Cliches

While Alex Chilton has shown a certain disinclination toward songwriting since his "comeback" with Feudalist Tarts in 1985, Cliches is his first solo project without a single original tune. Instead, Chilton, accompanied only by his acoustic guitar, croons ten romantic standards from the '40s and '50s, along with two instrumentals (one of which is a slimmed-down version of a Bach guitar piece). Anyone hoping to hear Chilton rock out (or serve up a pop confection like "September Gurls") is advised not to bother, but on its own terms, Cliches is a very enjoyable listen. While Chilton's approach to the vintage R&B tunes that have become his stock in trade is cloaked in so many layers of irony it's hard to tell if he likes the songs or not, on this material his delivery is warm, easygoing, and straightforward, and he seems to genuinely enjoy himself in a way he hasn't on record since the first Big Star album. Despite the occasional rough moment in his vocals and guitar playing (doubtless attributable to the fact this was recorded in a single evening), Cliches is a pleasant reminder of just how good a singer Alex Chilton can be when he cares about what he's doing. ~ Mark Deming|