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'Savant Journalist' Phil Strongman guides us through the good, the bad and the plain damn ugly of this month's album releases.
GUNS N' ROSES Chinese Democracy (Interscope CD)
When a CD sprawls over decades and costs millions, when the band involved no longer really exist – beyond the frontman – and when it all ends up sounding like the best album Sweet never made, what can a mere reviewer make of it? Well, quite a bit, really. Axl Rose can still turn out a solid tune, although the constant switching of style and genres – from rawk to hip-hop-rock to soundtrack – often crosses the border between being different and being plain bloody annoying. His endless shifts also maybe hint at the way most rock stars, of any age, are always close to the average teenage mind of the moment – much of the album sounds like all those MP3 downloads slipping and sliding and jumping around on cheapo iPod copies (Have I loaded the right track? What's that one like? Is this a mash-up? Was that a deliberate skip...?) At times its over-blown and over-wrought, and only hardcore fans will listen all the way though non-stop...nevertheless, although it kicks over nicely at times, 'Chinese Democracy' has real importance in another area – in that it clearly shows, without even meaning to, the hysteria and cultural meltdown of the age. (6/10)
JOHN PHILLIPS Pussycat (SPV)
From one over budget album to another. 'Pussycat' was the album that ex Mamas & Papas singer-songwriter John Phillips started in 1976. Three years and $170,000 dollars later the stoned Mister P still hadn't finished it – despite production help and BVs from Mick Jagger and Keith Richard – and the tapes were wrestled off the release schedule of Mick'n'Keef's Rolling Stones' Records. Which was a pity because now, hearing it in all its raw mix glory, 'Pussycat' sounds pretty good. Phillips' ethereal vocals aren't to everyone's taste but the production flurries cooked up by him and Jagger and Co show them in the best possible light. The opening 'Wilderness of Love' is the most appealing, and melodic, of a strong bunch. (7/10)
BLUE BAMBINOS Blue Bambinos (Blue Bambinos)
Like young J.D. Smith – possibly the best live solo act in London today – the Blue Bambinos kick up a real storm onstage. And like him, they're also Brits and also dabble in rockabilly. But there the resemblance ends, with the gruesome foursome often heading off sharply into the netherworld between punk, 12 bars and experimental 'indie'. Imagine a bluesy B-52s mixed with the Johnny Burnette Trio with a speeding Tom Waits guesting on vocals. And then it gets really weird... By turns exciting, authentic and painful, the eponymous 'Blue Bambinos' shows the band aren't gonna go quietly. The 'Ab/G' instrumental - with its exotic guitar and slick Brother Jack modern jazz beat - is my own personal favourite. The rest of you will have to take your chances... (7/10)
Copyright Phil Strongman © 2008 / philstrongman.com |
