Search - Gerald Collier :: Gerald Collier

Gerald Collier seals his legend with his 2nd solo disc.

A. Smith | 04/19/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the early 90's, Gerald Collier led a criminally overlooked band called Best Kissers in the World. Even then, he was writing some of the catchiest songs you've never heard with lyrics that were equal parts heart-on-sleeve and twisted wisecrack. A sample lyric: "I wish I had kept a list of all the funny things that you said to me/ Like 'I can quit any time I want to'/ And 'I guess you're gonna have to trust me...'/ Thanks a lot, che sera, sera" Now, in his solo guise, Collier continues to write the stuff that underground legends are made of. Whereas with BKITW, his songs were played at Ramones-y tempos, now he prefers to play the part of the wisest drunk at the bar (kind of like Neil Young at his most lonesome). This self-entitled second album takes Collier's heartache and puts some soft, moodlighting on it. The results are nothing less than classic. From the opening "Dark Days" ("Somehow it's my fault you have no dreams..."), to the self-slaying "Don't Discard Me" ("Don't believe everything you hear/ 'Cause you're gonna hear everything...you know I'm not a good time at all"), Collier and his excellent support cast deliver the emotional goods every time; always a half-step away from being corny and a quarter-step from summing up the meaning of life. He sings "I'm holding up my end/ Of the bar again..." and you feel like joining him for a glass of whatever he's been having for eight inspired years now."