The Wichita Eagle, May 27, 1998
Don’t let the title of the new recording by the Arkansas City-based trio dissuade you from giving it a listen.
From the opening track, "Under This Kansas Sky," a quiet ode to Gackstatter’s German relatives, to the closing track, "Goodbye," the Renters present a well-thought-out and well-produced recording in the acoustic/folk mode.
All of the songs on the recording were written by Gackstatter and Durham and show their love for their craft and attention to arrangement and nuance.
Recorded earlier this year in Austin, Texas, "Renters from *#$%" shows a great fondness for acoustic music. Witness, for example, "Wood and Wire," Gackstatter’s ode to the joys of noodling around on the guitar and of following one’s daydreams and imagination. The song is greatly enhanced not just by Gackstatter’s performance on acoustic guitar and fretless bass, but by Durham’s supporting mandolin and the richness of Rosseter’s viola.
"Flamesong," which is somewhat reminiscent of John Denver’s "Annie’s Song," is a simple love song, again enhanced by Rosseter’s plaintive viola.
The title track is one of two comic tunes on the CD. The liner notes explain that the song, written by Durham, is autobiographical "except for the part about the gun, which I do not recommend." The song emerged as therapy, Durham writes, "so I could laugh again after having the landlord experience."
The threesome have crafted some lovely arrangements of original music, no doubt influenced by their contacts over the years with the acoustic music community of south-central Kansas and of the Walnut Valley Festival in neighboring Winfield.