Search - Rob Fetters :: Lefty Loose Righty Tight

One of the missed masterpieces of the late '90s.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 03/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are thousands of worthwhile musicians who go unnoticed over the years, but I suspect very few are as brilliant as Rob Fetters. Probably best known as the "other" guitarist in The Bears (a project with Adrian Belew and the rest of Fetters' "other" band, the Psychodots), Fetters' career never took off. Remarkably, he's constructed an album largely about how success has evaded him, and while its laced with more than a healthy dose of sarcasm and irony. this is a fun record and a modern masterpiece.



Right from the beginning, his attitudes come out-- "has been, wanna be, never was, never gonna be" are the first lines of "Try". The theme of not fitting in, not succeeding as a musician commercially (in terms of pursuing his "Hollywood Dream" of big star success) comes around on a number of songs-- "Try", "I Don't Fit", "Your Favorite Guitar Player", "Salamander" and "Career Move" all touch on this-- the lyrics are funny, sad sometimes, but the songs (excepting "Salamander") are pure pop, great melodies, great sounds, and really clever vocal delivery. Oh, and Fetters is also the lost guitar god-- his playing is unbelievable, subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, he can burn with the best of them.



While this is really the central theme of the album, others come up, though I couldn't tell you what "History" is really quite about, its a great song with some great hooks and some of the most impressive guitar playing this side of, well, Adrian Belew quite honestly. Add to that a bizarre little instrumental ("Retrofit"), an absolutely brilliant pop song about being a father ("Every Day"), a totally bizarre piece about a psychotic parent ("Where's Dad") and a duet with Adrian Belew ("The Blame Game", with its Bearsesque harmonies), and you've got a real gem of an album.



Fetters is a master of his craft-- for fans of '60s-inspired pop/rock kind of stuff, great guitar playing, or just brilliant song craftsmanship and clever lyrics, this was is highly recommended. Oh, and check out the Bears and the Psychodots too, you won't be sorry."