BLUES EXPLOSION
Damage
Sanctuary/EMI
NANCY SINATRA
s/t
Sanctuary/EMI
· The blues are still No. 1 and everything old is new again, etc., etc.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is dead – long live Blues Explosion. The new streamlined name of the band serves to demonstrate that there is no one main member of the group. It’s not all about Jon Spencer (blah blah blah). Anyone who listens to the band knows this already, but we’ll humour them.
Although I really liked the last two albums, Acme and Plastic Fang, it’s clear from the lead-off title track from Damage, this is different. I heart it. Heart. It. And it’s not just because the first single, "Burn It Off," totally kicks ass, nor is it that the band can still rock while getting a little political (in "Hot Gossip" Spencer croons, "You can’t talk peace when you’re making war" – how true), and maybe I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is (get off my case, already), but it’s hot. "You Been My Baby," a sultry, sexy psuedo-ballad, just makes you (read: me) weak in the knees. Blues Explosion is back in fine form and the band seems to have rediscovered their ability to create music that’s exciting. When Spencer asks "Can you dig my band?" the answer is a resounding "Yeah!" The only thing that could mar this brilliant streak right now would be a really bad duet with, oh, I don’t know, someone like... Nancy Sinatra.
OK, the duet with Sinatra on her self-titled album isn’t that bad, but it certainly isn’t great. "Ain’t No Easy Way," sounds like Sinatra trying too hard to sound hip, which, considering the fact she’s singing with Spencer, you certainly can’t blame her for. However, it’s not the same beautiful and confident voice that you hear on the rest of the tracks. The first song, "Burnin’ Down the Spark," is haunting and quite frankly amazing. "Let Me Kiss You," was written by Morrissey and is delivered flawlessly by Sinatra, complete with enough angst to make even the most die-hard Smiths fans crack a wry grin. When she sings about a "skinny bitch in hot pants" stealing your man, it’s pure poetry. The only question mark for me on this CD is the song "Momma’s Boy" – I can’t decide whether it’s creepy or a clever political analogy. This album marks the return of Ms. Sinatra, full throttle. Collaborations with Calexico, Pete Yorn and Steve Van Zandt, among others, result in a compilation of really great tunes for even the most pessimistic listeners. Trust me, I was one.
BLUES EXPLOSION 5/5
NANCY SINATRA 4/5
KARI WATSON
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