Description
Great as though Mott The Hoople were, this, for me, is the moment Ian Hunter got it almost perfect. He tried and fell narrowly short on so many other occasions but this album is where it all fell together in a rocky, jazzy, funky, soulful, Dylanesque cornucopia that became my soundtrack to the baking hot summer of 1976. It serves as Hunter's paean to the USA, with which he had gradually developed an obsession. The opening track sees him bemoaning the UK as he metaphorically sets sail. The opening chords of "Letter From Britannia To The Union Jack" are just so damn evocative, as is Hunter's plaintivemore… voice and his wistful, rueful lyrics. The title track is a seven minute gem, showcasing the marvellous and much-missed Jaco Pastorius on bass and containg some of Hunter's most wry and challenging lyrics. At times the vocal delivery verges on a kind of rap - really quite avant-garde for the time. "Irene Wilde" takes a nostalgic Ian back to Shrewsbury's Barker Street bus station backed by a piano straight out of MTH. This album is just getting better and better by now. "Irene Wilde" is one of Hunter's most evocative cuts.
"Restless Youth", the collections only true rocker, sees the standard drop just a little, but it still has its moments. "You Nearly Did Me In" features Freddie, Brian and Roger from Queen on cod-operatic backing vocals (Bohemian Rhapsody was still number one when this albuum was recorded) and the track is suitable overblown and bombastic, building up to an anthemic chorus. "Apathy 83" is a great summer groove, sweltering with heat and typical Hunter cynicism, while the closer, "God (take 1)" sees Ian in the classic verbose quasi-Dylan mode he always loved so much.
A great way to bow out, and in a way, I don't think Ian Hunter ever replicated such brilliance, so all things considered, maybe "God" was his true swansong, despite the years of recorded material he has put out since. It never got this good again, Ian, did it ?
An essential purchase. Absolutely essential
| 1 |
Letter To Britannia From The Union Jack |
| 2 |
All American Alien Boy |
| 3 |
Irene Wilde |
| 4 |
Restless Youth |
| 5 |
Rape |
| 6 |
You Nearly Did Me In |
| 7 |
Apathy '83 |
| 8 |
God |
| 9 |
To Rule Britannia From Union Jack |
| 10 |
All American Alien Boy |
| 11 |
Irene Wilde |
| 12 |
Weary Anger |
| 13 |
Apathy |
| 14 |
God Advice To A Friend |
Info:
- Category:
- Music > Albums
- Case Type:
- CD
- Release Type:
- Retail
- Comments:
- 1 read add
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Cover Info:
- Title:
- Ian Hunter - All American Alien Boy (2006) Retail CD
- Part:
- Front
- Dimensions:
- 1413 x 1416 px
- Size:
- 302 KB
- Downloads:
- 330 (0 today)
- Uploaded:
- 17/02/08 by Sarge!
- Quality Rating:
-
- Currently /5 Stars.
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