Stipe, West of Rome takes the straightforward and unadorned approach to recording as Little did before it, with some simple flairs thrown in: more drum kit, some tiny but effective production/arrangement touches, ie. cello and violin, piano (where Michael "heard" them -- from the grumpy liner notes), more layers. Chesnutt's singing is already well into the exceptional soulfulness he is famous for, and Stipe makes sure that this is never overshadowed. The production is tasteful overall, and may be the best sound on a Chesnutt record.

The songs are the key, though: Chesnutt's first peak as a songwriter is this record. Many of the shouted requests in concert are for these gems: Bug, Where Were You, Lucinda Williams, Florida, Panic Pure are all numbers for the all-time American Songbook (to be released in post WWIII 2064 to stunning silence). Lyrically, they're sublime even in their brutality ("I'll be buffed down to a liquid / and the world is a sponge"; Sponge) and as wickedly witty as the singer will ever be ("My heroes are all off in the great beyond / England is old, but Atlantis is gone"; Lucinda Williams). Florida is a gentle, exhausted ode to a friend dead by suicide.

a man must take his life in his own hands
hit those nails on the head
and I respect a man who goes to where he wants to be
even if he wants to be dead

West of Rome is a wonderful record, a must-have. Fortunately, it has been recently made more have-able by its acquisition and re-release by New West Records (as of July 2004). So run out and buy it. If the prospect of hunting high and low for it excited you when it was rare, take your pleasure by hunting down the the Peter Sillen documentary Speed Racer, which documented the recording of the record and generally introduced PBS watchers to Chesnutt back in the early 90's. It is well-worth seeing if you can get your paws on it. The copies available on eBay are, unfortunately, bootlegs, and the seller is a dink.

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Vic Chesnutt: West of Rome.Texas Hotel, 1994.
Review by Jeff Clayton. June 2004.

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