Several years removed from the breakup of one of Seattle's more underrated bands,
Truly, singer/guitarist/songwriter
Robert Roth returns with his first-ever solo release, 2004's
Someone, Somewhere. It turns out that
Roth followed the lead of
Stevie Wonder and
Prince on his solo debut, as he penned everything, played the majority of the instruments, and also produced the album in his own studio -- over the course of a lengthy three-year period. With
Roth calling all the shots,
Someone, Somewhere retains some of
Truly's sonic elements (especially
Roth's appreciation of
Tom Verlaine and
Brian Wilson), but also manages to expand on them -- with standouts including the
Flaming Lips-esque title track and the heavy riff-rocker "Relive These X." Lyrically,
Roth also tackles some serious subject matter, including Seattle's WTO riots ("Streetplay '99") and 9/11 ("Under the Ever-Watchful Eye" and the album-closing "Yesterday's War"). Touching on a wide variety of influences,
Someone, Somewhere sounds little like what was being spun on rock radio during the early 21st century -- and that is precisely its charm. Longtime
Truly fans who have waited patiently will certainly not be let down. ~ Greg Prato