Bob Evans - Goodnight,Bull Creek! And Mornin'Richmond

Sun 20th Sep, 2009 in Music Reviews

Goodnight, Bull Creek! is Bob Evans’ third album although it could have been labeled a difficult second album (as it’s his sophomore one for a major label) and it misses the mark when compared to 2006’s Suburban Songbook. Now we’ve been offered a 2-CD version of the record in what almost feels like a last-ditch effort to revitalise interest in things.

By now punters have probably gotten a taste for the singles: Someone So Much, Pasha Bulker and Hand Me Downs. If not, they are best summed up as a sentimental ballad; a depressive and mournful tome starring a beached vessel; and what is an attempt at writing a song in a similar vein to Darren Hanlon, adding a bit of quirk and oddball lyrics.

The guitar work seems to resemble a mixture of The Shadows and George Harrison and conjures up images of the lost and halcyon days of innocence, while also sounding very slick and commercial. There are a few songs that feature either vocals or backing vocals from Melissa Mathes, but they sound rather childish and are not a patch on Lior and Sia’s duet, I’ll Forget You. Meanwhile, the bossa nova song, Power Of Speech really is one for fans of the genre, as others may not welcome this diversion in the proceedings.

The second disc contains the better material of the two, drawing together an abridged set of songs recorded live at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne. The three singles from Goodnight, Bull Creek! are performed alongside older favourites Friend, Rocks In My Head and Nowhere Without You.

Flame is a personal favourite – it is so delicate and beautiful and is always performed well when Evans does this live. Nowhere Without You is a bona fide silly sing along while Sadness & Whiskey is a heartfelt reflection. In the latter you can easily picture Evans sitting outside awaiting his love and the mood lightens at the end as it segues into a short and sharp impromptu jam of Otis Redding and Steve Cropper’s Dock Of The Bay.

Goodnight, Bull Creek! And Mornin’ Richmond is a must-have for Bob Evans-completists thanks to the solid live disc delivered in Evans’ true spirit of fun. For those that already purchased the original album, they may just be content with their standard edition. And for the remainder that fit neither category they will have at least been given the opportunity to gain a taste of the singles and can judge for themselves whether they want to sit down to this particular musical meal or not.