Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - 'Plastic Fang' (Mute)
3/5
By: Toby L
(Read aloud in Elvis-cum-hillbilly accent) Hey y'all - it's time for another helping from tha' Blues Explosion - hell, yeah!
(Return to natural dialect) Yes, quite...
So, it's true - Jon Spencer and his merry men are back, with their first album since 1999's weird-remix work, 'Acme Plus' - of course, a record with reworkings of JSBX classics, from the likes of Moby, Mike D, Beck, David Holmes, Dan The Automator and every other trendy, credible musician of merit. Unlike then, with this, however, there's no one else involved - just the band, and their raw blend of energetic funk, rock, R'n'B, and, yeah, Blues...
... Well, OK, OK - it isn't strictly just the band involved; special-guests on 'Plastic Fang' include Funkadelic keyboardist Bernie Worrell, the legend that is Dr John, and an oddly-associate, Elliot Smith. However, despite the diverse collaborators, seemingly, little has changed in the world of JSBE, if only an expansion of the general sound and a more tangible and appealing form of song-writing, namely within such high-energy numbers as 'Sweet 'N' Sour', 'Down In The Beast' and the astounding recent single, 'She Said' - the band's most commercial tune to date.
Something about the freshness and franticness of the sound makes 'Plastic Fang' an almost essential LP for 2002, what with the resurgence in trad-style, rock 'n' roll guitar-wizardry that's ongoing in the music-scene at the moment. Yet, on the other hand, there's also something about the repetitious nature on the record's format that allows memorable tracks such as the aforementioned to merge in with the otherwise just standard-quality offerings on-show. Live, you know it would all somehow make sense, sure, but - as a recording - there's an empty feeling by the time final track 'Mean Heart' cuts out that Jon Spencer really should be working on melody in certain songs rather than just wicked licks.
Still, this album isn't about taking over the world; it's, most likely, a record to satisfy those already with a hankering for the infectious panache and sheer excitement that the Explosion seem to have an endless supply of - as well as for possible new listeners that enjoy a delve into the less polished side of competent musicianship.
Really, for a title such as 'Plastic Fang', there seems to be a lot more soul herein than you'd once anticipate.
Artists in this article: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
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