Record Review - 2 June 19 2003

Here’s the most common backhanded compliment meted out to Amy Rigby: “aging indie-rock mom coping with reconciling her hip past with her domesticated present.” Yes, the theme does run through all four of her splendid albums, but Rigby’s focus isn’t limited to simple age-alienation. She captures the trials and tribulations familiar to anyone trying to stay “hip” after 30 without looking pathetic, and she manages to do it with wit, honesty and an acute lyrical clarity.

Traditional singer/songwriter subject matter — love (lost, unrequited, waning, new, etc.), loss and despair — is Rigby’s forte, and Til the Wheels Fall Off, her latest release, tackles all these demons with wickedly catchy tunes and tasteful, understated folk-pop-rock backing provided by a stellar cast (Will Kimbrough, Bill Lloyd and Todd Snider to name a few). She has a sweet, wounded voice that simultaneously portrays heartbreak and an undeniable personal strength, but her songwriting remains the centerpiece of the album. Incurably romantic and hopelessly nostalgic, she never loses her wry sense of humor. This is especially apparent in “Are We Ever Gonna Have Sex Again?” where she laments, “What happened to babe and stud?/Too much KFC and Bud.”

For far too long, Rigby has been overshadowed by her peers (Lucinda Williams and Amy Mann come to mind). On Til the Wheels Fall Off, she sounds more comfortable in her own skin than she ever has before. Perhaps it will bring her the wider range of critical attention she deserves.

Amy Rigby plays Eddie’s Attic Thurs., June 26.