2008

CD review on www.ctrlaltcountry.be, January 2008
4 out of 5 stars

After several months of preparation for his new album, Markus Rill ran into considerable problems shortly before he was about to start recording. Only a week before Rill’s set-off for Nashville, producer George Bradfute – well-known for his work on his previous albums „Hobo Dream“ and „The Price Of Sin“ – had to cancel the recording sessions due to a family emergency. As a result, Rill was suddenly faced with the task of having to find a suitable stand-in. Following the recommendation of his Blue Rose label mate Mack Starks, Rill eventually hooked up with Richard McLaurin (who had created beautiful albums together with Starks in Farmer Not So John.) This turned out better than expected.

Together with the excellent musicians Rill had recruited, McLaurin helped shape a great record. Bassist Dave Jacques, drummer Bryan Owings, outstanding guitarist Joe McMahan, and Rill laid down basic tracks for the songwriter’s 8th album in less than three days. Afterwards, McLaurin overdubbed guitar, mandolin, pedal and lap steel, Jen Gunderman sat down behind piano, organ, accordion, and Wurlitzer, and Mack Starks, Dave Coleman, and Claire Small contributed backing vocals.
The result is an album that differs substantially from its predeccesor, „The Price Of Sin“. While „Sin“ was essentially an acoustic record, Rill’s newest is defined by Joe McMahan’s atmospheric work on electric guitar and producer McLaurin’s significantly more experimental approach. Employing the occasional guitar or drum loop, „The Things That Count“ is a vastly different album than the ones Rill has made so far. Different but at least just as good.

This change in lyrics and music has everything to do with Rill's personal development and experience. Whereas „The Price Of Sin“ was characterized by a deep feeling of contrition, after having licked his wounds the German songwriter now focuses on how to move on with his life – in other words on the things that count. That this goes hand in hand with a sudden injection of vitality seems in fact only logical.

Therefore, „The Things That Count“ features a considerable number of more upbeat and rock-oriented songs. Listen for example to the jaunty and delicious „Dimestore Paperback Memory“, fueled by Jen Gunderman’s sinewy organ, to the driving „Scene Of The Crime“, the simmering „Faith Is Hard“, or the hiccuping „Gotta Keep My Hands Off“ and you’ll see for yourself what we’re talking about.
As a counterweight for all this energy, there are a number of those yearning ballads Rill seems to have patented. There is for example the wistful story of a Viennese ballerina relocating to the US in the 1930s, „Sarah Stein“, the very beautiful title track, the radio friendly „I’ll Wait For You“, and album closer „Just Like It Never Did Exist“. These and other songs make Rill’s newest album for all heart-and-soul-Americana lovers like us a lasting „thing that counts“.

René Leverink