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Richmond Fontaine - THIRTEEN CITIES (2007): "Vlautin's one of the most compelling songwriters working today, compared equally to great American novelists like Raymond Carver or John Steinbeck and musicians such as Bruce Springsteen or Tom Waits" *4.5/5 THE SUN “Anyone partial to a serving of Lambchop, Calexico or Eels at their pedal-steel-propelled best should, as well as saluting themselves for their excellent taste in alt.country, clear some iPod megabytes for the new effort by Richmond Fontaine. Main man Willy Vlautin and his Portland band have been making sublime country that conjures images of Brokeback-style mountains and sleepy small-town bars since 1994 and this, their seventh album, is as heartbreakingly great as any of their previous work. 'Moving Back Home #2' is a brass-bound rollock Calexico would give their cowboy hats for, while 'The Disappearance Of Ray Norton' is an acoustic story that'll have you blubbing into your trucker cap. Tear-stained hats off to 'em.” (New Music Express) “Richmond Fontaine's Willy Vlautin has the rigor of mind and soul it takes to write lyrics about conscience - honored or betrayed. In plain-man's language, he portrays dislocated people running into the real nature of their lives. Richmond Fontaine have stepped out of what this reviewer thought a dull alt-country groove to musically match the depths of their songwriting with tough-sweet arrangements ranging from lone acoustic guitar to Tex-Mex brass and accordions. Heart of America calling out around the world.” **** *Phil Sutcliffe, MOJO “As the laureate of the lost, the lonely and the rootless, Vlautin was never likely to stand still. The closer, “Lost In This World” (with Burns on piano) is worthy of early Tom Waits, though Vlautin's vocal displays vulnerability where Waits offered beat-up defiance. “St Ides, Parked Cars, And Other People's Homes” is little more than a short poem, and Vlautin almost talks the words. But when he gets to the part about “Fuck-ups: hanging on in our own way”, you know, as ever, he's not faking” **** Alastair McKay, UNCUT “With appearances from Calexico and Giant Sand's Howe Gelb, the album crackles with dust-blown trumpets and stark, majestic arrangements, with the pedal steel driven /Kid From Belmont Street /a moving highlight. For all those still traveling Springsteen's /Thunder Road, /Richmond Fontaine are the new drivers” ***** Jamie Bowman, (THE) WORD “Vlautin - whose voice now has the honeyed tone of early Jayhawks' Mark Olson - is nothing less than the Dylan of the dislocated” ***** Simmy Richman, (THE)* INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY* "Spare and effective - a reliably tasteful proposition"* *** Stewart Lee *THE SUNDAY TIMES "Wonderfully observed and craftsmanly pieces of Americana that conjures images of tumbleweed towns, deserted gas stations and craggy drifters"* Classic Rock "With their wandering compositions, uneasy lyrics, alt-country rockers Richmond Fontaine were never going to be a mainstream hit but that doesn't stop them consistently producing some of the most emotionally sincere music around. Thirteen Cities aches beautifully with failure" The Observer "This is how country rock should be, a warm sense of tradition twinned with talent" *Rock Sound ................................................................................................ ................................................................................................ Richmond Fontaine - POST TO WIRE (2004):
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