Conn man

Stretch out for this one, people. If you're up for a multi-sectioned tour through the wasted American mindscape strung out on fables of wealth and success, Bobby Conn will happily take you there. Don't settle too deep into the spooky cabaret intro or gentle guitar picking that follows because some serious glam histrionics await on the other side of the 3:30 mark. Conceptually incoherent, but in a fine way.

People complain that Bobby Conn is bombastic and goes for easy sociopolitical sarcasm when a bunch less self-righteousness would serve him better. They're mostly right, but there's something I like about the downers who were all strident about the decay of American culture even in the pre-9/11 triumphalist salad days. At least he went for theatrical excess when his peers were busy doing the stand and stare. Also, the stuff is a weird no-man's land between note-perfect '70s excess and an earnest desire to write protest songs. It's a rare pair of sunglasses that can accommodate both these ambitions.

Bobby Conn - You've Come A Long Way