2004

Rolling Stone, German edition, July 2004

Roots

Markus Rill - Hobo Dream, 3 1/2 stars

This hobo at heart has finally been able to realize one of his musical dreams: recording in the country of initiation and inspiration. It didn't pan out to be Austin, Texas but even in Nashville, a guy like Duane Jarvis can round up a few of his buddies for a session; guys who usually play with the likes of Buddy Miller & co. They provided their well-known musicianship for this amicable German who rose to the occasion and brought some of his most conclusive and courageous songs to the table and recorded them with great determination. The gospel of "Dying Bed" and the following rocker "Not Yet Shipwrecked" demonstrate the bandwidth of the album.

Ironically, Rill recorded the three most countrified songs of the bunch in Wuerzburg/Germany with his home posse. Oh well, a cowboy doesn't care where he is when he feels blue, does he? After all, these days he can write emails to ease his yearnings. Then again, Rill describes what that can lead to in the humorous bonus track "Cyberspace Love Song".

Jörg Feyer