Chicago Sun-Times
February 14, 1999
Robyn Hitchcock, Storefront Hitchcock: Music from the Jonathan Demme Picture (Warner Bros.)
by Jim DeRogatis
"Trying to lead a middle-aged life/Well it's either that or drop dead", Robyn Hitchcock sings in "1974", the opening track of his new live album. "Wait 'til you get older than this and then turn around tell me/I was young for my age".
Fitting words from the veteran singer-songwriter in the midst of the third and quietest phase of his career, following the Postpunk psychedelic Pop of the beloved Soft Boys and the '80s college Rock of the effervescent Egyptians.
These days he's taking things easier, performing mostly on acoustic guitar with occasional spare accompaniment from violinist Deni Bonet and second guitarist Tim Keegan. The indelible melodies of his tunes and the laser wit of his lyrics and between-song monologues are still intact, though, and that's what made a fan of director Jonathan Demme.
Making his first concert movie since the Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense, Demme filmed Hitchcock performing in an abandoned storefront. Alas, the movie has yet to open in Chicago, but at least we can enjoy the soundtrack, which focuses primarily on recent tunes ("Let's Go Thundering", "I Something You"), with the odd nod to Hitchcock's past and his influences ("Glass Hotel", "The Wind Cries Mary").
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