Fit and the Conniptions :: Sweet Sister Starlight

Self proclaimed London bluesy folk rocker and multi-instrumentalist Wayne Myers, and I assume the Fit to these Conniptions, drops Sweet Sister Starlight, his second studio album since assuming the banner of Fit and the Conniptions in ’05. It’s a sinewy, smooth collection of songs showcasing Myers sardonic and wry world view (you can check his stock of over 500 cartoons for further back up), and occasional acid tongue, with a melancholy late night/early morning vibe that tastes as fresh as that first smoke, chock full of characters and fading stars that sound like they might be out of smokes. If they ever had any.

The Conniptions deliver a tight jazzy execution and informal after-hours lounge vibe that’s colored with pop, folk, and rock making it more than a one-line story or affectation. The lyrics, weight, and Myer’s unique vocals place him in line with beloved sourpusses Zevon, E, Leonard Cohen, even Nick Lowe on a really down day; it can be bleak, heartbreaking, emotionally worn out, but it never comes across as hopeless…or as hopeless as it really might be.

I’d hazard a guess Myers is a half-empty glass kind of guy, and for many that will make Sweet Sister Starlight seem like a real downer. Hell, I’m sure he is since this sister is the real deal; battle worn, tired, but not without vulnerability. For those of us who don’t get to ride unicorns all day, we know she’s a realist. And all the more human for it.

Sweet Sister Starlight :: Fit and the Conniptions :: Sweet Sister Starlight (self released, 2011)