The PhiLL(er)



Work & Worry Cover
Patchwork

Work & Worry

From the town of moderately-priced, durable overall dungarees, Oshkosh (B'Gosh!), Wisconsin, comes Patchwork, the name given to singer/songwriter Jeremiah Nelson and a rotating crew of supporting musicians. Work and Worry is a six-song e.p. of moderately adventurous guitar pop that trails somewhere in the slipstream of Stephen Malkmus. Jeremiah has a laidback singing voice that complements both his lyrics and music. The songs are good—he's got a good ear for a pop hook, and the arrangements and song structures elevate those hooks into something more than merely a song to hum along to, with a variety of instruments put to thoughtful use. The opening track, "Blue, Black and Green", and "Laura Lee" are particular highlights. The last track, "Chasing Down the Sun", is a bit of a let-down after the five preceding it—it's essentially a John Lennon-ish/Ray Davies-esque dirge that drones on somewhat longer than necessary. But only a bit of a let-down. If I were half my age I'd probably like it, so I'll chalk it up to personal taste or weary cynicism and let you know that even if I don't like that song, the rest of them make up for it.

On an utterly unrelated note, I'd like to ask Jeremiah Nelson, should he happen to read this review, why he insists on blowing so much money on the paper for his cover letters. I've never held such a quality piece of paper in my life. I'm not kidding. I have in my possession a letter from the Queen of England, and while it's written on a pretty high-density paper, it would definitely come up a distant second to that sent out by Patchwork. Do you own a paper factory? Wouldn't some of that money be better spent on Leinenkugel's?