ROB KENDT writes songs that critics have called “wonderfully constructed short stories” in a style described as “Tom Waits if he'd never smoked.” Ranging freely from lounge pop to alt-country, Kendt has been compared to Ben Folds, Eels, and Rufus Wai [+]ROB KENDT writes songs that critics have called “wonderfully constructed short stories” in a style described as “Tom Waits if he'd never smoked.” Ranging freely from lounge pop to alt-country, Kendt has been compared to Ben Folds, Eels, and Rufus Wainwright, Elvis Costello, and Randy Newman. “He makes each song seem like a tale he’s telling just for you,” wrote Rock City News.
I’m Not Sentimental, his new release on Ruby Records, includes the exuberant piano stomp of the title track, featuring Tommy Morgan of Pet Sounds and Rockford Files fame on harmonica; the sleek bossa “Quiet Girl”, featuring Bebel Gilberto sideman Danny Frankel on percussion; the country shuffle “Pick Me” and a lounge mash-up of Britney and the Beatles, “Oops I Did Bungalow Bill”, both featuring Lyle Lovett and Bill Frisell’s bassist, Viktor Krauss; the sprawling “Graded on a Curve”, featuring L.A. guitar madman Carey Fosse; a French-café rendition of The Motels’ “Only the Lonely”, featuring J’Anna Jacoby, the fiddler for Rod Stewart, and diva Abby Travis.
Produced by drumming virtuoso Matt North (Hail the Size, Andy Prieboy, Mink Stole) and mastered by Mike Hagler (Wilco, The New Pornographers, Neko Case), I’m Not Sentimental is eclectic in scope but consistent in its production sound and authorial voice. Like an anthology of short stories, Rob Kendt’s new record reads as well as it rocks.
That’s how it ends
The fork in the road bends
Unexpected truth reflected
Shames your eyes
Ask not for whom
The bell rang the wrong room
Don’t mistake a lucky break
For blessing in disguise
Kendt’s first solo album, I Hope It’s Me (Ruby, 2002), captured his work with the L.A. pub rock quartet Millhouse, which performed regularly at such venues as 14 Below and The Gig and opened for Dave Wakeling, Mike Watt, and Dread Zeppelin. As a solo artist he’s played at The Mint (opening for Louise Goffin and Brother), Fais Do-Do, Les Freres Taix, Highland Grounds, Pete’s Candy Store, Night & Day, and Birdland. He’s also had a bit of a side career composing and performing music for theater, including at such venues as the Evidence Room, The Mark Taper Forum, Pacific Resident Theatre, The Globe Theatre, and the Metropolitan Playhouse.
Guest artists on I’m Not Sentimental:
• Bassist Vikt
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