Waiting

Description

Waiting is the fifth album by the American singer and songwriter Doug Hoekstra, released in the US on the fledgling Paste Records in 2003, and on Fundamental Records in the UK. The album was produced and recorded by Doug Hoekstra at his homestudio. Mixing and post-production by George Marinelli and Hoekstra at WingDing Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. All songs written by Doug Hoekstra except “The Artesian Well” co-written with Gary Michael Smith.

Waiting was Doug Hoekstra’s fifth solo release and first on the fledgling Paste Records (with the UK based Fundamental handling the chores in Europe). While previous albums incorporated gospel choirs, string quartets and avant-garde horn sections, the dozen songs on Waiting were recorded in Hoekstra’s home studio, while he was literally waiting for his son to come into the world.

Core instruments and vocals were handled by Hoekstra at home; with guest vocals by Amelia White (on the title track and «Dark Side of the Pearl») and a few key post-production overdubs from friend and frequent collaborator George Marinelli (Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, James Taylor, his own work, and much more). The result was a quiet but deeply layered folk record with a rock vibe that has nothing to do with “folk rock.”

Paste Records has offered a guarantee with Waiting, the new disc by Doug Hoekstra: Listen to the CD five times. If you don’t like what you hear, they will give you your money back. Suffice it to say, I won’t be collecting on that offer any time soon.

Hoekstra is a low fi, understated singer/songwriter that is almost a one man band on this disc. Other than bass, backup vocals, and some programming, he is responsible for all of the words and music on the project. At times, an artist brings in others because he will not trust his own instincts. Doug Hoekstra, on the other hand, trusts himself here, and the result is a beautiful thing.

«Blow Beautiful Dreams» is a stark, stripped-down story of one man’s introspection on Christmas morning. «Sunday Blues» paints a picture of father and son, going to church but not really hearing, treating it as a needed ritual, but able to put on their selves when they return home. The vocals here remind one of Lou Reed, and the fact that the protagonist is named Thomas certainly points to the doubts we all experience:

As Thomas grew older, he began to get the joke
The richest of the rich can still be broke
Words that flow like a wound that bleeds
Or a dog that barks up an empty tree

«Theresa» is a tale of a Brazilian girl trapped in her own existence, with seemingly no hope. «Artesian Well» portrays the love of God, while «Eternity» speaks to the power of recognizing one moment, behind the Doors meets Love and Rockets soundtrack. «Screwball Comedy» attempts to make sense of life, while realizing the futility in trying to do so.

Bleak at times, joyous at others, The Waiting should appeal to fans of Beck, Lou Reed, and the singer/songwriter genre in general. Another example of a fine artist toiling in obscurity. [Brian A. Smith, The Phantom Tollbooth, 10/22/2003]

> iTunes

CD tracklist:

01. Blow Beautiful Dreams – 4:29
02. Sunday Blues – 4:14
03. Theresa – 4:32
04. Crawling Out From Under – 4:40
05. Driftin’ – 3:07
06. In the Middle of the Night – 3:22
07. Dark Side of a Pearl – 4:57
08. Screwball Comedy – 4:45
09. Nighttime Rain – 4:24
10. The Artesian Well – 4:29
11. Eternity – 3:09
12. Waiting – 5:06

Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://doughoekstra.bandcamp.com/album/waiting

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