From Nowhere Revisited – Satellite Inn (reviewed by David Marx)

The trouble with a lot of so-called Americana is that it invariably rests on its own languid induced laurels.

Indeed, whilst pertaining to be something unique, alternative and dare I say it, compellingly special; it more often than not, finds itself in the rather drawn-out dumpster of having f-a-r too many misbegotten crosses to bear.

So rather than tripping the light fandango by way of say Wilco, or even Tupelo Honey’s suave and altogether much sought-after musical slipstream, far too many purveyors of ye broken-hearted, checked-shirt variety, willingly traipse the continued tightrope of reflective repetition.

Such is very much the case with regards Italy’s Satellite Inn, even if their nine-track album, From Nowhere Revisited (absolutely not to be confused with a certain Highway 61) is exceedingly well played.

But as it’s rather forthright, and all too brazen a title might suggest, it all too solemnly goes nowhere.

For while the opener ‘Faded By Time’, along with ‘Tacoma Girl’ may well reek of promise and country-tinged mystique, they are sadly let down by such unconvincingly lame lyrics as ‘’It’s not my fault’’(which is the actual hook of ‘Fall River’) and the harrowingly humdrum ‘‘She came in to buy some cigarettes.’’ Fuck me, that’s original.

Might I suggest taking a leaf out of Steve Earl’s book of exquisite songwriting, by way of finding something without intention to write about.