Words by Lady Godiva

In 1975, Bob Dylan released Blood on the Tracks, the iconic anatomy of his marriage break up. Heartbreak and vulnerability are the raw material of creation and from these two stems endless inspiration in various states of consciousness.  In 2023, Brian Chillemi penned his own tales of disenchantment in his sophomore album, sprawling from New York all the way to Los Angeles. 

Vacant Cowboy unfolds as a canvas painted with the vibrant hues of lucidity and the measured strokes of melancholy and acrimony, a bittersweet mixture. The title track sets a nightly and poisonous atmosphere, emphasized by Chillemi’s husky vocals, his range is beautifully poignant and makes him every bit the storyteller. He sounds halfway between a young Tom Waits circa 1973 and Madrugada’s singer Sivert Høyem. His voice is the connecting thread throughout the record. 

“Memories” epitomizes all the longing and contradicting feelings in love, wrapped in those sultry vocals and in a haunting melody. A pinnacle that strikes many chords. “Fun in the Sun” is a short interlude but also a proper love letter to Lee Hazelwood’s style and narration. Those who are familiar with the man with the moustache will recognize the reference to Requiem For An Almost Lady, Hazelwood’s own break-up statement record. Chillemi brilliantly adjusts his versatile vocal range to mirror Lee’s in this thoughtful and endearing number which echoes Hazelwood’s tune “I’m Glad I Never” from 1971. The lyrics are straight to the point: “ I hope you’re having fun in the sun, wasting someone else’s time, having fun in the sun, knowing you’re not mine ! “

The staggering “Awakening”, a modern classic, whispers some harsh truths about love, in the most cinematic manner. The songwriter’s confessional spirit turns the listener into a companion in misfortune. A lordly tune that lingers in your mind and keeps you pondering thoughts. The lyrics are ablaze with beauty and sharp as a knife, at the same time. 

As we navigate the narrative of these revelations, we find a harmonious balance between the different stages of expansion and reflection, setting the stage for both adventure and contemplation. The final track, “Heartache is a Friend” closes the circle with flamboyance and a sense of acquired acceptance. Bask in the musical and lyrical poetry of these songs of love and hate. 

Vacant Cowboy is available to to purchase and listen to here