BAM Magazine
December 4, 1998
Robyn Hitchcock
Storefront Hitchcock
(Warner Bros.)
****
by Denise Sullivan
On Robyn Hitchcock's last U.S. tour he played Jimi Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary" as well as "Are You Experienced?", sometimes within the same set. It's the kind of act that defines his performing genius as a whimsical iconoclast (you're not supposed to play two covers by the same artist!). But then Hitchcock once performed most of Dylan's "Royal Albert Hall" concert, so such live acts of devotion shouldn't come as entirely unexpected.
Though only "Mary" is included here, Hitchcock's wacky essence is captured on the soundtrack to the Jonathan Demme picture that chronicles a couple of evenings during the aforementioned U.S. tour; both documents demand patience, but, by the third song and final guitar of "I'm Only You", if you ain't hooked, I'll buy your copy.
Drawing from a variety of eras (the slice of life "The Yip Song" and the electrified riff of "Freeze" are familiar Egyptians songs; love stories, "Beautiful Queen" and "Alright, Yeah" are from his most recent studio album Moss Elixir; "1974" and "No, I Don't Remember Guildford" are newer, personal-ish songs), the tie that binds this collection is feelings, instead of those proverbial Hitchcock symbols for them: fish and birds. What a relief. And who knew he was such an accomplished Folk and electric guitarist? Listen closely for the nod to "Purple Haze".
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