After six albums with the sadly underrated Dumptruck, Seth Tiven, makes a belated return with this most impressive solo set. He gets some able assistance here, with Ian McLagen, Mark Mulcahey of the Miracle Legion, Blood Oranges’ Jimmy Ryan and Dumptruck colleague Kirk Swan all enlisting as his musical support. Still, there’s no doubting the fact that they take their lead from Tiven alone. A tangled web of thick guitars and turgid rhythms, he effectively blends despair and reflection in equal measure. “Believe,” “Bought And Sold” and “Better Than Nothing” are cast with sprawling melodies and a cloudy haze, while the downward glance of “One of These Days” further illuminates his weary but resolute stance (“Some people call me a loser… “). Nevertheless, Solitude isn’t as reclusive as its title might imply. “Everybody Says” recalls the Byrds’ earnest folk-strummed mantras, while the pretty “Sechelt” offers up a total change of tune by partnering clarinet and mandolin with an easy, ambling instrumental. Any lingering doubts are further dissipated via the title track, an effective postscript that provides the album with a lovely final fade. Although repeated listens may be needed to soak up its full effect, it’s evident from the outset that Solitude leaves a mesmerizing trace.
--Lee Zimmerman
