Albums by this artist

Since (1998)

Richard Buckner

Since

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» MARK T.R. DONOHUE | STAFF WRITER

Richard Buckner Since MCA, 1998 RiYL: Giant Sand, The Sea & Cake, early Yo La Tengo

Listing his influences as "Gil Evans, Ralph Stanley, and Slint," San Francisco alt-country troubador Richard Buckner only hints at the blend of old and new his music aspires to.

Fortunately, on Since, a superlative supporting cast -- including Tortoise's John McEntire, Gastr Del Sol's David Grubbs, and ex-Yo La Tengo guitarist Dave Schramm -- helps the singer/songwriter make the most out of his muse. Taking Buckner's simple guitar-and-vocal arrangements as a starting point, the addition of McEntire's frenetic drumming and the serpentine, new rock-informed lines of the various guest guitarists and keyboardists give Since remarkable depth.

Songs like "Goner With Souvenir" shift seamlessly from gentle guitar fingerpicking to edgy rock, with Buckner's expressive voice serving as the link. The album's only weakness is its brevity, sixteen songs are crammed into under forty minutes and the most dramatic pieces seem to be cut abruptly short. But for that and a few underdeveloped acoustic songs, Since stands as an excellent example of how gifted musicians can breathe new life into any genre.

MARK T.R. DONOHUE | Mark T.R. Donohue is a prolific freelance writer whose areas of expertise include Rockies baseball, video games, genre television, English soccer, and pub rock. He lives in Colorado, where he cultivates the largest and creepiest private collection of Alyson Hannigan memorabilia in the Mountain West.