Bill Janovitz

Lonesome Billy (Beggars Banquet)
by Dana Buoniconti

The debut solo album from Buffalo Tom voice Bill Janovitz is rife with countrified, down ‘n’ out sing-a-longs. A decidedly lo-fi affair, Lonesome Billy was recorded near a railroad freight yard in Arizona, and to Janovitz’s credit, the intended vibe is captured well. Still, with the exception of “Red Balloon,” none of the songs match the melodic urgency of, say, Tom’s “Mineral.” This stuff may have been fun for Janovitz and friends to play drunk on the front porch at 2 a.m; on tape for posterity, however, it doesn’t sound as good after the hangover goes away.