Aural Fixations

VIC CHESNUTT
Ghetto Bells
(New West)
Songwriter Vic Chesnutt is on a roll. The Georgian hit a career high with his last album Silver Lake; amazingly, the follow-up never falters. Like its predecessor, Ghetto Bells assembles a notable cast of musicians for a quick week of recording, this time overseen by hands-off producer John Chelew. This time Chesnutt is joined by innovative jazz guitarist Bill Frisell and iconoclastic keyboardist/songwriter Van Dyke Parks, among others, and they prove to be perfect foils for Chesnutt's richly atmospheric writing. Parks' continental accordion playing particularly suits the star's Southern gothic storytelling; the former Brian Wilson collaborator contributes a fine string arrangement to "Virginia," as well. Frisell's tasteful shadings and melodic arpeggios also paint Chesnutt's tunes in lovely colors. But high-profile session musicians tell only a small part of the story on a Vic Chesnutt album; the main narrative comes from his remarkable songs. The tunesmith's love of language and affinity for uncomplicated melodies serves him well on tunes like the image-heavy "Vesuvius," the tender "Forthright" and the darkly tributary "Virginia." "Ignorant People" begins with "Born as I was to ignorant people to traumatized to take me home," but ends with a sincere "You may not understand how I can be thankful to be where I am." "To Be With You" may be a heartfelt devotion, but the singer admits that "I burned so many bridges to be with you/I Shermaned pretty much my entire adult life." "Rambunctious Cloud" salutes the rain as both cleanser and destroyer, marveling that "The very water that moistened the primordial ooze/Is now hammering on my metal porch roof," and hoping "Maybe it will help cut the pollen count." Chesnutt adroitly balances the bitter with the sweet, as is his wont. Melancholy makes love with joy here, while despair waltzes with hope. Chesnutt celebrates all human emotion on Ghetto Bells, making a record of rare and distinctive beauty. Michael Toland [buy it]