East River Pipe
(Merge)
At this point if you have not heard the story of East River Pipe (real name: Fred Cornog) if would be surprising as it has been told for several years now. After some difficult years growing up an adult Cornog sank into depression, then alcoholism and eventually homelessness. A friend, Barbara Powers, brought him in and saved his life (she is Cornog's current partner). He has said in numerous interviews that he has her to thank for saving his life and ultimately, setting him on the path of a recording some of the most beautiful and heartbreaking music of this indie rock era. In Merge Records he has found strong supporters who have always believed in him (Cornog doesn't tour or even play live), probably when he barely believed in himself. As a fanzine writer in the early ‘90s I was lucky enough to be on Cornog's promo list when he mailed out some of his early 7"s and realized he was a superb talent back then. As you'll see from listening to his 7th full-length not much, and yet everything, has changed.
Still recording, presumably with his trusty Tascam 8-track, Cornog doesn't seem to focus as much on life's beautiful losers as he did in days past though cuts like "Backroom Deals", "Cold Ground" ("You're like a visit from the iceman, the angel of death..") and "I Don't Care About Your Blue Wings" ("Left on Dead Meat Avenue...") aren't exactly chronicling the lives of those in his upper middle class Summit, NJ zip code. Still, with a simpler, regular joe, life Cornog seems happier but in this case it doesn't equal cushy (i.e.: lame) songs. The songs on We Live in Rented Rooms are as good as good a batch as Cornog has written yet. On "When You Were Doing Cocaine" Cornog ("You played the victim well, you said "there's beauty in hell'") could be talking about himself but her sets it to a dreamy backset of melodic keyboards, gentle guitars and Cornog's matter-of-fact voice. He knows the art of putting together a pop song and that has served him well for over two decades.
No need to even wish that he'll never stop because it's unlikely he has any plans on doing so. It's in the guy's blood.
DOWNLOAD: "Cold Ground", "Summer Boy", "I Don't Care About Your Blue Wings" TIM HINELY
