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Old Ramon from the Red House painters is one of the most anticipated albums over the past several years.  Their last release, 1996's Songs for a Blue Guitar was received with critical acclaim, and was, in fact, a brilliant album.  The band has not performed live since 1997 and Old Ramon was originally scheduled for release in 1998, but has been stalled for a variety of reasons.  But now it is surfacing with an April 17th release date.  The band will also make its first concert appearance in four years at
the "South by Southwest" conference.

Now, here is where I get in trouble.  I can already predict that most of the critics and fans will be drooling all over this CD and treating it like the greatest album of the year, much like they did with Radiohead's Kid A last year.  And I know I will be in the minority here, but I'm a bit underwhelmed
by this disc (much like I was with the aforementioned Kid A).

I've listened to Old Ramon several times now and maybe I just don't get it.  I certainly didn't get Kid A...though I would argue that there was nothing TO get. Just a bunch of hype and pretentiousness.  I basically see this album as more of the same, and maybe not even up to par with RHP's older work.

One of the biggest problems is that most of the songs are too doggone long and repetitive, and as a result, the disc is tedious.  Only two of the songs clock in at under five minutes, and four of them are in the eight to twelve minute range.  But it's the same thing over and over and over again.  If the songs had been shorter, I may have liked it more.  Lyrically, the disc is filled with songs about love and  relationships, and Mark Kozalek's vocals are as sweet as ever, but it isn't enough to hold it together for me.  It's not that it is a bad album, but it doesn't meet up with all the hype and expectations.  And there is a serious droning factor.

The track listing for the disc is as follows:

 1. Wop-a-Din-Din 5:37
 2. Byrd Joel 6:26
 3. Void 9:34
 4. Between Days 8:38
 5. Cruiser 8:38
 6. Michigan 4:48
 7. River 11:24
 8. Smokey 6:57
 9. Golden 3:50
 10. Kavita 6:02

I admit that I am a casual fan of RHP and not a member of the "cult," as it were.  And hardcore fans of the band will be very pleased.  In fact, one fan has already told me that he KNOWS this disc will still be in his list of the top five albums of the year by December...and its only March now.  Go figure.

Oh, and if you love the disc, more power to you.  Please don't flame me. But if you feel like I do, don't say you weren't warned.

Ken Mueller 3/17/2001