David
Baerwald and David Ricketts came seemingly out of nowhere to record this
masterpiece, and seemingly disappeared almost as quickly. Baerwald subsequently
released several solo albums, none of which met with much commercial success;
Ricketts never released an album under his name. Both stayed in the music biz,
however, writing and producing material for other artists. Baerwald is credited
with co-founding the “Tuesday Music Club” that launched Sheryl Crow’s career
and provided the title for her Tuesday
Night Music Club album, for which both Baerwald and Ricketts co-wrote
several songs.
Boomtown is the album that Daryl Hall & John
Oates might have made had they grown up in L.A. and been heavily influenced by
Tom Waits and the Police. Most of the tracks depict the seamy side of life in
L.A. (or any big city), with characters who are “Being Alone Together” as they
are “Swallowed By The Cracks”; the most upbeat track musically (“Ain’t So
Easy”) is written from the perspective of a domestic abuser. (No, this is not
the CD to put on during your next party.) “River’s Gonna Rise” has broader
socio-political implications; it’s apocalyptically brutal, but redemption comes
in the chorus (especially for those at all familiar with Greek mythology.)
Favorite
tracks:
A Rock For
The Forgotten
Welcome To
The Boomtown
Swallowed By
The Cracks
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