Bob Reuter found his backing band in a hospital. This is an absurd story that colorfully illustrates and underlines how vital of a record Born There really is. After having a major bypass surgery Mat Wilson struck up a friendship with Reuter while making hospital visits and eventually formed a band to back Bob. The dozen tracks they recorded in Bob’s kitchen while he was recovering from surgery are some of the most blistering songs I’ve heard all year, recalling both the angry confrontational energy of Dylan going electric and the Violent Femmes at their most pissed off.
Every single track on Born There starts strong and builds into a visceral monument to Reuter’s spirit and the Alley Ghost’s raw talent and sense of musical history. The lyrics are as sharp as the music and delivered like a man intent on giving his all with the time he has left.