Paul Sarno
In 1996 Rob Lamothe decided to go solo and released his first effort "Gravity".
This CD seems to me to have his most personal writing to date. Every song seems to be a page straight out of Rob's Book Of Life. On "The Light Of You" Rob tries to capture the essance of a loved one in song. "Blair Mountain" researches his family tree, and his grandfather's work in a coal mine. "Kevin Was My Cousin" is a song of rage towards the killer of his cousin Kevin Campbell. Then there's "Strongest Man In The World". An absolutely beautiful song featuring just Rob's voice and a piano. It's a song about Rob's father, and his passing away. Rob's songs are always from the heart, but if this one dosen't tear at your heartstrings, I doubt weather a heart even beats in your chest. At the end is a wonderful hidden track of someone (Father? Grandfather?) singing and old love song...A TRUE GEM ! Then one more hidden track called "Stay", a true masterpiece about trying to express your love but not having the words to say. The words to the chorus pretty much sum it up... "Stay... the world will fade away...and maybe I can make you feel the things that I can't say"
Next was 1998's "Being Human", a cd that begins to show Rob's rocking side again with songs like "Clean" and "Mantra" while, of course, still showing his trademark emotional side in songs like "Misery" and "When You Go Down", another song about his dad (I'm assuming). It also features a great song called "Blue Ray", a tribute to Ray Gillen, the ex-Badlands singer, who died a few years ago from complications from Aids.
Also in late 1998 came "Project Hum". A 7 song cd of mostly re-recordings of older material with a couple new ones thrown in for good measure. This has some of Rob's heaviest music to date in songs like "Kool" (one of the new songs). It almost borders on alternative rock... a step in a new direction for Rob, but just as effective as anything he's done before.
Rob's latest project is called "I Am Here Now". It is his first official Canadian release. It includes songs from Rob's solo CD's that have either been re-recorded or remixed. It includes new versions of such Rob classics as "Strongest Man In The World" and "Misery" and new acoustic versions of Riverdogs favorites "Raining All Over" and "Pennsylvania". Rob even reunited with ex-'Dogs buddy Nick Brophy in L.A. in late February to mix these songs. Hopefully, this wont be last collaboration we see from these two.
Rob is one of the most amazing people I've ever encountered. He's one of those rare people who IS everything he's cracked up to be. I haven't come across anyone yet who has a single bad thing to say about him....always friendly, a great person to be around, and above all else... a great dad!!! (I can certainly appreciate that!)
A man Truly admired by me !!!
