by Derric Miller
— Managing Editor —
“This album, its title and the artwork shouldn’t be seen as a patriotic statement, neither as a provocation. Actually, I first wanted to turn the flag upside-down to avoid any kind of misinterpretation, though, that wouldn’t be the right message either since I believe in the ‘other America’, the multicultural, tolerant, fair, caring and independent.”
Just in case you were wondering if American Dream from this unique Swiss musician Bob Spring, who made his name in the raucous Hard Rock band Backwash and has grown into a Todd Snider-like musical storyteller, is an ode to America … it’s not. It’s more of a “what the hell happened to America,” and he’s got a lot to say.
The title track begins the tale, one of bereft longing for a cultured, reasonable, worthy country he doesn’t recognize anymore. “American Dream” is dark, moody, a song about holding a mirror up to Americans and wondering if they can see what he sees. “I see people sell their glory … yes, they sell their grace.” It’s not just a cutting comment on commercialism, but one on the soullessness of the U.S.A. today. With airy, brooding passages, an instrumental fadeout, it’s not like he’s saying it’s going to get better.
“Heartless Land” is a bit more upbeat, and Spring never belts out or tests his vocal limits like he did as a rocker. He now lets the song take him where it takes him, and in this case, the lyrics tell of a paltry attempt at keeping the darkness at bay. “Here I’m stuck again, in this cold and heartless land.” It’s like Hotel California is now a nationwide haunted hotel chain …
Spring never really lets up. The message is omnipresent, pushing at the edges even when the song makes you want to clap and sing along. “Solitude Mountain” is one of those songs, and it sounds quite like a Hellsingland Underground song, another band adept at dissecting society’s worst attributes. But it “sounds” happy, and is a welcome reprieve from the bleak black water you sipped on before.
“Gold” is bluesy, a slow, trudging dirge. It’s really beautiful, but when you hear “it ain’t nothing, no it nothing at all. But this life, it ain’t nothing but gold,” you almost feel like Spring is saying the fight is worth it. Almost, but it’s American Dream, where what matters is “things,” so turn out the lights and die alone with a fistful of nothing.
By now, hoping for anything uplifting is a fool’s errand, but “Lines of Fire” will remind of Backwash, a song that always brings a smile and a bottle of whiskey to your mouth. “For time is short, and I’m alright, doing it my own way.” It’s more of a personal non-regret statement, one time Lady Liberty isn’t in the line of .. well, fire.
The American Dream heeds a wake up call on the last track with “Whiskey Calling.” Again, this is not a song criticizing ‘Merica, but just a strong, drunkenly happy piece of Americana songwriting, with the comfortable fade out you’ve heard on a few songs before.
While this is not what any Backwash fan would expect from Bob Spring, we all grow up, and unless you are tied into a specific style because of history or skill set, you can just create the kind of music you want to. The song stylings are one thing, but if anyone wanted to know if the rest of the world is still looking at the “American Dream” as some fairy tale they all strive to play a character in … it’s not. In this Swiss poet’s take, it’s now a Grimm Fairy Tale he wants no part of, yet still keeps a glimmer of hope alive that one day, it will be again …
Genre: Acoustic Rock/Alt Country
Band:
Bob Spring-guitar and vocals
Tracklisting:
1 American Dream
2 Heartless Land
3 New York Doll
4 Solitude Mountain
5 Don’t Let It Go
6 Gold
7 Muddy Land
8 Johnson City
9 Lines of Fire
10 Old Beauty Must Go
11 Before I’m Cold and Still
12 This Devil is a Dancer
13 Rain Dance
14 Whiskey Calling
Label: Independent
Online:
www.bobspring.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 
(8.2 / 10)