On LOOSE PARTS
On LOOSE PARTS, Paul Sanchez continues the same territory he's explored on his solo discs, JET BLACK and JEALOUS and WASTED LIVES and BLUEGRASS. Though the first two sound similar, the subject matter is drastically different. JEALOUS covered the dark side of relationships and lost love, while on BLUEGRASS,( after falling in love and getting married), the songs tended to showcase the happier side of life.
It's obvious that Sanchez is still happily married since much of LOOSE PARTS celebrates the relationship he shares with his wife, Rachelle. "Unwind Our Heart" is a beautiful ode to the challenges of marriage, " what I have to say, is to be prepared for life to want to tear us apart/ 'cause the world is gonna try to unwind our heart."A testament to what a stable relationship did for Sanchez, the title track celebrates his settling down. " she took all the loose parts shaking 'round inside of me/and fit 'em in her warm heart and her arms I'm finally free of loose parts."
"St. Louis Cathedral" explores a different direction and contains some of the disc's deeper, more poetic lyrics. "pigeons pecking pieces of a million broken dreams/fragile shattered china doll face eaten/and all the homeless have a home in Jesus on Dauphine/just behind a Laundromat he keeps them.""Making A Living" is one of the highlights of the disc. Using Peter Holsapple's understated accordion to accompany his voice, Sanchez delivers the admirable tale of a man who continues to work after two heart attacks. "I asked him, 'what the hell are you doing here/' He said, 'man I'm making a living and you can't call it living if you're living in fear."One of the loveliest songs Sanchez has ever recorded is the exquisite duet with the silky voiced Susan Cowsill, "Let's Not Talk About Love."
Shifting gears and tickling the funny bone, "Hurricane Party" is the humorous, (and true), story of a pre-tempest get together that began with poker, cigars and hooch. That turned ugly with cookies dipped in scotch, mud wrestling, Tootsie rolls and red ant bites all over his ass. "Shotgun In My Soul' touches on love on the road. "Top Of The World" recounts a trek across Europe, "let's go to bed early, wake up and be in love all day."