Search - Robbie Fulks :: Let's Kill Saturday Night

On his impressive Geffen debut, Robbie Fulks effortlessly churns out solid country-tinged rockers, piercing ballads, toe-tapping honky-tonk, and irresistible pop songs, prompting comparisons to other multi-faceted singer-songwriters such as Freedy Johnston and the late Gram Parsons. From the standout guitar crunch of "Caroline" to the spooky, high-lonesome harmonies and plaintive fiddle of "Bethelridge" to the perfect tenor twang of "Can't Win for Losing You," Fulks proves himself a master of many genres. His passionate vocal delivery does much to redeem even his less-inspired lyrics. In going for the live vibe, Fulks and co-producer Rick Will sometimes verge on the sloppy--- "Little King," a thrashy rock number, sounds especially cacophonous. However, with stunners such as "Pretty Little Poison," a raggedly gorgeous duet with Lucinda Williams doing her throaty best to match Fulks's likable falsetto, the record can afford a few fillers. -- Carolyn Wennblom