Reviewed: Ian Hunter; Finest Worksongs

Ian Hunter - Shrunken Heads

The former leader extraordinare of 70s cult pop band Mott the Hoople brings us another collection of excellent driving music with Shrunken Heads. Of course, what will sell this album (both in units and to critics) won't be the classic sounds of old school rock or the little flourishes of the latest production values pro tools can't replicate, but the presence of Jeff Tweedy. Tweedy's nasal vocal stylings ride shotgun to Hunter's reedy voice on three tracks. Of course mp3 blogs everywhere will link to those mp3s because everyone know the loyalty of a Wilco fan--and loyalty equals hits!

If you've ever bought a Mott the Hoople or Ian Hunter solo album--hell, if you've ever bought a Big Star, Teenage Fanclub, Golden Smog, or Warren Zevon album, you'll have a pretty good clue to the sound of Shrunken Heads. It's solid rock that's great to drink a beer with while wadding in a plastic Wal-Mart kiddie pool during the dog days of summer.

Release Date: 5/15/07 (the same day as the new Wilco album--coincidence?)

Early Highlights: ""Words (Big Mouth)," "Brainwashed," "I Am What I Hated When I Was Young"


Various Artists - Finest Worksongs: Athens Bands Play the Music of R.E.M. Live 09.12.06

Albums featuring a mix of artists are always an up and down affair. Throw in the cover element, especially of a band as loved and revered as R.E.M. and things get a bit dicey. Finest Worksongs doesn't suffer this fate, though I must question the placement of "The One I Love," by Liz Durrett as the album's opening salvo. It's a solid song, but it's such a drudging downer when you want to pop in Finest Worksongs and crank it. The slow pattern continues through Bain Mattox's take on the album's namesake.

The reasons to check out this album (other than if you're a diehard R.E.M. fan/completist) would be the performances of Patterson Hood (from everyone's favorite indie southern rock band Drive-By Truckers) as well as the contributions of R.E.M. themselves. Throw in Scott McGaughey and you have yourselves a party. The last section helmed by Five Eight and members of R.E.M. makes this album a definite check-out, not to mention buying it puts money directly into the pockets of charity.

Release Date: 05/29/07

Early Highlights: Bain Mattox - "Finest Worksongs," Patterson Hood - "So. Central Rain," Five Eight - "Radio Free Europe," and "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)"