Pete Droge: Skywatching : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

"If you don't love me, I'll kill myself," threatened Pete Droge on his catchy 1994 hit single of the same name. The public called his bluff, but Droge apparently settled on being liked, because nine years, four albums (five, counting his recent teaming with Matthew Sweet and Shawn Mullins in the Thorns) and no more hits to speak of later, he's still around, consistently turning out charming and finely crafted singer-songwriter indie-pop that deserves a bigger audience. Skywatching, like 1998's equally excellent Spacey & Shakin before it, will surely make you feel bad for not being over the moon for him. But unless you make a concerted effort to listen to at least a couple of tracks -- try the bittersweet "Train Love to Stay," for starters -- at least once a day for the rest of the summer, sadly, inevitably, you'll forget about him all over again, until next time.

RICHARD SKANSE
(July 14, 2003)