Records: Jonathan Richman's I'm So Confused

By Ben Landy

When Jonathan Richman fronted the Modern Lovers, he was the punk next door in black jeans and a white undershirt who was a sensitive, romantic guy deep down. Now he's simply a romantic.

The latest addition to his solo catalogue, I'm So Confused, finds Richman working in the same vein as in his last couple of recordings: writing and singing love songs and celebrating life. And I'm So Confused has be-nefited from Richman's sudden leap into stardom following his troubadour-in-the-trees role in the hit comedy There's Something About Mary. It's safe to say that 47-year-old Richman has garnered more press in the last six months than he has in his whole career, popping up in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and The New York Times.

Not that that's changed anything. Richman has always been pop-friendly in his own quirky way, and I'm So Confused is indie pop in all its glory. The band is solid, with longtime Richman drummer Tommy Larkins providing a proper rock beat and Bad Brains bassist Daryl Jennifer keeping things tight. Richman's guitar playing and trademark crisp chords are as good as ever, and ex-Cars frontman Ric Ocasek, who joins in on keyboards, does a nice job producing the album.

Richman still knows how to write great songs. He has an ear for subtly affecting melodies which provide the perfect foil for his unique vocals. Never possessing tremendous vocal range, Richman blends his patented whiny delivery with a subdued, husky tone. On "If She Don't Love Me," he effectively switches between the two styles to match particular passages.

Lyrically, Richman flaunts an infatuation with issues of the heart. The bluntly sentimental song titles of "Love Me Like I Love," "Hello Cupid," and "Affection" are not postmodern attempts at irony. Richman's all about sincerity, about living life and enjoying it. On "19 in Naples," one of a couple of tracks with a flamenco flavor, Richman sings, "Well when I was 19 I was insecure/ Now ain't that 19/ I was over-intellectual that's for sure."

Nearly 30 years later, Richman seems content with striking the proper balance. (Vapor Records)

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