Bill Ricchini
Ordinary Time
Megaforce
This is actually a rerelease of Ordinary Time by Megaforce Records, the original being on Red Square. This is a smaller release records that demanded a bigger release, due to the enormity of its quality and musicianship. Said simply, Ordinary Time is an amazing, sad, and beautiful work of art.
I used to work at a coffee shop a kid who absolutely loved Elliot Smith, and I could never make the connection as to why it was that he liked such a mediocre hipster so much; I liked the Heatmiser stuff way better. Anyway, I guess there’s no reason in particular as to why one singe/acoustic guitar combo appeals to you, for the stuff that Bill Ricchini is doing is very similar to Elliot Smith’s stuff. There’s just something on Ordinary Time that Elliot Smith just doesn’t have, and could never even dream of having; maybe its integrity, maybe its honesty or sincerity, I don’t know, but when I hear Ricchini pouring out his heart for us to witness, I believe him; I’ve never believed Elliot Smith (he seems to be posturing more than anything else).
Ricchini also reminds me, strangely enough, of Beck’s acoustic stuff on Stereopathetic Soulmanure and the blue record he put out on K Records. These guys play their guitars the same way; the main difference is that Ricchini isn’t joking around like Beck does, although I think many of his songs are heartfelt.
In terms of the song structures, many of the formats follow a very Beach Boys-esque structure, in the way that the chords are put together, delivered, and the way in which he sings his vocal lines.
I was looking around on the Internet to find out more information on Ricchini, and I discovered that, when he was making this album, he had lost a job and broken up with a girlfriend. Yikes! His feelings really bleed through here, and never will you doubt the sincerity of sadness on Ordinary Time. Truly incredible and heart breaking record.
Bill Ricchini: http://www.billricchini.com
